Stagemaster

There were six major versions of the Squier Stagemaster:

V1 - Introduced in 1999 and featured a pick guard, top jack, reverse headstock, licensed Floyd Rose tremolo systems and 22 frets & 25.5" scale. Versions were HH, HSS, and HSH. V1 Stagemasters did not come from the factory in HHH or SSS versions[1] .[2] Colors made were Black (506), Polar White (581), Cobalt Blue Metallic (587), Galactic Purple (591) and Frost Red (577). All V1 models were initially available with a natural wood color headstock; toward the later production months they were made with a matching painted headstock. All came with chrome hardware. Discontinued in March 2000. Very early versions had CY98xxxxxx serial numbers but were assembled in early 1999, not in 1998 per Fender Customer Service. V1 bodies & necks are interchangeable with Stratocaster guitars. The Floyd Rose tremolo uses a 37mm high tremolo bridge block held in with three 4mm screws. It uses a 6mm screw-in tremolo arm. The V1 can be converted to use genuine Floyd Rose 6mm screw-over or push-in tremolo arm types.

Early V1 guitars have string tuners that are held in place with a set-screw (Type A). Later ones have tuners that are held in place with a recessed pin (Type B). V1 guitars were made in China.

   V1.0 Stagemasters are the original 1999 Stagemasters with tuners that have external screws to prevent tuner rotation.
   V1.1 Stagemasters are the 1999 Stagemasters with tuners that have an internal tuner pin to prevent tuner rotation.
   V1.2 Stagemasters are the 1999 Stagemasters that have matching painted headstocks.

V2 & V2.7 - Introduced in 2000, discontinued 2002. Has a side jack, back-routed control cavity, reverse headstock, licensed Floyd Rose bridge, bolt-on 24 fret neck & 25.5" scale, and a locking nut. Six string versions were available in HH, HSS, and HSH pickup configurations. These 2-octave models were made in three colors: Black Metallic (565), Cobalt Blue Metallic (587), and Purple Metallic (593). The V2 six string model Floyd Rose tremolo uses a 37mm high tremolo bridge block held in with three 5mm screws. The V2 six string models can be converted to use genuine Floyd Rose 6mm screw-over or push-in tremolo arm types.

The V2 models were also offered in HH pickup configuration in 7-string versions. The 7-string versions came in two models: a Floyd Rose bridge with locking nut (7FR) and a hard tail fixed bridge (7HT) with a regular nut. The 7-string models came in three colors: Black Metallic (565), Cobalt Blue Metallic (587) and Purple Metallic (593). The V2 7-string models are also depicted as V2.7 Stagemasters to distinguish them from the V2 six string models. The seven string Stagemaster can be converted to a HSH pickup configuration by a competent luthier. The V2.7 7-string guitars were discontinued on December 31, 2001. The V2.7 Floyd Rose tremolo uses a 34mm high x 70mm wide tremolo bridge block held in with three 4mm screws.

All V2 guitars were made in China and came with black hardware.

V3 - Introduced in January 2001, the Stagemaster HSS NLT (Non-Locking Tremolo) model number 032-2700 was the lowest priced Stagemaster sold listing for $349.99 (the street price was around $220 in 2001). Features a two-point bridge, back-routed control cavity, a bolt-on 22 fret neck 25.5" scale, and a regular type nut. Colors included Black Metallic (565), Cobalt Blue Metallic (587), and Purple Metallic (593). All came with chrome hardware. V3 bodies & necks are interchangeable with Telecaster guitars as it has a square neck pocket; Stratocaster necks will fit a V3 body but may have an exposed gap. The V3 guitars were made in China. V3 Stagemasters are the most common Stagemaster found today and sell for around $100 to $125 in 2019. The Stagemaster HSS NLT was renamed in January 2002 to the Showmaster HSS NLT with exactly the same features. The V3 Stagemaster uses a 35.6mm tall pot-metal Stratocaster type bridge block. Finding replacement steel or brass tremolo blocks is difficult as most Squire replacement blocks do not fit correctly. eBay vendor kevinh3324 does make steel or brass replacement blocks that correctly fits the Stagemaster HSS NLT. The V3 Stagemaster uses a 6mm screw-in tremolo arm.

V4 - Introduced May 15, 2000, The Stagemaster Deluxe versions with neck-through construction were made alongside these models and were available in HH and HSH configurations. The necks are 24 fret & 25.5" scale. The Deluxe HH neck-through came in three colors: Shoreline Gold Metallic (544), Atlantic Blue Metallic (569), and Wine Red Metallic (575). The Deluxe HSH came in three different colors: Pewter Gray Metallic (543), Black Metallic (565), and Emerald Green Metallic (571). No HSS or SSS neck-through models were made. All V4 models came with black hardware and were made in Korea. The V4 Floyd Rose tremolo uses a 34mm high tremolo bridge block held in with 5mm screws. The V4 models can be converted to use genuine Floyd Rose 6mm screw-over or push-in tremolo arm types.

V5 - In 2000 Squier made an exclusive run of six string Stagemasters for Mars Music. They came in HH configuration only and were available in three colors: Blueburst, Redburst, and Blackburst. A notable difference from the other Stagemasters is that they have regular headstocks that are not reversed. These guitars came with a bolt on 24 fret neck 25.5" scale, Licensed Floyd Rose tremolo bridge with a locking nut, black hardware, one vol/one tone knob, and a 3-way knife switch. These guitars are known as the "Mars Stagemasters" and are the only Stagemasters that have a burst finish. The V5 Stagemaster guitars were made in China. The V5 Floyd Rose tremolo uses a 34mm high tremolo bridge block held in with 5mm screws. The V5 models can be converted to use genuine Floyd Rose 6mm screw-over or push-in tremolo arm types.

V6 - In January 2001 Squier introduced the Squire Sub-Sonic Deluxe baritone guitar as a part of the Stagemaster Series. It is a neck-thru design like the V4 models but has a hard-tail bridge and a normal nut. It is tuned a forth below a standard guitar: B1–E2–A2–D3–F♯3–B3 (low to high). The Sub-Sonic guitar was made in Korea. It was only available as a dual humbucker (HH) and came only in Black Metallic (565). The scale length is 27" and the neck has 24 frets. Controls are a 3-way pickup selector switch, a volume control, and a tone control.

The V2 & V4 2nd generation 24-fret solid body Stagemasters featured many upgrades and were "designed to compete with guitars costing 4 to 5 times as much." One upgrade was wax potted pickups stock with the guitar. Another upgrade was rear access electronics cavity allowing for a guitars without pick guards. The Deluxe models featured neck-through three-piece maple necks, while the standard models featured a bolt-on one-piece neck with no scarf joint, and a contoured heel. The reverse headstocks on the Stagemasters allow for completely straight string pull. Another nice feature is the inclusion of a brass bridge sustain block on the Ping licensed Floyd Rose bridge, unusual quality in a budget-priced guitar. In March 2002 the Stagemaster line was renamed to Showmaster due to a trademark claim from Kramer, who had made a guitar called the Stagemaster in the mid-late 1980s. V2, V3 and V4 model Stagemaster guitars are known to exist labelled as "Showmaster" (except for the V2 7 string guitars).

All Stagemasters came with rosewood fret boards. None were ever made with maple fret boards.

The Stagemaster line of guitars were introduced in the 1st Quarter of 1999. The first 1999 Stagemaster looked like Fender Straocasters with a reverse headstock and the Stagemaster 22 fret necks are compatible with a Stratocaster. The V2 design of 2000 was of a super strat with a 24 fret neck that is NOT compatible with a Stratocaster. In 2001 Kramer sent Fender a letter stating that Fenders was using Kramer's trademark of "Stagemaster" for electric guitars and demanded that Fender stop using the Kramer trademark. Kramer had released a line of guitars from 1986 to 1990 that were branded as "Stagemaster" and had the trademark "Stagemaster". Fender agreed to stop using the trademark beginning January 1, 2002. The Squier "Stagemasters" were discontinued and some Stagemaster models (V2, V3, V4 & V6) were renamed "Showmaster" and were released on Jan 4th 2002. The 7 string Stagemaster models were discontinued and were not re-branded as Showmaster. There was never a lawsuit - Fender and Kramer worked the issue out between themselves and the case never went to court. The details of the settlement between Kramer and Fender were never revealed to the public. The Showmaster guitars were later discontinued in 2004 and were sold through 2005 until the stocks were depleted.

Identification of the Stagemaster guitars is quite easy. If it has a normal head stock it is a V5 Mars Stagemaster. If it has seven strings it is a V2.7 model. If it has a pick guard it is a V1. If it has a back-routed control cavity and a bolt-on 24 fret neck it is a V2. If it has back-routed control cavity and a bolt-on 22 fret neck it is a V3. If it is a neck-through guitar with a 25.5" scale and has a Floyd Rose bridge it is V4. If it is a neck-through guitar, the neck scale is 27", and it has a hard tail bridge it is a V6 baritone.

The Stagemaster guitar shares similarities with the Heavy Metal (HM) Strat which was produced by Fender and discontinued in 1992. It also shares similarities with the Squier Heavy Metal (HM) guitars made from 1989 to 1993.