The first instruments to roll off Fender's Squier production line were the Squier '57 and '62 Stratocasters from its JV (Japanese Vintage) range. These featured minor design changes and a more cost-effective zinc vibrato block instead of the usual steel one.
By 1983, Squier Strats were being given '70s features and the brand encompassed the Bullet models - Strat-style bodies with Telecaster necks in triple single-coil or dual-humbucking versions. The mid-'80s saw the launch of the Squier Standard series, which produced the Squier II Stratocaster and the heavy metal HM series with pointed headstocks. These days, the Squier Classic Vibe models are the ultimate entry-level Stratocasters.
