Squier, the sub-brand of Fender, has heard our calls: they are reissuing the excellent ’51 model, whose existence has been anything but smooth sailing. On this occasion, let’s take a closer look at this beast.
Squier was originally a string brand acquired by Fender to equip its guitars. Later, when the American brand needed a name for its Japanese lines, they dusted off the old label. Since 1982, guitars bearing the Squier name have been budget versions of California classics. Over time, Squier developed its own personality: younger, more open to change, and daring enough to offer some highly successful original models. The story of the ’51 begins in 2004. (And no, the fact that “Shut Up” by the Black Eyed Peas was topping the charts that year has nothing to do with it.)
A fine baby
Squier launched this model, which at first glance looks like the offspring of a Telecaster headstock and a Stratocaster body. The fixed bridge with six saddles is straight out of a Strat hardtail, but the real difference lies in the pickguard and control plate, both borrowed from the very first version of the Precision Bass. That legendary model—later nicknamed the Telecaster Bass when it was first reissued in the 1970s—was the very first electric bass in history and looked quite different from the more familiar second-generation Precision. The first Precision was famously used by Sting and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top. Released in 1951, it’s from that year that the Squier ’51 takes its name.
It’s a Squier!
The neck was comfortable, the pickup configuration very appealing (a splitable humbucker at the bridge via push/pull and a single coil at the neck), and the sober but well-chosen finishes (sunburst, blonde, black) gave the ’51 instant cult status. While sales weren’t massive, many guitarists looking for a solid modding platform (swapping pickups, changing the bridge, etc.) were quick to fall for its special charm. And once the initial surprise wore off, its design proved a brilliant example of how to create an original look while staying true to the visual codes of a 60-year-old brand. Production stopped in 2006, but its reputation only grew—and today used Squier ’51s can fetch up to three times their original retail price!
Oh wait—it’s a Fender.
In 2011, Fender unveiled the Pawn Shop series, designed to celebrate hybrid guitars and unusual mixes. Among the first three models in the series was none other than the ’51! Apart from the Fender logo on the headstock, it was identical to its little sister. Available in blonde or black, it lacked the playful charm of the Squier version, mainly due to its much higher price. Success was again elusive, and although it still pops up at some retailers, the model is gradually being phased out.
Actually—back to Squier.
But the Squier version refused to die! In 2013, nearly a decade after its first life, it made a comeback in the Vintage Modified line, which remains one of the best value-for-money ranges on the market today. The good news: they didn’t change a thing that made the original so appealing. It’s identical to the earlier version, offered in three finishes: sunburst, vintage blonde (a paler blonde, almost white), and the standout candy apple red—arguably Fender’s sexiest color, which suits the ’51 perfectly. And at €299, you know exactly what to do…
Place your bets
As for the future of the ’51, it’s anyone’s guess! Will it remain a fixture in the Squier lineup, finally earning the classic status it truly deserves? Will we one day see an American Vintage ’51 at €2000—or even a Custom Shop reissue of the 2004 model for €4000? That would be a fitting revenge for this brilliant underdog.
