Finally had the chance to play a new Squier Vibe Duo...

mongoose69 · Post by **mongoose69** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:47 am

So I stopped into a GC yesterday and they had a Vintage Vibe Duo hanging. I loved the weight, and the physical dimensions of the neck. What I hated was the overwhelming sense of... plasticity(?). The neck was so over-glossed that it felt like a plastic toy- albeit a nice playing toy. Anybody have a similar first impression? Anyone here buy one and de-gloss the neck?

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 14, 2010 12:56 pm

I felt EXACTLY the same way about the one I played. I, oddlly, enjoyed the stock pickups though...

goldengurls · Post by **goldengurls** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:33 pm

i like real ones a whole lot better, but imo the CV is better than the mexi versions from the 90's.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:35 pm

goldengurls wrote:i like real ones a whole lot better, but imo the CV is better than the mexi versions from the 90's.

100% true. used to have one of those 90's ones. fine instrument, but the CV blows it out of the water.

goldengurls · Post by **goldengurls** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:36 pm

I have a 90's one at home I never play, i am surprised I didn't show it to you, how's the pedal?

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Fri May 14, 2010 1:51 pm

the pickups in all the CV guitars are superior to what Fender puts in their middle of the road mexican stuff (standard and classic series), no doubt. I agree though that the neck on the duo is way too glossy, the hardware is not superb, and I was not too pleased by the frets. Still it was maybe wrong to trade it, as it was way better than the guitars I had gotten for it since then.

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Fri May 14, 2010 8:00 pm

I liked the sound of the pickups too. I didn't care for the neck as much as many people seem to - it felt a bit too thick in the shoulders for my tastes; not rounded off enough at the sides of the neck. The neck finish is way too thick, but that's nothing that can't be taken care of with some 0000 steel wool.

Tweedledee · Post by **Tweedledee** » Fri May 14, 2010 8:16 pm

I had one. I actually loved the neck. It really didn't feel too "plasticy" to me, though it certainly looked like it was coated in plastic.

I enjoyed the stock pickups quite a bit, particularly the neck pickup. It was a fun guitar, but I needed to free up some cash so I ended up selling it.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:47 pm

goldengurls wrote:I have a 90's one at home I never play, i am surprised I didn't show it to you, how's the pedal?

in a word, crushing. I love it.

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:52 pm

A few simple edits to the guitar and it would be perfect IMO. I played my friend's one a bunch.

Move bridge pickup
Repaint
Tint + less finish on the neck.

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Fri May 14, 2010 9:56 pm

I played one in GC the other day. Quite impressed with the quality...all the CV series is excellent for the price. The neck is just a bit too chunky for my taste though, and they need to offer more colors. Still at that price it's intriguing, I'd put a Mustang neck and trem on it, change the pickguard and pickups, and call it good.

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:09 pm

Dillon wrote:I played one in GC the other day. Quite impressed with the quality...all the CV series is excellent for the price. The neck is just a bit too chunky for my taste though, and they need to offer more colors. Still at that price it's intriguing, I'd put a Mustang neck and trem on it, change the pickguard and pickups, and call it good.

For the price of that you might as well buy a mustang.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:12 pm

cobascis wrote:
Dillon wrote:I played one in GC the other day. Quite impressed with the quality...all the CV series is excellent for the price. The neck is just a bit too chunky for my taste though, and they need to offer more colors. Still at that price it's intriguing, I'd put a Mustang neck and trem on it, change the pickguard and pickups, and call it good.
For the price of that you might as well buy a mustang.

my exact thoughts.

Besides, it's a conversion 24" I'm pretty sure. mustang neck no work.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:43 pm

endsjustifymeans wrote:mustang neck no work.

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Fri May 14, 2010 10:56 pm

Somehow even though I just read that the other day, I didn't remember it. Though, if you were to install a Mustang trem you could possibly make it work by moving the bridge.

I guess you're right about the price too, wouldn't be that much cheaper. Used duo ($150) + mustang trem and bridge ($100) + mustang neck ($150) = $500. But you do get the satisfaction of building it

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:04 pm

yeah, and then you are stuck with a non-offset duo-sonic with mustang parts. that you won't be able to sell for beans once you realize you want a regular mustang.

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:49 pm

I played one at Best Buy of all places. I thought it was way nice for the money. Didn't get to plug it in but I like the neck feel if not scale. I like gloss. Maybe cause I always had Japanese Fenders and hated satin American necks.

Tweedledee · Post by **Tweedledee** » Fri May 14, 2010 11:57 pm

Just because threads are always better with photos, here's the one I used to own.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sat May 15, 2010 12:07 am

there was a guy on ebay selling those bridges for $12 recently but they disappeared quickstyle. i thought i could get one for my duo project and sell the '62 bridge i've got, as they go for stupid money. i was too late though, and when i emailed him to see if he was getting more in he said he had 50 on order, but that squier are completely unpredictable when it comes to shipping parts, and not to hold my breath.

so there you go.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sat May 15, 2010 1:06 am

I had some tuning issues with mine, but .11s fixed the problem. The neck shape and contours rock, but the over glossing does make it feel a little cheap. I prefer nitro necks anyway. Don't get me started on the bleached neck color. Despite those initial issues, I have mine dialed in really nice and I adore the pickups. The neck pup has lots of low end, the middle position is great for strumming, and the bridge pup is great too. I would love to see a side by side pickup comparision with a RI Mustang to hear the differences. For $250, it's one of the best shortscales out there. Definitely better than the newer Jagmasters. I might put better brass saddles on it some day but for now it's a really smooth player. It would be fun to take one and completely refinish the body in a different color and neck with an aged look to it.