I've had my 94 korean squire strat since new. It's still my go to guitar when just wanting to pickup and play. I had the pickups and electrics upgraded about 5 years ago. It still feels great to play. Don't think I'll ever sell it.
There is definitely something very special about these squier stratocasters as the commentors here show. I'm glad I found this one which had already been modded with new pickups and pots. The neck is amazing. 🎶🎸👍🏼
My ever&always "number one" guitar is what was originally my first electric guitar: 1997 Squire Affinity Strat (serial YN750107) born at the Yako factory; my senior year of high school 2002, I traded the original rosewood neck for a classmate's 1993 Mexican-made Squire nitro maple neck (serial MN314986). At this point of the original guitar, only the Alder body remains - the pickups since 2009 have been [neck] Seymour Duncan P-Rails & [bridge] DiMarzio Super Distortion. It's been through literal hell and back, has thousands of hours of playing both in studio & on stage, and is even immortalized on a vinyl record. I'm extremely lucky that my parents chose this paraticular guitar for me now knowing its origin, and I'm glad it has survived this long. An interesting discovery I made is that my particular Yako-built Squire is that it's black but was originally painted candy apple red - I noticed this when the black paint chipped revealing the red coat underneath, and I was able to confirm that they did this at the factory when I found a couple YN Squire strats only a few serial numbers away from mine painted... wait for it... candy apple red (!!!). It's my own belief, but I really think this added paint coat contributes to the guitar's tone & sustain. I was so glad to find out there is a small but devoted following regarding these late-90s Squire Strats made at the Yako factory (I've called them "Yako Strats" ever since), and I can attest to the shared reverance of these diamonds in the rough :)
@roboj yep the Yako built stratocasters are incredible instruments and it's interesting to hear that your strat may have been candy apple red. I like the 'Yako Strat' club idea. People who have these 90's Yako guitars all seem to agree that they are pretty special. I knew as soon as I picked it up it was going to be good. At this age in almost any guitars lifecycle it is bound to have had some fascinating feature swaps. The rosewood fretboard on my strat is a dream to play. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🎸🎶👍🏼
Found a 93 Squire by fender mim in a local pawn shop years ago it had rusty strings but somehow it didn't look cheap like I had expected a bargain basement fender to look offered the guy a hundred bucks brought it home cleaned it up gave it a set up basically new strings and it never leaves my side I have real Gibson's fenders charvel s Kramer's and it just fits it actually plays better than most of them there's a lot to be said about an inexpensive guitar that don't cost several paychecks that do what others pay thousands todo
I totally agree with you that the best guitar is the one you want to play with all the time. These 90's Squier stratocasters are some of the best playing guitars out there. The truth is that during this era many of these strats were made by top people in their field whether they were built in Japan or Taiwan etc. Remarkable instruments. 🎶🎸👍🏼
I've got a lefty. Sounds just like a Hendrix tribute guitar. Saving the body and all. Put the neck on my Fender. It's awesome! Thise pickups are great!
My YN6 has the same body, same routing, same black gloss paint, same neck, switch. Also the alder, and 4 extra holes. But the electronics are 500K pots, 0.047 capacitor, and ceramic pickups. I believe, since yours says 'Custom Shop' because they upgrade/changed the pickups, pots, and cap. I can send you a pick of the electronics in mine if you're curious what mods were done. With a full size alder body, 22 frets, thick rosewood, and good frets, this easily becomes a VERY high end guitar with a fully loaded pickguard. GREAT video by the way. Thank you!
Hi Robert, yep there wasn't many of these made by Yako in (1996) from what I can find. We are lucky to have found them by all accounts? They are top quality guitars. I did read something about the 250k pots were chosen to match up with the Alnico 5 pups. The 500k pots are often used with ceramic pups for some reason?
Hi Drew, this strat was made in Taiwan by the Yako company in 1996. It's amazing to play. The pickups are pig iron by iron gear. Even I sound good on it!😂🎶🎸👍🏼
what does a swimming pool route do to the tone vs traditional 3 SSS route? I'm building a Nile Rodgers Hitmaker copy, and I know that his guitar is lighter than others. Makes me wonder if he had a swimming pool route? Hitmaker body was a 1960 strat, with 1959 neck.
Hi Tom and thanks for the interesting question. You may know there is an ongoing debate about how tone may be affected by several factors including what materials the guitar body is made from. 1. The Tone wood debate. 2. The pickups. Single coil vs Humbucker 3. The Routing method Swimming pool vs single routs. The only thing we can say with some accuracy is that a swimming pool rout will usually result in a lighter body because more material is removed from the body. This may also be dependent on the density of the body wood. (What part of the tree the wood came from) Nile Rodgers is a brilliant musician and your project sounds fascinating. The 1959 neck profile is considered by many to be the definitive stratocaster neck. It's a subjective point but the neck on my strat is just amazing. It's flawless and a joy to play. 🎼🎶🎸👍
@@molometer it’s funny because I’ve played and own High end strats with custom shop pickups etc. and my favorite strat tone is from my son’s cheap squire 3/4 scale strat, and a cheap knock off rouge strat and both are light guitar bodies with swimming pool route. It has this great spanky funk tone to it! Lol Nile’s rogers guitar is lighter than other model strats which is why I’m wondering if there’s a swimming pool route under the hood
I know what you mean. I tried a few of the newer strats in the guitar shop and to be honest none of them sounded or felt as good in the hand as this old 96' squire standard strat. Have you thought about asking Nile about his guitar setup? He has a great tone in his fingers.👍 I do know that he uses D'Addario strings 8's and 10's and a soft pick. 🤯👍
Hi John, the 1996 strats are pretty rare so well done on finding one in original condition. It would be interesting to hear it played. What pickups has it got?
@@molometer No idea, I've not restrung it yet so not pulled the pickguard. They look original however, with a similar discolouring to the vol and tone controls. I suspect they're ceramic. If I work up the courage I'll post some vid.
@@johnflann2420 Hi John, Squier only used ceramic pickups from the the early to mid 2,000's so you've probably got a nice set of Alnico pickups in your guitar. I'd imagine it sounds amazing. How does the neck feel?
@@molometer It's quite a nice chunky feeling neck, but easy to navigate ... I'm quite liking it. I have another period strat, but one made in Japan and they play very similarly. Not sure if it's a keeper as I'm not a collector, just like having a good range of guitars at hand ... and don't really see the need for two so similar strats. Will see ....
@@johnflann2420 The 1996 Squier was made in Taiwan and the neck sounds right. Very comfortable in the hand. Japanese strats are legendary. Both top notch players. They are both Fender strats rebranded as Squier for Asian markets as squier had a better reputation than fender. Weird thing marketing 😂👍🏼🎸
I have several Squire's, Deluxe & Affinity's. Thank you for this video! Very informational.
Thanks JC glad you enjoyed it. 🎶🎸👍🏼
I've had my 94 korean squire strat since new. It's still my go to guitar when just wanting to pickup and play. I had the pickups and electrics upgraded about 5 years ago. It still feels great to play. Don't think I'll ever sell it.
There is definitely something very special about these squier stratocasters as the commentors here show.
I'm glad I found this one which had already been modded with new pickups and pots. The neck is amazing. 🎶🎸👍🏼
I just picked up one of these today at a pawn shop.
Couldn't be happier
Congratulations Kevin and welcome to this very special club of Yako 96' Strat owners. These guitars are literally pawn shop gold. 🎶🎸👍🏼
Great video -Amazing guitar managed to aquire a black one !!
Thanks Haydon, kinda poetic. Acquire a Squier 😂😂🎶🎸👍🏼
My ever&always "number one" guitar is what was originally my first electric guitar: 1997 Squire Affinity Strat (serial YN750107) born at the Yako factory; my senior year of high school 2002, I traded the original rosewood neck for a classmate's 1993 Mexican-made Squire nitro maple neck (serial MN314986). At this point of the original guitar, only the Alder body remains - the pickups since 2009 have been [neck] Seymour Duncan P-Rails & [bridge] DiMarzio Super Distortion. It's been through literal hell and back, has thousands of hours of playing both in studio & on stage, and is even immortalized on a vinyl record. I'm extremely lucky that my parents chose this paraticular guitar for me now knowing its origin, and I'm glad it has survived this long.
An interesting discovery I made is that my particular Yako-built Squire is that it's black but was originally painted candy apple red - I noticed this when the black paint chipped revealing the red coat underneath, and I was able to confirm that they did this at the factory when I found a couple YN Squire strats only a few serial numbers away from mine painted... wait for it... candy apple red (!!!). It's my own belief, but I really think this added paint coat contributes to the guitar's tone & sustain.
I was so glad to find out there is a small but devoted following regarding these late-90s Squire Strats made at the Yako factory (I've called them "Yako Strats" ever since), and I can attest to the shared reverance of these diamonds in the rough :)
@roboj yep the Yako built stratocasters are incredible instruments and it's interesting to hear that your strat may have been candy apple red.
I like the 'Yako Strat' club idea.
People who have these 90's Yako guitars all seem to agree that they are pretty special. I knew as soon as I picked it up it was going to be good.
At this age in almost any guitars lifecycle it is bound to have had some fascinating feature swaps. The rosewood fretboard on my strat is a dream to play.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🎸🎶👍🏼
I am a proud owner of a squier yn. A beautiful strat.
They are brilliant guitars. I'm impressed with my YN stratocaster too. 🎶🎸👍🏼💯
Found a 93 Squire by fender mim in a local pawn shop years ago it had rusty strings but somehow it didn't look cheap like I had expected a bargain basement fender to look offered the guy a hundred bucks brought it home cleaned it up gave it a set up basically new strings and it never leaves my side I have real Gibson's fenders charvel s Kramer's and it just fits it actually plays better than most of them there's a lot to be said about an inexpensive guitar that don't cost several paychecks that do what others pay thousands todo
I totally agree with you that the best guitar is the one you want to play with all the time. These 90's Squier stratocasters are some of the best playing guitars out there.
The truth is that during this era many of these strats were made by top people in their field whether they were built in Japan or Taiwan etc. Remarkable instruments. 🎶🎸👍🏼
I've got a lefty. Sounds just like a Hendrix tribute guitar. Saving the body and all. Put the neck on my Fender. It's awesome! Thise pickups are great!
They are great guitars and dirt cheap 🎶🎸👍🏼
My YN6 has the same body, same routing, same black gloss paint, same neck, switch. Also the alder, and 4 extra holes. But the electronics are 500K pots, 0.047 capacitor, and ceramic pickups. I believe, since yours says 'Custom Shop' because they upgrade/changed the pickups, pots, and cap. I can send you a pick of the electronics in mine if you're curious what mods were done. With a full size alder body, 22 frets, thick rosewood, and good frets, this easily becomes a VERY high end guitar with a fully loaded pickguard. GREAT video by the way. Thank you!
Hi Robert, yep there wasn't many of these made by Yako in (1996) from what I can find.
We are lucky to have found them by all accounts? They are top quality guitars.
I did read something about the 250k pots were chosen to match up with the Alnico 5 pups.
The 500k pots are often used with ceramic pups for some reason?
Just watching now, in anticipation!!
I can't believe my luck. What a gem of a strat. 🎼🎶🎸😋👍
@@molometer I'm very happy for you, it's a great find!
Thanks Simon, it was one of those moments when I first picked it up.
Think Wayne's World.
"It will be mine, do you take cash?"
😂😂😂🎸👍
Hey Nice Axe!
What country was it made in? Thanks
Hi Drew, this strat was made in Taiwan by the Yako company in 1996. It's amazing to play. The pickups are pig iron by iron gear.
Even I sound good on it!😂🎶🎸👍🏼
what does a swimming pool route do to the tone vs traditional 3 SSS route? I'm building a Nile Rodgers Hitmaker copy, and I know that his guitar is lighter than others. Makes me wonder if he had a swimming pool route? Hitmaker body was a 1960 strat, with 1959 neck.
Hi Tom and thanks for the interesting question.
You may know there is an ongoing debate about how tone may be affected by several factors including what materials the guitar body is made from.
1. The Tone wood debate.
2. The pickups. Single coil vs Humbucker
3. The Routing method Swimming pool vs single routs.
The only thing we can say with some accuracy is that a swimming pool rout will usually result in a lighter body because more material is removed from the body.
This may also be dependent on the density of the body wood. (What part of the tree the wood came from)
Nile Rodgers is a brilliant musician and your project sounds fascinating.
The 1959 neck profile is considered by many to be the definitive stratocaster neck.
It's a subjective point but the neck on my strat is just amazing. It's flawless and a joy to play. 🎼🎶🎸👍
@@molometer it’s funny because I’ve played and own High end strats with custom shop pickups etc. and my favorite strat tone is from my son’s cheap squire 3/4 scale strat, and a cheap knock off rouge strat and both are light guitar bodies with swimming pool route. It has this great spanky funk tone to it! Lol Nile’s rogers guitar is lighter than other model strats which is why I’m wondering if there’s a swimming pool route under the hood
I know what you mean. I tried a few of the newer strats in the guitar shop and to be honest none of them sounded or felt as good in the hand as this old 96' squire standard strat.
Have you thought about asking Nile about his guitar setup?
He has a great tone in his fingers.👍
I do know that he uses D'Addario strings 8's and 10's and a soft pick. 🤯👍
Just picked up a YN Strat last week and was looking for more info on it. Mine is a 1996 as well but think it's all original.
Hi John, the 1996 strats are pretty rare so well done on finding one in original condition. It would be interesting to hear it played. What pickups has it got?
@@molometer No idea, I've not restrung it yet so not pulled the pickguard. They look original however, with a similar discolouring to the vol and tone controls. I suspect they're ceramic. If I work up the courage I'll post some vid.
@@johnflann2420 Hi John, Squier only used ceramic pickups from the the early to mid 2,000's so you've probably got a nice set of Alnico pickups in your guitar.
I'd imagine it sounds amazing. How does the neck feel?
@@molometer It's quite a nice chunky feeling neck, but easy to navigate ... I'm quite liking it. I have another period strat, but one made in Japan and they play very similarly. Not sure if it's a keeper as I'm not a collector, just like having a good range of guitars at hand ... and don't really see the need for two so similar strats. Will see ....
@@johnflann2420 The 1996 Squier was made in Taiwan and the neck sounds right. Very comfortable in the hand. Japanese strats are legendary.
Both top notch players.
They are both Fender strats rebranded as Squier for Asian markets as squier had a better reputation than fender.
Weird thing marketing 😂👍🏼🎸
1968 no way great video thanks ..
Glad you enjoyed it
None of that is stock, I can see the terrible soldering. That and I have seen inside every model and factory 1996 squier strat!
I know, it's a pretty amazing find. 🎶🎸👍🏼
You've found one of their guitars!!! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'68_(band)
Wait a minute? That guy is playing a jazz master! 😂😂👍