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More JV Details (Export)
 
These two pictures above, while not scaled together correctly (to show as much of the dates as possible), show clearly the difference between a very early adjuster screw (dated April 82 above left) and a later one (dated Sept 82 right). The later one on the right with the centre hole is more true to the originals; For a comparison: See Here. This detail is also seen on the JV Stratocaster page. Photo above left courtesy; Rod Farmer.
As a point of interest, the earlier adjuster screw on the left is very similar to those fitted to the previous Greco models, and probably the same item.
 
 
The four pictures above show the neck pickup routs of two different early Fender logo JV Stratocaster's, with their corresponding neckplates to on the right of each picture. These particular Stratocaster's do not have the channel between the pickup rout and the neck pocket that is normally found on the early models. Why this is the case, is a bit of a mystery (possibly routed on the same machine as the domestic Fenders, which have no such channel???) Of all the very early 1st issue Squier JV Stratocaster's that I have personally seen, these two, and the '57 vintage model further down the page, are the only ones that have had this feature (so far). Photo's of JV02177 courtesy; Rod Farmer.
Just to show you that nothing is guaranteed with JV's, this '57 vintage Squier brand example above (photo: Ebay sale) is from August 1982, and has the earlier body details of most 1st issue models, with it's figured ash body and a channel between the pickup rout and neck pocket. The cloth wired, 'marked' USA pickups are more commonly associated with later guitars (less common on early '57 vintage Strats).
And these photo's below show a '57 vintage JV Stratocaster with a neck date of 22 nd Feb 1983 (photo credits: Ebay sale). This guitar was found to have the very early flat pole pickups of a few first models, and this is almost certainly due to a very early pickguard assembly being fitted to this later guitar (likely a back of the stores or bottom of the pile part).
Also note the marker penned '96, usually seen on 1980 yellow wire USA pickups, and also seen on Stratocaster's JV01xxx and JV02122 (on this page and elsewhere on this site). It is as yet unclear what this number is, maybe a workers number or batch number perhaps?
A point of interest here USA made, date stamped red bobbin pickups are sometimes found in export Squier JV Stratocasters and domestic JV Fenders. Most are (in all other respects) standard pickups with plain black and white wires, whereas a few are the hotter X-1 units commonly found in the bridge position of the USA made 'Dan Smith' and 'Strat' models of the time. Red bobbin X-1 pickups can be identified by their yellow and black wires
Here below is another (first issue) example with these rarer details; 1st issue JV Stratocaster JV01xxx, (Photo's kindly supplied by John Pettifer).
This '57 vintage Stratocaster also has the rarer (on early guitars) detail of having no channel between the neck pickup rout and the neck pocket (as seen on the two guitars further up the page) which is standard on later JV Strats, and as you would expect, it also has the more rounded zinc alloy trem block associated with the first guitars.
Interestingly, the pre Fender Japan Greco models that were produced by the same workers (specifically around 1979 to 81), were fitted with the same trem blocks as the later Squier brand JV's (slightly thicker and with more pronounced corners); Why they fitted the slimmer rounder version for only a short time at the beginning is bit of a mystery at present, but I am reluctant to suggest that they were imported USA parts, as too many variants of parts existed in Japan at that time. (Compare the Greco Spacey Sound trem block on the Before JV Page, with those of the 1st and 2nd issue JV Strats on the first JV Details page).
The next few pictures below are of a very early 'A' prefixed Stratocaster, but this guitar is still essentially a JV model in spec (Thank you to Ken Jose, who dismantled his guitar to show us the details).
 
Above: Same tag but no vintage designation across the bottom.
Above: No EX visible mark.
Above: Neckplate, tag and trem cover (note early A000xxx number).
Above: USA pickups.
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USA Pickup Details
 
Above: These are the rarest pickups found, usually on very early Squier JV Stratocaster's (JV0xxxx), with level pole pieces, grey fibre bobbins (top and bottom), maroon coloured windings, yellowish cream colour wire and date stamped. They are (as explained elsewhere on this site) essentially the same units found on the late 70's USA large headstock CBS models (though they are less often seen on JV models, they were however manufactured in their thousands for 70's USA Stratocaster's, and are not rare in themselves;.....Though I cannot comment on how long this wire colour was used for this type of pickup).
 
These pickups above, are most commonly found on the early models (JV0xxxx to JV11xxx) with Staggered pole pieces, and again grey fibre bases, white fibre tops, Maroon coloured windings, and date stamped. (The cloth wires shown on these examples above are replacements).
Though most early Stratocaster have plain pickup wires, occasionally cloth wires are found. Photo's above courtesy; Nick Beer.
 
Above left: This is the base of a slightly later pickup from very late JV0xxxx (July 82) to very roughly early 1983 with staggered pole pieces, a black fibre base (no top picture yet), black fibre top, maroon coloured windings and plain wires; This particular pickup measured 5.49k ohms. (Please note that the base and markings of these U.S. bobbins are very similar to that of some Japanese domestic SQ pickups).
Above right: Also occasionally found on the earlier JV Stratocaster's, are red bobbin date stamped pickups (more info on the JV Details page), which were fitted to the early 80's USA, 4 bolt 'Dan Smith' and 'Strat' models This one came from a 1982 Squier brand model. Photo courtesy: Trefor Roberts.
 
The Pickups above are later units, and the most common version encountered (bobbins are essentially the same as the previous version, but with added markings; in this case C, C2), with staggered pole pieces, black fibre bases, black fibre tops, cloth covered wires and maroon coloured windings (these pickups measured 5.83k and 5.86k ohms, left to right).
All of the above are just examples of what is more commonly found at certain periods throughout the JV line, but occasionally Squier brand guitars are sometimes seen with grey bobbin date stamped pickups, and likewise earlier guitars are occasionally seen fitted with later black bobbin units. This again maybe due (in part) to earlier or later manufactured pickguard sub-assemblies being randomly fitted to guitars, as per the neckplate and neck scenario mentioned on the 'Serial Numbers and Dates' page. Mixed pickup's are also sometimes found; i.e. grey bobbin pickups and red bobbin pickups on the same pickguard.
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Above: Some close up shots of a DM30 three way pickup selector switch. These switches were often changed for the more convenient five way version, also because they can get a bit scratchy over time. This is a bit of a shame as the contacts can be quite easily brought back to life with a fibre glass propelling pencil (usually used for cleaning printed circuit board tracks) or (carefully!) with light wet and dry paper, and possibly (even more carefully!) with a light abrasive dremmel tool. (done at your own risk!............disclaimer!).
For a comparison, click here: Classic series Strat switch (5 way), Current USA re-issue switch (3 way), and Original 59 Strat switch (3 way).
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Above: A close up of the capacitor, notice the circled 'Y' symbol. This is the same symbol found on a YM50 (5 way) pickup selector switch. It is possible that these were made by the YM Corporation of Korea, but that is only a guess. (any ideas!....please email me!).
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Fake / Repro Decals
Above: This picture above shows a reproduction 2nd issue JV decal. There is not a lot to distinguish it from an original except perhaps that it is a little lighter in colour than the real thing. These 2nd issue decals are rarely used to 'Fake' a JV guitar and are usually applied to restore original guitars that have been 'Fenderised', as was this one above. But it is worth noting that these decals are out there, for better or worse.
Above: This one does concern me a little, as the genuine article is the earliest and rarest export JV of all (Important note: This neck from a post JV ST-362 (genuine Fender Japan neck but repro decal) was up for sale on Ebay, but the seller had added this decal for its looks and not to pass it off as an original; He has stated it as a repro decal in the listing). With the high prices that these first issue models are going for, it is worth noting that these decals are (unfortunately) out there too, and not everyone is as honest as the seller of this neck. Fortunately this one is a more obvious reproduction.
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Non Standard Factory JV Parts
 
 
These four pictures above show a variant of control knob used in the Far East on various Squier models over the years (and still available today). The knobs have a slightly slimmer profile and start from '0 to 10 with a small indent below each number. The very top left picture is of one of a set of control knobs found factory fitted to a 1985 'E series model, and the top right photo shows the knobs from an early 90's USA made model. Pictured just above left are same type, but this time factory fitted to a very early JV Strat, and just above right, the knobs again fitted to a '57 vintage Squier brand JV strat from 1982. This is a fairly rare detail on JV models, and was possibly due to a shortage of normal stock knobs (To help me get a better idea of how many are out there, I would be interested to know how many other owners have these fitted to their JV's; Please email me).
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Theories about Neck Pocket Stamps
A couple of theories about neck pocket stamps have been put forward by some sources in Japan.
The first is that the large red 'A 'B, 'C, 'D and EX stamps in the neck pockets of most JV guitars (Fender and Squier), are associated with the production line upon which they were made, and indeed their final destination, i.e;
Production line 'A = top line Telecaster model.
Production line 'B = Domestic Fender ST-85 Stratocaster's and ST-115 Stratocaster's.
Production line 'C = Domestic Fender ST-65 Stratocaster's and export Squier guitars (rarely are export Squier Basses stamped).
Production line 'D = All domestic Squier models.
The second theory is as follows:
A stamp = Top line model, Lacquer finish and all USA parts.
B stamp = Lacquer finish, Japanese parts and USA pickups.
C stamp = Poly finish and USA pickups.
EX stamp = Same as 'C except with Squier logo (export model).
D = stamp = Poly finish, Japanese pickups, and all Squier logo.
In the case of the second theory, these stamps would have enabled workers to identify which finish was to be applied, and which parts were to be fitted to the guitar (this in turn would dictate the model number, price and final destination of the instrument).
I must confess that the latter system seems a bit more logical than the idea of a production line stamp, though I must point out that I have personally seen top end ST-115 Strats with 'B stamps in the neck pocket, and I have yet to see an 'A stamp on a JV Strat (I am not saying that they do not exist), though I have seen the 'A stamp in the neck pocket of every TL'52-95 that I have encountered.
So we still do not know for sure, but someone out there does! (any Fujigen factory workers from 1982 / 83 out there available for comment?)
My sincerest thanks go to Mark Fletcher and an anonymous source from Japan, for these theories.
© 21Frets / The Squier JV Pages
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