1997/98 Fender Squier Vista Venus in turquoise - RARE - Courtney Love designed in Dunstable

£750

Stuart 

Posting for 10+ years

Dunstable

£750

Ad ID: 36626983

Ended

Description:

A Rare Opportunity to acquire the much sought-after Fender Squier Vista Venus
If you you are looking at this you are probably already familiar with its rarity value but in case you are not here are some brief facts. Courtney Love designed - not just in name, she actually used one regularly. Only made between 1996-98 at Fender's Japanese factory and before Squiers started being made in Mexico out of lesser quality timbers.

Solid turquoise (surf green?) body and headstock with maple neck and bound rosewood fingerboard. Made in the Fuji-gen Plant in Japan in 1997/8. Bought secondhand in 2010 as an addition to my collection so apart from checking it out when I bought it (and again today to ensure it still works as it should!) it has been hanging in my music room. It has never left the house so no gigging by me. However, there are paint chips and cosmetic flaws (see photos) commensurate with age and use but none affect performance. It was like this when I bought it and has never bothered me - just adds character! The volume knob is not standard. It will definitely require a new set of strings and you probably want it setting up to your liking.

The guitar has a basswood body with maple neck and rosewood fingerboard with binding and jumbo frets (the neck is great to play (fast, nice and chunky) with massive frets perfect for bending and fast runs. It has a single volume control, one neck singlecoil and a bridge humbucker wired to a 3 way switch and adjustable bridge with through body stringing. Being made by Fender Japan and the quality is on par with Fender branded CIJ MIJ guitars. As already stated, this guitar was designed by Courtney Love and the Fender custom shop and was in production for a very short time (1996-98).

Note that the photos form part of the description so study them closely. If you want more - or have any questions, just ask and let me know what you require.

NO SWAPS OR TRADES THANK YOU - I am trying to reduce the guitars I have!

THIS IS CASH ON COLLECTION ONLY (NO PAYPAL) SO YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO TRAVEL - it will also give you the opportunity to audition and check all is working to your satisfaction. I WILL NOT POST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I am in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (3 miles from junction 11 on M1).

Some background info (there's more on the internet):
Body: Solid basswood
Neck: Maple; 25.5 inch scale
Fretboard: Bound rosewood w/22 frets
Electronics: HB pickup (bridge), single coil pickup w/staggered Alnico pole pieces (neck),
3-pos toggle, master volume.
Pickguard: White shell
Hardware: 6 saddle adjustable bridge with strings through body design,
traditional machine heads
The Squier lineup was augmented in 1996 with Affinity and Pro Tone/Vista series guitars and basses. Entry-level Affinity Series instruments were straightforward, basic Stratocaster, Telecaster and Precision Bass guitars in black, red and white. Next came the existing Standard Series, and at the top of the line were the new Pro Tone models, fine instruments with special touches (aged plastic parts, shell pickguards, painted headcaps, etc.) that appealed to the growing number of Squier players who preferred to upgrade their instruments with after-market parts.

Higher-end options such as transparent finishes on ash bodies and gold hardware began to drive Squier prices up and elevate the brand perhaps a bit too close to Fender and Fender Japan during this brief era.