The Export Squier JV Stratocaster
"...Really, it's hard to see what the difference is between one of these Japanese made models and an American one could be, from the feel or the finishing departments. Everything on the Squier worked perfectly - machines, tremolo, controls- the lot."
Music UK Review, Jan 1984
Above :
A May 1982 Three Tone Sunburst '62 Vintage export Squier JV stratocaster - JV02122.
Above : A Sept 1982 Two Tone Sunburst '57 Vintage export Squier JV Stratocaster - JV18632.
Above: A June 1983 Fiesta Red '62 Vintage export Squier JV Stratocaster - JV60037
Above photo Left: A Squier JV strat headstock, showing the (period correct) Japanese made un-stamped safety slot Kluson style tuners that were fitted as standard. The centre photo shows the JV-plus 5 digit stamped neckplate (in this case JV18632). And the last pic (above right) the date of manufacture is shown hand pencilled in (as they were) at the base of the neck. (9-24-82 ) Although this particular example shows a fairly corresponding neck date and serial number, it is not uncommon to see an early dated neck coupled with a later JV serial number, and indeed, vice versa (though I would say that most do match fairly well).
The photo above left shows the vintage style bridge saddles, with fairly small 'FENDER' double stamped (in the same orientation) onto each one; See here for a comparison: Squier JV Bridge Saddles (close up), Classic series bridge saddles and USA 62 ri bridge saddles.
Note: In some cases slightly larger stamps are seen (in the same orientation / direction), why this is I am not yet sure, but most are as seen in the photograph above.
The centre photo illustrates the small (compared to the current American issue) text and numbers of the control knobs; See here for a comparison: Squier JV Knob (close up), Classic series knob, USA 62 ri knob and Original 1959 Strat knob.
And pictured above right, is a (period correct), 3 way DM30 pickup selector switch, which is a close copy of the CRL 1452 original. Notice the small red link wire on the top of the switch, which is an identifiable feature of an original Squier JV switch.
Above: This close up picture shows the 'Fender stamped' bent steel, vintage spec bridge saddles, in profile.
Above left: The 11 screw pickguard of the '62 vintage' model. And above right: The 8 screw pickguard of the '57 vintage' model.
Please note that the screw position between the middle and neck pickups of the '62 model, differs from that of the '57 model. These are the period correct positions for both guitars of their respective vintage designation.
Note also that the correct colour for an export JV Strat pickguard is white, regardless of vintage year.
Above left: Another view of the 3 ply W/B/W '62 vintage' model pickguard, with it's chamfered/bevelled edge. And right: The single ply pickguard of the '57 vintage' model.
Above: The tremolo cavity cover plate. These rather brittle white plastic covers (unlike the pickguards), have a tendency to yellow a little with age. Notice staggered screw placement. This is period correct, but also correct for a lot of later USA Stratocasters.
The picture above left, shows the routing profile for the 57 strat, and for the 62 strat (centre) Notice the step in the control rout of the Fiesta red 62. This was to facillitate the use of an extra pickguard screw. (some early '57 vintage strats have been found to have a 62 rout). Also see again, the screw hole positioned between the neck and middle pickup on the 'vintage 62' pickguard. This was a feature of stratocasters made roughly between 1959 and 1964.
Some very early '57 models (like the one pictured above) have '62 vintage control routing (Photo Courtesy: John Merrick).
The photo above shows the U.S. made alnico pickups (these are the more common versions with cloth covered wire) and some of the white (sometimes yellow) markings usually seen on them, (but not in every case).
Also often seen are greenish yellow or white stripes (bars) across the base of the pickup. It must be noted too that these same stripes can often be seen on the Japanese made pickups fitted to the domestic JV Stratocasters, but I have yet to see a Japanese made pickup with the 'C, 'C2, '22 (or similar) marks that are found on the USA manufactured versions.
Above: Details of a USA made pickup from a mid 1983 export '57 vintage Squier JV Stratocaster, clearly showing it's black bobbin, dark maroon coloured windings (with varnish residue) and cloth coverd wire (also shown on the More JV Details page). Photo courtesy: Tim Pershing.
Above: The pickup height adjustment is via two screws with rubber tensioner grommets / tubing, positioned at either end of the pickup, between the pickguard and pickup cover base.
Above left: Routing details from an early '62 vintage model, showing the black ground wire from the volume pot case to the trem spring claw in the back of the guitar.
Above right: Routing details, this time from an early '57 vintage' model. With these early guitars the ground wire often enters the wood through the side of the pickup rout and not through the top of the rout as seen (if you look carefully on the other routing photo's on this page and on the centre photo below) on the slightly later Squier brand JV bodies. Photo above right courtesy: Nick Beer.
Pictured above left are the cloth covered pickup wires, 250k pots and green 0.1uF ceramic capcitor fitted as standard on these guitars. The wires from the switch to the pots are standard plastic coated wire......this is normal. The picture centre, shows the general layout. This is a pickguard from a '62 vintage Fender JV model, and is identicle to the '62 vintage' Squier JV model. Notice the screw hole between the neck and middle pickups, as mentioned earlier.
On genuine 1962 pre-CBS and USA re-issue Stratocasters, the shielding plate onto which the pots and switch are mounted, covers the entire under surface of the pickguard; See here: USA 62 Re-issue Pickguard (It is correct however for a 57 model) making this feature one of the very few historical inaccuracies on the Squier '62 vintage JV Stratocaster. And the picture above right, shows the plain pickup wires very often seen on earlier, and in particular '57 vintage Stratocasters.
Pictured above left: The 'Slab Board' rosewood neck of a '62 vintage Stratocaster, with the earliest pencilled date seen on a Squier JV Stratocaster neck by this site so far (4-24-82). Most Squier JV rosewood necks feature the 'vintage' (period correct) detail of drilling the truss rod hole in such a way that it cuts into the rosewood slab board (picture above right) but some very early examples such as this one (left), do not.
Above left: This photo shows the U.S. grey bobbin pickups (date stamped 1982) found on most early examples (these pictured have vintage staggerd poles). These particular examples have been rewired (beautifully!) with high quality American cloth covered wire, and were almost certainly plain black and white wires originally. Above right: A 1977 U.S. grey bobbin date stamped pickup shown as a comparison. Photo above left courtesy: Nick Beer.
Above: A close up of one of the grey bobbin pickups from Stratocaster JV02122 Date stamped 1980. (Pickup dates as early as 1978 have been found).
Above left and centre: Most export Squier JV guitars had an 'EX' or 'EXT' stamp either on the neck or in the neck pocket (sometimes both). There seems a trend for very early models to have the 'EX' stamp on the heel of the neck only, and slightly later ones in the neck pocket, with a C and /or ST mark. Later on a pencilled CBE was added (although it is not clear what this means). Non export Japanese domestic models often had a large 'D' stamp in the neckpocket.
For updated info (theory only) on neck pocket letter stamps, see the bottom of the 'JV Details 2' page.
Also often found is a small shim like strip of material with the date of manufacture. For example the neck pocket pictured centre, has a strip with 82-11 printed, which would appear to be November 1982. However these dates are also printed for the Japanese calendar, i.e; 58-11, which is the 11th month in the 58th year of Emperor Hirohito's reign (probably for the domestic models).
And the picture above. shows a Squier JV series '57 vintage model complete with the 'Ashtray' bridge cover that came with later export JV Stratocasters.(Larry Cashdollar)
Pictured above left is the tremolo cavity from a '57 vintage stratocaster, showing the final destination of the ground wire onto the spring claw.
Pictured above right: The deep rib and forearm contour of the Squier JV Stratocaster.
These are the five export colours (Above). The 2 and 3 tone sunburst being the first colours to be introduced. The 3 tone ('62 vintage) sunburst colour lasted up until sometime in mid 1983, when it was dropped in favour of the solid colours. (although there are a few examples of black and white models, with serial numbers as early as JV2xxxx, with corresponding neck dates.....i.e.; Oct 82 on) Sometime during mid 1983, (around the late JV5xxxx ) Fiesta red made its first appearance, and continued on until the end of the JV line. All guitars were finished in polyester.
The picture above right shows the "PICKUP MADE IN USA" sticker found on all new Squier JV Stratocasters (See also JV Details )
Above: This is the shipping tag that came with the very early '62 vintage model shown in the headstocks photo below left (rosewood neck), and in the 'JV Heaven' picture (guitar pictured far left). Photo courtesy: Nick Beer.
Above: Nice to see a brace of early '57 & '62 vintage JV Strat headstocks. The standard factory fitted butterfly string tree on the '57 model has been replaced with a circular type, as found on 1954 / 55 U.S models. Photo courtesy: Nick Beer.
Above Right: Two '62's and a '57. The Fujigen factory really nailed that pre-CBS headstock shape (with the help of the original blueprints of course), The U.S. made re-issues of the time were excellent guitars, but were a little short in the historical accuracy dept (rectified around 1998), with incorrect 12th fret dot positions, body forearm contours that were not deep enough, and a slightly too curvy headstock. (they were nitro finished though!) For a picture of a 1983 U.S. re-issue headstock, click here!
Above: JV HEAVEN! Thank you! to fellow JV enthusiast and portrait artist Nick Beer, who very kindly allowed me to use his studio plus his two beautiful May and June 1982 'Fender logo' Squier JV Stratocasters added to my own guitars to produce this rare sight. Photo: David Rumble.
Above: So this is where they're all hiding! This vast collection (Just the tip of the iceberg I am told!) of Squier JV Strats (with a Fender logo JV thrown in for good measure) are all owned by Paul Whiteside. Now that's what I call a collection!!!
A mid 1983 Squier '62 Vintage (JV) Stratocaster.
