electric · solidbody
Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster
| Maker | Squier |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States / Japan / China / Indonesia / Mexico |
| Type | electric · solidbody |
| Introduced | 2019 |
| Price | USD 429 (2026-09) |
| Maker founded | 1890 (string maker) / 1982 (Fender budget brand) |
| Status | current |
A '60s-spec Squier Stratocaster with alnico pickups and a bone nut for $429.
Watch
Jack Fossett Guitar's video plays the guitar so you can hear the alnico pickups, and Play and Trade Guitars' video covers why the model sells in volume.
Why it matters
Alnico single-coil pickups and a bone nut are both unusual on a guitar at this price, and the Indian laurel fingerboard with a 9.5 in radius and 21 narrow-tall frets keeps it close to the original '60s specification. It has been in the line since 2019 and sells in large numbers, and it is often suggested as a first Stratocaster under $500. The body is nato and the neck is maple with a C profile.
Note
Squier's decade-correct '60s Stratocaster remains one of the best-selling budget electrics, with alnico pickups and a bone nut that are unusual at this price. It is the default first-Strat recommendation for under $500.
Specifications
- nato body
- maple neck, C profile
- Indian laurel fingerboard, 9.5 in radius
- 3 Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups
- 21 narrow-tall frets
- 25.5 in scale
- bone nut
- vintage-style synchronized tremolo
- Scale length: 648 mm (25.5 in)
- Neck shape: "C" Shape
Before you buy
- Alnico pickups and a bone nut are unusual at this price
- 9.5 in radius and 21 narrow-tall frets, so check the action is set the way you like it
- $429 as of September 2026, and Classic Vibe prices move with sales
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Jack Fossett Guitar · 2025-04 · 32,688 views
“@zZoundsMusic Check out the Squier Classic Vibe series on Zzounds!”
honest review of the CV '60s Strat