So, are Squier smaller than Fender? Do their guitars have smaller scales than Fender guitars? Are Squier guitar necks smaller than what the necks are in Fender guitars? Are Squier and Fender guitars identical? We all know that Fender owns Squier, and they are the ones who make the cheaper guitars to reach out to those looking for quality guitars at affordable prices, but does Squier copy all Fender guitars and just sell them at lower prices? Let’s find out.
So, when did Squier start to make guitars for Fender? Squier was founded by Victor Carroll Squier in 1890 in Battle Creek, Michigan. The company began to manufacture some strings for violins, banjos, and guitars. After some time, the company started to make electric instruments, pianos, and radios, before it went back, focusing on making strings in 1961.
Fender’s relationship with Squier started when the latter began to supply strings for the former’s new electric guitars in the 1950s. Squier became an official original equipment manufacturer of Fender in 1963. After two years, Squier was acquired by Fender; however, the Squier name was ended for the strings, as Fender decided to use their name exclusively for all their products.
The first Squier electric guitars were introduced in 1982, but before this, Fender never had really made lower-priced guitars except for their Fender Lead series. The Fender Squiers were the first affordable guitars that had Stratocaster and Telecaster models. As of today, Squier guitars have established a reputation for being quality guitars at an affordable price.
Squier guitars are manufactured mainly in Fender’s factories in Asia. Usually, they are either made in Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, or China, and some of their parts are made in the United States and Mexico and will be assembled in their factories in Asia.
Squier guitars have their versions of the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Starcaster, Jaguar, and Mustang guitars that are all made by Fender.
Are Squier Guitars Smaller Than Fender?
Stratocaster
All the Fender guitar models made in Mexico have their Stratocaster versions. The Player, Player Plus, Vinterra, and Noventa all have Stratocaster-bodied guitars under their product line.
All the Stratocaster-bodied guitars that are made in Fender Mexico’s manufacturing facility in Ensenada, Baja California, have a scale length of 25.5 inches, while all Squier guitars that have Stratocaster bodies except for the Squier Mini also have a scale length of 25.5 inches, just like the Fender guitars that are made in Mexico.
Squier Mini Stratocasters only have 22.75 inches for their guitar scale length, as they are made perfectly for those guitar players with small hands.
Fender Stratocasters that are made in America and Japan also have a 25.5-inch guitar scale, which means that Squier and Fender Stratocasters have the same guitar scale lengths. They only differ a little bit on the fingerboard radius, as some Mexican and American-made Fender guitars have different sizes.
Telecaster
All Squier Telecasters except for the Classic Vibe Baritone and the Paranormal Telecasters have a scale length of 25.5 inches, while the two guitar models mentioned have a scale length of 27.7 inches. Fender Telecasters that are made in Japan also have a scale length of 25.5 inches.
All Fender Mexican Telecasters and American Telecasters also have a scale length of 25.5 inches. This means that Squier Telecasters, except for the two models mentioned before, have the same guitar scale lengths as the Fender Telecaster guitars that are made in Mexico, Japan, and the United States.
So, is Squier smaller than Fender guitars? In general, no. There are some Squier models that are a little bit bigger than their Fender counterparts and vice versa, but most of the matching guitars from Fender and Squier have the same guitar scale length, which means that they have the same size.
The only difference between the Squier and Fender Telecasters is their fingerboard radius, as some guitars have smaller or larger fingerboard radius compared to others, depending on their model.
Jazzmaster
The American-made Jazzmasters and the Squier Jazzmasters have identical guitar scale lengths of 25.5 inches, except for the Squier Mini Jazzmaster, which only has a 22.75-inch guitar scale length.
Mexican-made Fender Jazzmasters also have a guitar scale length of 25.5 inches. This means that Squier and Fender Jazzmasters have the same guitar scale length. They only differ a little bit on the fingerboard radius, as some models do not have the same size as other guitars.
Jaguar
All Squier Jaguar guitars from different models have a guitar scale length of 24 inches, while the Jaguar guitars made in Mexico have the same scale length of 24 inches. This means that the Squier and Fender Mexico Jaguar guitars have the same guitar scale length.
The Fender American 60th Anniversary Ultra Luxe Jaguar has a scale length of 25.5 inches, which is longer compared to the Squier Jaguar guitars, but the Fender American Original ’60s Jaguar has the same scale length of 24 inches as the Squier Jaguar guitars. It all means that not all Fender American Jaguar guitars have the same scale length as Squier Jaguar guitars.
Mustang
All Squier guitars that have Mustang bodies have a guitar scale length of 24 inches, while all Fender Jaguars that are made in Mexico also have a scale length of 24 inches. This means that Squier Mustangs and Fender Mustangs that are made in Mexico have the same guitar scale length.
Fender American Mustangs also have the same guitar scale length of 24 inches, which means that all Fender-made and Squier-made Mustang guitars have the same scale length of 24 inches.
