Fender made a significant mark in the music instrument world with the introduction of its Standard Series electric and bass guitars. Positioned between the Squier Classic Vibe and Fender Player II models, this series made Fender instruments more accessible than ever, with prices starting at $599.
The release raised questions about the future of the Squier brand, with some speculating that Fender might eventually place its name on everything from affordable beginner guitars to high-end Custom Shop instruments.
Justin Norvell, Fender’s Executive Vice President of Product, addressed these concerns, offering clarity on the future of Squier:
“I think everything is a discussion. We’re open enough as a company to listen and consider all possibilities. But there’s so much value in the Squier brand. Many people love Squier, and some even prefer it over Fender. Squier, on its own, is one of the biggest electric guitar brands, so it would be unwise to get rid of that.”
While Fender may have made waves in the mid-range market, Squier still leads when it comes to affordability. For example, the Squier Sonic range starts at just $199. However, Norvell emphasized that there’s a distinct difference between the Squier Classic Vibe and Fender Standard Series, even though both are made in the same factory.
He explained, “Squier tends to lean more towards vintage-style instruments at the top of its line, so we aimed for something more modern with the Standard Series—overwound pickups, distortion-friendly, more aggressive tones. The goal for the Standard Series was to create the best guitar possible, without worrying about price, just focusing on what we could make that was worthy of the Fender name.”
Norvell also mentioned that the “guardrails” that typically define a Squier guitar were removed in the Standard Series, although they remained mindful of the different levels in the Fender lineup, ensuring that the guitars still made sense within the broader Fender family.
Related Topics
- Pianist Sergey Belyavsky, A ‘Beast on the Keyboard’ Set to Perform in Marbella
- Over 2,000 4th Graders Enjoy Free Japanese Drum Performance at Coronado Theatre
- Arizona Man Fulfills Dream of Playing Drums with The Killers
