Help identifying strat, was told it’s a CV70s

[grayygrey]

Hey y’all! I’m new here. I got my strat almost 2 years ago but have never been completely sure it is what it was sold to me as, a Classic Vibe 70s Strat. I got it for $100 and I’ve had trouble finding information on them. Thanks for any information y’all can give me.

 

[wickedtools]

II not a CV70s, what you have is a SE which is a great modding platform. The price was about right what they sell for nowadays. Welcome aboard lots of help here in making that SE a great player.

 

[HSH Classic Vibe]

These SE's aren't special guitars, and they were only available in starter packs. But they are full-sized Strats, so most Fender Strat parts will work on them if you want to sidegrade them. It is well worth $100 assuming the neck doesn't have a twist or anything like that. As Wickedtools said, they are an excellent modding platform, but they really don't need their parts swapped out unless you don't lake ceramic single coils or non-locking tuners or are one of those who incorrectly believe that a bigger block made of a different metal and/or different saddles will give you more "sustain" or "tone." Bottom line: There are a ton of people in this forum that gladly would have paid $100 for an SE like yours. Great job.

 

[Exhead]

Hey y’all! I’m new here. I got my strat almost 2 years ago but have never been completely sure it is what it was sold to me as, a Classic Vibe 70s Strat. I got it for $100 and I’ve had trouble finding information on them. Thanks for any information y’all can give me.

Squier Wiki on the CXS SE

Stop Dreaming, Start Playing! Set: SE Special with Squier SP-10 Amp

 

[FrieAsABird]

Yup, definitely not a CV model. 100 bucks would be a great deal for a CV, it’s a decent deal for an SE. As long as you’re happy with it, you’re good

 

[lost sailor]

Here's an SE with a CV70s neck on it - the original is next to it. That pickguard is on a MIM now.
Sorry about the pic quality....

 

[Eddie]

In today's dollars, $100 for a clean SE is a reasonable price.

Enjoy it and play it like you stole it.

 

[Syco]

Welcome !!

 

[BT224]

Two years ago $100 was a decent deal. Now it's a d**n good price if in good shape.

 

[grayygrey]

thanks everyone! Very happy to be able to find actual information on it now. I definitely intend to mess around lots with wiring and interesting parts and keep this thing around! I’m pretty sure it needs fret leveling and overall fret dress at the moment and I’m thinking about just trying to learn and do it myself, is that a bad idea?

 

[BT224]

That's a fantastic idea, you will learn so much about your guitar and guitars in general. And it's not hard. Just practice the soldering on some scrap wire. I shaped and replaced the nut, installed the new electronics, pups, switches and plugs, and replaced the bridge on my SE without any prior experience. I've also dressed the frets on other guitars without experience. Also learn how to do your own basic setup.

 

[grayygrey]

That's a fantastic idea, you will learn so much about your guitar and guitars in general. And it's not hard. Just practice the soldering on some scrap wire. I shaped and replaced the nut, installed the new electronics, pups, switches and plugs, and replaced the bridge on my SE without any prior experience. I've also dressed the frets on other guitars without experience. Also learn how to do your own basic setup.

how was dressing the frets without experience? The idea of sanding frets and possibly messing up the neck makes me quite nervous but it sounds like it shouldn’t be very hard to avoid ruining anything.

 

[BT224]

You just go very slow and careful. Plenty of videos to walk you through the process. I should probably get the correct tools, but I used a regular rat tail file, and level, and painters tape to protect the wood and finish.

 

[Exhead]

Agreed! Learn to do it yourself and a Squier is a good starting point, good bones, pretty good setup to start with but could be fine tuned by you. Jump in and learn.

Link

 

[dpang2836]

You can tell a CV by the Edible Tint on Necks!!!!!!!!!!! Yum, Yum!

 

[grayygrey]

You just go very slow and careful. Plenty of videos to walk you through the process. I should probably get the correct tools, but I used a regular rat tail file, and level, and painters tape to protect the wood and finish.

Just so I'm understanding the process, you straighten the neck, mask everything off, put sandpaper on a level or something flat and level the frets, crown with a rat tail file/sandpaper or something, and then polish the frets? I'm mostly stuck trying to find something to crown the frets without spending a lot on a dedicated crown file. I could buy the correct tools later but I'm not sure if I'd end up using anything more than once or twice yet. Thank you for all the help

 

[Exhead]

Just so I'm understanding the process, you straighten the neck, mask everything off, put sandpaper on a level or something flat and level the frets, crown with a rat tail file/sandpaper or something, and then polish the frets? I'm mostly stuck trying to find something to crown the frets without spending a lot on a dedicated crown file. I could buy the correct tools later but I'm not sure if I'd end up using anything more than once or twice yet. Thank you for all the help

That is where a pro luthier comes in and paying them to do it for you instead. Weighing cost of tools, use of them versus just paying the pro to do it. Under $200 probably for the setup and you don't have to buy stuff. All depends on your situation. Do you want to work on them or play them? Or both?

 

[BT224]

I didn't have to do very much when it came to leveling, all the ones I have done (only 4) were in good shape. I did it more for the experience than out of necessity. I shaped by eye with sandpaper. I'm sure if someone paid me they would not be happy, but for me it smoothed out noticeable issues. Now every single one of them had fret sprout bad enough to grate cheese. I would not try this on my Gibson, but as Exhead said, with a Squier you really have very little to lose. I did mine on all 2 Squier, the Reynolds, and a massive amount on the neck of a ukulele I built. You really need the guides, guards, gauges, and files to do it absolutely right. What I use gets them good enough for me.

 

[Robb]

Howdy and welcome to Squier talk !