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Post subject: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:09 pm
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Can't seem to find the definitive answer anywhere. Are early-mid eighties Squire Japan Strats and Teles the same as or equal to early-mid eighties Fender Japan Strats and Teles? Seems to be lots of conflicting information, and no final answer I can find online or elsewhere.
So, are Fender Japan and Squier Japan instruments from this time period essentially the same in terms of body and necks, wood in general, finishes, hardware, electronics, and build quality, and just labeled and/or marketed differently? I've read that Squire Japan equals Fender Japan for early-mid eighties. I've also read that Squiers were the budget/entry level line. I know that some Squiers were for export, and that some were for their domestic market only-that doesn't really concern me. I've read very, very positive reviews for both lines. I'm especially interested in the so-called "'62 reissues" of this period.
So what's the final word here- are early Japan Squire, and early Fender Japan the same thing? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks for any info. O...


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Post subject: Re: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:09 pm
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Coincidently, I have been wondering about the same thing this week. I been searching around and prospecting a new model for me. I started playing in Jan. 2013 on my Squier Aff-Strat. I'm looking to upgrade to something better. Just so many choices. I wonder if same model guitars sound the same..???
I also wonder if finatics call China made Fenders & Squiers, real Fender's. Always seems to be a debate, if it aint stamped MADE IN USA.

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Post subject: Re: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 1:28 am
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No simple answers here.
A very crude general rule would be that the Squier brand is (was) not made with same components as the Fender brand, especially regarding hardware. Woods - I won't even begin to guess the origins or how they were sorted to F or S brand...
As to crafting quality and such, there are times when both may have come from same factories and/or production lines.

And then there are the special guitars - the "E-series" for example is very highly praised.

When you want to buy one, check out the common price level for similar guitars - the best series are rather easy to spot. Still, caveat emptor - every instrument is unique, lemons and diamonds you know.

And Dolores, the 'MIA - Made Elsewhere' or 'Fender - Squier' debate will go on forever and ever and ever and ever and ever...

BTW, is it under 200 miles from Corona to Ensenada if you take the I5 Oceanside route..?


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Post subject: Re: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 8:27 pm
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The first Fender Japan models introduced in May 1982 were the 1957 and 1962 series, which were Fender Stratocaster models ST'57-115, ST'57-85, ST'57-65, ST'62-115, ST'62-85, ST'62-65 and the Precision Bass models PB'57-95, PB'57-70, PB'62-98, PB'62-75. These models were Fender models and not Squier models. The stratocasters had Fender USA pickups installed and were made for the Japanese market only and not for export.[3]
Fender soon added a less expensive export Squier series based on the Fender Japan 1957 and 1962 series in July/August 1982, which had a large Fender logo with a smaller Squier logo and had a zinc rather than a steel tremolo block and again the stratocasters had Fender USA pickups installed. The Squier series were also made available for the Japanese market in October 1982, which incorporated small changes compared to the export Squier series. The large Fender logo of the export Squier series was soon changed to a large Squier logo.
The first Fender Japan guitars are known as the JV Fenders and JV Squiers, with JV standing for "Japanese Vintage" to reflect the guitars were made from the original blueprints of the vintage US guitars, were made by the FujiGen Gakki factory in Japan, using technical support from Fender USA. The SQ Squier series was introduced in late 1983 to early 1984. The SQ Squier series was based more on 1970s Fender models and also had USA made pickups installed.

-wikipedia


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Post subject: Re: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 8:30 pm
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Fender acted by setting up its own official Japanese manufacturing operation, Fender Japan, in March 1982. A joint U.S.-Japanese venture, Fender Japan produced guitars with material and technical support from Fender's U.S. facilities; Japanese manufacturing facilities even included factories that had been producing the aforementioned Fender copies. By May, Fender Japan had six vintage instruments— '57 and '62 Stratocaster models, a '52 Telecaster, '57 and '62 Precision Bass® models and a 62 Jazz Bass®.

Meanwhile, as the flood of Asian Fender copies surged over Europe, Fender sought a competitive low-cost alternative. Accordingly, the long-dormant Squier name was resurrected and assigned to export versions of the new Fender Japan vintage models; these became known as Squier JV ("Japanese Vintage") instruments. These high-quality models featured minimal design changes, including a small Squier logo on the headstock where the "Original Contour Body" decal normally appeared, and a more cost-effective zinc tremolo block in place of the usual steel one.

http://www.fender.com/squier/about/


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Post subject: Re: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:05 am
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Over the years Fender expanded their Squier manufacturing sources in other Far-Eastern countries: China, India, Taiwan, South Korea and Indonesia.

There was a period during which Squiers were also manufactured in the United States and Mexico.


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Post subject: Re: Does '80's Squire Japan=Fender Japan?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:42 pm
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The Squiers were all made at one time in Japan, possibly alongside the Fender Japan model guitars of the time- BUT they were not made to the same specs. The Squier guitars were and always will be made at the most cost effective manner, including the components attached to them. This is why Squier has been made in the USA, then Mexico, then Indonesia, and now all made in China. The Squier brand follows the lowest cost to produce.
All of that being said, it should be pointed out that Fender has never had an actual production facility in Japan. The Fender Guitars produced in Japan have been produced by the Fujigen production plant and various others over the years. These factories have also produced Ibanez and many other brands.
The problem (if it can be called one) is that the Japanese manufacturers seemed to be obseesed with overall quality and consistency of product even when they were producing them at a very low cost. Even today the Fender Japan guitars, though possibly lower in quality of materials used, are of at least equal playability and craftsmanship to the USA made Fender products. Usually exceeding the MIM stuff.


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