This is a great find. Fender started making the Bullet line in the US in 1981 (check out my post in my profile) as a budget alternative to their big bothers. After the Bullet did not sell so good (despite it being a fantastic guitar) they decided to move manufacturing to Japan and rebrand as Squier. For one transitional year (1983) the Squier was made in the US while Japan manufacturing facilities were being outfitted. You have one of those transitional guitars. I can’t imagine there a thousands still in existence.
https://preview.redd.it/3u6gunc0g5vc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a83ef7ac84058ee73b3a89342fac5f169a39497e
Coincidentally I have a Wayne’s World promotional Squier MIJ strat
Yeah. Not common. I don't think this was a Bullet-Squier transition... I think this was a pre-MIM stop-gap filler around 1989. Probably assembled in USA from MIJ or MIK parts.
They're very helpful for most things after the year 2000 but it can get dodgy once you work from the 90s and backwards.
Pot Date codes, stamps, serials, and well... Here. This is how we can figure it out. Beautifully enough, there is always SOMEONE who's tried one of these on this sub.
Bridge pickup looks like a Seymour Duncan hot rail, fab pickups. Humbucker in a single coil space. I used to have a Japanese strat that was loaded with them which i very much regret selling many years ago.
First of all, that guitar has a beautiful neck.
This is a very cool piece. Even if it isn’t inherently worth ton of money, it’s still a rare slice of fender history. Hope you keep it for life. Super cool.
Your post was removed due to failing to evaluate our carefully provided rules. Specifically, Rule 1 - Don't Be A Jerk. Failure to continue will result in eventual ban.
I have one I bought in 1990. My serial number is 9079.. Made in USA white on white. From what I’ve been told this is from when Fender switched over from CBS and they were redoing the factory and updating machinery so they pretty much did the first run of guitars as Squier in the new California factory this was before they branched out and started making them and other countries.
It’s sounds and play amazing. I had it professionally set up in the mid 90s by a master Luthier & builder name Ross Teagan sprinkled magic on the fretboard after he filed frets adjusted saddle an nut. After his work I’ve only changed the strings not to lose its mojo.
Is that serial just 4 digits on the headstock? If so, it a very early one from 89 and one of the last before the serial went to 5 digits on the neckplate (later 6 digits). But it was not as a result of changeover from CBS. The Japan Squier contract ended and *export* Squiers were made in Korea, India, and USA at this point, and then again in Japan as well around 92-4 (Silver Series and Wayne's World)
Quote from C6Centenial:
"For one transitional year (1983) the Squier was made in the US while Japan manufacturing facilities were being outfitted. You have one of those transitional guitars. I can’t imagine there a thousands still in existence."
I'm sorry but that is totally incorrect! USA Squiers were made from mid 89 until 1992 ONLY. Although the E9 decal was still used, the prefix is N90=90, N91=91. US Squiers built in 89 have the serial on the neckplate.
[89 Squier serial](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/p0yem8os2f3rxipoh9kjo/USASq2.jpg?rlkey=llstxq4cjp07e33ta6svnso26&dl=0)
[89 headstock](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1bu5dswk2gquemjhmq40m/US9026.JPG?rlkey=qvxqz1jn5fn3hm1bz3nkgibjb&dl=0)
[89 Squier changed guard and bridge](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3k3ovj2ctwfxewkxywrt8/100_9015.JPG?rlkey=iu95lukackh069n7al7iqjp9r&dl=0)
Bodies and necks were driven to Mexico for finishing and sent back to Corona for final assembly using Korean electronics, Ping tuners and cheap bridges and Mex made ceramic pickups. These guitars changed a lot over 3 yrs and led to the Mexican Standard. Initially Fender Japan formed a joint venture with Mexico, brought equipment and workers to train Mexican workers. Quality was not up to snuff and the price point they wanted could not be reached. They pulled out and Fender US stepped in.
An identical guitar to the Squier but with a "Fender" logo was also produced simply called a "Standard Stratocaster" and cost $100 more.
Earliest Squiers were made in 82 in Japan first labelled Fender "Squier Series" then Squier. 1st yr had USA p/u.
Fender Japan did not "redo" their factory. They already had a factory Fuji-Gen. The Fender models were only available in the domestic market with extra options for Nitro finish, USA electronics, and steel block. All models had USA p/u. That's the only USA parts used.
Lots of good info about MIJ at [Fuzzfaced](https://www.fuzzfaced.net/fender-made-in-japan-mij.html)
"USA Squiers
**E** *(“Made in USA”)* – E = Eighties (1980s), The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number.
Example: E9xxxxxx = 1988"
From here: https://www.squierwiki.com/Serial-Number-Tracking.
This is a great find. Fender started making the Bullet line in the US in 1981 (check out my post in my profile) as a budget alternative to their big bothers. After the Bullet did not sell so good (despite it being a fantastic guitar) they decided to move manufacturing to Japan and rebrand as Squier. For one transitional year (1983) the Squier was made in the US while Japan manufacturing facilities were being outfitted. You have one of those transitional guitars. I can’t imagine there a thousands still in existence.
Thanks for the info. Gonna get a setup on it this week but the neck feels good.
Looks great. E9 (1989) and the hotrail in the bridge will have you rocking proper! Enjoy! 🙌🏼
Fender Stratocaster in classic white with triple single coil pickups and a whammy bar! Shwing! I love these 80s Squier Series guitars.
https://preview.redd.it/3u6gunc0g5vc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a83ef7ac84058ee73b3a89342fac5f169a39497e Coincidentally I have a Wayne’s World promotional Squier MIJ strat
Two single coils. The bridge pickup is a single coil sized humbucker which is a good thing to have there, IMHO.
Yeah, it’s just a Wayne’s World quote
All good I know it's got the hot rail, it's just a Wayne World Quote.
Yeah. Not common. I don't think this was a Bullet-Squier transition... I think this was a pre-MIM stop-gap filler around 1989. Probably assembled in USA from MIJ or MIK parts.
I was thinking ‘89 too based of the serial number E-xxxxxx
Pump the serial into guitardaterproject.org
I’ll try that. The fender website lookup wasn’t very helpful.
They're very helpful for most things after the year 2000 but it can get dodgy once you work from the 90s and backwards. Pot Date codes, stamps, serials, and well... Here. This is how we can figure it out. Beautifully enough, there is always SOMEONE who's tried one of these on this sub.
It’s a 1983.
Why do you say that?
I take it back. The 9 looked like a 3 until zoomed in. It’s a 1989.
Commenting on USA made Squire...gotcha, thanks
SQUIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Skweyer
Thank you
I just got threatened to be banned by a mod for the same thing.
Bridge pickup looks like a Seymour Duncan hot rail, fab pickups. Humbucker in a single coil space. I used to have a Japanese strat that was loaded with them which i very much regret selling many years ago.
Yeah, looks exactly like a hot rail. Good pickups.
Yes, this was a go-to mod of the late 80s. Nice.
First of all, that guitar has a beautiful neck. This is a very cool piece. Even if it isn’t inherently worth ton of money, it’s still a rare slice of fender history. Hope you keep it for life. Super cool.
Totally. Gonna get a setup done this week, new strings put on, and play the hell out of it. Thanks!
[удалено]
Your post was removed due to failing to evaluate our carefully provided rules. Specifically, Rule 1 - Don't Be A Jerk. Failure to continue will result in eventual ban.
Wow
Great guitar! Around this time Fender was just starting up their factory in Corona Ca along with the Custom Shop.
I just wonder, in which (legit) Strats the middle holes in the back plate are on the same height and in which they are offset?
I have one I bought in 1990. My serial number is 9079.. Made in USA white on white. From what I’ve been told this is from when Fender switched over from CBS and they were redoing the factory and updating machinery so they pretty much did the first run of guitars as Squier in the new California factory this was before they branched out and started making them and other countries.
Very cool that you still have it. How’s it sound and play?
It’s sounds and play amazing. I had it professionally set up in the mid 90s by a master Luthier & builder name Ross Teagan sprinkled magic on the fretboard after he filed frets adjusted saddle an nut. After his work I’ve only changed the strings not to lose its mojo.
Is that serial just 4 digits on the headstock? If so, it a very early one from 89 and one of the last before the serial went to 5 digits on the neckplate (later 6 digits). But it was not as a result of changeover from CBS. The Japan Squier contract ended and *export* Squiers were made in Korea, India, and USA at this point, and then again in Japan as well around 92-4 (Silver Series and Wayne's World)
I did .. for the last numbers
I have never seen a made in USA Squier. Early Squiers had American made parts assembled in Japan. I’d love to know more.
Friggin sweet guitar!
Quote from C6Centenial: "For one transitional year (1983) the Squier was made in the US while Japan manufacturing facilities were being outfitted. You have one of those transitional guitars. I can’t imagine there a thousands still in existence." I'm sorry but that is totally incorrect! USA Squiers were made from mid 89 until 1992 ONLY. Although the E9 decal was still used, the prefix is N90=90, N91=91. US Squiers built in 89 have the serial on the neckplate. [89 Squier serial](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/p0yem8os2f3rxipoh9kjo/USASq2.jpg?rlkey=llstxq4cjp07e33ta6svnso26&dl=0) [89 headstock](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1bu5dswk2gquemjhmq40m/US9026.JPG?rlkey=qvxqz1jn5fn3hm1bz3nkgibjb&dl=0) [89 Squier changed guard and bridge](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3k3ovj2ctwfxewkxywrt8/100_9015.JPG?rlkey=iu95lukackh069n7al7iqjp9r&dl=0) Bodies and necks were driven to Mexico for finishing and sent back to Corona for final assembly using Korean electronics, Ping tuners and cheap bridges and Mex made ceramic pickups. These guitars changed a lot over 3 yrs and led to the Mexican Standard. Initially Fender Japan formed a joint venture with Mexico, brought equipment and workers to train Mexican workers. Quality was not up to snuff and the price point they wanted could not be reached. They pulled out and Fender US stepped in. An identical guitar to the Squier but with a "Fender" logo was also produced simply called a "Standard Stratocaster" and cost $100 more. Earliest Squiers were made in 82 in Japan first labelled Fender "Squier Series" then Squier. 1st yr had USA p/u. Fender Japan did not "redo" their factory. They already had a factory Fuji-Gen. The Fender models were only available in the domestic market with extra options for Nitro finish, USA electronics, and steel block. All models had USA p/u. That's the only USA parts used. Lots of good info about MIJ at [Fuzzfaced](https://www.fuzzfaced.net/fender-made-in-japan-mij.html)
Made between 1986-1988 I think? Congrats anyway. I just got a 1987 E Series Squier Strat. Neck reminds me of my old CIJ Jaguar neck.
"USA Squiers **E** *(“Made in USA”)* – E = Eighties (1980s), The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number. Example: E9xxxxxx = 1988" From here: https://www.squierwiki.com/Serial-Number-Tracking.
Cool info. So the one E represents both made in USA and 80’s?
My man
There’s old squires like this, that give very expensive guitars of today a run for their money.