Squier Bullet
Encyclopedia
The Squier Bullet Strat (known as Squier Bullet until 2007) is an electric guitar
that emulates the look of the Fender Stratocaster
, but with modifications to reduce cost. Like the Squier Stratocaster
, it is not considered a strat copy as it is manufactured by Squier
, a subsidiary of Fender and therefore carries the Fender brand name. Squier Bullets are popular with beginners due to their affordability and simple, popular layout and also with guitar mod enthusiasts due to their low price and ability to handle extreme amounts of modification
work. The most common mod performed is the replacement of the stock pickups.
The solid body of the current Squier Bullet is made of basswood. Its shape is the same to that of a Stratocaster with the characteristic mid-body contour and staggered double cut-outs, but slightly thinner. Along with the similar body shape, the Bullet also features several other trademark Stratocaster appointments, albeit more cost-effective in construction, including three single-coil pickups, five-way pickup switch, single-ply plastic pickguard, a bolt-on neck design, and an optional six-screw synchronized tremolo
system.
in its body construction. The model was discontinued in early 2007. In late September 2007, Squier reintroduced the Squier Bullet as the "Squier Bullet Strat." The new Bullet model features a tremolo, a rosewood
fretboard and 3 single-coil pickups, or an optional humbucking pickup replacing the bridge pickup in the HSS model. Amidst criticisms of alder being used in the previous Bullet incarnation, the guitar is now being made using basswood.
The current Stratocaster-based Bullet is not to be confused with this unique model, made throughout the 1980s in Japan. The original Bullet had characteristics of both the Stratocaster and Telecaster, as it has a Strat-shaped body and an all maple Tele neck and Tele style headstock. The body was made of laminated hardwood, and lacked the belt-line contouring and recessed jack of the Strat. The pickguard is slightly different from a Strat, with single volume & tone controls, the output jack is pickguard mounted, eliminating the need for the angled output jack. It retailed for about $200. The Bullet was originally conceived as Fender's entry-level, and featured two pick-ups and a unique metal pickguard, which also served as the tailpiece. The American-made model was only offered for two years. When it was re-introduced in 1983 as one of the first Japanese-made Squiers, it featured three single-coil pickups, like a Strat, and a tremolo tailpiece. While the overall look was vaguely reminiscent of the Strat, the '80s Bullet had a smaller body without any contouring (somewhat like a Musicmaster
/Duosonic
but with more pronounced cutaway horns), and a Telecaster-style neck. Narrower than a Strat, early Bullets fit nicely in Les Paul cases. The Bullet was also made into different models (Bullet-1, Bullet-2, etc.), with different pickup configurations and wiring. For example, one model was equipped with two humbuckers, each with coil taps. By the late eighties, when production moved to Korea, Bullets were also available with Strat necks and rosewood fretboard (NOTE: There was at least one model of Squier 1 Bullet Stratocasters with a maple neck manufactured in Japan in the 80's before production moved). A short-lived bass model of the Bullet was also made in both 30" and 34" scales.
When discontinued, most retailers closed them out for $80.
The most common colors are Black and Frost Red Metallic. The rarest color is Orange.
All Squier Bullet Special guitars were made in Indonesia at the Cort factory. The serial numbers start with IC followed by two digits that designate the year the guitar was made. The remaining digits indicate month of production, color, and sequence. IC02xxxxxxx indicates a guitar made in 2002.
The problem with most Squier Bullet Special guitars is that they left the factory with improperly set-up bridges. The intonation is almost always off. It's a simple process for a lutheier to adjust the bridge for proper intonation & height. Once adjusted properly, they play quite nicely.
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
that emulates the look of the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
, but with modifications to reduce cost. Like the Squier Stratocaster
Squier Stratocaster
The Squier Stratocaster is an electric guitar based on the Stratocaster, manufactured and sold by Squier, a marque of Fender.-Origins:After Fender's decision to switch Squier's production from strings to guitars in 1982, the Stratocaster was one of the first models to be put under the Squier...
, it is not considered a strat copy as it is manufactured by Squier
Squier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
, a subsidiary of Fender and therefore carries the Fender brand name. Squier Bullets are popular with beginners due to their affordability and simple, popular layout and also with guitar mod enthusiasts due to their low price and ability to handle extreme amounts of modification
Modification
Modification may refer to:*Modifications of school work for students with special educational needs*Modifications *Posttranslational modifications*Mod *Modified car*Body modification*Grammatical modifier-See also:...
work. The most common mod performed is the replacement of the stock pickups.
Construction
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
system.
Withdrawal and reintroduction
There were many complaints of the Squier Bullet in 2005, 2006, and early 2007 over its production and quality, most notably the use of alderAlder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
in its body construction. The model was discontinued in early 2007. In late September 2007, Squier reintroduced the Squier Bullet as the "Squier Bullet Strat." The new Bullet model features a tremolo, a rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
fretboard and 3 single-coil pickups, or an optional humbucking pickup replacing the bridge pickup in the HSS model. Amidst criticisms of alder being used in the previous Bullet incarnation, the guitar is now being made using basswood.
The original Squier Bullet (1980s)
Musicmaster
MusicMaster may refer to:*Fender Musicmaster: an electric guitar*Musicmaster : a music scheduling program for Windows.*Music Master: an international record label company*MusicMaster : a music notation software package...
/Duosonic
Fender Duo-Sonic
The Fender Duo-Sonic guitar was launched by Fender as a “student” model guitar. The “Duo-Sonic” features two single-coil pick-ups and a vertical switch on the lower horn of the body to select bridge, neck or both pickups in a humbucking style configuration...
but with more pronounced cutaway horns), and a Telecaster-style neck. Narrower than a Strat, early Bullets fit nicely in Les Paul cases. The Bullet was also made into different models (Bullet-1, Bullet-2, etc.), with different pickup configurations and wiring. For example, one model was equipped with two humbuckers, each with coil taps. By the late eighties, when production moved to Korea, Bullets were also available with Strat necks and rosewood fretboard (NOTE: There was at least one model of Squier 1 Bullet Stratocasters with a maple neck manufactured in Japan in the 80's before production moved). A short-lived bass model of the Bullet was also made in both 30" and 34" scales.
The 50th Anniversary Bullet (1996)
The '96 Anniversary Edition Squier Bullet was one of the first Squier brand guitars that were produced in China. Previous Bullets of the 1990s were typically manufactured in Korea or Mexico and China too. Serial number nc40xxxx means 1994 Made in China. The '96 Bullet was very close to the original Fender Strat spec and was the closest up until then. It featured a full thickness 1" body, a 22 fret neck and a 1 nut width.The Squier Bullet Special
From around 1999 to 2004, Fender produced a single pickup Squier Bullet Special guitar. It had a fixed, hardtail bridge, a dual-coil (humbucker) bridge pickup, one volume control, and a 21 fret rosewood fingerboard bolt on neck. The body was made out of plywood and it was made in six colors: Black, Ice Blue Metallic, Frost Red Metallic, Cobalt Blue Metallic, Orange, and Satin Silver. The Red and Orange bodies were made with black hardware; all other colors had chrome hardware. All Bullet Specials had a 1 ply black pickguard. Most of the Squier Bullet Specials made in 2002 came with a special 20th Anniversay engraved neck plate. The logo on the headstock reads "Squier Bullet" with no mention of "Special". Some 2002 versions of the black and Frost Red Metalic Squier Bullet Special are known to have the Affinity brand on the headstock as well.When discontinued, most retailers closed them out for $80.
The most common colors are Black and Frost Red Metallic. The rarest color is Orange.
All Squier Bullet Special guitars were made in Indonesia at the Cort factory. The serial numbers start with IC followed by two digits that designate the year the guitar was made. The remaining digits indicate month of production, color, and sequence. IC02xxxxxxx indicates a guitar made in 2002.
The problem with most Squier Bullet Special guitars is that they left the factory with improperly set-up bridges. The intonation is almost always off. It's a simple process for a lutheier to adjust the bridge for proper intonation & height. Once adjusted properly, they play quite nicely.