1994 MIM Fender Telecaster Squier Series

I have put so many posts on this forum but actually never asked about what guitar I have.

I have MIM fender Telecaster, with big black Fender logo on headstock and small Squier Series logo where usually artist signature stands. Bought it in janyary 1995. in NY.
You can see that model in Fender cataloqye from that days.

It was string thru before drilling, but I rememeber that it was different from real Squiers, that I've seen from those days. It has more accurate Tele feats.

Do I have Fender or Squier? Can anyone tell me something about that series. It looks like that it was something like experimantal series for Mexicans before thay could put single gold Fender logo on headstock, just to see if they could reach satisfactory quality

First of all, I know absolutely nothing about the MIM Squier series, but if it says Squier, I'd say it's a Squier. Since guitar production at the Mexico plant began in 1989, I don't think they would be trying to prove their production quality in 1994.

that sets them apart ... better quality materials and construction.

seems to be the same bodies and necks as the MIA of that year and I've run across the same info that you have about that Squire production era being a testbed for the MIM Fender models ... the big F, small S on the headstock adding to that rumor.

but '94 Squire teles have something about them that makes them special.

as for build and component quality they are as good as basic US models from that year, and superior to current low end (Highway 1) production.

and still can be found for $150 - 200 US !!!

cheers,
Mike

Every guitar player that has played my guitar was delighted with its sound. Now with vintage bridge it is even better.
I hear people says how Squiers have flaws, bad frets, bad pickups, but my guitar is built very well. Tuners are very good, pickups are OK, not too good.

That guitar was bought new in New Yors for $233, ten years ago. Body is poplar and has exactly same specs like MIM standard except topload bridge.

I played 2 HW Teles in our local Fender dealer shop. And to be honest one was better than my guitar, second wasn't. By what I saw with that test is that medium jumbo frets are much more easier for playing then
small vintage frets on my guitars.

In my country is very hard to find Tele, but I will be patient and hope that I will find some good vintage one.

A few of my friends around here have Squier guitars from '94/'95 and they are excellent. Wonderful necks.
Don't get rid of a good guitar just because it hasn't got 'Fender' on the headstock.

First of all, I know absolutely nothing about the MIM Squier series, but if it says Squier, I'd say it's a Squier. Since guitar production at the Mexico plant began in 1989, I don't think they would be trying to prove their production quality in 1994.

QUOTE BY TG: A few of my friends around here have Squier guitars from '94/'95 and they are excellent. Wonderful necks.
Don't get rid of a good guitar just because it hasn't got 'Fender' on the headstock.

If I'm reading igorBG's post right, he's saying that The guitar has the Fender logo in the big letters, and way at the end of the headstock, it then has Squier Series in very small print.

I've got two from that era that haver the SAME thing....well actually three, but the first two ARE MIM, and they have a silk screened logo, verses the traditional waterslide logo. They made these for a short time, and in my belief, they used a few lesser quality componets like pots, tuners, etc. They then marketed them in a lower price bracket, and I further believe that it was done while they were switching production from the Korean factories.

That said, I have a little Strat that has the SAME logo deisign....FENDER in the big letters and the "Squier Series" at the very end of the headstock. But the Strat says below the big Fender logo "Made in Korea," with the cheaper tuners, and dates to 1992. But, the FENDER logo is a silver logo.

About seven years ago, I had another MIK Fender Strat that was a Squier Series as well, and that one had the black silk screen logo, just like the MIM Squier Series.

So, my opinion for you, igorBG....You do, indeed have a FENDER Stratocaster, but it's just the lower end that Fender was producing out of Mexico during an apparent "transition time."

I have a 93 MIM Tele with the exact same black logos. I found out from Fender that in 93-94 all the MIM Teles were given the Squire logo. They became the standard Mexican Tele's in 95. The sound and build is very good on mine.

1) I have Telecaster not Stratocaster
2) It has black Fender logo in bold modern font.
3) One pot was bad, and I changed it
4) Made in Mexico, SN: MN407154
5) Tuners are cheap by look, but very good
6) I sanded small Squier series logo, so now it looks like MIM Standard
7) It is different from Squiers from that period, body radius, neck shape, pickups, knobs, finish
8) Guitar is IMHO excelent for its price except topload bridge, but if you put string thru vintage bridge with brass you are very close to RI52

Guitar is IMHO excelent for its price except topload bridge, but if you put string thru vintage bridge with brass you are very close to RI52

Don't worry about that. Many of the best teles I've ever played have been top-loaders.
In fact, I'm making a parts Esquire right now and I got a top load body and bridge on purpose.

Wow! Mine is identicle. Mine sounds great, stays in tune very well and has a very nice feeling neck.

I know this thread is about a tele, but I have a strat with the big Fender logo and the small "squier series" up farther, and it's made in mexico, I believe mine is a '95. I lucked out, it's like brand new and got it fore 125. and it's a sweet guitar.

I know this thread is about a tele, but I have a strat with the big Fender logo and the small "squier series" up farther, and it's made in mexico, I believe mine is a '95. I lucked out, it's like brand new and got it fore 125. and it's a sweet guitar.

I paid $150 for mine, it's a 1994 and it looks brand new as well. I got it from a music store, so it was set up very well.

Igor, run a search, there was a definitive thread on these not more than 3 days ago.

I don't know about the top loader bridges for teles. I have a MIK Fender Squier Tele s/n: CN204522 and it has a top loader. I don't like the top loader at all. Doesn't have the right sound for a tele and doesn't have any spank at all. Now the Nashville I ordered recently has the tele sound I like and that I'm used to hearing.
I need to find someone around here where I live that has a drill press.

RJ

Igor, run a search, there was a definitive thread on these not more than 3 days ago.

Seems a bit strange to be answering a question that was asked more than three years ago.

I don't know about the top loader bridges for teles. I have a MIK Fender Squier Tele s/n: CN204522 and it has a top loader. I don't like the top loader at all. Doesn't have the right sound for a tele and doesn't have any spank at all. Now the Nashville I ordered recently has the tele sound I like and that I'm used to hearing.
I need to find someone around here where I live that has a drill press.

RJ

hou35male and igorBG, I'm betting your toploader bridges are essentially like this one. This one is a dual loader, yours probably has only the toploader holes.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/tele-tech/6356d1194833726-best-pickups-sound-i-want-l-shaped_with-_6-barrels-jpg

hou35male, does your Nashville Tele have a bridge like this?

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/tele-tech/6357d1194834065-best-pickups-sound-i-want-6barrel-vintage-reissue3-jpg

My theory (based on my own experiences bridge and saddle swapping) is that a relatively thin steel plate is the more important factor in the bridge design for getting me the Tele sound I want. I have Teles with thin steel bridgeplates that are toploaded and some that are loaded string through, and both get me the Tele sound I want, and I think they do it better than Teles with the thicker plates like the first one I pictured above.