seeking info on "Squier Series" Korean guitars

[pistolsteve]

I've located a guitar locally that appears to be a "Squire Series" (as opposed to plain-Jane Squier) Fender Strat. I'm awaiting more detail from the seller, but here's what I (think) I know at this point:

It was made in 1992, in Korea. It says "Fender" on the headstock, but apparently has a very small notation somewhere on the headstock that indicates it's actually Squier. I'm waiting on higher-res photos to confirm -- all I can make out in the seller's low-res online photo is that it does, in fact, say Fender on the headstock. After inquiring a bit, the seller noted that it is "Squier Series" and made a point that this was different from (better than?) standard-issue Squier.

The seller has replaced the pots and the 5-way switch and upgraded the nut and saddle. Other than that, it appears to be stock.

I've done some online searching, but it's hard to sort out individual guitar models from Korea in this time frame. I'm not finding a lot of info on this particular model. Can anyone provide some input on '92 Korean "Squier Series" Strats? Is this a desirable guitar? What would one expect the dollar-value to be?

I'll likely go check it out in the next few days, but any info I can get in advance would be greatly appreciated.

[Dizi]

I have a Korean Squier thats made out of pressed particle plys. Two piece maple neck. It is literally the cheapest guitar I have ever seen. But its setup and adjusted and plays real nice. I also have a Japanese Strat more like you describe, has big the Fender logo but also a small "Squier Series" logo. Its nicer and made of basswood, has a full size trem block, one piece maple neck.

So I think you will just need to get your hands on it and see what its got going on. I wouldn't spend more than $100 on a Korean strat.

[Warm Gums]

I had one or two pass thru when I was active on e-bay, a few years back. Mine both had gold & black Fender decals with a small "Squier Series" on the HS ball.. The necks are nice, the bodies are VERY heavy, the pu's & electronics are so so...the hardware is the real weak point. They have "Fender" stamped saddles, but the rest is quite bad, the tuners are non adjustable covered, pot metal inertia block etc. Some folks try to push these off as equivalent to early high end MIJ Fender/ Squier production, sorry, not even close..they are nicer than the black label Squires that were also MIK at that time, but that's not saying a lot....with a little looking you can score MIM Standard Strats for $200 so..... & it's only a matter of time before used "Classic Vibe" Strats are avilable for short $..either would be a better bet IMHO..But if it's cheep & works for 'ya give it a spin.

[rangercaster]

rumor has it that when Squier production moved to Korea from Japan, some of the early models were made from old Japan parts and were higher quality that the later MIK product ... i'm not an expert, but there are a few here who would know ...

[GuitarJonz]

IMO, the MIJ squiers are clearly superior to the MIK's.* The MIK bodies are often ply, many of the necks were very flat radius of 12" (very un-Fender-like), and hardware and pups were cheap.* I'd seek out an MIJ every time.

[Dizi]

Originally Posted by GuitarJonz

IMO, the MIJ squiers are clearly superior to the MIK's.* The MIK bodies are often ply, many of the necks were very flat radius of 12" (very un-Fender-like), and hardware and pups were cheap.* I'd seek out an MIJ every time.

That describes my MIK exactly. 12" radius too, which surprised me. But no reason to avoid MIK completely, if you can get one dirt cheap. I wouldn't suggest one as an only guitar, or number one player, but they are great travel/beater guitars. Mine plays real sweet, setup with 12-54 strings, working trem, light weight, and no worries if it gets broken or stolen. It lives in the trunk of my car.

[Ringo]

I have had a couple of them , the ones I owned had real nice necks, don't think they were 12" radius, felt like 9.5 to me.
Seems like one of them had a plywood body and the other one was solid wood, not sure what kind.
I do remember comparing the MIK neck to my MIM neck which is the same spec as MIJ and USA, the Korean neck was wider, it would not fit into a USA spec body w/o modding the neck or neck pocket of the body.
All that said, the MIK Squiers played well and actually sounded very good, even the plywood body.

[Dacious]

My guitar teacher had one of these MIK ply Strats. It was cheap as chips - but boy, even the stock pickups sounded great!

He sprayed it in flat black, and I put clear tinted nitro on it which gives it a soft, yellowy-brown look, along with a Ibanez Strat-copy neck with one string tree, some JV pickups and better tuners. It's got an old, torn, cheapo Fender decal someone sent me with an ebay buy. There's a couple of spots where his arm has worn through the nitro and black to the red poly underneath, and it looks like an old custom-finished one that's been refinished at the factory, as the body is very 60's-correct.

It's one of the best-playing, and sounding Strats, I've ever heard. He's had Strat snobs walk up in bars and accuse him of abortionising a real 60's Strat! Some won't believe it's a ply MIK one until he flips it and shows them the plies plainly visible in the trem spring cavity! It's a real hoot!

It just shows, there's cheap guitars, and cheap guitars!

[jgmedanth]

Originally Posted by rangercaster

rumor has it that when Squier production moved to Korea from Japan, some of the early models were made from old Japan parts and were higher quality that the later MIK product ... i'm not an expert, but there are a few here who would know ...

I've also heard this. I scored a 1989 MIK Squier HSS w/ Floyd Rose earlier this year for around $170. It has E in the serial number, which I believe indicates MIJ production, or am I wrong? Someone chime in if the regular MIK's were E series as well.
I was really wanting a strat with a Floyd Rose for some cheap thrills.
Well, the body is heavy as hell. I think it must be plywood if it's that heavy, right? The pups are typical ceramic pups, I think. The FR is actually just fine, and stays in tune great. 22 frets, rw neck. I like it for $170.
None more black.....

[santiagoabellei]

Hi there, I would like to get this Telacaster
:
1989 Squier Tele, Solid Ash, Made In Korea, TV Yellow

Seller claims that has a solid body instead of plywood and it has maple wood neck.

Not much info here are some pics:







He ask $390 does anyone knows if there is a way to know without scratching

of course if this one has a solid body.

Maybe it is a nice guitar to invest some money on it, or maybe not.

Any clue?

Thanks !

[SackvilleDan]

I have a Fender "Squier Series" Strat made in Mexico... alder body, great neck, but as others have mentioned the hardware is weak. I threw on a GFS full size block and bridge assembly, added some Fender USA sealed tuners, and now I have a fantastic player for the price. $200 is reasonable based on what you've described.

I also have a Fender "Squier Series" Tele neck that I put on a partscaster, the neck is MIK and I love it. It is a little flatter as others have mentioned, but a great neck.

Enjoy!

[rangercaster]

IMO, $390 is way high ... you could buy a new Squier or a used MIM for less and get a better guitar ...

[GigsbyBoyUK]

We are seeing some sellers nowadays say that Korean Squiers are getting rare are bound to go up in value and are 'better than the current Chinese rubbish' etc. I have owned a couple if MIK Squiers and I don't recall them being great back in the day, so just because they are old doesn't mean they are any better now.

I guess the advice is to go play a guitar and if you love it then pay what you think is fair, but be careful of assuming that just because something is 80s/90s MIK or even MIJ it means you are getting a great guitar and/or a future classic.

[chabby]

I have one for sale right now in the classsifeds that is easily the best playing strat I've ever owned. Mine is an 89 has vintage gardware and pickups with staggered pole pieces that appear to be 57/62's or very similar. Mine also sounds great and very stratty with all the quack etc you come to expect. Maybe it has some upgrades , I don't really know for sure. But I'd be willing to provide a money back guaranty on it, that's how good it is in my view. It's a steal and better than the Vintage Vibes. It's got a gorgeous and very fast neck and I'm almost certain came from the Young Chang Factory.

These guitars will be collectors one day, not too long from now IMO.
Mine's logo sez both Fender in black and Squier in silver with black outline.
It sez "made in Korea and Stratocaster by Fender next to the Squier.
I'ts in mint condition with a little fret wear, but well worth 200 bucks.
It stays in tune fantastic, but is missing the arm for the trem. I've gotten used to using the heel of my hand or bending behind the nut instead.

I planned on keeping the guitar foreverm but financial hardship sez its got to go.
At least if it happens within the next two days, otherwise I likely will pull it.
Then the damage wil already be done-LOL. I won't take less than 200 bucks that's for sure.

[rangercaster]

there was a recent post about a '90s Korean Peerless Epiphone with a ridiculous asking price ... nothing wrong with MIK guitars ( i own a bunch,) but they haven't appreciated in value, and probably won't for a long time ... they are likely worth less than original purchase price , which was a percentage of MSRP anyhow ... answer me this ... how many MIA guitars made in the last 25 years have appreciated in price !!!

[3 Chord]

Originally Posted by santiagoabellei

Hi there, I would like to get this Telacaster
:
1989 Squier Tele, Solid Ash, Made In Korea, TV Yellow

Seller claims that has a solid body instead of plywood and it has maple wood neck.

Not much info here are some pics:







He ask $390 does anyone knows if there is a way to know without scratching

of course if this one has a solid body.

Maybe it is a nice guitar to invest some money on it, or maybe not.

Any clue?

Thanks !

that should have a basswood body, not ash. e serial number. $200 tops.

[3 Chord]

Originally Posted by chabby

I have one for sale right now in the classsifeds that is easily the best playing strat I've ever owned. Mine is an 89 has vintage gardware and pickups with staggered pole pieces that appear to be 57/62's or very similar. Mine also sounds great and very stratty with all the quack etc you come to expect. Maybe it has some upgrades , I don't really know for sure. But I'd be willing to provide a money back guaranty on it, that's how good it is in my view. It's a steal and better than the Vintage Vibes. It's got a gorgeous and very fast neck and I'm almost certain came from the Young Chang Factory.

These guitars will be collectors one day, not too long from now IMO.
Mine's logo sez both Fender in black and Squier in silver with black outline.
It sez "made in Korea and Stratocaster by Fender next to the Squier.
I'ts in mint condition with a little fret wear, but well worth 200 bucks.
It stays in tune fantastic, but is missing the arm for the trem. I've gotten used to using the heel of my hand or bending behind the nut instead.

I planned on keeping the guitar foreverm but financial hardship sez its got to go.
At least if it happens within the next two days, otherwise I likely will pull it.
Then the damage wil already be done-LOL. I won't take less than 200 bucks that's for sure.

I just sold mine, e seies but with texas spiecals, $200 seems fair. I couldn' get along with the skinny neck, other than that, it was cool.