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Post subject: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:30 pm
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Anyone familiar with the Japanese Squiers and how they compare to the Chinese, Korean or Indonesian ones. I have a chance to pick up a 1994 one. Just not knowledgeable about them. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 2:44 am
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It's very difficult to compare individual guitars, but all MIJ's and many MIC/MIK guitars I've played have been real nice.
:wink:

So, speaking very generally, the Japanese Squiers are a level up from those other countries of origin you mentioned.
The first years of Japanese Fenders/Squiers (in the 1980's) are often considered to match or even surpass the corresponding MIM/MIA models of the same era, and among collectors those are the ones most sought for.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:01 pm
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As far as I know, the Japanese Squiers were only made from 1983 to 88 or so. After that , they were made in Korea then Indonesia and now in China. I never heard of a 1994 MIJ one.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers- don't be so quick to slam them...
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 11:57 pm
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I have to chime in here... The Squier bullet 1 strats were as follows:
1981-1983 were made in the USA. 1984-1986 they were made in Japan. 1987-up were everywhere else. The buzz is the Japan ones are the most sought after. Squier right? Yup Squier. They were the best quality. I own a 1986 Bullet with S/S/S pups. Bought it new in 1986. The neck is amazing. These days my gigger is my 2008 American Standard strat. But still have the Squier (in mint condition). Only thing I've done to it is put in a lace pup in the bridge position. It's an awesome guitar. People hear they're now collectible. They are. Don't confuse them with the Squiers of today. These are good guitars. The neck (which is actually a tele neck) is much better than my American strat. I'll never part with it. Saw one today on ebay for $999. That's high but they're getting up there in price. Someone here asked if it had mojo. You better believe it! I've recorded dozens of songs with it, most recently one I did back in 2010. The link to the song is below. The clean guitar in the first half of the song is it. It sounds amazing. Listen to it. (and yes the song sounds a lot like the Foo Fighters' "something from nothing". Before you say anything, mine was copyrighted and released 4 years earlier than theirs. But back to the guitar. They're awesome guitars don't be so quick to poo poo them...


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 6:34 pm
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I have a 1987 MIJ Telecaster and it is one of the best gtrs I have ever played. You couldn't ask for better action and for the original pups, it has a smooth sound that I have never heard in MIM and MIK. It would be hard to let go due to the sentimental value. I have used it in many gigs and it has never let me down. There is a pic of it in the "show your Fender guitars and amps" post. Though I have seen stores that have claimed to have MIJ re-issues, I can't prove whether they are authentic or not.

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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 2:10 am
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I have a MIJ 12 string Fender Strat. Great neck and overall workmanship. Will eventually change the pickups though.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 7:40 am
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I got a Bullet in September 1984. Don't know how much it cost as it was a gift. Sold it to a guy in college in about 1986. Saw one just like it in GC yesterday -- not in great condition. They wanted 499 for it. I was so young then and didn't realize what a gem it was. Am holding on to the Squier Stratocaster HH I have from 1986.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 6:34 pm
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Now the Squires are called "Crafted in Japan" and as far as I know they are still being made. The price has increased dramatically due to the demand and quality giving MIM and MIA a run for their money (pun intended). I own a 1986 MIJ Squire and did some research, and found that the assembly line had such a big demand that American parts were used in most of them as in mine. That's why they are highly sought after and sound so smooth. Bought mine in 1996 and wouldn't sell it for any amount of money.

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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 2:57 pm
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Which Squier product line do you think is "still being made" in Japan?
(I'm a bit dubious, because FMIC seems to be dropping even Japan made Fenders off the menu...)

On that "American parts in MIJ Squiers"... That surely has been floating around a lot, but seems there isn't much to back it up. So, which parts are you talking about, and what is the source for this info?
And don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want to badmouth the MIJ's, they are good instruments just as they come. Quoting my previous post above, "all MIJ's and many MIC/MIK guitars I've played have been real nice"


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 5:44 pm
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jmattis wrote:
Which Squier product line do you think is "still being made" in Japan?
(I'm a bit dubious, because FMIC seems to be dropping even Japan made Fenders off the menu...)

On that "American parts in MIJ Squiers"... That surely has been floating around a lot, but seems there isn't much to back it up. So, which parts are you talking about, and what is the source for this info?
And don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want to badmouth the MIJ's, they are good instruments just as they come. Quoting my previous post above, "all MIJ's and many MIC/MIK guitars I've played have been real nice"


The difference of the modern Japan Squire is now they are called "Crafted in Japan" and still have the "Squire" name. as I stated It is a recent product that can be purchased but I am not positive that they are still being produced today, but they can be purchased today at music stores.
As for the American parts check out the USA Squire section of the link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squier#Sq ... _SQ_series, and google the "E" series Squire (MIJ in the 80's from 1984-1987) and do the research. http://www.xhefriguitars.com/page14.html ( This is the one I have with American parts,which consist of pups, and the three way pickup switch). My model also has the original "Gotoh" tuner keys which are not American.

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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:04 pm
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stratcodger wrote:
Now the Squires are called "Crafted in Japan" and as far as I know they are still being made. The price has increased dramatically due to the demand and quality giving MIM and MIA a run for their money (pun intended). I own a 1986 MIJ Squire and did some research, and found that the assembly line had such a big demand that American parts were used in most of them as in mine. That's why they are highly sought after and sound so smooth. Bought mine in 1996 and wouldn't sell it for any amount of money.


Lots of incorrect information here. Squiers have not been made in Japan since the mid 90s when the Vista Series was produced. Also the Majority of the MIJ squiers did not have USA parts! Some of the first JV series guitars did have USA pickups, but most did not.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 3:25 am
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Yogi wrote:
Lots of incorrect information here.

Agreed, maybe even a bit of confusion betweer Squiers and Fenders manufactured in Japan.
Some higher level Japanese have had some US parts, but (excluding the JV's) that's more of an exception. On a 1986 E serial Strat the pups can be just about anything, from ceramics to Japanese AlNiCos to US made. (Clothed wires would suggest US...)

But I really don't get this point of view at all; that the guitars would somehow be "better" with US parts or "worse" with made in elsewhere parts. The value (and I'm not talking money here) comes from how a guitar plays and sounds, and (especially the early) Japanese Fenders/Squiers have nothing to shame on those.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 9:59 am
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jmattis wrote:
Yogi wrote:
Lots of incorrect information here.

Agreed, maybe even a bit of confusion betweer Squiers and Fenders manufactured in Japan.
Some higher level Japanese have had some US parts, but (excluding the JV's) that's more of an exception. On a 1986 E serial Strat the pups can be just about anything, from ceramics to Japanese AlNiCos to US made. (Clothed wires would suggest US...)

But I really don't get this point of view at all; that the guitars would somehow be "better" with US parts or "worse" with made in elsewhere parts. The value (and I'm not talking money here) comes from how a guitar plays and sounds, and (especially the early) Japanese Fenders/Squiers have nothing to shame on those.


Yes Many of the higher end Japanese guitars I've seen come with TX specials, but like you said its more of an exception


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:11 pm
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lots of good info here.
http://www.music-trade.co.jp/JVGuitarHome.html

I have a '92 Squier "Wayenes World" MIJ and it plays really well.


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Post subject: Re: Japanese Squiers
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:24 am
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06stratuser wrote:
Anyone familiar with the Japanese Squiers and how they compare to the Chinese, Korean or Indonesian ones. I have a chance to pick up a 1994 one. Just not knowledgeable about them. Any help is greatly appreciated.



Alrighty, these are, as always, just my own personal opinions...in this case based on my own research and my own personal experiences with these instruments as a whole...

First and foremost, it's a bit hard to specifically define MIJ series instruments, as it tends to depends on the era, the model line, etc., etc.. As a whole and in the broadest general sense, Japanese made instruments tend to be very good to excellent quality. The simple fact here is that the Japanese had been building knock-off's of American instruments (Fender and otherwise) for quite some time and by the time the 80's had rolled around, they had gotten VERY good at it. From my own personal experience, I've owned 2 mid 80's Squiers...both were E series and both were simply EXCELLENT instruments. To look at the tooling and craftsmanship of either of those instruments...pristine...I'm sorry, but you don't usually see that kind of work come off American assembly lines. To my understanding, these Fujigen era Squiers were in fact identical to their Fender counterparts...they all came off the same assembly lines, they all used the same parts (both of my Squiers had Fender branded tuners, bridges, etc), etc.. The only difference was simply the headstock decal.

That said, as Fender moved into the 90's and started cranking up the new Corona and Baja facilities, while I can't speak to Squier, I've read that Fender did deliberately have the Japanese makers back off on the quality a bit, essentially so they wouldn't be competing with themselves. If I remember my history correctly, the MIM's were originally aimed as a mid range instrument for the American market, where the MIJ's were aimed at the European market...from what I've read, they were essentially quite comparable. The MIJ Fenders of the 90's were still very good instruments, just not the sensational instruments that were produced earlier.

As far as 90's Squiers go, from what I've read, they did move the Squier line down to Korea sometime in the early/mid 90's...although I can't say when exactly. My experience with the Korean instruments has actually been really hit or miss. At one time I had an 04 Korean "Lite Ash" Fender Strat that was really well built (just not to my own personal playing tastes), however I've owned 2 older Korean Squiers and both were...ummm...junk. Poor quality laminate bodies, el' cheapo hardware, yadda, yadda, yadda. I've long suspected that these instruments were the sole reason that the Squier name earned such a bad rep...the Chinese (CIC) Squiers today are 1000% better.

Now on that issue alone, if the Squier in question is a '94, I'd be a bit careful and would want to give the instrument a good, thorough inspection before buying. This was very likely a transition era for Fender and even though it's labled as MIJ, that doesn't mean it is...Fender/Squier have been known to use left over parts, including labels, in the production of their instruments.

As far as Indonesian and Chinese made instruments go, personally I have no problem with either. I not only own 2 CIC's (an '09 Affinity Tele and an '08 Standard Strat), the neck on my "International Partscaster" is from an '03 Indo. In both cases, the "bang for the buck" has been really impressive...no, not as good as the early MIJ's, but still quite respectable. In fact, I remember when the Indo's first came out - at the time I was doing a fair bit of business with a local Ma & Pa shop and the owner made a point of showing me a couple of the Indo's when they hit his display. I do vividly remember being impressed with the finishes and they played really well compared with other inexpensive instruments...I grew up with brands like Memphis, Lotus and Cort, so those Indo's were significantly superior instruments. Even the pickups sounded pretty decent for "cheap" guitars. Likewise, when I got my '08 CIC Standard Strat, I have to admit that it was strictly an impulse buy...I had the $200 in my pocket and that sucker had one of the most lovely finishes I have ever seen on a Strat (still does) and she really played quite wonderfully. Yea, I have since upgraded the pickups and the trem block, just as I do with most Strats, however she's really a very gig worthy instrument...and she still looks just as lovely as the day I brought her home.

So with all of this said, in the broadest general sense, many of the MIJ's were really exceptional instruments and I would take those mid 80 E series Strats over just about anything else (although the MIM's from the mid 90's are still my personal favs). My advice to the OP however would be; if at all possible, personally inspect the instrument in question. The first thing I would do is pull the pickguard and/or the trem cover and see if the body is actually a solid wood or a laminate. -If- it's a laminate, I'd just walk away. If it's a genuine solid body however, then I would take a close look at the hardware and condition...depending on the price, it still may be worth it, but I would compare the purchase price against any needed upgrades to the hardware. If we're only talkin' around $100 (US), then I'd probably grab it, however if we're talking more...it would really depend on the individual instrument itself. While a lot of people will try and lump various instruments into broad catagories (MIJ's vs. MIM's for example), the truth is that it ALWAYS comes down to the specific instrument in question.

Okies...just my own $.02 worth.


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