- Squier Venus
Infobox Guitar model|title=Fender Squier Vista Venus
bgcolor=
manufacturer=Squier
period=1997–1998
bodytype=Solid
necktype=Bolt-on
woodbody=Basswood
woodneck=Maple , 25.5" scale
woodfingerboard=BoundRosewood , 22 frets.
bridge=
pickups=HB pickup (bridge), single coil pickup w/staggered Alnico pole pieces (neck)
colors=Black, Sea Foam Green, Sunburst.The Squier Venus (commonly known as Fender Vista Venus) is a signature series guitar released in 1997 and co-designed by
Courtney Love in conjunction with Fender'sSquier brand, under the Vista series. At the time of its release, Love was only one of two female musicians to have her own signature series of guitars; the other woman beingBonnie Raitt . Its shape was said to be based on Mercury, Stratocaster andRickenbacker solidbody guitars. It was released in two configurations, six or twelve string with the latter being referred to as the "Venus XII". Colors available included black, sunburst and sea foam green. Upon its original release, the Venus retailed forUSD $699.99 and the Venus XII for $999.99. Price included a Fender gig bag. It was discontinued at the end of 1998.Customized Models
Love often appeared live using customized models that differed somewhat from the commercially available models. These configurations included a Venus with a baby-blue body and tortoise shell pickguard, a black with pearl pickguard and a hot pink model. The pink Venus can be seen in Hole's music video for the single "
Celebrity Skin ". These customized models often contained only a neck pickup (Seymour Duncan SL591 Little 59). [http://www.rocknroll.net/gallery/hole/courtney2.jpg]Product Dating
The Venus has a one letter, six digit serial number printed on the neck of the guitar. Serial numbers beginning with the letter V were manufactured in 1997. Serial numbers beginning with the letter A were manufactured between 1997 and 1998. [http://www.fender.com/support/dating/japanese_dating.php]
Trivia
*In the late 1990s while touring with Hole, Courtney Love was known to (on occasion) give away one of her Venus guitars to a female audience member [http://www.salon.com/ent/music/review/1999/05/18/hole/index.html] . There is only one instance, in 1999, of her giving a guitar to a male audience member - a skinny blonde boy who resembled
Kurt Cobain .*
Shirley Manson (Garbage), Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker) (12 string model) and Claire Ingram (Ikara Colt ) are among the musicians seen live playing Squier Venus guitars.External links
* [http://drownsoda.free.fr/vistavenus.htm Drown Soda: Fender's Vista Venus]
* [http://www.tachyonlabs.com/venus.html TachyonLabs.Com: Fender Venus!]
* [http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/WNAMM97/Fender/Vista-Series.html Harmony Central: Squier Vista Series]
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4561936679 I Love My Fender Venus Facebook Group]
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