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Post subject: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:12 pm
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Hey All,
Tried to do a search but no go. I have a curiousity, a Made in Mexico Jazz Bass, serial MN404xxx (1994?) with "Squier Series" on the 'nose' of the headstock. I say it's a curious one because this is not an ordinary Squier. The skunk-stripe neck is amazing, arrow straight with the prettiest rosewood fretboard. The pickups sound great and the pots are smooth and quiet. Nice 'antique' white body with a single-ply pickguard, it's a real looker and plays very well. So, did Fender make many Squiers in Mexico? Are these made with Mexican or US parts? Thanks for any info.


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:23 pm
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Pics will help.

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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:17 am
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Is this close to what you have?

CLICK>>> http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/2736656227.html


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:55 am
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Thanks for the replies. I don't have my camera here but I'll try and post pictures soon. It is very similar to PaducahLuke's red bass except for the headstock lettering. Everything on this bass is in black letters (no gold or silver, etc) and the "Squier Series" designation in is small letters at the top. If that wasn't there, it might be hard to know this isn't just a regular MIM Jazz bass. Strange. Thanks again. If anybody has more info, I'd be glad to hear it.


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 9:33 am
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Chef,
Thanks for the info. I kind of figured this was different from a 'regular' Squier. I have pics but don't know how to post them (looks complicated). Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:28 am
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The US assembled 94 "FIRE SERIES" instruments are very limited. They are easy to spot because the serial begins MN4 but there is no country of origin anywhere on the instrument. They were only made very briefly. I've not seen one with a Squier Series decal but that doesn't mean there are not some. But if it says MADE IN MEXICO it isn't a Fire Series instrument.

The MIM Squier Series was made in Mexico during a production contract switch in Asia. Much like previously a limited run of Squiers labeled SQUIER MADE IN USA were made in the USA during another Asian production contract switch. These had components even inferior to the MIM Standards.

The fire was February 11th, 1994 and started in a paint booth vent when a fan motor sparked and the entire Fender Mexico plant burned to the ground in under 1 hour. Fender Mexico was back in operation in 100 days in the current much larger building.

Even prior to the fire the only CNC machines Fender had running in North America were in Corona so all MIM necks and bodies had been cut in Corona from day 1 of MIM production and not because of the fire. Also the necks were fretted in the USA too. So the same machines were making the cuts and shaping of the bodies and necks for both USA and MIM production for many years. The big differences were wood, hardware and electronics quality with training and experience of assembly and finish craftspeople also making the differences between USA and MIM obvious. Fender didn't install CNC machines in Mexico until years after the fire. After the fire destroyed everything it only took Fender right at 100 days to get the new Ensenada facility online with the original MIM workers back. It was an amazing recovery and miraculously no workers were injured in the fire.


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:11 am
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Great narrative, brotherdave -- very detailed (more than I was aware of anyway).

Thanks for posting that.

8)

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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:14 am
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BroDave,
Many thanks for your helpful info. I'm really loving this bass (I'm a fairly new player) and think it's a good candidate for upgrade/mod. Right now I'm trying out different strings to get that old blues, R&B sound. Oh, and I went to your site. Great stuff.

And Chef Wong, I appreciate your info as well. No apologies needed.

Peace All


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:17 pm
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The Squiers just keep on coming. Yesterday, I came across a mid 80's MIJ Jazz, antique white, rosewood board, three-ply pickguard. Very nice bass. One problem, though. As I turn up the volume knobs, it starts to pick up tv (or maybe radio) signals. I don't know much about electronics. What do I do to address this? Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Well, what do we have here?
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:36 pm
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bluesax wrote:
The Squiers just keep on coming. Yesterday, I came across a mid 80's MIJ Jazz, antique white, rosewood board, three-ply pickguard. Very nice bass. One problem, though. As I turn up the volume knobs, it starts to pick up tv (or maybe radio) signals. I don't know much about electronics. What do I do to address this? Thanks


May not be that big of a deal. Is this an ACTIVE J-Bass with a preamp? If not - then... "Tone Capacitors" used in bass guitars are also an excellent RF bypass capacitor to shunt stray radio frequency emissions to ground. This COULD possibly be that the Tone Cap in the electrical bay is either open, unsoldered or missing. However, there can be other issues that are not so easy to remedy. A full inspection by a qualified tech would be a good idea - similar to a house inspection by a qualified inspector before you purchase a house.


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