Help identify this squier? No other markings anywhere.

[Walnutbear]

Hi, I would like to know if anyone can help me out with this guitars history?
Bought from good will in Georgia.
I've lurked around here and I just keep getting confused.
Thanks, Brian from pa.
Just learning to play guitar 🎸.

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

Looks to be a Squier "promo". A little rough but fixable.

 

[Walnutbear]

Looks to be a Squier "promo". A little rough but fixable.

Thanks, I removed the fretboard and found no markings there either. I'm only guessing it's mid 1990's because of the logo at headstock. The body is thin and appears to me to be solid wood. It is extremely light compared to my 2007 infinity.

 

[Walnutbear]

More pictures for all squier ing minds.

 

[AxelMorisson]

nice one. No serial no. nowhere no date stamp and no other markings and the striking baby blue and white theme with that neck- definitely says this is a promo model. These were offered to music stores and potential customers prior to launching large production, indeed were demo models as sort of quality samples if you will. These are not very common although I would not go so far as to call them rare. Can be fixed- just needs a new saddle and perhaps pickguard too. A nice looking guitar and surely a conversation starter...

 

[Walnutbear]

nice one. No serial no. nowhere no date stamp and no other markings and the striking baby blue and white theme with that neck- definitely says this is a promo model. These were offered to music stores and potential customers prior to launching large production, indeed were demo models as sort of quality samples if you will. These are not very common although I would not go so far as to call them rare. Can be fixed- just needs a new saddle and perhaps pickguard too. A nice looking guitar and surely a conversation starter...

Wow! That's awesome to hear.
Thanks for your input.
I still wish I new the year of manufacture and where it was made. I noticed that the body contours are extreme and when I say it is light weight, it really is extremely light.

 

[Robb]

I like it !!!

 

[AxelMorisson]

Well- the original "promo models" by Squier were like this (usually featuring a large Bullet logo on the headstock) and usually pushed the Bullet series, while yours has some characteristics of an Affinity.

Fender Squier - Rare Promotional Model! "Bullet by Squier" - Daphne Blue | Reverb

Great little player, and rare...Best info I can find is that they were from the mid 2000's or so and were some type of promotional model. They were made without serial numbers and only in Daphne Blue. This one is in very nice condition, only minimal signs of playing, and no dings anywhere. E...

reverb.com

This is what the original promo Squiers would have looked like.

But several re-issues came after that in the same color scheme although not technically Bullets. At the time (please verify IIRC, in the early 2000s or so) the then-new Chinese Bullet series (prod. moved to China) had a few of these "quality samples" sent for evaluation to discerning retailers and these eventually were sold in stores in small quantities (? please verify again).


But this one you have there seems to be a later issue without the trademark large Bullet black logo and is finished in amber lacquer. Please post the headstock up close - maybe the logo has some telltales . It DOES look very much like another one that was discussed on this very forum :

NGD: Daphne "promo" Squier

Actually picked this up a couple of weeks back. Someone else had one here. A guitar given away at promotions or something. Kind of an oddball but I love it---plays great! Light as feather too.

www.squier-talk.com

Does have the color, seems an Affinity version (lacquered neck, deeper bevels on the body, and, if I see correctly, the logo).
Can not help about the date but I would presume it dates back to the beginning of the series? Maybe it is a promo for the then-new Affinity line? Or were some early Bullets like these (headstock, lacquered neck deep beveled bodies)?

Please , loremasters of the Squier forum, take over... what is your take on this?

 

[M T Poteet]

Wow! That's awesome to hear.
Thanks for your input.
I still wish I new the year of manufacture and where it was made. I noticed that the body contours are extreme and when I say it is light weight, it really is extremely light.

Welcome to the forum.

I was looking at that @goodwill myself. Congratulations, nice looking guitar and I think it's kind of kool that it is a promo. I had no knowledge of these.

Enjoy it and the journey of learning guitar.

 

[Walnutbear]

Well- the original "promo models" by Squier were like this (usually featuring a large Bullet logo on the headstock) and usually pushed the Bullet series, while yours has some characteristics of an Affinity.

Fender Squier - Rare Promotional Model! "Bullet by Squier" - Daphne Blue | Reverb

Great little player, and rare...Best info I can find is that they were from the mid 2000's or so and were some type of promotional model. They were made without serial numbers and only in Daphne Blue. This one is in very nice condition, only minimal signs of playing, and no dings anywhere. E...

reverb.com

This is what the original promo Squiers would have looked like.

But several re-issues came after that in the same color scheme although not technically Bullets. At the time (please verify IIRC, in the early 2000s or so) the then-new Chinese Bullet series (prod. moved to China) had a few of these "quality samples" sent for evaluation to discerning retailers and these eventually were sold in stores in small quantities (? please verify again).


But this one you have there seems to be a later issue without the trademark large Bullet black logo and is finished in amber lacquer. Please post the headstock up close - maybe the logo has some telltales . It DOES look very much like another one that was discussed on this very forum :

NGD: Daphne "promo" Squier

Actually picked this up a couple of weeks back. Someone else had one here. A guitar given away at promotions or something. Kind of an oddball but I love it---plays great! Light as feather too.

www.squier-talk.com

Does have the color, seems an Affinity version (lacquered neck, deeper bevels on the body, and, if I see correctly, the logo).
Can not help about the date but I would presume it dates back to the beginning of the series? Maybe it is a promo for the then-new Affinity line? Or were some early Bullets like these (headstock, lacquered neck deep beveled bodies)?

Please , loremasters of the Squier forum, take over... what is your take on this?

Wow! AxelMorisson, you are amazing and I am very grateful for your time and knowledge. Here are more pictures.

 

[Walnutbear]

Ooops

 

[Walnutbear]

Welcome to the forum.

I was looking at that @goodwill myself. Congratulations, nice looking guitar and I think it's kind of kool that it is a promo. I had no knowledge of these.

Enjoy it and the journey of learning guitar.

Thank you MT Poteet:

 

[Walnutbear]

Contours

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

... I still wish I new the year of manufacture and where it was made. ...

Probably early 2000's, but an exact year is unknown to me. Made in China (no truss rod liner/insert).

 

[AxelMorisson]

Indeed a nice guitar. Possibly the demo for the then-to-be-released Affinity line so in some ways some sort of a limited promo run. Those pickups I have seen in other "demo" Squiers such as the Bullet promo that was shown here earlier on the forum (that link). That had the bridge pickup changed, with the rails ,but the neck and middle are identical to those in your guitar and most likely original. How is the sound?

Of the (very) deep bevels : I have the same on my 2012 Affinity in Candy Apple Red- of course a much later model but the characteristics are there- a very deeply beveled thin and light body , a large 70's headstock and a better build quality than the low end Bullets of the era.
Look at this pic here for the bevel profile :

2012 Squier Affinity Strat HSS Humbucker Candy Apple Red Stratocaster w/ Large Headstock | Reverb

Here is a very cool Squier Affinity Strat with the candy apple red finish. The serial number dates it to 2012. Actual weight is 7 lbs 15 oz.The body is in very good condition overall with no major dings or scratches. There are some light streaks visible in the light, but nothing out of the ordina...

reverb.com

(look at the fourth pic)

When I said I wanted more pics of the neck, I was specifically looking for a possible Affinity logo on the headstock, such as this same guitar from that now ended bid had :
(look at the headstock pics, on the "lobe" it says Affinity in a really tiny font, sixth pic ).
and for the maple two piece (glued fretboard, maple on maple) construction, that is indeed present.

These later models had the skunk stripe on the back of the neck (dark wood stripe that caps the trussrod channel) and a printed-on serial no. and country of provenience- these features were NOT on the early demo models. This identifies your guitar as a somewhat rare Affinity demo model, and based on other people's opinions on these, they are fantastic little beasts. Where to find them..welll that's another story.

Notice that plastic covered switch- definitely an upgrade from the open exposed PCB with a brass wiper that was (and sometimes still is) on the low tier Bullets.
Two piece maple necks were also a staple of these early demo models (and of course a plethora of others but here it completes the picture wonderfully).
Some of these had a sticker (not very sticky sticker...often fell out without leaving any trace) saying made in China , and that was placed either on the headstock back or the heel next to the body joint.

And now for the repair: it looks the pickguard is okay after all - thought it was a crack but no, a piece of string.. so all you need is a solid pot metal saddle-ask around at guitar shops before shopping for parts online, some guys "upgrade" those and the shops are left with the dismantled parts, they sometimes can help. Plus a good fit and vintage is ensured when you see first hand what the part looks like.. Fit a set of strings you like, but from my somewhat strange experience with Bullets and Affinities, the original "Fender" strings seem to fit them perfectly- I did switch once with NYXLs on a Bullet and the output decreased and took some metallic overtones that it did not have with the old ones. So I bought another set of Fender Vintage Wounds and we're back in high volume, extra clarity business while the NYXLs are very nice - on my Ibanez, that is.

 

[Walnutbear]

Again, thank you AxelMorisson.
I will try to get this squier to make noise.
Honestly, I only bought it because I thought it looked cool, plus someone else wanted it as much or more than I.
So I guessed it must be worth fixing up.
I just bid higher at the last minute and won the auction. $165.
I know wth was I thinking.
Funny thing is, I am really just learning to play guitar 🎸.
Oh, I think I am addicted to guitars.
I already have a hoard now. And different ones are well exciting to hear and play.
I really am grateful for your help.
Thanks, Brian

 

[Walnutbear]

Ooops link wasn't right and I couldn't figure out how to delete this.

 

[Eddie]

Great thread. Lots of great information.

 

[Walnutbear]

Can't identify this 15yo Daphne blue Squier Strat...

Hi Guys, I joined this forum because I can't identify my extremely cheap looking, yet superb sounding and playing Squier Strat. I'm guessing it is probably the cheapest of the cheap, but I haven't seen another Squier with this headstock logo. Bought it almost 15 years ago in Calgary AB. I've...

www.squier-talk.com

Found this link. Interesting comment at bottom saying there were 100 built for amp companies and to be returned to fender or be destroyed ?
This squier talk website is absolutely 💯 fantastic 👏.
Also the people 💯👍

 

[AxelMorisson]

That pretty much confirms it- limited run, mixed Bullet and Affinity characteristics, that color scheme (very nice I might add). Did hear about it being basically "not for direct sale to public"- but what a shame, they are amazing guitars.

As a new line by Squier at the time, it kinda made sense...and yes it would be nice to have a "standard" guitar to compare all those amps at a show, right? If that said guitar is nice, plays well too and has a big logo that references an upcoming product, it's all for the better. No worries about the price- it's actually good considering its story too. And all the folks that have something to say about them say the same two things: cheap and very good. A winner in my book. As to how some have found their ways in the hands of collectors or dealers, it's easy to apply the "dropped from the back of the truck" or "stolen during the show" method, with them being low cost and such no great harm was done/quickly reimbursed, but they got out there and the legend still grows as they say.