Next came the existing Standard Series, and at the top of the line were the new Pro Tone models, fine instruments with special touches (aged plastic parts, shell pickguards, painted headcaps, etc.) that appealed to the growing number of Squier players who preferred to upgrade their instruments with after-market parts.

Although the new series offered several instrument style options—single-cutaway beginner guitars, semi-hollow-body blues guitars and archtop jazz boxes—at an excellent value, these products ultimately did not resonate with the Fender audience, beginners or otherwise.Accordingly, the long-dormant Squier name was resurrected and assigned to export versions of the new Fender Japan vintage models; these became known as Squier JV ("Japanese Vintage") instruments.