Specimen 366

Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster

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

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

Sources

• sweetwater.com
• guitar.com