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Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
VS
Playability
75
Sound
71
Build
57
Value
78
Score
68
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Paranormal Cyclone vs Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Reasons to Get
Squier Paranormal Cyclone over Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs None
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Pickups
SSS vs SS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
78 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster over Paranormal Cyclone

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Pickups
SS vs SSS
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Squier Paranormal Cyclone vs Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Body Wood
Poplar vs Pine
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Paranormal Cyclone vs Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Same Neck Pickup
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2020 Paranormal series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle 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
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Classic Vibe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Pine body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple 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 around 9lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Pine wood pattern used for guitar building
Pine

Some guitarists don't like Pine because they think it's too soft and dents easily. However, there are many types of pines, and the hardest pine is the one used for guitar building. The general opinion is that it tends to give a nice round and balanced sound.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone has an SSS configuration while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster has SS pickups.

SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

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

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

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: Tie.

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.

Only the Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone comes with some kind of pickup modification: Killswitch.

A Killswitch lets you disengage the pickups instantly. It can be useful when playing live, and it allows you to create some cool sound effects by using the switch rapidly.

Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone's switch options
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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: Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone
Pickups 70
Sustain 70
Versatility 77
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone compares to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone is built in China while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster is made in Indonesia.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

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 Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone 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 50s 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.

The Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's is a 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Killswitch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 57
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57

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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone Nut Width
Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone's Scale Length
Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone's Scale Length
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's Scale Length
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's 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.

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone Neck Profile
Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone's neck profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone 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 Squier Paranormal Cyclone and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s 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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster.

Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone and Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Frets Size
Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Paranormal Cyclone
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Paranormal Cyclone vs Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
General Squier Paranormal Cyclone Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Brand: Fender Squier Fender Squier
Year: 2020 2019
Configuration: SSS SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Indonesia
Series: Paranormal Classic Vibe
Colors: White, Red White, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Pine
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo 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: Indian Laurel Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: C Shape Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Narrow Tall 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 Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Killswitch None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1