So what's the future of the Squier Classic Vibe series?

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:49 pm

It seems that anything cool and innovative is coming out under the Vintage Modified line--offsets, Teles, 70s Strat, and Surf Strat. But the CV line has remained the same for a few years with no new models (other than the butterscotch 50s Tele) and Fender is now making Modern Player guitars in China priced for what Classic Vibes sell for. Anyone think they're phasing CV out and covering that ground with both the Vintage Modified and Modern Player lines?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:52 pm

seems VERY logical but only time will tell..... the new Modern Player series stuff feels almost zactly like the CV line..

foofoo982 · Post by **foofoo982** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:57 pm

I don't see why they wouldn't. They know that the quality is there, and they know the QC is there. I bet a CVC Tele with "Fender" on the head-stock will sell more than the Squier version, especially at an affordable price.

Post by **dots** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:25 pm

foofoo982 wrote:I don't see why they wouldn't. They know that the quality is there, and they know the QC is there. I bet a CVC Tele with "Fender" on the head-stock will sell more than the Squier version, especially at an affordable price.

agreed. every line has it's run and eventual end. by design, the cv's would likely have a pretty short life considering they only build one spec for each guitar -- no color or hardware options. you either like them, or you don't. even the pawn shop models give you a couple of colors to choose from.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:30 pm

I think the very name "classic vibe" was intended to have them sell better... the vintage modified and classic vibe series can be exactly the same thing when they want them to be, like the new Jag/Jazz/Stang line which could've just as easily been dubbed CVs. They're the exact same "vintage reissue with modern fingerboard" idea... but by that logic, the CV line could've remained "vintage modified" as well.
I think they're just coming out with lots of names to demonstrate the wider array of choices on the market, like Fender do.
The VM line also tends to have guitars with a radical departure from some classic Fender spec (pickup array, scale, mix'n'match features), whereas the CVs are aiming for the classic configurations as far as pickups, hardware and finishes.
Fender also use the "vintage modified" name, they had a series of VM amps in a few different price brackets out a few years back. I think they've dropped it now, albeit not all the amps.

Remember that things like the Vista series and Pro-Tone series were also very short runs in the grand scheme of things... when you look back, they only had those things for a couple years each.

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:55 pm

after reading the recent squier book squier/fender try and segment the market in to different groups, whether that is by age, sex, level of ability, affluence and then put a guitar in the price bracket they feel is right. They also like to have a clear path of progression of instruments through the fender family. I can't see them getting rid of the CVs soon as they have a different market to the VM line or the MP or the Blackface. they are more similar to squiers version of the classic series/classic players.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:15 pm

lorez wrote:after reading the recent squier book squier/fender try and segment the market in to different groups, whether that is by age, sex, level of ability, affluence and then put a guitar in the price bracket they feel is right.

+1

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brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:12 pm

Sobriquet · Post by **Sobriquet** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:25 pm

I always took it as Classic Vibe = MIC and Vintage Modified = MII, so I'm sure both lines will survive.

I'm not sure what to think about the Modern Player line. Experiment? It was a pretty bold move releasing Chinese guitars with the Fender name.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:41 pm

Yeah I think that's the reason for speculation about the Squier lines. I'm sure all these new lines and models are part of a marketing plan that included the 2008 price hikes.