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Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
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Playability
68
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
55
Score
70
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
55
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster over Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Fender vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
SH vs SS
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster over Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Release Year
2019 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
SS vs SH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
75 vs 55
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Nyatoh
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster is the better choice.

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2014 Custom Artist series
  • Albert Collins Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele bridge
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Classic Vibe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Nyatoh body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.8lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Winner: Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster has an SH configuration while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster has SS pickups.

SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's switch options
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 67

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster compares to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster is built in United States while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster is made in Indonesia.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with Vintage-Style.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
  • Bone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 69
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 55

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.1mm (0.004'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster and Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's neck profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster have the same fretboard radius of 9.5". This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's Frets Size
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
General Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Squier Classic Vibe 60s Custom Telecaster
Brand: Fender Custom Fender Squier
Year: 2014 2019
Configuration: SH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Custom Artist Classic Vibe
Colors: Natural 3-Color Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Select Ash Nyatoh
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: C Shape Modern C
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1