Squier Bullet
| Squier Bullet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | Squier |
| Period | 1980-2007, 2007-Current |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Woods | |
| Body | Basswood |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Synchronized tremolo |
| Pickup(s) | 3 single-coils |
| Colors available | |
| Daphne Blue, Sunburst, Black, Arctic White, Pink, Fiesta Red | |
The Squier Bullet 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 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.
Construction
The solid body of the current Squier Bullet is made of basswood, a relatively common wood species found throughout Asia. Its shape is similar 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, including three single-coil pickups, and an optional six-screw synchronized tremolo system.
Withdrawal and reintroduction
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2009) |
There were many complaints of the Squier Bullet in 2005, 2006, and early 2007 over its production and quality, most notably the use of plywood 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. Amidst criticisms of plywood being used in the previous Bullet incarnation, the guitar is now being made using basswood.[1]
The original Squier Bullet (1980s)
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 at 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.
The 50th Anniversary Bullet (1996)
The '96 Anniversary Edition Squier Bullet was one first Squier brand guitars that were produced in China. Previous Bullets of the 1990s were typically manufactured in Korea or Mexico. The 96 Bullet is the closest to thing to a Fender produced Stratocaster of the time. It featured a full thickness 1 3/4" body, a 22 fret neck, a 1 11/16 nut width.