Squier Stratocasters Made in Japan

Intro
As stated previously we are not covering JV or SQ Models here. These ended around 1984 and the slightly less regarded Squier Strats were released. These are broadly:
The regular Strat with some variations noted below models 27-4600 and 27-4602 (27-4650 and 27-4652 in the Americas)
The left handed version is 27-4620
The contemporary Strats at least 3 types
Silver Series
Hank Marvin
Standard 27-8800 and 27-8802
Waynes World 3 versions
There are however various other catalogued models and others that I can't find in catalogues
As this is Fender Japan uncatalogued variations, limited models and one offs almost certainly exist.
At this point I would like to mention Fuzzfaced. This is a website run by Antonio Calvosa with a really detailed description of all the Strats you could wish for. My website paints a picture and has considerable detail, with a bit of chat, but more detail exists on Antonio's site which is here Fuzzfaced

Tony Bacon in his book Squier Electrics refers to the SSS Squier Strats from 1985 as Regular Strats a much misused word these days taken to mean normal or ordinary. He does however refer to a standard strat as well which has different model number. I will try where possible to use Fender's model designation to avoid confusion.
The 1985 Catalogue has two strats with Humbuckers plus 2 "regular" Strats
The last two are models 27-4600 and 27-4602 These are the same guitar but one has a Maple and one a Rosewood Board.
The model designation in the USA is for some reason different it is 27-4650 and 27-4652.

The 1985 Catalogue

Regular Strat (Standard Strat 1st Version?)

Model Numbers 27-4600 27-4602 27-4650 and 27-4652 Known at times as the ST-362 or ST-357
Specs

Body Basswood Polyester Finish
Neck Maple Skunk stripe and Walnut plug on Maple Fretboard model.
Fretboard Rosewood or Maple 21 Vintage Style Frets wide 12th Fret Spacing of Markers
Headstock White Squier Logo with Stratocaster and Made in Japan serial number placement varied
Tuners Varies some trap type some Gotoh
Pickups Single Coil Ceramics
Controls Standard Strat with white knobs
Nut 41mms
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vint style sync trem
Pickguard 50s style single ply 8 hole
Colours Black, White at launch LPB and Torino Red added 1986
Years available 1984 to 1988
Left handed model 27-27-4620 available Rosewood Board only

Some Squier Strats with Humbuckers

Three of these
Model 27-4700 1985 to 1988 single Humbucker
Model 27-4500 1985 to 1988 two Humbuckers
Model 27-6800 1986 to 1988 HSS
In the 1986 price list these are all referred to as Contemporary Strats and are price at £289 £329 and £379 respectively.
All are 24.75" scale and whilst referred to as "Contemporary" have non locking bridge and nut.
Specs

*I have also seen some of these with trap tuners not sure why this is.

A few pictures

This is from a HH but all 3 models have the same headstock



The three models pictures not that easy to come by.

Squier Standard SST 362

This is model 27-8800 and 27-8802 launched around 1987 and Made in Japan for about a year but has a locking trem this is often referred to incorrectly as HM or Contemporary.

Standard Stratocaster Specs
Model Number: 027-8800 and 8802
Model Name: Standard Stratocaster
Colors: 506, 558, 580 Black Torino Red Arctic White
Body: Basswood
Neck: Maple 4 bolt neckplate has black plastic gasket
Fretboard Rosewood 8800 Maple 8802 21 Vintage Frets 305mm radius
Headstock Small Gold Squier Logo
Nut Width:41mm Not locking
Scale Length: 25.5” (645.7mm)
Pickups 3 single coil ceramics aged white covered
Controls White 1 V 2 T 5 way
Hardware: Chrome
Tuners: Gotoh
Bridge: System 1 (Locking)
Pickguard: 3-ply W/B/W 11 hole
Features: No String-Guides, String Clamp on Headstock

Some detail

Squier Silver series and SST-39 SST-36 SST-33

Some extracts from the 1994 catalogue all the models have the Silver series logo

The Silver Series was officially launched in 1992 and lasted until 1994 with some changes. There are some guitars built a little earlier and later that are in effect Silver series and intended for the domestic market but don't have the Silver series logo. The designated Silver Series models were made for the UK and Japan only. It is valid to consider that the Pacificas built in Japan from 1990 to 1996 fall into this category.
There are all sorts of stories and opinions about how good these were and how they marked a return to the quality of the early days of Japanese manufacture. It is notable however that the later ones of these had bodies made of PAF (wood fibre) the early ones being Basswood. There are also claims that some are Alder I haven't yet found proof. Also the electronics were cheap and notoriously fragile and some had trap style tuners.
In fact these were built because of competition from the likes of the Yamaha Pacifica and others. Fender wanted the Kudos of Japan with the price point of Korea and this was a compromise. The Hank Marvin and the first Waynes World are often considered to be part of the Silver Series, I will treat those separately.
it's hard to see much other than cosmetic differences between the three models but the 39 had no option for a Maple board whereas the other two did. All had Rosewood option. The 39 is a fotoflame type finish.

Specs
Body PAF Wood Fibre early ones Basswood
Neck Maple C shape
Fretboard Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Small with Silver Squier Logo and Stratocaster Made in Japan serial number and Silver series on.
! Butterfly string tree
The left handed headstock just has Squier and Silver series on it
Tuners Mainly Gotoh but some with Trap type
Pickups 3 Ceramic Single coils
Controls Usual Strat some white some black to match pickguard colour
Nut 41mms
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vint style sync trem diecast block
Pickguard Some black some white 11 hole
Colours SST-39 Amber Burst, Blue Burst or Redburst all Fotoflame Black Pickguard
SST-36 Gunmetal Red or Gunmetal Blue White Pickguard
SST-33 Black, Vint White or Torino Red with Black Pickguard or Sunburst with White pickguard
I believe there are also some Blue ones around.
I have seen more than one Sunburst with black plastics

The headstocks

These are the tuners from the strat pictured above

And these from another silver series strat


This is an ST39 with changed pickup and Silver series logo


An SST-33 with the "wrong" colour plastics

Another 33

Whilst looking at these I have come across a fair few anomalies. Colours and pickguard combinations different string tree arrangements and others. Whilst some could be after market changes I suspect that because these were built to a price point all sorts of bits were used during manufacture.

A rather nice one which doesn't fit the specs.

Wayne's World Stratocaster

There are 3 Japanese versions of this guitar
Wayne's World V1 1992 1993 032-1100
V2 1993 032-1100 and 1102
Floyd Rose 1993 132-1100 and 1102
As can be seen all short lived models made to capitalise on the film. There was also a Waynes world guitar made in Mexico. The first version was white only with a Rosewood board the other two came in black or white with Rosewood or Maple Board.

Specs
Model Number: 032-1000-580
Body: Basswood
Headstock Small Silver Squier logo 1 Butterfly string tree.
Trap style tuners
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 7.25" Radius 21 Frets
Nut: 1.625" (41 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style
Pickguard: White 3 ply 11 hole
Pickups: Ceramics Aged White Covers
Standard Strat Controls White
Colour Arctic White
Engraved Wayne's World neckplate

The only evidence I have of the existence of the other two models is from Tony Bacon's book Squier Electrics. I can't find anything else about them anywhere.

Some pictures

Hank Marvin Signature Stratocaster

This is model 32-2002 available from 1991 to 1993 as part of the silver series but without a silver series logo

Specs
Model Number: 032-1000-580
Body: Basswood
Headstock Small Silver Squier logo 1 Butterfly string tree. Hank's signature
Sealed Diecast Gotoh style tuners
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Maple, 7.25" Radius 21 Frets
Nut: 1.625" (41 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Bridge: Vintage Style
Pickguard: White 3 ply 8 hole
Pickups: Ceramics Aged White Covers
Standard Strat Controls White
Colour Fiesta Red

Stratocaster SST33 and CST33

This is from the 1986 Twang

As you can see these two guitars are respectively a 60s and 70s style Squier. They were released in 1985 for a short time, until around 1987. There were equivalent JVs and SQs and most of the 85 onwards models of these I have seen have been E or A serial numbers.

Some Pictures of the CST30



Appears someone was ashamed of the Squier logo

Not so easy to find out much about these but here is what I have found out with reasonable certainty
CST30
Body Said to be Alder in several places on the web
Neck Maple C shaped 3 bolt
Fretboard Maple or Rosewood 21 frets said to be 9.5" radius but probably 7.25"
Headstock Large 70s style black Squier 70s style logo bullet truss rod adjust 2 butterfly string trees
Tuners Gotoh sealed diecast
Pickups 3 single coil ceramics
Controls Standard Strat Black or White
Nut 42mms
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vint style trem
Pickguard 3 ply black or white
Colours I have seen White with both black and white pg and controls, Black with Black pg and controls, Sunburst with black pg and controls
Years available 1985 to 1987

SST30
Body Basswood
Neck Maple C shaped 4 bolt
Fretboard Maple or Rosewood 21 frets 7.25" radius
Headstock 60s style Gold Squier logo truss rod adjust at body 1 butterfly string tree some have fake Truss rod cover some don't
Tuners Gotoh sealed diecast
Pickups 3 single coil ceramics
Controls Standard Strat Black or White
Nut 42mms?
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vint style trem
Pickguard 3 ply black or white
Colours I have seen White with white pg and controls, Black with white pg and controls, Sunburst with white pg and controls
Torino Red with White pg and controls
Years available 1985 to 1987

Some SST30 pictures






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