Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster®, Laurel Fingerboard, Parchment Pickguard, Black

Quick Product Summary

The Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster in Black takes the familiar Telecaster formula into a deeper register with an extended 27-inch scale length, heavier strings and classic twin single-coil electronics.

Designed for baritone guitar tuning, it gives guitarists access to lower pitches while preserving the familiar feel and straightforward control layout of a Telecaster. The longer scale helps maintain string tension and note definition when tuning below standard guitar pitch, making it a strong option for heavy riffs, cinematic textures, low-register clean parts and alternative guitar arrangements.

Two Fender-Designed alnico single-coil pickups, a vintage-style three-saddle string-through-body bridge, Indian laurel fingerboard and double-bound Custom Telecaster styling complete an instrument that looks traditional while opening up a very different range of sounds.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Squier
Series	Classic Vibe
Model	Baritone Custom Telecaster
Finish	Black
Pickguard	3-Ply Parchment
Fingerboard	Indian Laurel
Scale Length	27" / 686 mm
Pickups	2 x Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Condition	New
Main Appeal	Classic Telecaster character in an extended-scale baritone format
Best For	Alternative, rock, metal, ambient, cinematic, indie and studio work

What's Included?

• Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster®, Laurel Fingerboard, Parchment Pickguard, Black

• Factory-fitted Nickel Plated Steel .014–.068 strings

• ✘ Case not included

• ✘ Gig bag not included

• ✘ No additional accessories included

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Every new electric guitar is checked before leaving Fair Deal Music so that the instrument is ready for its new owner.

For a baritone guitar such as this Classic Vibe Custom Telecaster, our checks cover the key playing and functional areas including electronics, controls, tuning operation, hardware and general playability.

The heavier strings and extended scale are also important to the feel of a baritone, so correct string seating and general setup are particularly relevant when preparing the instrument.

Service / Setup Work

This guitar is checked and set up before leaving the shop.

Because guitars are made from timber, neck relief and playing action can shift slightly during transportation as the instrument encounters changes in temperature and humidity. Minor adjustment after delivery can occasionally be beneficial depending on your preferred playing style and local environment.

Why Choose The Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster?

27-Inch Scale Designed For Lower Tunings

The biggest difference is the extended 27-inch scale, compared with the 25.5-inch scale of a conventional Telecaster. The additional length helps maintain useful string tension and clearer note definition when the instrument is tuned lower.

Familiar Telecaster Controls

Despite its deeper register, the electronics remain refreshingly straightforward. You get a bridge pickup, neck pickup, three-way blade selector, master volume and master tone, making it easy to move between sounds without a complicated control system.

Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coils

The two Fender-Designed alnico pickups retain the attack and clarity associated with a traditional Telecaster-style layout. That definition is particularly useful on a baritone guitar, where maintaining articulation in lower registers can make the difference between a clear riff and a muddy one.

Classic Custom Telecaster Styling

The Black finish, contrasting parchment pickguard, double-bound Custom Telecaster-inspired appearance and nickel-plated hardware give the instrument an understated vintage aesthetic despite its specialised baritone purpose.

Vintage-Style Three-Saddle Bridge

A three-saddle string-through-body Telecaster bridge with chrome barrel saddles keeps the hardware visually faithful to classic Tele design while handling the heavier factory .014–.068 string set.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster vs Classic Vibe '60s Custom Telecaster

The standard Classic Vibe '60s Custom Telecaster uses a conventional 25.5-inch scale and .009–.042 strings, making it the better choice for normal guitar tuning, traditional chord work and familiar Telecaster playing feel.

The Baritone Custom extends the scale to 27 inches and uses significantly heavier .014–.068 strings. Choose the standard model for classic Telecaster territory; choose the Baritone when your priority is lower tuning, greater low-register authority and a different songwriting range.

Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster vs Fender Player II Baritone Telecaster

The Fender Player II Baritone Telecaster is the logical premium step-up. Its 27-inch scale is paired with Player Series Alnico V pickups, 22 medium-jumbo frets, a six-saddle bridge and more contemporary Fender appointments.

The Squier takes a more vintage-inspired approach with 21 narrow-tall frets, three barrel saddles and Classic Vibe styling. Choose the Fender if modern appointments and Fender branding are the priority; choose the Squier for excellent access to the baritone Tele concept at a considerably more approachable level.

Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI

These instruments both explore registers below a standard guitar but approach the job differently. The Baritone Telecaster retains a more conventional guitar identity with its 27-inch scale and Telecaster electronics.

The Bass VI stretches to a 30-inch scale and moves much further towards bass territory, while retaining a six-string guitar-style layout. Choose the Baritone for low-tuned guitar parts and riffs; choose the Bass VI when you want to occupy an even deeper space between guitar and bass.

Who Is The Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster For?

This model is particularly well suited to:

• Guitarists wanting to explore lower tunings while keeping familiar six-string chord relationships

• Rock and alternative players looking for deeper rhythm sounds

• Metal players wanting low-register definition without immediately moving to a seven-string guitar

• Ambient musicians creating large, spacious textures

• Studio musicians looking for another layer between conventional guitar and bass

• Film, soundtrack and cinematic composers

• Indie and post-rock players using delay, reverb and modulation

• Songwriters looking for an instrument that encourages different riffs and voicings

It can also be a particularly inspiring second or third guitar for an experienced player whose conventional electric guitars already cover standard tuning.

Playing Styles & Applications

The Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster is naturally suited to alternative rock, indie, post-rock, metal, ambient, cinematic music, soundtrack work, country-influenced baritone playing and experimental recording.

The bridge pickup provides the sharper attack required for defined low-register rhythm work, while the neck pickup gives you a smoother voice for clean lines, atmospheric melodies and spacious effects.

Using both pickups provides a balanced option that works particularly well for cleaner chord parts and layered studio arrangements.

Baritone guitar can also be extremely effective outside heavier genres. Clean amplification, spring-style reverb, tremolo and delay can turn the instrument into a distinctive tool for western, cinematic and atmospheric guitar sounds.

What Is A Baritone Guitar And Why Choose A 27-Inch Scale?

A baritone guitar sits below a standard electric guitar in pitch while retaining the familiar six-string layout and interval relationships guitarists already know. Instead of learning an entirely new instrument, you can transfer familiar scales, chord shapes and picking patterns into a lower register.

The extended 27-inch scale length is important because simply fitting very heavy strings to a standard-scale guitar does not produce exactly the same playing response. Increasing scale length helps maintain string tension and note clarity at lower pitches, producing a firmer and more controlled feel.

This makes the Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster particularly attractive for guitarists who want to go lower without immediately moving to a seven-string, eight-string or Bass VI.

Looking for advice on choosing between a baritone guitar, extended-range guitar, Bass VI or conventional Telecaster? Our experienced team of musicians at Fair Deal Music can help by phone, online or in-store.

Compatibility & Practical Buying Advice

The Baritone Custom Telecaster uses a conventional 1/4-inch instrument output, so it works with standard guitar pedalboards, amplifiers, recording interfaces and wireless systems.

Its lower register makes amplifier choice particularly important. A good guitar amplifier can deliver excellent baritone sounds, but speakers with stronger low-frequency handling will generally retain greater clarity when the guitar is heavily driven or played at high volume.

Overdrive and distortion can create enormous rhythm sounds, while compression, tremolo, chorus, delay and reverb work particularly well for clean and atmospheric playing.

The Fender-Designed single-coils also give effects a clear starting signal, which can help modulation and time-based effects retain definition.

If you change substantially from the factory .014–.068 string gauge, the guitar may require adjustments to neck relief, action and intonation.

Story & Context

Baritone guitars have long occupied the space between conventional electric guitar and bass, giving guitarists access to lower registers without completely changing their familiar six-string playing approach.

This Squier model combines that concept with the visual language of Fender's double-bound Custom Telecaster designs of the 1960s. Rather than adopting the more modern appearance often associated with extended-range instruments, it keeps the traditional Telecaster body, pickguard, control plate, three-saddle bridge and twin single-coil layout.

That contrast is an important part of its appeal. From a distance it looks like a vintage-inspired Custom Telecaster; once played, the 27-inch scale and heavier strings reveal an instrument intended for a very different sonic range.

It makes the Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster an interesting meeting point between traditional Fender-inspired design and modern low-register guitar playing.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Brand	Squier
Series	Classic Vibe
Model	Baritone Custom Telecaster
Orientation	Right-Handed
Colour	Black
Body Shape	Telecaster
Body Material	Nyatoh
Body Finish	Gloss Polyurethane
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Neck Shape	C Shape
Neck Finish	Tinted Gloss Urethane
Fingerboard Material	Indian Laurel
Fingerboard Radius	9.5" / 241 mm
Position Inlays	Pearloid Dot
Number of Frets	21
Fret Size	Narrow Tall
Scale Length	27" / 686 mm
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.650" / 42 mm
Bridge Pickup	Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Neck Pickup	Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Pickup Configuration	SS
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching	3-Position Blade
Position 1	Bridge Pickup
Position 2	Bridge and Neck Pickups
Position 3	Neck Pickup
Bridge	3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles
Tuning Machines	Vintage-Style
Hardware Finish	Nickel
Pickguard	3-Ply Parchment
Pickup Covers	Neck: Nickel; Bridge: Black
Control Knobs	Knurled Flat-Top
Neck Plate	4-Bolt Squier
Strap Buttons	Standard
Strings	Nickel Plated Steel .014–.068
Truss Rod	Head Adjust

Power Requirements

The Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster uses passive electronics, so it does not require a battery or external power supply.

Simply connect it to your amplifier, pedalboard or audio interface using a standard 1/4-inch instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster is a standout option for guitarists who want to explore lower registers without abandoning the simplicity and familiarity of a traditional six-string Telecaster.

The 27-inch scale is its defining feature, but the Fender-Designed alnico pickups are equally important because they keep low notes articulate rather than turning the instrument into an indistinct wall of bass frequencies.

Best suited for: Guitarists wanting deeper tunings, low-register riffs, atmospheric textures and studio versatility.

Customers usually upgrade from: Standard six-string electric guitars when they want to explore lower tunings without moving immediately to a seven or eight-string instrument.

Most commonly paired with: Overdrive, fuzz, delay, reverb, tremolo, modulation and an amplifier with good low-frequency definition.

Our tip: Resist the temptation to immediately add large amounts of bass at the amplifier. Let the extended scale and heavier strings provide the depth, then use your amp EQ to preserve midrange definition and attack.

Showroom feedback: The familiar Telecaster layout makes this much easier to approach than its specialised appearance might suggest. The main adjustment for most guitarists is the increased scale length and heavier string feel rather than the controls or fingerboard layout.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps guitarists choose equipment that genuinely suits the way they play. Whether you're experimenting with baritone for the first time, building a lower-tuned rig or adding another recording instrument to your collection, we're here to provide straightforward advice before and after your purchase.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide ordering and delivery

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• A large Birmingham music showroom

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned musical equipment

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a baritone guitar harder to play than a normal electric guitar?

Not necessarily, but it feels different. The longer 27-inch scale requires slightly wider stretches and the .014–.068 strings feel substantially heavier than a typical electric guitar set. The actual six-string layout and chord relationships remain familiar.

Can I play normal guitar chord shapes on a baritone guitar?

Yes. Familiar guitar chord shapes, scale patterns and intervals still apply. The resulting notes are simply in a lower register when the instrument is set up for baritone tuning.

Is this a good choice for metal?

Yes. The extended scale and heavier strings make it particularly useful for low-register rhythm playing, while the single-coil pickups provide attack and definition. Players wanting extremely high-output or heavily compressed sounds may still prefer to add suitable pedals or amplification.

Can a baritone guitar replace a seven-string guitar?

They overlap in some applications but approach low tunings differently. A baritone retains six strings and familiar six-string relationships, whereas a seven-string normally adds an additional low string while retaining the standard upper six-string range. Choose the baritone if you want the whole instrument shifted towards a lower register.

Is this the same as a Bass VI?

No. The Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster has a 27-inch scale and behaves primarily as a lower-register guitar. A Bass VI normally uses a longer 30-inch scale and extends significantly further into bass territory.

Are the pickups active?

No. The Fender-Designed alnico single-coils are passive, so there is no battery to replace.

Can I use normal guitar pedals with it?

Yes. Standard guitar effects work perfectly well with a baritone guitar. Distortion, fuzz, compression, tremolo, chorus, delay and reverb are all popular choices, although individual pedals can react differently to the stronger low-frequency content.

What type of amplifier should I use?

A conventional guitar amplifier can work very well. For heavily driven or high-volume low-register sounds, an amp and speaker combination with good low-frequency control can help keep the instrument clear and defined.

Can I fit lighter strings?

Yes, but moving significantly away from the factory .014–.068 gauge can alter tension and setup. Neck relief, action and intonation may need adjustment after a major string-gauge change.

Why choose the Baritone Custom Telecaster over the standard Classic Vibe Custom Telecaster?

Choose the Baritone if you specifically want lower tuning, heavier strings and an extended 27-inch scale. Choose the conventional Classic Vibe '60s Custom Telecaster if you primarily play in standard guitar registers and want the familiar 25.5-inch Telecaster feel.

The Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster in Black is a particularly creative addition to a guitarist's collection. It retains enough traditional Telecaster DNA to feel immediately understandable while the extended scale and lower register encourage completely different riffs, chord voicings and arrangements.

For players looking to expand downwards without abandoning the familiar six-string format, it is one of the most interesting instruments in the Classic Vibe range.