Squier Silver Series
Squier Silver Series headstock
Although in 1987 the Squier brand was moved to Korea, it was still possible to find some Squier guitars made in Japan. However, no Squier had been manufactured in Japan since 1989, so, if a guitarist wanted a Squier, it had to be Korean. Yet, the new Korean Squiers are remembered as very low quality guitars, both for the hardware and the inferior electronics, and also because the body of many Squiers made in Korea was multilayer! Consequently, sales collapsed.
For exactly this reason, Fender decided to bring back the production of Squiers in Japan, and in 1991 the Hank Marvin Stratocaster was born, followed, in 1992, by the Squier Silver Series Stratocaster.
The latter, besides being sold in Japan, was exported in Great Britain and remained in production until 1995. It was identical to the Hank Marvin model, but was available also with rosewood fretboard, in more colors and with alder body (although probably other woods were sometimes used). The pickguard could be white or black, three-layer or single-layer. The “Silver Series” decal appeared on the ball of the headstock only in the summer of 1992. Squier logo was silverish and the “MADE IN JAPAN” decal was put under the "STRATOCASTER” one.
It is interesting to notice that the serial number of these first guitars did not always correspond to the year of production, thus suggesting that some could be made in 1990; actually, the first ones had to be manufactured at the earliest in December 1991. The tuning machines were good quality Gotoh, the vintage style bridge had unstamped saddles and the electronics were very cheap. Access to the truss rod was an important difference between the MIJ export Squier Stratocasters of the early '80s and these new Japanese Silver Series: it was at the nut for the Silver Series instead of at the neck heel like the old Squiers.
The Silver Series holds a very unique record: indeed, one of these guitars was the most expensive “used” Squier ever - in 2003 the Silver Series that belonged to George Harrison and Spike Milligan was auctioned for $29,384!
For exactly this reason, Fender decided to bring back the production of Squiers in Japan, and in 1991 the Hank Marvin Stratocaster was born, followed, in 1992, by the Squier Silver Series Stratocaster.
The latter, besides being sold in Japan, was exported in Great Britain and remained in production until 1995. It was identical to the Hank Marvin model, but was available also with rosewood fretboard, in more colors and with alder body (although probably other woods were sometimes used). The pickguard could be white or black, three-layer or single-layer. The “Silver Series” decal appeared on the ball of the headstock only in the summer of 1992. Squier logo was silverish and the “MADE IN JAPAN” decal was put under the "STRATOCASTER” one.
It is interesting to notice that the serial number of these first guitars did not always correspond to the year of production, thus suggesting that some could be made in 1990; actually, the first ones had to be manufactured at the earliest in December 1991. The tuning machines were good quality Gotoh, the vintage style bridge had unstamped saddles and the electronics were very cheap. Access to the truss rod was an important difference between the MIJ export Squier Stratocasters of the early '80s and these new Japanese Silver Series: it was at the nut for the Silver Series instead of at the neck heel like the old Squiers.
The Silver Series holds a very unique record: indeed, one of these guitars was the most expensive “used” Squier ever - in 2003 the Silver Series that belonged to George Harrison and Spike Milligan was auctioned for $29,384!
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The low-budget switch Yamaha YM50 of the Silver Series (courtesy of yustech.blogspot.it)
Fender Squier Series Stratocaster
Between 1992 and 1995, intermittently, some Fender Squier Series Stratocaster had been made; they were Fender branded, similar to the Korean Stratocasters, distinguishable by the "Squier SERIES" decal on the ball of the headstock, the covered tuning machines and the ceramic pickups.
Some of them had the Spaghetti Logo, others the Black Label Logo. The first ones had a basswood body with a three-layer pickguard and the serial number, with the “MADE IN JAPAN” decal on the neck heel. The second had a poplar body with 1-ply pickguard, “MADE IN JAPAN” decal on the front and serial number on the back of the headstock.
Obviously, they should not be confused with the JV’s, and neither with the Mexican Squier Series Standard Stratocaster (1993-1996) nor the Korean Squier Series Stratocaster (1992-1993). They were low-budget Stratocasters, priced between the Korean Squiers and the Fender branded made in Japan guitars.
Some of them had the Spaghetti Logo, others the Black Label Logo. The first ones had a basswood body with a three-layer pickguard and the serial number, with the “MADE IN JAPAN” decal on the neck heel. The second had a poplar body with 1-ply pickguard, “MADE IN JAPAN” decal on the front and serial number on the back of the headstock.
Obviously, they should not be confused with the JV’s, and neither with the Mexican Squier Series Standard Stratocaster (1993-1996) nor the Korean Squier Series Stratocaster (1992-1993). They were low-budget Stratocasters, priced between the Korean Squiers and the Fender branded made in Japan guitars.
Squier Series with Spaghetti Logo (Chrissi82 musiker-board.de)
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Squier Series Black Logo (Icemomochacha di Strat Talk)
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Wayne's World Stratocaster
Wayne's World was a 1992 comedy film for a young audience, with the participation of the novice Mike Myers and Alice Cooper. In one of the scenes one of the protagonists was seen playing a Fender Stratocaster.
Given the success of the film, Fender decided to realize, between the end of 1992 and 1993, in the FujiGen Gakki factory, the Wayne’s World Stratocaster. Essentially, it was a Squier Silver Series but with a basswood body instead of alder, covered unslotted tuning machines in place of the Gotoh ones of the Silver Series, a neck plate on which the Wayne’s World logo was engraved, and was available only in the Arctic White finish.
We should not forget Wayne’s World 2 Stratocaster, manufactured in Mexico at the Ensenada plant only in 1994.
Given the success of the film, Fender decided to realize, between the end of 1992 and 1993, in the FujiGen Gakki factory, the Wayne’s World Stratocaster. Essentially, it was a Squier Silver Series but with a basswood body instead of alder, covered unslotted tuning machines in place of the Gotoh ones of the Silver Series, a neck plate on which the Wayne’s World logo was engraved, and was available only in the Arctic White finish.
We should not forget Wayne’s World 2 Stratocaster, manufactured in Mexico at the Ensenada plant only in 1994.
1993 Squier Wayne's World Strat advert: the guitar in the picture oddly had Gotoh tuners
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Extract from the movie
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XII String
Among the other export Japanese Fender guitars we should also mention the XII Stratocaster, of which numerous models have been made. The first two, in production between 1988 and 1991 and between 1994 and 1996, could be recognized by the Transition style logo and twenty-two frets; those manufactured between 2005 and 2009 and between 2018 and 2019 had, instead, the Spaghetti Logo and twenty-one vintage style frets. Those made between 2005 and 2009 were also available in the Lake Placid Blue and Burgundy Mist Metallic finishes with matching headstock. It should also be noted that some twelve strings were intended only for the Japanese market and had slightly different specs.
Antonio Calvosa
First XII strings Strat headstock with Transition style logo
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Latter XII strings Strats had the Spaghetti Logo
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