1998 Fender/Squier Venus


  
Since it`s introduction in July 1997, the Venus (co-designed by Courtney Love - wife of the late Kurt Cobain, as well as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter with Hole - and the Fender Custom Shop) has become one of Fender`s most under- rated guitars. Now defunct (since 1998), and the last Squier guitar to be built in Japan, it has become rare and sought-after worldwide.

Fender introduced it's inexpensive Squire brand in 1983, with Japanese made Stratocaster models to bring these instruments into the price range of everyday folk. As Japanese quality (and price) went up, Squire production moved ever farther offshore, including Korea, Indonesia and China. Quality and image followed the cost downwards.

In 1997 Fender decided that they could uplevel the image of the Squire brand by (a) bringing out a series of celebrity designed models and (b) making them of the highest quality in Japan - which was 

by this time on a par with anything from the USA ( cheap Squire's were being made in Indonesia by that time).

Thus was born the "Vista Series" consisting of a six and twelve string Venus model, the Jagstang and the Super-Sonic. In 1998 Fender added the inexpensive Indonesian- made Musicmaster to the line, but the quality of this model was so poor it killed the Vista Series for good, after less than two years of production.



Cool Features:
    - Quality craftsmanship
    - Bound fingerboard
    - Discontinued ('98 only) "seafoam green" 
    - String-through body design
    - Versatile sonically - with only one knob and one switch
     - The quality of the wood shows in the sound when NOT plugged in!