Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
First impressions of the Squier Japan, Fujigen factory, 1990's, is it any good? Let's unbox this bad boy and see!
#newguitarday
Thanks for watching, folks.
Dunsy
Squier Vista Series
In 1996 Squier introduced the Vista Series, which unlike previous Squiers, were not created as budget guitars and were largely original designs. Three Vista models were produced; the Jagmaster, the Super Sonic, and the Venus six- and 12-string guitars.
The Squier Jagmaster
The Jagmaster is loosely based on the Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster, but with Gibson-style humbucking pickups, a Stratocaster-style vibrato, simplified electronics and, on the Vista series version, a short-scale neck (24 inches, the same as on a Jaguar).
Launched in 1996, the Jagmaster was built for only two years. The earliest Japanese Jagmasters employed a truss rod that is adjusted from the bottom of the neck, while later guitars have a 1970s-style bullet truss rod, which is adjusted at the headstock. The earliest guitars sometimes feature a “Fender 50th Anniversary” decal on the back of the headstock.
Due to Japan’s economic crisis during the late 1990s, Fender closed the Japanese plants in which the Jagmaster was produced. However, in 2000 a Chinese-built version with a 25-1/2 inch scale neck was released. In 2005, that version was discontinued and replaced with the Jagmaster II, which reverted to the short-scale neck.
#squier
#squierguitars
#guitarreview
#newguitar
Squier Guitars brand (1982–present)
Fender was also losing sales in Japan to Japanese guitar brands such as Tōkai, Greco and Fernandes and the establishment of Fender Japan would benefit Fender sales in Japan, as well as overseas. Fender began negotiations with several Japanese musical instrument distributors and reached an agreement with Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai to establish Fender Japan. Yamano Gakki was known for once being part of Epiphone Japan. Kanda Shokai owned the Greco brand name and one of the conditions of the Fender Japan agreement was that Kanda Shokai cease production of its own Greco Fender copies. This arrangement benefited Fender because it removed the Greco Fender copies from the Japanese market, which were selling in Japan at much lower prices than the American made Fenders and it also benefited Kanda Shokai because Kanda Shokai could then distribute Japanese made Fender branded guitars in Japan. Further negotiations between Fender and Japanese guitar factories took place. Tokai was seriously considered to start building the first Japanese made Fenders, but after a breakdown in negotiations, FujiGen Gakki was chosen instead.
The initial Squier models were launched on July/August 1982. Over time, the Squier series slowly evolved to include original model designs and production has moved from Japan to various other Asian countries such as Korea, China and Indonesia. These guitars were massively successful and some of the Squier guitars were turned into Fender guitars.
First impressions of the Squier Japan, Fujigen factory, 1990's, is it any good? Let's unbox this bad boy and see!
#newguitarday
Thanks for watching, folks.
Dunsy
Squier Vista Series
In 1996 Squier introduced the Vista Series, which unlike previous Squiers, were not created as budget guitars and were largely original designs. Three Vista models were produced; the Jagmaster, the Super Sonic, and the Venus six- and 12-string guitars.
The Squier Jagmaster
The Jagmaster is loosely based on the Fender Jaguar and Jazzmaster, but with Gibson-style humbucking pickups, a Stratocaster-style vibrato, simplified electronics and, on the Vista series version, a short-scale neck (24 inches, the same as on a Jaguar).
Launched in 1996, the Jagmaster was built for only two years. The earliest Japanese Jagmasters employed a truss rod that is adjusted from the bottom of the neck, while later guitars have a 1970s-style bullet truss rod, which is adjusted at the headstock. The earliest guitars sometimes feature a “Fender 50th Anniversary” decal on the back of the headstock.
Due to Japan’s economic crisis during the late 1990s, Fender closed the Japanese plants in which the Jagmaster was produced. However, in 2000 a Chinese-built version with a 25-1/2 inch scale neck was released. In 2005, that version was discontinued and replaced with the Jagmaster II, which reverted to the short-scale neck.
#squier
#squierguitars
#guitarreview
#newguitar
Squier Guitars brand (1982–present)
Fender was also losing sales in Japan to Japanese guitar brands such as Tōkai, Greco and Fernandes and the establishment of Fender Japan would benefit Fender sales in Japan, as well as overseas. Fender began negotiations with several Japanese musical instrument distributors and reached an agreement with Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai to establish Fender Japan. Yamano Gakki was known for once being part of Epiphone Japan. Kanda Shokai owned the Greco brand name and one of the conditions of the Fender Japan agreement was that Kanda Shokai cease production of its own Greco Fender copies. This arrangement benefited Fender because it removed the Greco Fender copies from the Japanese market, which were selling in Japan at much lower prices than the American made Fenders and it also benefited Kanda Shokai because Kanda Shokai could then distribute Japanese made Fender branded guitars in Japan. Further negotiations between Fender and Japanese guitar factories took place. Tokai was seriously considered to start building the first Japanese made Fenders, but after a breakdown in negotiations, FujiGen Gakki was chosen instead.
The initial Squier models were launched on July/August 1982. Over time, the Squier series slowly evolved to include original model designs and production has moved from Japan to various other Asian countries such as Korea, China and Indonesia. These guitars were massively successful and some of the Squier guitars were turned into Fender guitars.
