Squier 40th Anniversary: Fender goes gold with Strat, Tele, JM and bass models
It's Squier 40th Anniversary!
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Fender is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Squier range with a slew of releases, including features like anodised aluminium pick guards and sublime colours for its Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, P Bass and Jazz Bass models. Available in two ranges, the Gold and Vintage Editions, the 40th anniversary models give you a wide range of styles peppered with birthday bling.
40 years of Squier
So 40 years ago, Fender launched its Squier brand of entry-level, affordable guitars. Fender is celebrating this anniversary by releasing many classic models in special colour versions and a choice of either maple or rosewood fretboards with block inlays. The Gold Editions all feature gold-anodised aluminium pick guards, along with matching gold hardware and a bound Indian laurel fretboard with classic block inlays.
The Vintage Editions have anodised aluminium pick guards in either black or gold finishes. These guitars come with chrome hardware and have maple fretboards with dot inlays. Let’s take a closer look at the specs!
40th Anniversary Stratocaster
Fender’s ten 40th Anniversary models kick off with – unsurprisingly – a Stratocaster. It comes factory fitted with a set of Fender-designed Alnico V single-coil pickups with traditional Strat wiring. The Vintage Edition comes with a gold anodised pickguard in Satin Seafoam Green and Satin Sonic Blue, or with a black anodised pick guard in Satin Wide 2-Color Sunburst.
The Gold Edition versions come in either Lake Placid Blue, Ruby Red Metallic or Sienna Sunburst, with large headstocks shape and block inlays.
Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster · Source: Fender
40th Anniversary Telecaster
Next: the Teles. The Vintage Edition 40th Anniversary Telecaster comes with a black anodised pickguard, and a double-bound body finished in either Satin Vintage Blonde, Satin Mocha or Satin Dakota Red. The Gold Edition comes in either Black or Sherwood Green Metallic.
Again, these models have ‘Fender Designed’ Alnico Single-Coil pickups, with traditional Telecaster layout and wiring. These models all have traditional three-barrel saddles, bridges and vintage style tuners. All of these should get you plenty of Tele-twang!
Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster · Source: Fender
40th Anniversary Jazzmaster
If you like an affordable offset, check out these 40th Anniversary Jazzmasters. There are some great colour chouces here, and nice prices. The Vintage Edition comes with a gold anodised pickguard in either Satin Seafoam Green or Satin Desert Sand. The Gold Edition comes in either Lake Placid Blue or Olympic White finish.
The specs are all traditional, including the bridge and vibrato. I’d imagine that the Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil pickups may look the part, but I suspect they might not be traditional Jazzmaster sounds. We will have to wait and see! Some great colours, though, and I’m loving the block inlays.
Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster · Source: Fender
40th Anniversary Precision Bass
Time for some bass! The 40th Anniversary Precision Bass models should provide decent sounds and value for money, along with some nice colour options. The Precision bass has a single split-coil Fender Designed P-bass pickup in the middle position, based around an Alnico V magnet.
The Gold Edition comes in either Lake Placid Blue or Black, while the Vintage edition has a gold anodised pickguard and a Satin Vintage Blonde or Satin Dakota Red finish. I like these colours, and it’s nice to see some stylish, affordable P-Bass models.
Squier 40th Anniversary Precision Bass · Source: Fender
40th Anniversary Jazz Bass
Like the P-Bass models, the 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass models incorporate Fender-designed Alnico V single-coils. This time, you have two. The Gold Edition is available in either Olympic White or Ruby Red Metallic, while the Vintage Edition comes with either a gold anodised pickguard in Satin Seafoam Green, or with a black anodised pickguard in Satin Wide 2-Color Sunburst.
Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass · Source: Fender
More Information on Squier Guitars
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One response to “Squier 40th Anniversary: Fender goes gold with Strat, Tele, JM and bass models”
For the love of dog, please let there be lefty models