But this one is special ( for me..) since fender is not producing anymore with floyd rose trem. Its nice to have the big, grey Fender logo to look at on the headstock. . Kostenlos. Details Save 10% Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Pau Ferro Fingerboard. The glossy urethane finish on most of these models tends to be quite thick, which affects the resonance and audio of the instrument. Will a se series squier neck from the 90'- the 2000 era fit a 1996 Jimmy Vaughn mexican strat? Thus the higher quality parts and construction of the Fender will allow the instrument to age better and allow one to be more selective about what to change and what to keep. 2001 Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar 6 String Made in Mexico Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar RED TORTOISE! With that out of the way, I'd like to comment, adds, and stir the ot. These guitars utilised cheaper electronics from the far eastern factories alongside pick-ups made in Mexico. It's white with a black neck,floys rose tremo, and on the head stock it has "FenderStrat"/"Squire Series" all in black. Mine is a 3 plank with the middle plank PERFECTLY centered & EXACTLY 5 inches wide.I also agree the bodies may be poplar. Check the pots on your silver label MIKs. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1989 1991 Squier by Fender Stratocaster Black Made in China Guitar LOOK at the best online prices at eBay! Unlike me though, who bought this blind thinking it a proper standard Strat, you should now have the info you need to either stop you buying a "Squier Series" Fender without knowing what the differences and weak points of the guitar are. Duel, Fender Stratocaster or Squier Stratocaster, Fingerboard: Maple, Pao Ferro and Indian Laurel, Squier Tonewoods: Alder, Ash, Basswood, Agathis, Pine, Poplar, Nato and more, Components: hardware, pickups, nut and frets, Fender vs Squier Synchronized Tremolo Bridge, Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe 60s: revised in detail, Fenders Failures: Ugly, Weird, or Misunderstood Guitars, Fender vs Gibson review: features, differences and secrets, Easy songs to learn to play on Ukulele for beginners, Guitar history: from spanish and classical to electric guitar, 10 facts about the guitar that will blow your mind, History and evolution of Rock in the 60s, 70s and 80s, Red Special: Brian Mays guitar history and characteristics. (4 all together) Like american tooling holes from that period, but not the the flat bottom hole found on mex guitars & squires. The prices were generally mid-way between the standard Squier Stratocasters and the standard Fender Stratocasters. Once I got it home I noticed "Squier Series" at the top of the headstock was lightly sanded off.. The same goes for the finish of the frets, which are not as well rounded in the cheap ranges, and the frets are less polished. That upgrade gives you better quality, better pickups, and a better-sounding and feeling guitar all around. In order to analyze this, you have to take each of the guitars and analyze and test them. Currency: You can find more details on data protection in our, As an alternative, you can also prevent us from using cookies and permanently hide this cookies popup by clicking. Here's my concerns with this. I purchased my Fender Squire in 1989 . The new Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe cost around EUR 370/380 in Europe and USD 400 in the United States. Harvested From a 2009 Fender Starcaster Stratocaster. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Fender Player Series Stratocaster Maple Fingerboard. I'm really happy I found this. I've had 4 of these over the years. Whilst the Squier brand utilised these classic and sort after Fender models, they were able to build them for a lot cheaper to make their budget range a huge success. The cost savings from the use of these cheaper components meant that from 1993 to 1998, the "Squier Series" came into the marketplace as a slightly cheaper Fender standard. The TS is identical to the SS except for the lack of the "squier series" printing on the ball of the headstock. The new Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe 70s come with bodies constructed from poplar. reply #5. The Fender American Performer Stratocaster is an American-made guitar with more affordable components. Everything. A cheaper alternative to the MIA Fender Strat is the MIM (made in Mexico) Strat, with the Mexican Standard going for around $600 new, compared to over $1000 for the American Standard. These Affinity telecasters had the following specifications: 21 frets In 1965, the company was acquired by Fender. However, a Fender Stratocaster Player Series from Mexico is always going to be a Fender. On the side of the electric basses they have done the same, Squier is offering almost every bass Fender has ever made. Although the difference is high, if you are not closed to the new options, and you consider the market for used guitars, you can get Fender Mexico guitars in good condition at prices similar to the Squier ones, and that is where you ask yourself, Used Fender Mexico or new Squier Classic Vibe? He was the companies equipment engineering manager for production. Do other MIM Squier Series Fenders have these as well? These "Jap Squiers" are far superior to the Made in Mexico Squiers! I hope you didn't buy another". Theres no better example than anyone who belives the only true Fenders are the ones made in the U.S. All others be damned. It's often mentioned that owners tool to removing the offending "Squier Series" logo from the ball of the headstock, by sanding it off. This is not a "Fender" black script "Squier Series" This is a unique, actual Squier Stratocaster gold lettered that was actually made at the Fender Mexico plant in 1998. The head machines and the nut generally speak a lot about the quality of the instrument, and here it is no exception. Its very faint. One of the most important cost adjustment variables in a guitar is the components, including the pickups. Peace, OK so I just bought a Squire Strat that has an MN8_____ serial number. Hallo! Stratocaster: 25th Anniversary Stratocaster (1979) 1954 Limited Edition Stratocaster (Catalog Copy, 1994) 2014 American Deluxe Strat Plus Tutorial Eric Clapton Stratocaster (1988) Hellecasters Jerry Donohue Stratocaster (1997) Hellecasters John Jorgenson Stratocaster (1997) Reissue '68 Stratocaster (Japan 1986) Reissue '72 Stratocaster (Japan 1986) With very different tonal characteristics, the alder is a wood rich in mids frequencies, ideal for playing with drive, while the ash has a scooped freq curve, giving a lot of dynamics and clarity to the tone, ideal for clean audios or for metal guitarrists looking for clear and defined sound, playing with high gain. We have no technical specifications for this productbut your help will be much welcomed, Other names: It played better than a Fender Strat they wanted 650.00 for.Nice lookin guitar but the Squire definitely outplayed it.I own Certain Ibanez electric and acoustics, Alvarez acoustic, Taylor acoustic. Learn More, "Squier Series" Standard Stratocaster with Maple Fretboard, London Vintage Guitars of Denmark Street, UK & Amsterdam, NL, Jagged Offset Electric Guitars - Guitar & Bass - Luthier Tools. I've also, just this week, found a "Squier Series" Strat made in Japan on Guitar Center's used web site, KISS PROGRAM. STRATOCASTER MADE IN MEXICO AND USA/MEX HYBRID STRATS Full Mexico and Hybrid USA/Mexico Stratocaster chronology from 1991 to today. $879.99 Or $37 /month^ with 24 month financing* Limited Time. Yep this is exactly the guitar that's for sale. I have one of these and it is hands down my favorite strat. Mexican Standard Stratocaster squier series. The volume knob has been replaced. These single-coil pickups are made with ceramic bar magnets instead of Alnico pole magnets. Apparently, these parts were shipped down to Mexico where they were put together with the cheaper components. The brand was Fender's budget solution, giving them the ability to use their classic guitar designs at affordable, entry-level prices. Presumably, this was another cost-cutting exercise to bring the price of the guitars down. The value or the price-quality ratio is something very difficult to define, and also very subjective at times. However, the Classic Vibe also come with this type of Alnico Fender Designed pickup, which is a huge improvement over the rest of the Squier lines. Following my recent experiences with a Fender Stratocaster that I bought at eBay, I thought I would put together this page to help other potential buyers spot if they are getting a standard or "Squier Series" Stratocaster. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Which is a great thing, since the most influential tonewood in the tone of a musical instrument is precisely the neck. But as we said above, Squier has greatly improved its quality on top-of-the-range guitars such as the Classic Series, Vintage Modified, Deluxe or Standard. But them all up if can find them. Agathis is a cheaper wood and used for cheaper instruments. (2)USA Fender String Trees. Zero buckle rash. My 1995 "Squier Series" Strat has a USA, Corona neck & body with cheap tuners & pickups. Bought new at reputable shop in 1994, made in mexico it has floyd rose II tremolo system , 3 ply pickguard, HSS pups with only one volume and one tone knob (not like usual strat with 1 volume and 2 tone knob). There was also lots of production changes and movements for the Squier brand. Anyone can sell on Reverb. The period at Fender was marked by a number of changes in production, with new Asian factories coming online, and one of their production being hampered by a fire at their Mexican factory. I recently picked up a Fender "Squier Series" Tele from 93 but mine was made in a Korea and the Fender logo is silver with black outline rather than black. I recently had Seymour Duncan pickups installed and im very very happy with my squire. If you bought a Fender Squire made anywhere for good price, and your a beginner learning you will be happy. Dr. Squier. Gitarre Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster MN Fiesta Red. Also, I am an equipment enthusiast with a collection of guitars that cover practically all styles. Lokal. Truss adjustment are head (no walnut plug). I picked a 95 Squier Series up at a guitar show today that had a nice set of SA's in it. stratocaster made in mexico squier series, stratocaster made in mexicosquierseries, stratocastermadeinmexicosquierseries, stratocaster made in mexico squier. If you get better and confidence is up, nothing wrong with upgrading. Mine is white, not my fav. Player-friendly features like a 22-fret fingerboard and a slimmer neck make for smoother playing and. I have a MN4 precision bass and I added custom shop pickups and replaced the pots and pick guard. At first glance, there wouldnt be much to discuss. David Lloyd (author) from UK on October 07, 2011: I'm not sure, I don't know much about pricing - have you tried searching completed auctions on eBay? I installed a mexican standard neck maple fretboard 91/2 " radius. . I just love it. "Squier series" were made in Korea, Mexico and Japan. Jan 12, 2010. Maple fretboard, red body. how do i know what kind of wood i have?I removed the backplate, all sprayed, the input jack, also sprayed, i do not believe that the front has ever been removed. I just bought a 96, no squire series logo, looks like it was never there, cheap tuners, electronics and bridge, sounds and plays awesome though, I paid $350.00 last week, I hope I didnt overpay, Ill still modify a little at a time because I truly love the way it feels and sounds, I played a $199.00 squire at gc recently and it feels as cheap as its pricetag, thanks for the info!!! It has the big Fender Logo in either gold or silver script with black outline (guitar is at home so can't recall which) & tiny little Squire Series on the ball. Replacing parts on a Squier or Fender can be a bit more complex task than you can imagine. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. As the Squier label carries its own baggage due to its budget nature, it's widely thought that many of the people who owned these "Squier Series" Fenders took steps to hide the name, despite the fact they owned proper Fender guitars. Bob replies. I have one question if anyone can give me an answer! Oops, looks like you forgot something. I own a beautiful 1993 Fender Squire Stratocaster, blonde body, beautiful maple neck, serial number starts with "VN" no one has talked about these particular Strats as yet with the VN as the first two letters in the serial number followed by numbers, I bought myFender, Squire Series black label Strat in a pawn shop for $80.00 in the late ninties. Oops, looks like you forgot something. Top Material Type: Wood. Hadn't played it much lately after I got a US Deluxe strat but is a work horse. The price range of the series starts from $430, going up to $450, and the designs are based on the traditional Fender models of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Performer, Professional, Original, and Ultra guitars are made in the United States. There are some light pick-swirl marks on the pickguard and a tiny neck pocket finish crack (c. 2mm length) on the bass side. One of the smoothest and most confortable necks I have ever played on. Now, the Fender Stratocaster Player Series from Mexico has Pao Ferro, while the Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe comes with Indian Laural. It's a HSS model black with white pickguard and it was made in 1996, I have this one too, but can somebody tell me, why on the back of guitar neck, when neck is screwed, there is inscription "FENDER SRV". I tried it and it hit me : "this is my old American Strat!!". I also own two 80's jap strats, a Jimmy Vaughn stray, and an American deluxe strat. Firstly I think for those who are new to Fender and Squier guitars, it's worth giving a quick overview of the differences between the two brands. E-Gitarre Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster MN - Fiesta Red Gitarre ist neu. I studied guitar construction for three years. But Fender has done a great job with Squier and has expanded the line enormously. As most buyers are unlikely to remove the neck, this feature, if it turns out to be correct, is not such an important one. Electric guitar giant Fender manufactures countless instruments from really inexpensive models like Modern Player Made in China, to expensive Custom Shop guitars made in the USA, in addition to its production from Japan and Mexico. Cleaned thoroughly every week oops i forgot to take of the rear cover before i measured the body thickness, its actually 2 26/32". If you want a proper Fender but can't afford it, but don't want own a guitar displaying the Squier logo, then buying a "Squier Series" could be the way to go. In '96 Fender stopped calling them the "Squier Series" and renamed them the "Traditional Series". I compared the two for quite a while through a fender amplifier. There are small blemishes on the guitar, but nothing major. What we can say sure: The instrument is a Standard Strat, the Squier series instruments eventually became Standards or the Traditional series.". "You got it, Hector!" The former manufacturing company, established as "V. C. Squier Company" was founded in 1890 by Victor Carroll Squier in Battle Creek, Michigan, producing strings for violins, banjos, and guitars. Squire series in the ball. They are the same thing as MIM Strat Standard models, except for some downgrades to allow them to be sold at a lower price point. Given I paid $205 including a tweed hard case it's pretty hard to say I got "ripped off" but I was clueless about these at the time. It was pretty bet up. The entire guitar weighs just under 6 3/4lbs. Cor-Tek's Indonesian factory makes those POS Indonesian Affinity models, as well Yako of China and a couple companies in India. The head stock is marked "MADE IN INDIA". I purchased a black "Made in Indonesia" Squier P Bass by Fender, with a black pickguard that has a serial number starting with "PN." . Les meilleures offres pour Ensemble de micros bobine unique Fender Squier srie Stratocaster fabriqu au Mexique noir sont sur eBay Comparez les prix et les spcificits des produits neufs et d 'occasion Pleins d 'articles en livraison gratuite! There in the neck pocket was a stamp that said Squier. Previously the core of the Squier line primarily featured Stratocasters and Telecasters, as well as Precision and Jazz Bass. I've been a guitarist since I was 13 years old, which means 30 years with music. Although the finish on the lower-priced and lower-end Squier is consistently less accurate, more expensive models like the Classic Vibe, Vintage Modified, Deluxe, and Standard feature good quality. I bought a Silver label Squire Series in 93 and upgraded everything. Versand mglich. Compared to my American Deluxe, it blows it out of the water. All 90s MIM necks and bodies were CNC cut in the US. of Frets: 21 Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm) Width @ Nut: 1.650" (42 mm) Hardware: Chrome The black Fender label and the "Squier Series" markings typical of the guitar. I t was very dirty and had obviously not been played in years. I saw the squire series and I discouraged him by explaining a squire was not a true fender and he would probably end up getting like 50 buck due to the condition. Bogor Hutauruk Music Gitar Fender Mexico Stratocaster Updown Original th'95 Rp7.268.500 This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. I could see it was not a mexico body by the tooling holes . However, when we talk about fingerboards made of other wood, neither of them has Indian Rosewood anymore. The TS still had the black Fender logo just like the squier series. The body was a lot more solid and heavier than the Squier Stratocasters I had tried from the same era. With this in mind, Fender introduced the Squier range of guitars back in 1982. Many people said that this guitar was modded and fender logo was fake. This guitar has stamped cover tuning keys, and a standard Stratocaster bridge with tremolo. When I bought the guitar I could have easily bought a made in USA Strat that was about a thousand bucks. Some of the bodies may have been. I've owned many different Fenders, and this one has the hottest pick ups! Further down but not at the ball it says Stratocaster (in smaller letters) by fender. On the Squier side, these are generally unbranded and often of unknown origin and quality. Automotive Services. I never sanded off the small squier logo. I actually found this article as I've been trying to dig up more on it but haven't had too much luck. Tokai, Fernandes etc, below the 50k yen level) during the 70's and 80's. A couple of the guitars I bought on eBay and fixed were japanese Gibson copies from the late 70's - early 80's (Burny brand) which, to me, are as good if not better than the real thing. Hong Kong,Hong Kong () Fender Squier Stratocaster Sunburst Affinity Series SSS Electric Guitar not les paul not gibson not ibanez yamaha . At the time Fender used its overstocked American cut necks and bodies to construct the "Squier Series." I adjusted action, pick ups, and set intonation and Amazing Grace, it played really good and. That's all you have to do to any guitar! See the neckpockets, the number of wood pieces with which the body is built, the shape and finish of the neck, among other things. On the other hand, if you take a poplar one or a Nato one, the differences will be more noticeable. Great article! mine has 2 sets of tooling holes. and with a perfect nutritional balance. Please check the fields highlighted in red. I recently purchased one of these "Squire Series" Strats for $140.00. The Guitar sounds so Sweet that it will bring Tears to your eyes! When I got a decent hand at building I sold my American Standard (for way too cheap) and regretted it the day after. Anybody got any info and/or value info? These are great guitars. can someone tell me what i got? There is an S stamped on the inside of the pickguard. Squier has done the same with its finishes. Available in Slick Silver, Competition Orange, Surf Green, Race Red, Brown Sunburst, 2-Color Sunburst, Black Vintage-Style Tremolo I bought it too. It all felt right and sounded great. I went with the Squier love this guitar it has a real personality all it's own with a specific tone that is harmonic. So since I know what I purchased are US parts, it will be upgraded and built up as a David Gilmour "Black Strat" clone. Where are Guitars Made - fun. List your Fender "Squier Series" Standard Stratocaster 1992 - 1996 today to get it in front of thousands of eyes, quickly and easily. I am surprised no doubt. Einfach. On the other hand, if your budget is not so limited, the Fender Stratocaster Player are the option to follow. It also says "Made in Korea". Hi. -the tuning machine holes weren't drilled to 25/64", -the bridge mounting isn't drilled for 2-point tremolo. I don't know if it is significant or not but another detail about the neck that I never see on othe squires is that it has the dark stripe along the back which I think is related to the truss rod. Fretboard Material Type: Laurel. Manufacturer: Fender Model: Stratocaster made in mexico "Squier Series" Category: STC-Shaped Guitars Added in our database on: 04/06/2014 We have no technical specifications for this product but your help will be much welcomed Fill in the product description Other Fender sTC-Shaped Guitars Road Worn '50s Stratocaster STC-Shaped Guitar Cheap tapered zinc block. Other Fender guitars of the time featured the gold and black logo. LEFT HANDED at the best online prices at eBay! Thick Rosewood (Darker Color & Well Cared For). Fender American Performer Stratocaster If you've been around a little while, you might remember the Fender Highway One Stratocasters. However, it should be noted that both the Fender and the Squier are easy to maintain and relatively cheap. Player Series Fender Stratocaster is still a better instrument, though, and It has the detail of having the word Fender written on its headstock, something that not only plays in our heads, but long-term resale value as well. every forum that i read states that they only came with a one ply, by the way, i love it. Color: 3-Color Sunburst. Gibson M 1000-3000+ Fender M ,Mexico 650- Epiphone Trung Quc 150- Squier Trung Quc ,Indonesia 170- Gretsch Indonesia , Trung Quc,Hn Quc,Nht Bn. in response to nick.i have played some of the pre CBS guitars. Epiphone is OK. ONLY. Per Dan Smith of Fender (see interview on reverb), the Squier brand wasn't originally introduced to be a budget brand but was introduced in 82 to differentiate branding between the Japanese and American production lines due to complaint of the lack of such by distributors and vendors. Now she sings loud and clear too. The nato is used today for the new Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe 60s, replacing the Alder. Historically, the Fender was an expensive American guitar and the Squier its cheap Asian version. You might be able to discern a price that way. Unlike the standard 3 ply pick guards on the standard Fender Strat models, the "Squier Series" has a single-ply one. I have one and I didn't know anything about it. Verkaufe E-Gitarre Squier by Fender Stratocaster + Roland Cube 60 Verstrker funktioniert.,E-Gitarre Squier by Fender Stratocaster + Roland Cube 60 Verstrk in Niedersachsen - Buxtehude. 70's Style Larger Top?? At first I thought it was a 1999 american vintage reissue series which were also bodies that were cut in the usa and shipped to mexico. It is also used by Gibson in its entry-level models. On the side of the Squier, the first stratocaster guitars made in Japan in the 80s were recognized for being built with solid basswood, which gave them an excellent quality. The Affinity Series Stratocaster combines the classic features that made the Stratocaster a rock and roll favorite: sonic flexibility, authentic Fender sound, vintage style and eye-catching finishes. A new Fender American Professional Stratocaster guitar can cost up to $1500. In addition, I owned more than a hundred guitars. Sounded surprisingly good . There is the standard S-S-S version -three singlecoils-, and there are H-H -Humbuckers-, H-S-S and Plustop versions with flamed maple top that come with S-S-S and H-S-S. Its not news that both Fender and Squier use maple for their necks. What this means is that the data we store in them is used to enhance your use of our website Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. As a user said before, I've found mine very very light and when I play it unplugged you can hear the sound resonating in the body. Squier Bullet Stratocasters In the early years of Fender, around the 1940s, Leo used this wood in prototypes because of its low cost. My Uncle worked for Fender in Santa Ana in 1960 through CBS in Fullerton and the "new" Fender in Corona when he retired in 2000. Fender also made an American, Mexican and Korean version of the Squier Series all of which are nice guitars and of course in that order. 570 VB. . Its heavy. So while, in general terms, Squier uses lower quality metals for most of its components, but in the case of the Classic Vibe they do their job well. you're talkin about the mim squier series, i assume. So when I saw a local ad for a black japanese Strat I went to check it out. item 1 Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico Squier Series 1994 Fender Stratocaster Made in Mexico Squier Series 1994. As expected, the price varies considerably for both brands, although over the years it has been markedly reduced. Made in India Squier IIs seem to follow the made in USA serial numbering scheme. However, the Classic Vibe series has more than decent and acceptable quality. Fender stamps its mark on most of its hardware, especially the bridges. That's the head stock. It sounds amazing, Mine has a 3 ply picguard on it,wbw,Torino Red,when I bought it the volumn pot was a little scratchy,so I took it to a great tech at my local music store,he in formed me that it had the dime sized pots in her which usually mean 250s,but mine are 500s,I did some more digging around and the pups turned out to be JM ALNINCO 5S,OTHER THEN THE PETINA ON pick GUARD TURNING THAT funny shade of green,if I were to put hang tags and clean her up,for being 29 years young she is in mint shape,she came with a small Allen for the saddles,a FENDER wiping cloth,a few picks,a humidifier pack from 1989,a new set of Fender strings,09 to 42 marked on the pack with a rainbow the year 1989 and a bad USA FENDER CASE FROM 1989 STILL HAS KEYS,ITS almost to pretty to play,I'm just a begginer and learning,and I've strumed some high dollar strays and that do not sound half as good as my US made 89 Squier,I'm still trying to find any and all info I can on her,like how many were made,were did they all go,I know they only made them for about 7 or 8 months,I was told they did not make over 20,000,and I was also told they were made in the Custom shop,any help would be greatly appreciated,THANKS Russell. The Squier had far better tone and a better neck for really gliding up and down with smooth lead. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. This instrument does not come with a bag or case. So I swapped ALL the parts. Joined Jan 31, 2009 Posts . It doesn't have the same tooling marks as a MIM Strat body, and as stated peviously, was made in USA. It's an excellent guitar!!!! Then if you love the model, you can go for the Fender. I own one and it is such a great sounding instrument, feels like the real deal (because it is). The fire at their Mexican plant that you refer to, did not occur until February, 1994. As well as these physical differences, further identification will be helped by the serial number, which would begin with one of the following: MN3, MN4, MN5, MN6, MN7 or MN8. Gorgeous High Gloss Black Color Headstock. The body on mine is extremely light. So if you find an Alder Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster, the differences to the Fender are really minimized. S/n ICS10018859. I realize there are diffrrences across the product line. My opinion is just that. Left-handed Guitars Fender Custom Shop SHOP BY MODEL Stratocaster Telecaster Jaguar Jazzmaster Lead Duo-Sonic Mustang Shop All Electric Guitars SHOP BY SERIES American Professional II American Ultra Luxe American Ultra American Vintage II American Original American Performer Player Plus Player 75th Anniversary Vintera Noventa Artist Signature The last Squier made in N America 25 years ago before finally moving to Indonesia. Of course, a quality difference is to be expected between the woods used by one brand and another. The volume knob has been replaced. Fender Standard Stratocaster (MIM) - late 90s to about 2018 Fender Standard Stratocaster (Made In Mexico) have had the same pickups for a LONG time until 2018. Hey! These pickups are more similar in construction to the P90s with more output and less clarity than traditional Fender singlecoils. It should be noted that in the low series, the quality of the Squier tuners and the bridges are a common complaint, but it does not apply to the Classic Vibe line. If they were ready to go American components how come -there isn't a walnut plug for the truss rod? Don't get me wrong, it is a lovely guitar, but I uncovered a surprise when I took the neck off to make some adjustments. The same happens, to a lesser extent, but also between Fender USA and Mexico. It was black with a maple neck. NOT as you wrote "The period at Fender was marked by a number of changes in production, with new Asian factories coming online,".