Squier Venus
Encyclopedia
The Squier Venus is a signature series guitar released in 1997 and co-designed by Courtney Love
in conjunction with Fender's Squier
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 being Bonnie Raitt
.
Its shape was said to be based on Mercury, Stratocaster
and Rickenbacker
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 surf green. Surf green was named after paint code #57 (surf green) from Chevrolet circa 1957. This colour configuration was outlined in the Fender catalogue in 1997. Upon its original release, the Venus retailed for USD $699.99 and the Venus XII for $999.99. Price included a Fender gig bag. It was discontinued at the end of 1998.
's music video for the single Celebrity Skin
but was rumored to be that color scheme due to post-production work. These customized models often contained only a neck pickup (Seymour Duncan SL591 Little 59).http://www.rocknroll.net/gallery/hole/courtney2.jpg
, 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), Claire Ingram (Ikara Colt
), Laura-Mary Carter (Blood Red Shoes
), Max Little (BFTB) and Elle Bandita are among the musicians seen live playing Squier Venus guitars.
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
in conjunction with Fender's Squier
Squier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
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 being Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
.
Its shape was said to be based on Mercury, Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
and Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
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 surf green. Surf green was named after paint code #57 (surf green) from Chevrolet circa 1957. This colour configuration was outlined in the Fender catalogue in 1997. Upon its original release, the Venus retailed for USD $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 baby-pink body with a white pickguard, a white body with a white pickguard and a black body with pearl pickguard. A hot pink Venus can be seen in HoleHole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
's music video for the single Celebrity Skin
Celebrity Skin
Celebrity Skin is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Hole, released worldwide by Geffen Records on September 7, 1998 and one day later in the United States...
but was rumored to be that color scheme due to post-production work. 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.phpProfessionals
In the late 1990s while touring with HoleHole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
, 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
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
.
Shirley Manson
Shirley Manson
Shirley Anne Manson is a Scottish recording artist and actress, best known internationally as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Garbage. For much of her international career Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh to the United States to record with Garbage but now lives and...
(Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
), Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker) (12 string model), Claire Ingram (Ikara Colt
Ikara Colt
Ikara Colt were an English four-piece art rock band, formed by art students at London Guildhall University. They had a five-year career, beginning in 1999 and ending on 17 January 2005...
), Laura-Mary Carter (Blood Red Shoes
Blood Red Shoes
Blood Red Shoes are an indie rock duo from Brighton, England. They have released two full-length albums, Box of Secrets and Fire Like This, plus a slew of early singles on limited 7" vinyl pressings.-Formation:...
), Max Little (BFTB) and Elle Bandita are among the musicians seen live playing Squier Venus guitars.