JV Details (Export)
Above left: The shipping tag which was attached to each new Squier JV export guitar (UK), clearly displaying it's 'VINTAGE' designation. My study to date shows that Export Squier JV's appear to have been the only 'Squier' brand guitars to have this official designation on their shipping tag.
Above right: This is the hang tag from a Japanese domestic Squier JV Stratocaster. These domestic Squier JV models were known as 'SST-30, 'SST-45 and 'SST-50 (SST = Squier Stratocaster), without any vintage mention on the tag. Export models to the UK were never given this 'SST' designation. (Note: Although this site concentrates on the Export models only, I felt that it was important to include this detail for clarity).
Jens Otto Jensen from Denmark has kindly sent in some pictures (see below), which show a shipping tag with no vintage designation. This is common to Squier guitars exported after approx spring 1984, including some early 'A prefixed guitars with mostly JV specs (all the UK JV tags that I have personally seen from 1982 to early 84, have all had their vintage designation printed across the bottom).
Above: This is the shipping tag (mentioned above) from a March 1983 Black '62 vintage Stratocaster, showing the missing '62 vintage print. (Photo courtesy: Jens Otto Jensen from Denmark).
This picture above shows the (slightly larger than original) Fender spaghetti logo seen on very early Squier JV's (see a 'full logo' size comparison here; MIM Classic Stratocaster series decal and USA 62ri decal). Note the 'MADE IN JAPAN' decal in front of the 'WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO' decal, found in this format only on JV Fender and early JV Squier guitars. Note also the small Squier decal on the tip of the headstock. (Photo courtesy: Nick Beer).
A very small detail common to the original pre-CBS guitars of it's respective era, is the positioning of the string tree in relation to the tuners. On the originals, and on most (not all!) JV Stratocasters, the string tree sits near enough right under the 'A string tuner post (give or take a small amount either way), whereas most later USA and Mexican reissues place the string tree right between the 'A and 'D tuner posts.
I have included these two pictures above as a 'script' comparison. The decal above left is a first Squier issue Fender spaghetti logo, and the decal pictured above right, is from current USA and Mexican re-issues. The JV series decal on the left has the period correct pointed 'E characters (the last one more so ), and period correct squared off line through the backwards 'F. It is however (as already stated) slightly larger and bolder in outline than an original, whereas the current MIA / MIM decal on the right is more accurate in that respect. (The early USA re-issues had a more authentic script than current USA models, Click on the "Here!" link near the bottom of the JV Stratocaster page).
To see an original pre-CBS decal and USA re-issue comparison, click here: GuitarHQ.com
Above left: A close up of the first Script used on the ball of the headstock, and above right: The first squier 'Brand' decal.
This photo above shows the nicely rolled neck edges so typical of Squier JV guitars, which contributes to a supremely comfortable playing experience.
Above: Some very early JV necks such as this one on JV02122 have a 9.25" fingerboard radius, as opposed to the correct vintage 7.25", also some very early Squier and Fender JV guitars such as this example, were fitted with Standard USA grey base, date stamped, flat pole alnico pickups which were fitted to the large headstock CBS Strats of the late 70's to very early 80's era. This is possibly because the vintage staggered units were not yet available to fit, or just old stock mixed in with the staggered pole units. (These U.S. pickups are not be confused with the flat pole units found on some much later Japanese domestic market SST-30 JV models). The units pictured above are dated 1980 but date stamps as early as 1978 have been found. Most pickups with a 1982 date stamp have vintage correct staggered poles.
Recently, early JV Strat owner Ron Baden (while investigating under the pickguard of his guitar for the first time), found a date stamp of 1973! on two of his staggered pole pickups).
From the original Squier JV Site:
The JV "PARTS_O_CASTER"?
Evidence that a great deal of varience existed among earlier models has given credible reason to the belief that varied miscelanious USA parts ended up on the Japanese assembly line.
Why were these American made parts exported and randomely worked into the Squier line? Overstock? End-of-Line items from old inventory? finish seconds? One can only warrant a guess.
Common varients had been discovered in necks and pickups. Some early Fender JV (Stratocaster and Telecaster) necks have been found to have 9.25 radii, (as mentioned above) as opposed to the vintage-issue 7.25" radius. Some Stratocasters were issued with generic sealed (covered units, usually found on later Japanese domestic SST-30 models) cast machine heads in favour of the Kluson replicas. But perhaps the most notable variations are of the USA made pickup configuration....
Standard specs called for an American-made generic pickup with vintage correct cloth-wrapped pick-up leads. Many deviations of this have been found (most notably among the early Fender JV's). Reported configurations include: A set of 1982 grey-base date stamped US p'ups incl. wiring harness; 1982 red-base date stamped US p'ups; A set of 3 late 70's X-1 p'ups (a part originally found on the upscale 1980 'THE STRAT' model). '79- '81 p'up mixtures.
Author: Nick Bastian.
WOODS
Above left: The alder body of a Fender JV (not Squier series) '62 Vintage ' Stratocaster with a close up picture (right) of an alder wood blank showing the grain structure of this particular type of wood. All genuine pre-CBS Stratocasters from the year 1962 were made from this wood species except for the translucent blonde finishes, which were made from ash.
This wood type was used throughout the JV period.
Above left: The striking Sen (or Cen) ash body of an early Fender logo 'Squier series' (JV03xxx) '62 vintage Stratocaster, with a Sen wood blank shown right (see pic's further down the page). This wood type is very common in all the early models, (and used occationally later on).
The Telecaster models featured ash bodies exclusively throughout JV production.
Above left: The Basswood body of a Squier brand (JVIxxxx) '57 vintage' Stratocaster. (Notice the absence of any real visible grain structure). This wood is the softest of the three, but still quite strong. It also has very good acoustic / resonant qualities. Basswood Squier JV guitars are quite common. (A Basswood blank is shown on the right).
For more examples click here: www.mijguitar.com (Please note: Although it is stated on the linked website that sen ash is used mainly for the Telecaster models; this relates to guitars made more recently than the JV series).
The next four pictures below were kindly sent to me by Freddie Overton, who was a previous owner of this particular guitar (and to whom the photo credits belong), and show more clearly the wood grain of the guitar, though I have to admit that I am still none the wiser as to it's wood species. This may be alder (one characteristic of alder is it's little dark flecks over the grain pattern / rings......see above photo), or a lightly grained ash (the body finish of this late 1982 JV Stratocaster was originally 3 tone sunburst; The pickguard is a replacement).
These pictures also illustrate how well finished (sanded and contured) the JV Strat bodies were.
Two photo's above: Another stripped Squier JV body, this time from mid 83 (with replacement pickguard and plastic parts.......Photo credit: ebay sale).
These two pictures above clearly show the white fret position markers (dots) which sit in stark contrast to the dark rosewood fingerboard, compared to an original pre- CBS Fender model which had 'clay' dots fitted. Also note the deep forearm contour of the Squier JV Strat clearly shown in the picture above left.
The 3 photo's above show the deep smoothly rounded rib contour of JV guitars.
The 8 photos above show clearly the attractive wood (Sen Ash) grain patterns seen on most very early Squier JV guitars. (Photo credits: Nick Beer, Stuart Bailey, Nigel Goode and Paul Whiteside).
Above left: This shot shows the corner of the trem cavity cover on a JV 62 Strat model. These covers are very brittle and crack around the screw holes easily. It is very common to see this problem on JV Stratocasters. Pictured centre: USA made, date stamped red bobbin pickups are sometimes found in export Squier JV Stratocasters and domestic JV Fenders. Most are (in all other respects) standard pickups with plain black and white wires, whereas a few are the hotter X-1 units commonly found in the bridge position of the USA made 'Dan Smith' and 'Strat' models of the time. Red bobbin X-1 pickups can be identified by their yellow and black wires (pictured).
Pictured above right is the neck pocket of a very early Squier JV '57 vintage Strat (1st issue Fender logo version) clearly showing the slot cut between the neck pickup rout and the neck pocket. This is a common feature of some of the very early models 'but not all'. Notice also that there is no 'EX stamp in the neck pocket as on later guitars. The 'EX (export) stamp was more commonly found on the necks of the early guitars, as seen further down the page. (Photo above right courtesy: Stuart Bailey)
These two photo's above show the difference between the pickguard radiusing of an early '62 Stratocaster model (left) and a later 62 model (right). This was noticed while photographing all of the guitars pictured at the bottom of the 'JV Stratocaster' page, and although the pickguard of the other early 62 model in that photo had been changed, it was still possible to compare the original with the one pictured above left. The radiussing was identicle (as are other early ones that I have seen since, so far up to JV1xxxx) but the thickness of the black laminate section was noticeably thinner; Why this is the case I am not sure, but it is concievable that as the Fujigen factory had been making Greco Strat copies just prior to Fender's first involvement in the factory, some parts from those guitars may have been used initially........or maybe these pickguards were imported from the U.S.A along with the pickups and other odd parts (originally destined for the top line domestic Fenders), or even just a change in tooling......who knows? But it does help in the identification of an early instrument.
Above left: The zinc alloy tremolo block of a very early Squier (Fender logo) JV Stratocaster. Notice the more radiused edges and shallower string pockets compared to the slightly later zinc alloy block of the Squier logo model above right.
Note: Both types of trem block can be found on early guitars, but the version above left is rarely found on later models.
For a comparison with original and re-issue trem blocks, click on these: Classic series block, Current USA re-issue, and Original 59 Strat
Above left: A very early JV neck stamp with pencilled neck date (6-12-82) and 'EX (export) stamp; The 'EX stamp is commonly found on earlier guitars, but is seen occationally later on too; It is also seen on a lot of SQ Tele necks. Above right: a later JV neck stamp (date 6-9-) The 'Y' stamp is often seen on both neck and neck pocket, but it is (as yet) unclear what this actually stands for.
Above left: This shot of the underside of a '57 vintage JV Squier Stratocaster (JV2xxxx) pickguard, shows the more commonly seen black bobbin U.S. pickups and cloth covered wire, but as explained on the Stratocaster page, these were sometimes plain unclothed black and white wires, (especially the earlier ones) and above right: The underside of a late 1982 U.S.A 57 re-issue Stratocaster pickguard, showing the pickup details, which are identicle to the Squier JV pickups. It is my opinion that these are the same units that were sent to Japan for assembly on the Squier JV export guitars, (Photo credits: ebay sale).
Above: A very early Fender logo model showing it's grey bobbin date stamped pickups (1982), which can also be found on some early Squier brand Stratocasters. (Photo's courtesy: Davie Simpson).
Above left: These pots (Potentiometers), minus a ground link wire (which is quite common in the very early guitars), are from an early Fender logo Squier JV Stratocaster, (photo courtesy: Stuart Bailey). The pots pictured on the right show a tinned copper (ground) link wire soldered across the pot bases; This is a feature found on most Squier JV Strats.
Above: The neck dimensions on the JV guitars seem to be pretty consistent. I have measured the width at the nut and at the twelfth fret (with a ruler, as a vernier caliper was not available) on my own three JV Stratocasters, and they all have the same dimensions as shown. (this includes the very early model). From what I could see, the width at the nut was 42mm which is a tad over 1-5/8", and was 51mm at the 12th fret, which is a tad over 2" The neck profiles also seem fairly consistent, with the '57 vintage' Stratocaster model sharing the same thin 'D' shape of it's '62 vintage' stablemate, and not the fairly pronounced 'V' shape of an original 1957 U.S.A Stratocaster.
Above left: The neckpocket of a '57 vintage export JV Stratocaster, showing some of the markings associated with it's export status and vintage year. And above right: The unmarked or un-stamped (a common feature of early Stratocasters) neckpocket of a very early '57 vintage Fender logo model (photo credits: ebay sales).
Note: A lot of JV guitars have two small tooling holes in the neckpocket (right), while some such as this example (left) do not (sometimes in line and sometimes diagonal).
Above left: This photo shows a vintage style staggered Squier JV pickup. When new, the pickup poles (on this particular set) had blobs of varnish on them, this was commonly found on these U.S. made units.
Above Right: A close up picture of the 250K potentiometers and green 0.1uF capacitor. Note again the plain wire used from the DM30 switch to the pots.
Above: These two close up pictures show the polepieces of a U.S. made pickup from a 1983 Squier JV Stratocaster, with varnish (as mentioned above) residue around the poles.
Above: These two close up pictures show the polepieces of a U.S. made pickup from a 1982 Squier JV Stratocaster. Notice that the tops of the polepieces are bevelled. This is in keeping with original Stratocaster pickups from the pre-CBS era. Some Squier JV Stratocasters have these, and some do not (see first example). It could be that these bevelled units may have been originally intended for installation into the U.S.A re-issues of 1982 on. (Just a theory).
Above left: The '62 vintage Squier JV guitars used quality dark rosewood for the fingerboards. (lighter rosewood was occationally used ).
Above right: This shot shows a Squier '62 vintage JV Precision Bass neckpocket, and in this case a domestic Squier production line 'D stamp.
And above : A close up view of the vintage Kluson style tuners of the Squier JV Stratocasters and Telecasters.
For a comparison, click here: Classic Strat Tuners
, Current USA re-issue Tuners
, and Original Kluson deluxe Tuners (59 Strat)
Above left: Another view of the 'vintage spec' split post Kluson style tuners. Above right: The JV + 5 digit stamped neckplate of a June 1983 '62 Vintage Stratocaster.
The photo above left shows the walnut teardrop shaped plug found on the maple necked '57 vintage models. Whereas the '62 vintage models (above right) do not have this feature. (an explanation of this is given on the The SQ Page).
Above: Photo showing the standard wire frets and neck edge position markers of a Squier '62 vintage (JV) Stratocaster.
Above: I have included this photo to show the really nice sunburst finish of these two '62's, and under normal daylight the black paint of very early guitars appears more brown than black (See the pictures below) This may also apply to the later Squier Brand models, but as I have not seen one up close myself, I cannot say for sure. The aged pickguard of the strat pictured right has now been replaced with the original. (Both of these May 82 Stratocasters have a 9.25" radius neck) Photo: David Rumble.
Above : These daylight pictures of a Squier JV0xxxx Precision Bass and Squier JV0xxxx Stratocaster, gives us a better idea of the brownish sunburst of very early large Fender logo models. (Photo above left Courtesy: Bernd Dahringer).
Packaging
As mentioned elswhere on this site, Squier JV exports were shipped in a standard carboard box (and not one gig bag in sight!?). This (IMO) was a rather unceremonious way of shipping such nice instruments, though I guess it did help to keep the retail price down. The boxes were however reasonably well packed with shock absorbant material (thank heavens!).
There wasn't really a lot on the box to indicate that there was a high quality instrument hiding within (The 'by Fender' writing was the only clue), and I can well remember myself feeling just a little dissapointed at what I saw as the shop owner brought the box in from the back store room, though my dissapointment turned to delight when I saw the guitar itself. Pictured on the right and below is one such box (mid 1983) that once contained a white '62 vintage Stratocaster 'JV 66578'.
Note: The boxes containing export JV guitars, were printed 'Fender' during the first issues (as seen on the home page), and then later printed 'Squier' when the decal changed (as seen on the 'More JV Details' page).
(Thank you to Martin Feldwick for the pictures).
