The Squier Vista Series was a small, strange line of Japan-made Squiers that Fender released in 1997. The Super-Sonic, Venus, Venus XII, Jagmaster and Musicmaster Bass sold poorly at the time and are collector’s items today. Here is what each one was, in the words of the original catalog.
Squier Vista Quick Facts
- Released: 1997, made in Japan
- Models: Super-Sonic, Venus, Venus XII, Jagmaster, Musicmaster Bass
- Standout: the reversed Super-Sonic, built for only one or two years
- Today: collector’s items that rarely come up for sale
Squier Vista Models at a Glance
| Model | Type | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|
| Super-Sonic | Guitar | Reversed Jazzmaster-style body and flipped headstock; two humbuckers, two volume knobs |
| Venus | Guitar | Courtney Love collaboration; Tune-o-matic bridge, single and humbucker |
| Venus XII | 12-string | Seymour Duncan split single-coil pickup, fully adjustable 12-string bridge |
| Jagmaster | Guitar | Jaguar and Jazzmaster blend; short scale, two humbuckers |
| Musicmaster Bass | Bass | Refined version of Fender’s short-scale student bass |
Squier Super-Sonic: The Reversed Jazzmaster
The model that stood out was the Super-Sonic. Its body looks like a reversed Jazzmaster, and the headstock is flipped too. The idea came from watching left-handed Jimi Hendrix play a right-handed guitar.
It has a basswood body and two humbuckers, and both knobs are volume controls, with no tone control. That setup gives a bright, open sound, even with humbuckers.
It was built for only one or two years and didn’t sell well, so it soon disappeared from stores. Once it vanished, fans wanted it back. Now it is a collector’s item that appears on the used market only a few times a year.
What the Super-Sonic Catalog Page Says
The English-language Vista catalog sells it with “classic contours coupled with modern stylings and screaming humbucking pickups,” and adds that “the optional sparkle finishes must be seen!” The spec list fills in details the short video doesn’t cover:
- Body: solid basswood
- Neck: maple with a reversed headstock and a short 24″ scale
- Fingerboard: rosewood with 22 frets
- Electronics: two humbuckers, a 3-position toggle switch and two volume controls
- Pickguard: 3-ply white/black/white
- Hardware: vintage-style tremolo with hardened steel saddles and nickel/chrome parts
- Finishes: Blue Sparkle, Olympic White, Black and Silver Sparkle
That 24″ scale is the same short scale Fender used on the Jaguar.
The Rest of the Vista Series, According to the Catalog
Venus: Built with Courtney Love
The catalog calls the Venus a guitar born from “a collaboration between the Custom Shop and Courtney Love,” keeping traditional Fender character with a unique body shape and a simple assembly. It points to the strings running through the body, a Tune-o-matic bridge that is very un-Fender, and a single-coil in the neck position with a humbucker at the bridge, “creating a new sound.”
Venus XII: The 12-String Version
The 12-string Venus XII gets “an original Seymour Duncan split single-coil pickup and a fully adjustable 12-string bridge.” The catalog promises “the bright, sonic sound of the Fender tradition.”
Jagmaster: A Jaguar and Jazzmaster Blend
According to the catalog, the Jagmaster was “born from a blend of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster.” It pairs a body shape with “a collector’s feel” with a short-scale neck, two humbuckers, a vintage tremolo and a simple tone circuit, and the catalog calls it “a new collector’s model.”
Musicmaster Bass: The Short-Scale Classic Returns
The MM-B refines Fender’s classic short-scale bass, the Musicmaster Bass. The catalog says it brings back “the classic feel of the ’60s and light, easy playability,” now under the Squier brand.
Why the Vista Series Matters
By the late 1990s, most Squier production had moved to Korea and other countries, so a new Japan-made Squier line was already unusual. The Vista models were quirky and a little out there, and all of them are sought-after collector’s pieces today. For the brand background, see the Squier entry on Wikipedia and my Squier History.
FAQ
What was the Squier Vista Series?
A small line of Japanese-made Squiers released in 1997: the Super-Sonic, Venus, Venus XII, Jagmaster and Musicmaster Bass.
Why is the Squier Super-Sonic so rare?
It was built for only one or two years and didn’t sell well, so it soon disappeared from stores. Today one appears on the used market only a few times a year.
What inspired the Super-Sonic’s reversed design?
Left-handed Jimi Hendrix playing a right-handed guitar. The body looks like a reversed Jazzmaster and the headstock is flipped too.
Who designed the Squier Venus?
According to the catalog, it came from a collaboration between Fender’s Custom Shop and Courtney Love.
Were Squier Vista guitars made in Japan?
Yes. The Vista Series was a Japan-made line, built years after most Squier production had moved to Korea and other countries.
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