Rank #9 in Best Electric Guitars 2026: 10 Ranked, 3W to 40W Amps
Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Black
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Squier by Fender Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster is a solid-body electric guitar in a black finish, ranked ninth in this guide at £389.00. It is a guitar on its own, not a starter bundle: the listing's included components field names a gig bag, and no amplifier is mentioned anywhere in the product data. That matters here, because the cheapest bundle in this guide is £116.99 and the dearest is £215 — this single guitar costs £174 more than the most expensive of them and still puts no amp in the box.
The listing's own numbers do not fully reconcile either. It reports 4.5 out of 5 from 180 ratings, but the star breakdown shown against that figure adds up to 100 across the five levels — 78 at five stars, 10 at four, five each at three and one, and two at two. A reviewer on the page also quotes £255, well below the £389.00 on the listing. Everything here is taken from the Amazon listing, not from any testing we have done.
How those 180 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.5 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £389.00 |
|---|---|
| Customer rating | 4.5 out of 5, 180 ratings |
| Included components | Gig Bag |
| Item weight | 5.44 kg |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
| Model number | 0374005506 |
| Set name (as listed) | Fender Fine Electric Pick Tin Set |
| Best sellers rank | 32 in Solid Body Electric Guitars |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Box had already been opened when it arrived. Given the £255 price I wondered if it was a return. The guitar, however appeared to be in new condition with original wrapping intact. I checked the guitar and gave it a quick set up. All the frets were level apart from the 2nd which was causing slight buzzing. I adjusted the neck and intonation and then let the guitar settle for a few days before doing a full set up.I levelled and dressed the 2nd fret and also needed to adjust the nut using proper files as the b string was sticking when tuning. 2 hours work and I have an amazing instrument comparable in playability to my American fender strats. I changed the tremelo block to a full size, and have a very stable floating system which returns to pitch.Straight out of the box a novice player would not be disappointed but costs are saved in the set up from the factory more than the instrument itself. These really are fantastic guitars and I love the necks. The guitars are seldom bad but sometimes need a little care and attention to shine. Amazon deals on these instrumentsoffer exceptional value. A fender neck or body alone costs more. Gone are the days i will pay for a name on the headstock. The classic vibe stratocasters sound and feel great to play. I wish these had been available when I first learnt.”
Verified purchase“The Squier electric guitar is a solid electric guitar. It has a smooth maple fingerboard that's easy to play. The tone is classic and versatile for various styles. Build quality feels premium for the price. Overall, it's a great choice for beginners or pros.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Electric Guitars 2026: 10 Ranked, 3W to 40W Amps.
Questions people ask
Does the Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster come with an amplifier?
No. The listing's included components field names a gig bag only, and no amplifier appears anywhere in the product data for this guitar.
What pickups does it have?
The listing states a trio of Fender-Designed alnico single-coil pickups with 5-way switching.
What is the neck like to play?
The listing describes a slim "C"-shaped neck with a 9.5" radius fingerboard and narrow-tall frets.
How heavy is it?
The item weight is given as 5.44 kg.
Where is it made?
The country of origin is listed as Indonesia.
What rating does it have?
4.5 out of 5 from 180 ratings, although the star breakdown on the listing adds up to 100 across the five levels.
Comments
Reader comments are not checked against the manufacturer's claims above.
No comments yet
Be the first to add something we missed — a price change, a spec that turned out wrong, or how one of these held up.
Leave a comment
No account needed. Own one of these? Tell other readers how it actually performed.