Squier from Fender has unveiled a series of five new-look Vintage Modified guitars based on traditional Fender instruments with modern tone.The models were launched ready for industry trade fair NAMM and include a distinctive retro-inspired Vintage Modified ’70s Stratocaster, heralding its look from the 1970s workhorse Fender guitars.
While the instrument promises a rich sound expected of any new electric guitar, it looks like an old Stratocaster, with 70’s-style large headstock, tint-gloss nick and black plastic parts.
Two more Stratocasters are now in the series. The Vintage Modified Surf Stratocaster has been billed as being designed to “crest the perfect wave of Squier sound”. It features tube-style pickups and comes in a pastel shade of Surf Green, as well as Sonic Blue and Candy Apple Red.
Keen to bring back nostalgia when playing the retro guitar, Fender said the finishes “evoke the sand, sun and fun vibe of Fender’s early-’60s golden age”.
The Vintage Modified Stratocaster HSS, meanwhile, has a large headstock and tint-gloss neck, as well as a powerful humbucking bridge-pickup. It comes with the option to have a distinctive Black and Three-color Sunburst finish, or a new colour called Charcoal Frost Metallic.
Finally, the revamped Vintage Modified Telecaster Special is like the original model, but comes with added extras, including a Jazzmasterneck pickup and vintage-tint maple Jazzmaster neck.
Fender has had a string of new product launches recently. It has just extended its Blacktop series to include a Blacktop Telecaster Baritone, Stratocaster HSH and Jaguar 90 and has also added new signature guitars from British guitarist Johnny Marr, Avril Lavigne and Mikey Way from My Chemical Romance.
The Blacktop guitars were also unveiled in the run up to the NAMM event this month. Last year’s event saw the release of three Squier Vintage Modified instruments, the Jazzmaster with custom-designed pickups, the Jaguar HH and Jazz Bass.