|
Introduction
Welcome to the Squier JV Pages!
The aim of this site is to provide as much accurate information as possible on the first ever export Squier JV guitars, (looking largely at the 'JV' prefix as a 'spec' rather than just a serial number) with added info on 'SQ and Pro Tone series instruments. It is non profit making, and is purely for the enjoyment of Squier 'vintage 'JV, 'SQ and Pro Tone enthusiasts.
Because it is the intention of the Squier JV Pages to provide as much factual information as possible, research is still ongoing, and from time to time some of the information on these pages may change, either to amend / clarify something or to add more information.
If you find anything within these pages to be unclear, ambiguous, confusing or otherwise, please ask your question in the JV Forum, more likely than not an answer will be provided, (your patience in this matter is greatly appreciated)
Fender®, Squier®, Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Precision Bass®, Jazz Bass®, and Pro Tone®, are all registered trademarks of FMIC and are the sole property of FMIC and it's respective owners.
The Squier JV Pages is not affiliated or associated with the Fender company in any way.
"Everybody came up to inspect them and the guys almost cried, because the Japanese product was so good - it was what we were having a hell of a time trying to do."
(This statement above is often used regarding Squier JV instruments, but to be fair, this was originally aimed at Fender Japan's first 'Fender' models; The export Squier versions of the time were however, virtually identicle in quality and vintage accuracy to the poly finished ST-65 Fender JV's).
Dan Smith, Director of Marketing, Electric Guitars, Fender USA.
Although JV pre-fixed serial numbers have found there way on to some other models (i.e; Contemporary series guitars), this site will be concentrating on the high-end pre-CBS spec. export guitars (a page has also been included to clarify the Japanese domestic JV market).
What is an export Squier JV guitar, and why are they so sought after?
JV stands for "Japanese Vintage". These were the very first Squier instruments available, and were high quality vintage style guitars with a great sound and authentic feel. This was at a time when the Squier name was introduced to indicate a Fender Japan export guitar, and not the entry level instrument that the Squier name has become associated with.
Though they were available slightly later in the Japanese domestic marketplace with a slightly different spec (Japanese domestic models were fitted with quality Japanese SQ-4 and SQ-5 pickups), they were also Fender Japan's first export guitar. This makes the export models historically important, and these guitars (The first short run of Fender logo models in particular) have become very collectable, especially in Europe; It is this quality, vintage accuracy, collectability and historical importance (not forgetting the use of American Pickups in the Stratocaster models) of the export vintage spec 'JV' guitars, which has directed this site to concentrate more on those models.
They were built (from the original blueprints!) and exported as vintage replicas of pre-CBS 1952, 57 and 62 models; Features included six in a line Kluson style tuners, USA made vintage staggered pole pickups (Stratocasters only) with cloth covered wires (plain wire was used on a lot of the earlier models), period correct screw positioning , vintage body contouring and neck radiusing.
Squier JV guitars were built right alongside the Japanese domestic market Fenders at the Fuji Gen-Gakki factory, (makers of Ibanez, Greco and Antoria brand instruments) Matsumoto, Japan, between 1982 and 1984.
"...FENDER JAPAN CO Ltd was officially established on March 11, 1982 as an American-Japanese joint-venture, with equal partners from each country. The agreement provided that Fender guitars made in Japan would be manufactured by FUJI GEN-GAKKI Mfg Co,. Ltd with designs and parts supplied by CBS/FENDER.
A.R. Duchossoir
"The Fender Stratocaster"
A brief Squier JV (export) History and Details.
March 11th 1982
Following negotiations with two Japanese distribution companies, Kanda Shokai and Yamano music, Fender Japan co. Ltd. was officially announced in the Grand Palace Hotel, Kudanshita, Tokyo (above picture). Three of the six board seats, 38 percent of the stock and all of the important product licenses were to be held by Fender. The guitars would be made at the Fuji Gen Gakki factory, Matsumoto, Japan, and the Greco team were chosen to build the new Fender guitars (info from Japanese vintage guitar magazine).
April 1982
Manufacture of the very first JV instruments is under way.
May 7th 1982
First Fender Japan product announcement.
Models introduced were:
1. 1962 style Stratocaster with a rosewood neck, in 3 tone sunburst.
2. 1957 style Stratocaster with a maple neck, in 2 tone sunburst.
3. 1952 style Telecaster with a maple neck, in butterscotch blonde.
4. 1962 style Precision Bass with a rosewood neck, in 3 tone sunburst.
5. 1957 style Precision Bass with a maple neck, in 2 tone sunburst.
6. 1962 style Jazz Bass with a rosewood neck, in 3 tone sunburst.
The first guitars were produced (without any mention of the Squier name) for the Japanese home market, but due to pressure from overseas (Europe in particular) for an export range, it was decided that Fender Japan would export some cost effective models under the Fender 'Squier series' name (In this case cost effective' is not to be confused with the word 'inferior', as these early guitars were of a high quality; As high (in my opinion) as some of the domestic Japanese Fender models; The only real difference being the use of a Zinc alloy trem block in the 'Squier series' stratocaster, as opposed to the steel trem block of the Japanese domestic market "original contour body" labeled Stratocasters)
The Squier series was introduced as Fender Japan's export line, and named as such to identify the guitars as a Japanese Fender, with the word 'Squier' (Is, and has ALWAYS been spelled 'SQUIER' and never 'SQUIRE' ) borrowed from the V.C. Squier string company obtained by CBS Fender in 1965.
Personal comment:
It is often rumoured that necks and bodies were sent out to Japan from the U.S. for assembly. It is my personal opinion that this was not so, as Sen ash was used for a lot of early JV bodies (and Greco guitars, built well before Fender took over) . Also, if it were the case that they were U.S made, then the U.S. team that first inspected them would have not been so surprised by how good they were. (see quote below introduction) They also would have not required the original blueprints (the JV bodies are in fact more vintage accurate in their contours than the USA models of the time).
May 1982
The first Squier JV guitars are being produced for shipment to the UK, which was the first country to receive them, and then shortly after to Europe. These first export JV series guitars have a vintage spaghetti 'Fender' logo and a small 'Squier series' decal on the tip of the headstock.(some early Fender logo Squier JV models were exported to Europe from England, but it is as yet unclear if all European 1st issue guitars arrived there via the UK).
See photo accompanying the Melody maker review on the JV Articles page.
The Model numbers were:
265010 = '57 Vintage Stratocaster.
265020 = '62 Vintage Stratocaster.
265030 = '52 Vintage Telecaster.
265040 = '57 Vintage Precision Bass.
265050 = '62 Vintage Stratocaster.
265060 = '62 vintage Jazz Bass.
These model numbers are found on the shipping tags and packing boxes.
Bodies were mostly sen ash (some had very attractive grain patterns), with 2 tone sunburst for the '57 vintage models'... 3 tone sunburst for the '62 vintage' models, and Butterscotch blonde for the Telecaster model. Serial numbers start with JV0xxxx The Telecaster serial numbers were at first stamped onto the neckplate, and then later in their rightful place on the bridge plate.
Early export Squier series JV Stratocaster pickups are American made units with grey 'date stamped' fibre bases. They have a white fibre top, maroon coloured windings, and plain black and white wires. Very early ones have standard late 70's CBS flat polepieces (all grey bobbins), but most have staggered vintage style units. Some have date stamped red fibre bobbin pickups.
A period correct 3 way DM30 switch is fitted to all guitars through the JV period (with the exception of a few very early ones, which have been found with a factory fitted five way switch). Some guitars have nylon string tree spacers, but most do not. And a few guitars have a 9.25 fingerboard radius; An ashtray bridge cover was supplied with the later Squier brand JV Stratocasters.
There are very few of these Fender logo models in existence (relatively).
July / August 1982.
The Squier 'brand' makes an appearance, starting from late JV0xxxx. This is a large white Squier logo with a 70's style 'Stratocaster' decal following and a small 'by Fender' decal underneath.
Early squier brand guitars have sen ash and alder bodies, and some have the feature of slightly different radiussing (and plastic pickguard material) to the forward upper bout of the pickguard (as do the first models, see the JV Details page).
The ash bodies start to be seen less, as alder and basswood become more common. Pickups are again U.S. made units with black fibre bases (some of the first Squier brand guitars have the grey bobbin date stamped pickups of the earlier models, as the last units are used up). These black bobbin units are not date stamped but usually feature white and / or yellow marks on the bases (this is also a feature of the Japanese domestic made units). Wires are mostly black and white plastic coated, (though a few have cloth covered wire) but are later seen with period correct cloth covered wire.
 
Above: Stratocasters (and other JV models) were exported in a plain cardboard box (almost triangular two piece...base and lid), with a small polystyrene (Styrofoam) cube protecting the 3 way switch, an oval sticker on the pickguard with "Pickup made in USA" printed upon it. The guitar was wrapped in polystyrene sheet, with tremolo arm plus *ashtray bridge cover (*Later Squier brand Stratocasters only) and lead supplied.
The picture above left (photo credit: ebay sale), is of a box that contained a later silver series model, but JV guitars were exported in an identicle box.
The picture above right, is of a box that contains a N.O.S '62 vintage Fender logo Stratocaster JV07970. (Thank you to Jeremy for the picture).
October 13th 1982
The Squier brand was officially introduced into the Japanese domestic market. These are the first Squier models available to the Japanese public, and the Stratocasters are labeled as models SST-45 and SST-50. (identified by a round blue sticker on the back of the headstock, with a 45 or 50 stamped upon it; These stickers are not always present). They are fitted with Japanese made SQ-4 and SQ-5 pickups respectively.
A much later, and more cost effective model; SST-30 (late 83 to 84) was sold in Japan with 'hybrid' features such as cheaper looking non slotted, covered tuners. Generally, Japanese domestic Squier JV instruments vary more in their models, specifications and colours, and are not as sought after in the UK as the more vintage detailed USA pickup endowed export Strats. (The higher end domestic Fender JV's 'ST-65, ST-85 and ST-115 however, have the same USA made pickups as the export Squier JV' vintage Stratocasters).
May / June 1983
3 tone sunburst is dropped in favour of the solid colours (White, Black and fiesta red). Fiesta Red makes it's first appearance (at least in the UK), From about late JV5xxxx, with 2 tone sunburst for the 57 model remaining. By this time, most if not all of the U.S.A manufactured pickups on JV export guitars have cloth covered wiring.
1984
For me, this is where things are a little more vague; When were the last UK JV imports? As far as export Squier JV's go, the last models imported into the UK 'seem' to be around early1984. I have seen only one neck date much later than March 84 (probably a domestic model), which is yet another spanner of confusion in the works, as most of the many late JV9xxxx serial numbered export guitars seen by myself, have neck dates of around Jan / Feb 1984, and JV numbers go no further than JV9xxxx....? I must say however, that I can only comment on what I have personally seen, and of course there may be an equal number out there with later dates, (neck date and serial number mismatches taken into account). Some later (mid / late 84) 'A' prefixed models are almost completely JV in Spec (see More JV Details! page)
|
My name is Larry Cashdollar, I started playing drums when I was 10 and then switched over to guitar when I turned 15. I think I always wanted to play guitar but my parents were Buddy Rich fans and they felt that the drums were for me! Strange, usually it is a more quiet instrument that is chosen for the enthusiatic child. Anyway, I am self taught and created a band called the "Blues Underwing" -
weird I know, however my keyboard player was an Iron Butterfly fanatic. The name is actually some species of Butterfly I believe. We played many High School dances, parties, weddings and even some of the 'Not-so-hot' nightclubs in NYC.
My first guitar was a Made in Japan, Teisco that I had bought from a friend for 10 bucks. After learning the basic and a some cash from a summer job, I was able to buy my first real guitar. A Fender Telecaster, seen on the right with a really rockin 16 year old! Unfortunately this axe was stolen less than a year later and replaced with a Hagstrom III from the dude responsible for losing my Tele. For a full explanation you can go here. 
My name is Paul Rumble, and I have been playing the guitar for 38 years. I got my first acoustic guitar at the age of nine, and my first cheap Japanese electric at the age of 12. I have played a very wide variety of music through that time, and have played semi professionally for most of it. I also work part time as a session guitarist at these recording studio's, See: 
I bought my first Squier '62 vintage JV Stratocaster not long after they arrived from Japan (one of the first 'Squier' brand name guitars) I was immediately struck by the amazing quality and vintage authenticity. This prompted me to buy another one (a vintage 57). I have owned and played a few more since then, and they still continue to fascinate and amaze me. One of my JV guitars has been gigged almost continually since 1983, and is still going strong! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one of these fantastic guitars to anybody, although due to their rarity / reluctance for owners to part with them, and due to the unfortunate past practice of changing logos, hardware etc, finding a nice original condition guitar is not an easy matter. 
I have put this site together for two reasons. The first is that I just love these guitars, the second is that a certain other excellent JV site seems to have completely dissapeared. Hopefully it will soon make another appearance.