Craigslist Score!

[TMBTC]

This is what I picked up on CL just the other day for $100. with a Gig Bag and an Acoustic B10 Amp...... This is what I consider a CL score.

 

[GlennW]

No. Squiers are Squiers. Fenders are Fenders. The MIM black label stuff confuses a lot of people; they see the "Squier Series" sticker and think it's a Squier, but it's a Fender. Fender also had a black label "Traditional Series" which was a small step above the Squier Series, but just the black Fender decal (no Traditional Series sticker). That's my understanding anyway.

 

[euronymous]

The Squier series basses were not Squiers. Fender loaded Fender quality bodies and necks with lower grade electronics from Japan and Mexico that they would have also used in squiers, thus the term "Squier series". They also put better electronics in these same "black logo" basses and put them out at a lower price point then the standard J bass. They were basically a step between Standards and Squiers, but both guitars came with Fender hang tags and Fender serial numbers and were considered in the MIM Fender line and not Squiers. here is the data from TDPRI

90’s Fender Mexico w/ Black Decal: A Mystery Uncovered
You might have heard of mexican made Fender guitars with a black headstock decal, sometimes associated with some mystery Squier Series made in Mexico. It’s true that there actually was a “Squier Series” that was made by Fender in Mexico and featured a black decal on the headstock, but not all mexican made Fender guitars with such a black label were part of that very “Squier Series”. Since there appears to be a lot of confusion and half-knowledge about these guitars out there, I decided to do some research on my own.

The black label was used by Fender Mexico for a limited time only between 1993 and 1998. It can be found exclusively on the rather short lived mexican “Traditional” and “Squier” series for the Telecaster, Stratocaster and Precision Bass. Usually, Squier is to Fender what Epiphone is to Gibson. In this very case, the use of the name “Squier” had nothing to do with the actual Squier brand, as the series was named “Squier Series”, but it was by all means a Fender series, not a Squier series. The keyword is “series”, not “Squier”. The regular mexican “Standard” series was available too at the time, but it already featured the same silver-ish logo that is still used for it today. However, between 1993 and 1998, both labels (the black AND the silver-ish one) were used for mexican made Fender guitars, but for (slightly) different guitars.

The guitars with the black label consisted mostly of overstock american made Fender necks and bodies. The parts were shipped to Mexico for assembly with mexican made pickups and far eastern hardware and electronics. The overall quality of these guitars turned out to be below the Squiers made in Japan and Korea, whose production came to an end around the time the mexican made guitars with the black label surfaced, yet above Squiers made in China and Indonesia, whose production had not yet begun at the time. The guitars ended up on the american and european market for just about as much as a guitar from the regular “Standard” series would cost at the time.

Some (not all!) of the guitars were sold for a few bucks less as they came with 1-ply pickguards and hardware of slightly lesser quality. Those guitars (and those only!) had an additional smaller “Squier Series” label on front of the headstock, right were the artist models have the artist’s signature. Though some owners probably sanded off their “Squier Series” label, it is not true that all guitars with a black label had a “Squier Series” label in the first place. Most guitars with the black label featured tuners and bridges of decent quality as well as 3-ply pickguards. These guitars did not have the additional “Squier Series” label and were called the “Traditional Series”, which was stated nowhere on the headstock but the guitars were listed, advertised and sold as such.

The “Traditional Series” can be considered the slightly better but the “Squier Series” sure is the more obscure. At the end of the day, there really is not that much difference between the two. The most significant difference can be found on the Telecaster. The Telecaster from the “Traditional Series” had the traditional through-body stringing, while the Telecasters from the “Squier Series” were Top Loaders with different bridges, saddles and no string holes in the back.

The guitars from that very “Squier Series” are official and genuine Fender guitars like any mexican made Fender guitar regardless, and if you have a mexican made Fender Telecaster, Stratocaster or Precision Bass with a black label and a serial number beginning with MN3, MN4, MN5, MN6, MN7 or MN8, you have a genuine Fender guitar – with or without a small “Squier Series” label.

Learn something everyday.

 

[Johnny Alien]

OK...I get that it is not the standard Squier but as long as it says "Squier" on it somewhere then it is still a "Squier"

The first Squiers had Fender in large print as well and they are also Squiers.

I am not saying it's a bad instrument or that any Squiers are bad because I don't think they are HOWEVER if it says Squier on it, it's a Squier simple as that.

 

[Johnny Alien]

And also the reason why that post above is inaccurate is the whole "it used overstock US parts"

No US bass at that time had trus access at the headstock and most all of them (minus the vintage series) had string through bodies. Those match nothing that the US factory was making at the time.

What you have is alot of theories because people really aren't positive.

From what I heard they were unsure where to move Squier production so they used some Mexican parts coupled with Squier hardware and electronics and sold them off that way.

 

[euronymous]

OK...I get that it is not the standard Squier but as long as it says "Squier" on it somewhere then it is still a "Squier"

The first Squiers had Fender in large print as well and they are also Squiers.

I am not saying it's a bad instrument or that any Squiers are bad because I don't think they are HOWEVER if it says Squier on it, it's a Squier simple as that.

Well I guess what it comes down to then is I got a much better quality neck and body than I would had I paid the same price for "real squier" (which I would not of gotten to clean/set up). I'm not planning on leaving it stock, that was the point of getting it. I can always sand that little squire series label off too.

 

[euronymous]

And also the reason why that post above is inaccurate is the whole "it used overstock US parts"

No US bass at that time had trus access at the headstock and most all of them (minus the vintage series) had string through bodies. Those match nothing that the US factory was making at the time.

What you have is alot of theories because people really aren't positive.

From what I heard they were unsure where to move Squier production so they used some Mexican parts coupled with Squier hardware and electronics and sold them off that way.

Confusing, yes. I cant get a strait story either. I got a bass that I like that I can mod the hell out of for $100. Sand the Squire Series logo off and have another MIM.

 

[Johnny Alien]

Confusing, yes. I cant get a strait story either. I got a bass that I like that I can mod the hell out of for $100. Sand the Squire Series logo off and have another MIM.

Absolutely enjoy it. $100 is nothing for a good bass.

From my understanding there is alot of those basses with the Squier Series sanded off.

 

[fenderphil]

wow!

I can never find a deal like that!

This is what I picked up on CL just the other day for $100. with a Gig Bag and an Acoustic B10 Amp...... This is what I consider a CL score.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

This is what I picked up on CL just the other day for $100. with a Gig Bag and an Acoustic B10 Amp...... This is what I consider a CL score.

that's what i'd call hot for 100 bucks around here...
or some poor bastard meth head is really missing their bass and amp...