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Post subject: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:55 am
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My first electric guitar back in '93 (or something like that) was a black Squier strat made in Japan. I still have it and I still like playing it. I always knew Squier was the Fender equivalent of Epiphone and thus did not think much of that guitar, but I recently read that the Japan made models were actually quite good quality.
Serial number is N024XXX, headplate says "Squier Stratocaster - by Fender - Made in Japan".

So my question is: Which current Fender/Squier strat would be the rough equivalent quality-wise?


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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:53 am
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It is hard to say without seeing the guitar but it is known that some of those older MIJ squiers were pretty close if not superior in "quality" to USA Strats of the period and some even used USA reissue bodys and necks. For all intents and purposes even though they used the Squire name were still Fenders. There are no current Squiers that are anywhere close in quality to an older MIJ which used completely different body materials and dimensions, necks, and other parts including electronics. Granted I can't be sure on a 93-94 which the SN indicates. I would need to see the guitar for dimensions and other tell tales. The 80s were a different story. The thing to watch out for on some in the 90s is the wood which could be like a plywood or MDF....not sure how much that effects sound but it is cheap wood either way and something to consider.

I would "guess" a good mexi reissue or USA could be as good quality wise but always to consider is quality control. There could be lemons now and again and it is pretty common knowledge that the Japan quality control (at least back then) was second to none. Not sure if it was a pride thing to show up the USA or if they would commit suicide if they failed at their job lol.

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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:23 pm
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It is the early MIJ Squiers (c. '82-'88) that are considered close to on par with some American counterparts, particularly those from '82-'84/'85 when Squier Japan and Fender Japan equaled pretty much the same thing. Indeed, the JV ('50's/'60's copies) and SQ ('70's, "big head" copies) Squier series are considered some of the very best Fenders, Japanese or American, of the era. The last great run of MIJ Squiers is usually considered the "E series" c. '84-'88.
Granted, American production was very limited at the time, as the "new FMIC" was in the process of buying out CBS, and looking to build new manufacturing facilities before coming out with the new company saving/establishing "American Standard" line in 1988. And high quality instruments they were, as all Fender players can attest.
Your Squier's serial number indicates a probable production date of 1992, well after the "classic" period of MIJ Squier production, as Fender Japan was up and running as the high end Fender guitar line in Asia at that time. That said, if you like the way it plays and sounds, that's all that really matters.
Here is a good link to the history of early MIJ Squiers: http://planetbotch.blogspot.com/2011/12 ... trats.html


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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 5:46 pm
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nyquilcoma wrote:
It is the early MIJ Squiers (c. '82-'88) that are considered close to on par with some American counterparts, particularly those from '82-'84/'85 when Squier Japan and Fender Japan equaled pretty much the same thing. Indeed, the JV ('50's/'60's copies) and SQ ('70's, "big head" copies) Squier series are considered some of the very best Fenders, Japanese or American, of the era. The last great run of MIJ Squiers is usually considered the "E series" c. '84-'88.
Granted, American production was very limited at the time, as the "new FMIC" was in the process of buying out CBS, and looking to build new manufacturing facilities before coming out with the new company saving/establishing "American Standard" line in 1988. And high quality instruments they were, as all Fender players can attest.
Your Squier's serial number indicates a probable production date of 1992, well after the "classic" period of MIJ Squier production, as Fender Japan was up and running as the high end Fender guitar line in Asia at that time. That said, if you like the way it plays and sounds, that's all that really matters.
Here is a good link to the history of early MIJ Squiers: http://planetbotch.blogspot.com/2011/12 ... trats.html


This makes sense. ^

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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:36 am
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Thank you for your answers.

It's a GAS problem, of course - how much money would I have to spend to get a "better" guitar? That's why I wanted to have a rough comparison in terms of current models.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:22 am
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Many of us have that problem lol. Just get to a music store and try out some Squiers and compare.

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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 1:06 am
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For me I prefer anything MIJ. Started on a MIJ Squier back in the 1980s. Well made, great finish, great pickups plays and sounds like a 62 reissue


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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:29 pm
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I have a Squier JV series Strat that I have owned since 83. Its a nice axe

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Post subject: Re: Squier Strat made in Japan - how good is it?
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:21 am
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I know this thread is a few months old, but I just wanted to add my own opinions here for the sake of posterity...

First and foremost, it's my understanding that the MIJ's from the early to mid 80's were indeed a very different breed of instrument from those that came around in the early 90's and onward. That's not to say that the 90's MIJ's were in any way "bad" instruments, just that many of the mid 80's MIJ's were truly exceptional to say the least. Much has been written about the Fugigen era of Fender/Squier instruments, so I'll leave it to the OP (or anyone else) to do their research and homework there, but in a small nutshell, the Squier instruments from that era all came off the same assembly line, were crafted by the same workers and most of them used the exact same parts as their Fender branded counterparts. By the time the 80's rolled around, the Japanese manufacturers has been copying American made instruments for quite a while and had become VERY good at it.

While I've never owned one of the 90's MIJ's to be able to do a direct comparison , I have owned 2 of the infamous "E-series" Strats that came out of Fujigen...an '85 and an '87 (the '87 is still in my arsenal) and I have to honestly say they are some of the highest quality instruments I've ever seen...even when compared with contemporary American Strats. The tooling, fit and finish are all 1'st rate on those instruments...short of Custom Shop, you just don't see that kind of craftsmanship in most instruments, American or otherwise, regardless of era. Would a '93 compare? I doubt it...from what I understand, rumor has it that Fender had the Japanese plants back off a bit on the quality around that time...something about not wanting to compete with themselves as I recall. That said however I strongly suspect that the OP's '93 is likely a very good instrument (at the very least, an instrument that's well worth upgrading).

Unfortunately there's still a nasty stigma attached to the Squier name and A LOT of ignorance surrounding said stigma. As such, my advice to the OP (or anyone else) is to make YOUR OWN decision based on the individual instrument itself. Don't worry about what it says on the headstock or where it was made or what so and so says on a forum (myself included) or what you may have read somewhere or been told - if YOU enjoy the instrument and it does what YOU need it to do, THAT is the important thing.

As far as the GAS aspect goes...sorry...can't help ya there. There's a reason I currently own around 25 guitars (LOL). That said however, if you feel you need a "better" guitar, I'd simply suggest playing all the instruments that you can that are within your budget and let your own hands, ears and heart decide which is right for you. Again don't worry about brand or where it was made...just think of it as "a guitar" and go from there.

Just my own $.02 worth.


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