Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $17
Budget/Beginner
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
Revive your sound with the Squier '51 Vintage Modified, a guitar that redefines versatility and style. Originally debuting in the mid-2000s, this solid body electric guitar quickly became a favorite among musicians seeking dynamic tones and superb playability without breaking the bank. Now, as part of Squier's renowned Vintage Modified Series, it returns with enhanced features that maintain its cult status.
The Squier '51 boasts a contoured basswood body that is not only lightweight but also provides a comfortable playing experience for long sessions. Its fast maple neck, coupled with a 9.5" radius maple fingerboard and 21 medium-jumbo frets, ensures smooth action and effortless playability. On the tonal front, a Strat single-coil pickup in the neck position delivers the spank and sparkle you crave, while the hot bridge humbucker adds sizzle and depth to your sound. For even more versatility, the master volume pot’s push/pull feature splits the humbucker to the inner coil, producing biting, Telecaster-like tones.
The Squier '51 is equipped with a three-position rotary pickup selector and a chrome hardtail 6-saddle bridge, providing not only great sustain but also perfect intonation. Whether you're jamming at home or performing on stage, this guitar is a reliable companion that invites exploration and creativity, making it a must-have for any guitarist's collection.
Key Features:
- Contoured basswood body for lightweight comfort
- Fast maple neck with 9.5" radius maple fingerboard
- 21 medium-jumbo frets for smooth playability
- Strat single-coil neck pickup for spank and sparkle
- Hot bridge humbucker with push/pull coil-splitting
- Three-position rotary pickup selector
- Chrome hardtail 6-saddle bridge for great sustain and intonation
Videos
Fender
NEW Squier '51 Demo | Fender
NEW Squier '51 Demo | Fender
Fender
Squier Vintage Modified '51
DeadmeatDarkdaylight
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Squier '51 Vintage Modified.
Mods and upgrades
Features and functionality
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Push-pull switch installation can be problematic; replacing non-functioning switches is suggested for pickup splitting.
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The Squier '51 is noted for its very bright stock sound, offering more high-end frequencies than typical for its class.
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The humbucker is described as hot and bright, with no tone control, lending itself well to aggressive music styles.
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Setup and maintenance
User experience
Value and pricing
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Despite being categorized as "vintage modified," the Squier '51 is priced lower than similar models like the Strat and Telecaster, raising questions about its classification.
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One owner found a great deal at $160 on Craigslist, while another purchased new for as low as $99 at Guitar Center.
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Comparisons
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The Squier '51 is likened to a thinner Strat body with a Tele neck, offering a unique blend of design elements.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 10 Ratings
488
Guitar so nice, I bought it twice!
While out and about at my local Guitar Center, I spotted a candy apple red one of these on the used wall for a bargain price. So, curious as to how it stacked up against the Pawn Shop sunburst one I have already, I grabbed it off the wall and started to play.
It was absolutely amazing. And it almost looked like it was straight out of the box - there was still clingfilm on the control plate! -- EDIT: When I brought it home today (8/4/25), it looked like someone put tape on the control plate? Weird...
So, after hemming and hawing a bit, putting it through its paces, I took the plunge. And since I love my sunburst 51, I'm going to love the candy apple red one just as much!
65
Ok beginner guitar
In my opinion, this guitar is ok if you're just learning guitar on it, but I would never take this to a concert.
The neck feels great! It has the wonderful playability of the original telecaster neck (of which it is a copy, so no surprises there). It is very comfortable for playing chord progressions, riffs, and even faster solos.
Unfortunately, it came with a terrible intonation. The bridge saddles feel very delicate when setting up the intonation. The saddles tend to wiggle around (also when playing heavily on it). The tuners aren't quite that good either. They're having a hard time to stay in tune.
Originally I thought this guitar would have quite high output pickups. Unfortunately, the stock humbucker and single coil have a low output, I guess they don't have as much windings as the "better" pickups. This makes this guitar much less versatile in my opinion. With the stock setup, this guitar is not great for the heavier music styles. Great for the blues though. Though I'd recommend to use a boost pedal if you are planning on getting this guitar.
My New Signature
I loved the feel of this guitar as soon as I tried it out one fateful day. So after I bought it I decided to make some changes to it (especially replacing the humbucking pickup). Now I can't put this thing down; it's the exact sound I'd want from a guitar. Now this $150 guitar sounds like a $600 one. So if you get one of these; replace the pickup to the sound you want, you'll have the exact model you want
Artist usage
Add artist
"Those are my main three guitars. I’ve got a bunch of odds and sods, the kinds of things I go into pawnshops to find. They’re dirt cheap and I like them. I’ve got a Squier 51—Fender’s answer to a Telecaster/Strat hybrid—that’s worth about 100 bucks. I installed a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates and pimped it out a little bit."
Katie Crutchfield is seen using a Fender Squier 51 Vintage Modified during her Tiny Desk concert, as captured in an NPR photo.
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Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Squier '51 Vintage Modified, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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