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Post subject: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:26 am
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Hi, First I'm trying to buy the best I can at a low level, so looking for the best quality low end Fender I can buy. I've read through lots of threads, some of which seem to contradict each other so......I've seen this guitar, on the face of it seems to check out as a 1994 MIJ Squier
(silver logo so plywood body?) not sure add pictures n stuff so it's available on ebay uk on
' mb_music ' site with lots of pic's
Question is, is this just regular Squier with a 'Made in Japan Sticker', hav'nt held it yet as it'll take me two hours to drive there.....any thoughts, questions to ask appreciated.
Greetings, from not so sunny Lincoln, UK[/color]


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:58 am
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the blue one i actually have that saved in my watch list get ya hands off haha, yes that is a very good looking guitar.

the serial number according to the fender website dating references checks out to 94, P+ 6 digits and it says made in japan also anything from 97 onwards would have the words crafted in japan.

not sure if the colour was a standard squier colour or not as for the price i am not sure about that either, the only other 93/4 japanese model on there has an O+ 6digits serial number possibly different models but thats a lot cheaper


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:44 am
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alfunkz wrote:
the blue one i actually have that saved in my watch list get ya hands off haha, yes that is a very good looking guitar.

the serial number according to the fender website dating references checks out to 94, P+ 6 digits and it says made in japan also anything from 97 onwards would have the words crafted in japan.

not sure if the colour was a standard squier colour or not as for the price i am not sure about that either, the only other 93/4 japanese model on there has an O+ 6digits serial number possibly different models but thats a lot cheaper


Good info. Are you familiar with what year(s) were the last that MIJ Squiers were made from solid wood and not plywood?


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:11 pm
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sorry war i cant help with that one someone else may be able to though.

le.petit to be honest for around an extra £40 or so you could buy a brand new classic vibe strat, these have been getting some very very good reviews, check them out, and i am sure wont involve a 4 hour round trip :D


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:38 pm
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Thanks for the input guys, at the moment I'm swaying towards saving-up some more and the Fender Classic Vibe Stratocaster option, as for the date of the of the last MIJ solid body guitars, I've been checking out the Squier forum on '21-frets.com' and 'strat-talk.com'
which suggest all the MIJ models were solid body, tons of info on both.....

The guy with the MIJ on ebay wants £225 bottom line +£25 for a used case, which I think is too much...............he has'nt had the neck off, only sent me extra pictures of backplate cavity...doesn't show anything new, no markings etc...............

Don't go near the yellow snow................Phil


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:52 pm
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yeah you shouldnt buy a guitar you cant hold it could turn out to be a lemon like i say if you are gonna spend 250 on a second hand you may aswell spend another 30-40 and get a new one i can vouch for the squier classic vibe absolutely awesome guitars mine is the 50's


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Post subject: Re: MIJ Squier Stratocaster
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:15 pm
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le.petit.bleu.de.garcon@gmail.com wrote:
Hi, First I'm trying to buy the best I can at a low level, so looking for the best quality low end Fender I can buy. I've read through lots of threads, some of which seem to contradict each other so......I've seen this guitar, on the face of it seems to check out as a 1994 MIJ Squier
(silver logo so plywood body?) not sure add pictures n stuff so it's available on ebay uk on
' mb_music ' site with lots of pic's
Question is, is this just regular Squier with a 'Made in Japan Sticker', hav'nt held it yet as it'll take me two hours to drive there.....any thoughts, questions to ask appreciated.
Greetings, from not so sunny Lincoln, UK[/color]


It's late March, so maybe you've already made your "buy". But if you haven't, or for the benefit of others looking at this thread for similar info, I'll try to help. First - I've been buying, trading, collecting, repairing and restoring guitars (mostly Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Rick's, G&L, MusicMan, Hofner, Vox and a few others that don't come to my old mind at the moment) and I've been a stage and studio guitarist. My uncle worked for Fender from 1960 till 1998 when he passed away from Cancer. That's my "credentials".

Japanese Fenders have never had "plywood" bodies, period. Korean Squier's did from 1987ish trough 1995 and those ALL had BLACK Squier logos and even some Silver logo'd were "plywood" - actually musical instrument laminated bodies of 12 to 15 layers. Hardly "plywood" as you'd think of.

Nearly all Japanese Fenders were made by FujiGen Gakki from 1982-1/2 through 1995-ish when Fender "fired" them because they found out they also had started a contract with Gibson to make Epiphones (think knock off ES-335s, 330's, etc.) FujiGen was and is THE master maker of Guitars in Japan, even made Ibanez and other brands off and on; and they in typical Japanese fashion, are actually 3 or 4 smaller hardware factories belonging to a "sister co-operative" of companies + the 3 or 4 BIG FujiGen Gakki owned factories. FujiGen made those 1983 - 1988 Fender Guitars that Fender lied and marked "Made in USA", but were actually only "assembled" in various warehouses around Corona CA after the sale of Fender Musical Instruments from CBS to the "Managers Group" and DID NOT include the Fullerton Factory or the machinery. FujiGen JV (Japan Vintage) and SQ serial number Squier's of 1983 - 1988 are very much considered to be far better than American made Fender guitars - I own and have worked on numerous ones and can hardily agree with that opinion! Many came with Alnico PUPs and premium Ceramic PUPs, the electric components, tuners and Trem parts are every bit as good as USA made parts and Fender US actually used Japanese parts on American Standard models.

Now your question about the best / cheapest - These "80's" FujiGen Fenders are already out of sight in prices, getting $800 plus for VG condition models. I have a 83 JV "57" Strat and a 83 SQ "52" Tele my Uncle gave me in 83 and I've been offered over a $grand for the SQ Tele and $1500 for the JV Strat. I won't sell em.

So the next best and much cheaper is an early 90's Fender Stratocaster (1991 - 1995) "MIJ" "Squier Series". Sweet Sen, Ash or Basswood 5 - 6 piece solid bodies, awesome 1-piece Maple or 2-piece Rosewood C or V necks and some even came with Alnico II PUPs! Tuners are "OK", electrics are VVG! NONE are Plywood! Look to pay if the seller is reasonable, $175 to $400 depending on condition, color and if OHSC. I picked up a 94 Torino Red Strat Squier Series with orig Alnico II PUPs in 9.5 out of 10 cond (no case) at a Guitar Center in January, only missing the Trem cavity cover for $150!

Last best choice and still cheaper than above are MIK (Korean) Squiers from 1995 - 1997-ish. NO PRE 1995!! AND NO MIK's with Black or Silver Squier Logos! These are all the Laminated Bodies, IF you want a solid body guitar. Bodies are typically Asian Alder, Basswood and some are Asian Ash. Ash is the best and ALL the most excellent Squier "Pro Tone" models are Ash bodies. Regular 95 - 97 MIK Squier Strats often go for $100 - $150 depending on condition, Pro Tones $200 to $300 depending on color and condition and if OHSC. Last fall 2011 I bought a Blonde Ash Pro Tone Strat in 10 condition off a seller on Craigslist in The OC for just $210 (Killer axe for Jazz and Rock) and a '96 Shaehan (Vester) made MIK Sunburst Squier w/ Maple neck with only a stripped truss nut ($9) in 8.8 condition no case for just $65, again off a seller on Craigslist in Fullerton! I dropped in Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Customs PUPs and it Growls for hard blues and slide.

Happy shopping dude!


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