Squier

Squier is a trademark under which the U.S. musical instrument manufacturer Fender sells since 1982 affordable replicas of their own high-priced electric guitar and electric bass guitar models.

History

Jerome Bonaparte (JB) Squier was an English immigrant who tried his luck in America as a farmer and shoemaker in 1881. But in Battle Creek (Michigan) he also European-style violins ago. These instruments had very soon an excellent reputation among European immigrants in America. Above all, the son of Carol Victor (VC ) Squier earned the highest respect of the emerging musicians guild in the American West in the early 20th century. Squier 's violins were in demand across the continent. The quality and price were superior to those of the European imports by far. 1890, Victor his first violin shop in Battle Creek and he soon had it looking bigger premises because his store was too small.

Around the turn of the century came the best violin strings from England. However, the import time was complicated, was long and therefore expensive and the quality suffered in the long crossings at sea. Therefore, Victor decided to start with the production of violin strings. First by hand, later, when he no longer nachkam with the production, industrial. The production quickly reached over 1000 strings per day. The good reputation also spread in the strings in no time and the violin strings were quickly added or guitar or banjo strings.

Around 1930 began Squier also with making strings for the emerging electrically amplified instruments. In addition, it has now also traded with pianos, radios and record players. In 1950, Leo Fender - founder Leo Fender was instrumental Manufacture - attention to the Squiers. Fender strings much needed for its new solidbody guitars. So Squier became the official supplier for Fender guitars and later also for the Fender bass guitars.

1965 Leo Fender bought the company V.C. Squier Company, shortly before he sold his company to the American financial company CBS. Squier was thus part of the Fender Instrumental Manufacture.

Squier as a trademark

The instruments made ​​by Fender were often copied, especially in the Asian region that Fender sought a way to stem this tide, or even benefit from it. Therefore, Fender began in 1982 on, under the name Squier at Fujigen Gakki in Japan exact copies of its coveted models Stratocaster, Telecaster and later also manufacture Precision Bass and Jazz Bass. Squier was also the only manufacturer of copies, who was allowed to perform the terms Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass. The instruments were of good quality and cheap price. This made ​​it Fender to stem the tide of black copies first in the Asian market and then also in Europe. The instruments made ​​in Japan reached at times even the same quality standard as the American sister products, which Squier on the American market his sister competed strongly. Cheaper models were manufactured at Samick in South Korea since 1987. 1996 took over the company and Dyna Gakki Guitars Tōkai the production of the Squier guitars in Japan. Manufacturing facilities emerged gradually in Mexico, Indonesia, India and China.