The legendary Squier JV! These were the guitars that blew the US made models of that era out of the water all at an entry level price point. The Squier JV series marked the beginning of Fender Japan. The FujiGen factory delivered exceptional quality with these instruments, a fact that has certainly stood the test of time. Legends like George Harrison, Gary Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Rob Harris, and Jeff Healey all raved about this budget friendly Fender model!

And for good reason: every single one of these guitars is special. The Japanese craftsmanship is simply unparalleled.

As for this specific instrument: it has clearly been well loved. It has seen a lot of playtime and developed a rich patina. It has likely been exposed to plenty of cigarettes and beer; the finish has yellowed beautifully, and there is rust on the saddles. I initially considered replacing the saddles, but I realized they are an integral part of this guitar’s character. They are part of its story and, let’s face it, they look amazing!

When I picked this one up to photograph it, I decided to play it for a moment. Before I knew it, it was the middle of the night and I was still holding the guitar. I had an early flight abroad the next day, so this wasn’t the plan at all. But I couldn’t help myself! Holding this guitar filled me with inspiration.

Some guitars just grab you the moment you pick them up; you can’t put them down, and they seem to tell a story. To me, that’s a sign that this isn’t just an ordinary factory made instrument, but a truly special and inspiring guitar. I’ve uploaded a short video from that night which got a bit out of hand available via the link below (iPhone audio).

But enough of the sentimental stuff, what exactly is it? It is an SST30, produced for the Japanese market. This was an entry level line that wasn’t sold in Europe. The only differences lie in the pickups and hardware; this guitar features trapezoid tuners, and the bridge lacks the Squier logos. This isn’t because it’s non original, but simply because it is a lower tier model than the JV series we are familiar with here. Also, the pickups aren’t the Fender USA ones we usually see.

These models came with cheaper ceramic pickups which actually sounded very good, by the way. This particular guitar, however, has Alnico pickups with steel baseplates and some handwritten lettering. I’m not sure exactly what they are, but they certainly don’t appear to be original.

They do sound great, though! The pickups have a vintage output.

So, the guitar is completely original except for the pickups, and everything else functions perfectly.

The tremolo is set up to float and holds its tuning exceptionally well. Even though the hardware might seem inferior on paper, you won’t run into any tuning issues with this guitar 😉.

It has been fully set up to our standards, featuring perfectly dressed frets and a meticulous cleaning, right down to every single screw. It is ready for a guitarist who appreciates the story and feel of this instrument.

We are a shop, so you are welcome to come and play the guitar by appointment. Shipping is always an option. Trade ins are also accepted at trade in values.

All guitars come with a 3 month warranty covering hidden flaws or technical defects, excluding normal wear and tear.