1984 Squier Bullet MIJ (updated)

[rlm2112]

Hey, I'm back.

I got this off craigslist today for $185 US. The guy said he's had it since he was 12 (he's 33). It is all original, and he says it's the original case...but I I'm not sure about that. The case has no brand name on it. The guitar dater project says this about it:

"Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1985 - 1986"

This site dates it as a 1983 - 1984. I'm not sure which is right :/

I compared it to my MIJ telecaster, and the neck is almost exactly the same. I LOVE that neck. I always thought it was a 90's model, but I never dated it. Until now:

"Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1984 - 1987 "

It makes sense that they are both from the mid-80s since the necks are so similar.

So did I do good?

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[serfx]

i think you've done good.

[rlm2112]

Forgot to mention it has robroe's. Can't go wrong with those, right?

[broncobuster80]

awesome!

[Haze]

Mij squier for under two bills? you dog you

[Nick]

I once picked one up for $85.....sometimes guitar center has no idea about early squiers.

[Johno]

Hey, I'm back.

I got this off craigslist today for $185 US. The guy said he's had it since he was 12 (he's 33). It is all original, and he says it's the original case...but I I'm not sure about that. The case has no brand name on it. The guitar dater project says this about it:

"Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1985 - 1986"

This site dates it as a 1983 - 1984. I'm not sure which is right :/

I compared it to my MIJ telecaster, and the neck is almost exactly the same. I LOVE that neck. I always thought it was a 90's model, but I never dated it. Until now:

"Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1984 - 1987 "

It makes sense that they are both from the mid-80s since the necks are so similar.

So did I do good?

► Show Spoiler

Did the Strats come with a Tele neck as standard on those things?

[Billy3000]

That is awesome dude! Good job! I once saw one of these on the raleigh craigslist go for $30. I called as soon as I saw it, it was only about 30 minutes after it was posted, and they told me it sold already. They didn't realize what they had. I was so pissed! There was one on the atlanta craigslist last week for around $175 but I don't have the money and I don't need to be buying any more guitars right now.

[Lucamo]

Are they shorties?

My friend has one he's gonna sell to me for 50 bucks...

[hotrodperlmutter]

if by shortie you mean normal telecaster scale, then yes.

way good snag. i love the three pickups.

[Lucamo]

That is a nice guitar, like the aesthetic alot.

When did they start being labelled as Squiers?

[hotrodperlmutter]

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 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.

[rlm2112]

Did the Strats come with a Tele neck as standard on those things?

Yes, It's basically a Tele-Strat hybrid. The body looks like a strat, but it's smaller and has no contours.

Are they shorties?

It's full scale, but it definitely has a a major shortscale vibe.


So I took it apart and discovered this:



So it's an 84 I've been playing it for a few days now, and I love it. It's a great little guitar. If anyone sees another one, let me know!

Here's some pics of it cleaned up with my Strat for comparison:

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[markocaster]

I just got the exact thing a few weeks ago $99 at guitar center. Love the Necks on these beauties

[ploppy]

I just got the exact thing a few weeks ago $99 at guitar center. Love the Necks on these beauties

99 dollars! fuk! hell of a deal!

[kypdurron]

seems that the shop didn't stick to

The current Stratocaster-based Bullet is not to be confused with this unique model, made throughout the 1980s in Japan.