shrek
Member
keep the music playing
Posts: 17
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Post by shrek on Jun 28, 2009 19:08:23 GMT
Just managed to get hold of a Squier Hank Marvin, a few dinks here and there but plays really well, I gave it a good clean and its come up lovely. By its serial no. M and 6 digits I think its a 1993 mij. It has silver hardware the tuners are G GOTOH or something like that. Did these come as standard? and was the hardware silver? I didn't pay a great deal for the guitar because of condition but its come up nice and its worth spending a bit on. thanks Steve.
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jun 28, 2009 19:35:57 GMT
Hi Steve, I saw one many years ago. I don't remember the tuners, but I do remember that the bridge saddle spacing is a bit narrower than than the full width spacing of most US models, by around 3mm if I remember rightly. Also, the pickups I think were ceramic bar magnet types, not the best for sound but could probably easily be changed for something better. I think the hardware was silver coloured. Regards, Charlie
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Post by Emiel Visser on Jun 29, 2009 4:26:59 GMT
Hi Steve,
I owned one. Yes, Charlie is right, all silver parts and the tuner are Gotoh's. Certainly not Kluson style. The pickup's are ceramic indeed. I would upgrade those to, for example, Toneriders. Those are good and in balance with the quality and price of the guitar.
I remember that is has a very nice neck.
Regards, Emiel
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Post by tonybiker on Jun 29, 2009 23:37:17 GMT
Hi. Under the 'stratocaster' name it should say 'made in japan'. The 'M' followed by 6 numbers, normally starting with 0, is correct. It should also have the Hm signature at the top of the headstock.
Not so sure about the pick ups being ceramic. I have had one of these since new and they are not ceramic. Don't be put off with the suggestions on pick up changes. I rate the standard pick up's highly, and are louder than a HM signature fitted with FS-1 and dimarzio. Although sporting the squire badge, its far from a cheap budget copy. Its well made. The hardware should be chrome. I would never part with mine.
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jun 30, 2009 3:12:26 GMT
Hi Tony, Perhaps there have been different variations on these. I am 99% sure that I remember seeing the inside and the ceramic bar magnets in the one I saw. The Japenese Fender version has alnico pickups and they are definitely quieter than most Fender vintage style pickups. I could imagine the ceramic ones being louder. Have you ever looked inside yours? Regards, Charlie
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Post by Emiel Visser on Jun 30, 2009 4:03:42 GMT
Hi Tony,
Mine came with ceramic pups. What I mean by changing the pups is that the guitar deserves better. If yours came with alnico's then you must have been lucky, but I doubt that Squier changed that during the production. In the reviews in the magazines it was mentioned that they were ceramic.
Anyway, it is a very nice guitar!
Regards, Emiel
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Post by tonybiker on Jun 30, 2009 17:54:09 GMT
Hi Charlie. I have just got the guitar back from having work done. I had an electrical fault and that was looked at, at that time I asked the question and was told that they appear to be fenders but not ceramics. I have owned the guitar since new and know nothing has been changed.
I will always advise against changing for change sake any of the HM guitars for value reasons. An 'air of caution' is needed. They are increasing in value, one sold on the well known auction site for £375 recently. The guitar was well put together and has shocked a number of players when its been played. Its all about 'taste', some prefer different pick up's than others, but with the HM Squire it does not need pick up changes just because its says Squire. The HM signature was £3000 and I am not over happy with how that sounds. The only major change I made is restringing to 11's, which looks now to have been a mistake and I am going back to 10's at some point.
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jun 30, 2009 19:09:19 GMT
Hi Tony, I know what you are saying about the signature model. I have played one (it wasn't one of Hank's) and I wasn't at all impressed. Regards, Charlie
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Post by tonybiker on Jun 30, 2009 19:20:02 GMT
How right you are Charlie. Just shows that a high price does not always equal high quality.
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Post by hansaustria on Aug 28, 2012 21:08:56 GMT
Hi Tony, Mine came with ceramic pups. What I mean by changing the pups is that the guitar deserves better. If yours came with alnico's then you must have been lucky, but I doubt that Squier changed that during the production. In the reviews in the magazines it was mentioned that they were ceramic. Anyway, it is a very nice guitar! Regards, Emiel Anyway a very nice guitar. Here is one of my Squier HMS guitar. I opened it today and now let`s see what I did find in it ! No ceramic PU and the pots are 250k. very nice to play in great condition - 9 / 10 ! Hans Attachments:
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Post by kipper on Aug 29, 2012 6:00:56 GMT
this should help from fender. Here are the specs on that guitar: Mode' Name: Squier Hank Marvin Stratocaster Model Number: 032_2002-\942) Body: Basswood Neck: Maple Fingerboard: maple, 7.25. Radius No. of frets: 21 scale length 25.5" (648mm) width at Nut: 1.650" 141 mmJ Hardware: Chrome Hardware Machine Heads Vintage. Style Bridge: vintage style Pick-guard:White pickups: 3 standard single coil pickup swltching 5 position blade Controls: Volume, Tone (Neck), Tone {Mid colors 942 fiesta red unique FEATURES: Hank Marvin sigature Logo on Headstock ACCESSORIES: Source: Japan lntroduced 1992 Discontinued: 1/1993 i have corrected the neck wood spec. this is as sent to me by fender. hope the rest is right. peter
and i agree they are really nice guitars. peter _.-
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Post by hansaustria on Aug 29, 2012 9:49:34 GMT
this should help from fender. Here are the specs on that guitar: Mode' Name: Squier Hank Marvin Stratocaster Model Number: 032_2002-\942) Body: Basswood Neck: Maple Fingerboard: ROSewood, 7.25. Radius No. of frets: 21 scale length 25.5" (648mm) width at Nut: 1.650" 141 mmJ Hardware: Chrome Hardware Machine Heads Vintage. Style Bridge: vintage style Pick-guard:White pickups: 3 standard single coil pickup swltching 5 position blade Controls: Volume, Tone (Neck), Tone {Mid colors 942 fiesta red unique FEATURES: Hank Marvin sigature Logo on Headstock ACCESSORIES: Source: Japan lntroduced 1992 Discontinued: 1/1993 and i agree they are really nice guitars. peter _.- Peter the fingerboard is maple - not rosewood. My Squier was built in the Fugi-Gen plant in 1991/92 according the Guitardaterproject-website !!! Regards Hans Attachments:
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Post by eltrasero on Aug 29, 2012 11:19:12 GMT
I have had two HBM Squiers over the years and replaced the pickups in one of them. They were most definitely the ceramic types. The problem with these guitars is that so many of them have been upgraded over the years that it is hard to find a pre-owned one now that is still all original.
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Post by kipper on Aug 29, 2012 13:59:43 GMT
sorry i missed that about the neck. mine is also maple but the spec sheet i copied was sent to me by fender and it says rosewood which is wronge. i will correct the spec on the read out. peter
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Post by hansaustria on Aug 29, 2012 16:04:02 GMT
I have had two HBM Squiers over the years and replaced the pickups in one of them. They were most definitely the ceramic types. The problem with these guitars is that so many of them have been upgraded over the years that it is hard to find a pre-owned one now that is still all original. According the pre-owner ( who is an older guy using this HM only in the studio and playing to backing tracks ) the guitar is all original and he bought this guitar new ! Regards Hans
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Post by hansaustria on Aug 29, 2012 16:18:48 GMT
I have had two HBM Squiers over the years and replaced the pickups in one of them. They were most definitely the ceramic types. The problem with these guitars is that so many of them have been upgraded over the years that it is hard to find a pre-owned one now that is still all original. Which brand ( type ) of PU did you use for the upgrade of one of your Squiers? Were there audible differences in the tone - did you change the string gauge to heavier ones? Hans
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Post by eltrasero on Aug 30, 2012 7:30:31 GMT
It's going back a few years but I think it was a set of HBM original sound spec Kinmans that ended up in it. I also changed the bridge to a USA version. I only ever use 10s strings. The tone difference was immense, but that's down to the Kinmans. I think it was sold to a guy in Germany, so who knows where it is now! At that time, I had the Squier HBM, a Japanese HBM signature and either the CS HBM signature or the Yuri Shishkov as near as d**n it to the HBM signature specs. Now anyone who says that the Squier and Jap Fenders are as good as the USA Custom Shop is talking through a hole in their head. They were good guitars for the price (around £300-£400 at that time) but the Custom Shop Strat blew them out the water in terms of sound, feel, build quality and even smell!!!! Sadly, I have since sold the lot of them. Still, mustn't grumble.
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Post by peterbower on Aug 30, 2012 13:50:02 GMT
From what I can remember when I gave my mates Squire HM a service, the finger board varnish had worn through quite quickly which suggests it wasn't the best quality and hard wearing [2 pack Poly] varnish that we see today
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Post by kipper on Aug 30, 2012 14:38:51 GMT
i had the finger board refinished on mine and a refret but it had been played a great deal. and it was worth it, it is a nice playing guitar. peter
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Post by hansaustria on Aug 30, 2012 18:06:35 GMT
From what I can remember when I gave my mates Squire HM a service, the finger board varnish had worn through quite quickly which suggests it wasn't the best quality and hard wearing [2 pack Poly] varnish that we see today Sorry gemtlemen, the fingerboard and the frets on mine are excellent condition. Tried a few weeks ago a Fender CS in fiesta red - price range € 3 500.- ( list ) ! I was very disappointed about the playability of this guitar - it was not the sound. I criticize wooden craftsmanship / neck and body - the paintwork! The line where the two parts are glued was easy to find and to see in the light - on the front - thats bad. Not the same by my Squier and naturally by my MIJ with one piece ash body. The gap between the neck and body were different sizes. If the guitar would not hang in a space where only specially CS guitars are issued nobody would appreciate it as such. The seller told me that he is sure that the top quality instruments do not reach Europe and they are intended for the own American market. My two japanese axes are built superior in any way - thats a fact ! Upgraded with an easy mute tremolo and CS 54 PU ! And the playability of my Squier is a dream! String spacing is first class ! Regards Hans PS: please don`t forget - it concerns here just this one guitar - maybe that other have only positive experiences with CS modells!
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Post by John Fawcett on Mar 7, 2015 18:08:22 GMT
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Post by notts77 on Jan 12, 2018 5:40:46 GMT
This thread has been quiet for a while so I thought I would chip in with my own Squier HBM shots. This plays so smoothly and I'm not in any hurry to change the pickups if at all as they sound very authentic through my Fender Vibrolux. I will post some external shots and also some under the hood to reveal the workings when I get access to the "Attachment Button".
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Post by sixchannel on Jan 12, 2018 8:16:06 GMT
This thread has been quiet for a while so I thought I would chip in with my own Squier HBM shots. This plays so smoothly and I'm not in any hurry to change the pickups if at all as they sound very authentic through my Fender Vibrolux. I will post some external shots and also some under the hood to reveal the workings when I get access to the "Attachment Button". Hi Notts77 - there is no "attachment" button. You need to use an external photo hosting site like ImgBB . Works well and is free. I had a 1991 HBM Squeir for a couple of years. Part of Squeir's "Silver Series" at the time. Endorsed by Hank, not because of the sound, which was not particularly good, just typically mid-range bar magnet Squeir, but because it represented good value for money. Wish I'd kept mine - they're fetching good money these days. Ian
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Post by garyallen on Jan 13, 2018 18:10:00 GMT
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Post by twanger59 on Jan 13, 2018 20:33:28 GMT
Hi i also have a Squire HBM Strat made by Fujiami in 1991/1992 serial no L plus 6 numbers , its a great guitar , i fitted an orange drop capacitor while looking inside , and fitted Fender Custom Shop 54 s , but after playing it for a few months i took them off , and put the standard pick ups back , i left the new capacitor on , i really like it , its a nice action ,cant really fault it ,has a couple of small dings at rear of the bridge , at the moment i have been using this most of the time , i have 3 others but seem to use this a lot .
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Post by zager on Jan 20, 2018 20:52:13 GMT
Hi,From what I remember the Japan Silver Series Squier came after after the Hank Marvin Squier. The hardware on both guitars was identical.The only difference was you had a choice of colour with the Silver Series and the body is made from alder and not basswood. If your not to fussy about the Hank Marvin signature the Silver series is good value for money.Tony.
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Post by kipper on Jan 20, 2018 22:39:25 GMT
Hi,From what I remember the Japan Silver Series Squier came after after the Hank Marvin Squier. The hardware on both guitars was identical.The only difference was you had a choice of colour with the Silver Series and the body is made from alder and not basswood. If your not to fussy about the Hank Marvin signature the Silver series is good value for money.Tony. silver series are really good guitars some of the best squires made. peter
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Post by squier on Jan 21, 2018 7:15:58 GMT
My introduction to the Shadows began when I purchased the Squire Hank Marvin Signature Strat a few years back. Since then I've become a huge fan of The Shadows and the Squire. I changed out the original pups for a set of Duncan Antiquity. It's comfortable to play and maybe the sound isn't perfect but I blame that on my playing ability and not the guitar.
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Post by andyj47 on Jan 21, 2018 15:05:50 GMT
surely george harrisons painted strat would have predated squier strats by about twenty years ?
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Post by Tone on Jan 21, 2018 15:42:25 GMT
The Squier Hank Signature guitars regularly appear on a well known auction site and I've noticed that prices have been increasing significantly over the last year or so. There's one being advertised at the moment for £850 and that's with a 'few knocks' and a'worn fretboard.' (but, to compensate, it's been fitted with Vintage style pickups).
Similarly, The Fender MIJ Hank Signature has also increased in price and one is being currently advertised at £1000.
Hmmm!
Tony
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