Fender acquired V.C. Squier Company, an American guitar string manufacturer, in 1965. In 1982 the name Squier reappeared on the market as a slightly less expensive alternative to a "value brand", initially produced and distributed in the local Japanese market and soon available in North America, Europe, and the rest of the world. To control costs, Squier instruments have been produced over the years in several countries, including Japan, Korea, India, China, Indonesia, and Mexico.