2018 Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s model manufactured in China. Built at the Grand Reward factory

2018 Squier Classic Vibe '50s model manufactured in China.
Built at the Grand Reward factory

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Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster:
pine body, single-ply black pickguard, maple fingerboard, and dual Alnico 3 single-coil pickups for classic "Tele sound

* Pickup Specifications
Magnet Type: Alnico 3
These highly praised pickups were manufactured by
*Tonerider to Fender/Squier specifications (specifically, they are widely recognized as a variant of the popular
Tonerider Hot Classics set
Average Output Resistance:Neck: ~6.8k to 7.0k ohms
Bridge: ~8.4k to 9.3k ohms

* Shielding paint in cavity
Routed for Humbucker in Neck position
Full size pots

* Brass saddles

* The Fret Spec: While later Indonesian-made Classic Vibe models (produced from 2019 onward) switched to "narrow tall" frets,
the first-generation Chinese Grand Reward factory models explicitly used 21 medium jumbo frets.

2018 Chinese-manufactured (Grand Reward factory) Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster comes with both factory
* shielding paint
* full-size pots installed from the factory.

This is a massive point of distinction for these specific "First Series" (2008–2018) Chinese models. If you look inside the cavities, you will find premium electronic treatments that Squier actually removed or downgraded when they transitioned production to Indonesia in 2019.

Here is exactly what you will find inside the body of your 2018 model:
1. Cavity Shielding Paint
2. The neck pickup route for humbucker
3. bridge pickup route, and the main control cavity are all completely coated with matte black conductive shielding paint from the factory.
4. The Grounding: If you open the control cavity, you will see a specific grounding wire screwed directly into the cavity wall to ground the shielding paint to the rest of the electronics. This helps keep the single-coil hum to an absolute minimum.
5. Note on newer models: The post-2019 Indonesian Classic Vibes completely dropped the shielding paint to cut manufacturing costs.
6. Potentiometers (Pots)
2018 model features full-size 250k Alpha pots.
7. The Fret Spec: While later Indonesian-made Classic Vibe models (produced from 2019 onward) switched to "narrow tall" frets,
the first-generation Chinese Grand Reward factory models explicitly used 21 medium jumbo frets

Unlike the cheap, dime-sized mini pots found in low-end Squier models (like the Affinity or Bullet series)—and, surprisingly, even the newer Indonesian Classic Vibes—
the Chinese Grand Reward models used reliable, full-sized brand-name Alpha components. They hold up exceptionally well and rarely need replacing unless you just prefer the specific mechanical sweep or feel of premium CTS pots.