Japan Squiers
Find the date of a Fender guitar by serial number You can use this Fender serial number decoder to date a Fender guitar. The tool works for most Fender electric guitars including the Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Fender bass guitars, Fender Squier models and many custom shop and reissue models (although some cannot be dated by serial. Get the best price on Squier Stratocaster at Guitar Center. Most Squier Stratocaster are eligible for free shipping.
The Japanese MIJ (Made in Japan) Squiers were made by FujiGen up to 1997 and the Japanese CIJ (Crafted in Japan) Squiers were made by Tokai and Dyna from 1997.
'Made In Japan' (1982-1987)
| JV+ 5 digits 1982-1984 | L + 6 digits 1991-1992 |
| SQ + 5 digits 1983-1984 | M + 6 digits 1992-1993 |
| A + 6 digits 1985-1986 | N + 6 digits 1993-1994 |
| B + 6 digits 1985-1986 | O + 6 digits 1993-1994 |
| C + 6 digits 1985-1986 | P + 6 digits 1993-1994 |
| E + 6 digits 1984-1987 | Q + 6 digits 1993-1994 |
| F + 6 digits 1986-1987 | S + 6 digits 1994-1995 |
| G + 6 digits 1987-1988 | T + 6 digits 1994-1995 |
| H + 6 digits 1988-1989 | U + 6 digits 1995-1996 |
| I + 6 digits 1989-1990 | N + 5 digits 1995-1996 |
| J + 6 digits 1989-1990 | V + 6 digits 1996-1997 |
| K + 6 digits 1990-1991 |
Crafted In Japan' (1995-2008)
| A + 6 digits 1997-1998 | Q + 6 digits 2002-2004 |
| B + 6 digits 1998-1999 | R + 6 digits 2004-2006 |
| N + 5 digits 1995-1996 | S + 6 digits 2006-2008 |
| O + 6 digits 1997-2000 | T + 6 digits 2007-2008 |
| P + 6 digits 1999-2002 |
'Made In Japan' (2007-)
| T + 6 digits 2006-2008 | U + 6 digits 2007-2008 |
Mexican Squiers
MN - M = Mexico, N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.
MZ - M = Mexico, Z = 2000's, the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.
For example:
- 'MN8' indicates that it was made at Ensenada, Mexico in 1998-1999.
- 'MZ1' indicates that is was made at Ensenada, Mexico in 2001-2002
USA Squiers
E('Made in USA') – E = Eighties (1980s), The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number.
Example: E9xxxxxx = 1988
N('Made in USA')– N = Nineties (1990s), The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number.
Example: N0xxxxx = 1990
No Prefix('Made in USA') - Some USA made Squiers also had a 000XXX serial stamp on the neckplate with no letter prefix and no serial number on the headstock. 6-digit number
Korean Squiers
CN('Made in Korea', 'Crafted in Korea') - C = Cor-Tek , N – Nineties (1990s), The first digit following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number.
Example: CN5xxxxx = 1995 made by Cor-Tek/Cort
VN('Made in Korea') - V = Saehan(Sunghan), S was already taken by Samick so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7-digit number
Examples: VN7xxxxxx = 1997 made by Saehan/Sunghan. Profexam player.
KC, KV('Made in Korea', 'Crafted in Korea') - KC (Korean Cor-Tek (Cort)) and KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)), the prefix is followed by a 2 number year. 8-digit number.
Examples:
KC97 = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1997
KV97 = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1997
S, E('Made in Korea') S = Samick, E = Young Chang, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars. The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s. The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number. The first guitars made in Korea are those with serial number written in silver E1 + 6 digits
Examples:
E1 + 6 digits with silver serial = made by Samick in 1987-88
S9 = made by Samick in 1989
E0 = made by Sung-Eum in 1990
E1 with black serial = made by Sung-Eum in 1991.
M('Made in Korea') – The first number following the prefix is the year. 7-digit number. Used in early 90's, featured the a high gloss maple neck with a slimmer 40mm body made from plywood.
Example: M1xxxxxx = 1991
No prefix('Crafted in Korea') – The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7-digit number.
Example: 7xxxxx = 1997
Chinese & Taiwanese Squiers
CA ('Made in China', 'Crafted in China') - The first number following the serial number prefix is the year.
CAE ('Made in China' - may not be on all models) - The first 2 numbers following the prefix Is the year. 10-digit number.
Example: CAE-08xxxxxxxx = made in 2008
YN('Made in China') - Y = Yako (Taiwan), N = Nineties (1990s), the first numbers following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number.
Example: YN5xxxxx = made by Yako in 1995.
CY('Crafted in China') - C = China, Y = Yako (Taiwan), the first number following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number.
Example: CY2xxxxxxx = made by Yako in 2002-03
COS('Crafted in China') – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number.
Example: COS10xxxxxx = 2010
COB('Crafted in China') – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 9-digit number. The plant from which the COB serial number prefix models originate remains a mystery. No documentation, or comment from the manufacturer has resolved the question of which plant produced them.
Example: COB09xxxxxxx
Fender Squier Bullet Serial Numbers
CD, CT, CJ('Made in China', 'Crafted in China') - C = China, the first number following the prefix is the year. Probably made by Yako (Taiwan).
NC('Made in China') – The first number following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number.
Example: NC8xxxxx = 2008
CXS(Crafted in China) – X = Axl, The first number following the prefix is the year. Esed nod32 9 key. 9-digit number.
Example CXS07xxxxxxx = 2007
CGRL('Crafted in China') – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number.
Example: CGRL09xxxxxx = 2009
CGS('Crafted in China') – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 7 or 8- digit number.
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Example: CGS10xxxxxx = 2010
Indonesian Squiers
IC('Crafted in Indonesia') - I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek (Cort), The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number.
Example: IC09xxxxxx = 2009
ICS('Crafted in Indonesia') – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number. In 2009-10 some Indonesian Squier's had the prefix ICS09XXXXX and ICS10XXXXX. Usually the S in ICS designates a Factory Special Run or FSR guitar manufactured by Cor-Tek in Indonesia.
Example: ICS10xxxxxx = 2010
IS('Crafted in Indonesia') – I = Indonesia, S = Samick, The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number.
Example: IC02xxxxxxx = 2002
ISS('Crafted in Indonesia') - I = Indonesia, SS = ??, The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number.
Example: ISS19xxxx = 2019
SI('Crafted in Indonesia') – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number.
Example: SI08xxxxxxx = 2008
India Squiers
Some Squier IIs were made in India around 1989-1990. The head stock is marked 'MADE IN INDIA'. Made in India Squier IIs seem to follow the made in USA serial numbering scheme. For example, a 1990 made in India Squier II serial number would start with N0 plus 5 digits. The serial number is printed on a sticker located on the back of the neck, close to where the neck attaches to the body. Because the number was placed on a sticker it is fairly common for the serial number to be missing.
Some more recent Squiers, including the Vintage Modified series (serial numbers starting with SH), were introduced in 2007. The VM series is marked 'Crafted in India' on the rear of the head stock, and the serial numbers are not stickers, but printed and sealed on the rear of the head stock.
| CS07 + 6 digits = 2007-08 | NSHI09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 |
| NHS10 + 6 digits = 2010-11 | NSHJ08 + 6 digits = 2008-09 |
| NHS11 + 5 digits = 2011-12 | NSHJ09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 |
| NSHA09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 | NSHK09 + 6 digits =2009-10 |
| NSHD09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 | SH07 + 6 digits = 2007-08 |
| NSHE09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 | SH08 + 6 digits = 2008-09 |
| NSHF09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 | ZSSH07 + 6 digits = 2007-08 |
| NHSG09 + 6 digits = 2009=10 | ZSSH08 + 6 digits = 2008-09 |
| NSHH09 + 6 digits = 2009-10 |
Japanese Fender Strat Serial Numbers
| Fender-Squier history in short Jerome Bonaparte Squier and his son Victor Carroll Squier, two English immigrants who started a violin building and repair company in Boston in 1881. In 1890 Victor opened a store in Battle Creek, Michigan and a short time later a violin factory at 427 Capital Ave SW. (V.C. Squier Company). Violin, banjo and guitar strings were also produced here. In the early 1950s the company also started making strings for the electric guitars of Leo Fender and became in 1963 an official supplier for Fender Electric Instruments. In 1965, shortly before the acquisition of Fender by CBS, Fender purchased V.C. Squier Company. Before the Fender Squier line of guitars was introduced in 1982, Fender made cheaper guitars such as the Fender Lead series at its plant in Fullerton, California. Until the introduction of the Fender Squier series, Fender had never produced low-priced guitars based on the Stratocaster and Telecaster models. He had always used different model designs for the cheaper models. | In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fender was faced with competition from cheaper Japanese guitars. Japanese labor and production costs were much lower than in America, and to compete with, Fender moved the cheaper Fender guitar production from America to Japan. Sales in Japan were disappointing, Fender could not compete with Japanese competitors such as Tökai and Greco. Fender started negotiations with various Japanese distributors of musical instruments and reached an agreement with Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai to found Fender Japan. One of the conditions of the agreement was that Kanda Shokai stops producing its own Greco Fender guitars. Negotiations with Tökai were interrupted and FujiGen Gakki was chosen. The first Squier models appeared in August 1982. Over time, the Squier series has slowly evolved and contains original model designs. The production has also been moved from Japan to various other Asian countries such as Korea, China, Indonesia and India. Victor Carroll Squier |
