The Silver Series line of Squier-branded guitars from the early 90s is regarded by many as some of the most collectible examples of what we now call ‘vintage Squiers.’ Founded in 1890, Squier originally made violins before transitioning to string production. In the 1950s, Fender partnered with Squier to manufacture strings for their new electric guitars.
Fender USA acquired the long-standing Squier brand in 1965. The 1970s saw a rise in high-quality Fender copies emerging from Asia. To counter this, Fender officially launched the Squier Japan in 1982 to meet the demand for affordable, high-quality copies of Fender instruments. Initial runs of Squier instruments were known for their quality; however, this dipped in 1987 when manufacturing was outsourced to Korea. By 1990, production returned to Japan with the introduction of the “Silver Series” instruments, which represented a significant leap in quality and have since become favorites among vintage Japanese guitar collectors.
This 1991 Silver Series Telecaster exemplifies what a good old Squier should be. It features a nicely aged maple neck with some finish wear around the lower frets. The neck has a slightly slim C profile with rounded edges, complemented by chimey single-coil pickups and a decently weighted body that appears to be made of alder.
With regards to damage - there are two sizeable chips in the thick poly finish around the base near the rear strap pin. The chrome is remarkably well-preserved, showing only light pitting on the bridge and control plate, though some chrome plating is coming off the volume and tone knobs. The piano black poly finish has light grazing but remains largely clean for its age.
These early Squiers are renowned for their Fender-like feel. Unlike modern Squiers, which often have smaller necks designed for beginners, these early models aimed to recreate classic Fender guitars at an affordable price, resulting in a very similar feel. The small, vintage-style frets certainly contribute to that experience. Telecasters can be susceptible to neck dive, but at 3.59 kilograms, this guitar has enough body weight to maintain balance when standing.
Overall, this is a very nice vintage Squier at an affordable price point.
Brand: Squier
Model: Telecaster Silver Series
Year: 1991
Country: Japan
Case: HSC
Serial: L00XXXX
Colour (Body): Black
Colour (Neck): Natural
Finish Type: Poly
Body Material: Alder
Neck Material: Maple
Fretboard Material: Maple
Nut: White
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fret Number: 21
Neck Radius: 9.5”
Action: 1.75mm
Neck Profile: med/slim C
Nut Width: 42.8mm
12th Fret Width: 52.6mm
1st Fret Depth: 21.7mm
12th Fret Depth: 23.6mm
Pickups: Tele single coil
Resistance: Neck: 7.25K/Bridge: 6.61K
Electronics: Original
Knobs: Chrome
Pickguard: White 3 ply
Hardware: Chrome
Mods, repairs: N/A
Weight: 3.59kg
