Japan Squiers

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)

Crafted In Japan” (1995-2008)

“Made In Japan” (2007-)

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

E (Silver Serial Number) - Young Chang Factory

• E1 (plus 5 or 6 digit number) - 1987
• E7 (plus 6 digit number) - 1987, 1988
• E2, E8 - 1988
• E9 -1989

E (Black Serial Number) - Sung Eum Factory

• E9 -1989

S (Black Serial Number) Samick

• S9 (plus 5-digit number) 1989, 1990, 1991
• S1 (plus 6-digit number) 1991, 1992

Examples:
        E1xxxxxx (silver) = made by Young Chang change in 1987
        E9xxxxx (black) = made by Sung-Eum in 1989
        S9xxxxx (black) = made by Samick in 1989

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.

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

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

CAE ("Made in China" - may not be on all models) - Axl Factory. The 3rd number following the prefix Is the year. 10-digit number. Used from 2002 - 2006.

                Example: CAE-04xxxxxxxx = 2004

YN (“Made in China”) - Y = Yako Factory, N = Nineties (1990s), the first numbers following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number. Used from 1996 - 1997.

                Example: YN5xxxxx = 1995

CY (“Crafted in China”) - C = China, Y = Yako Factory, the first (or 1st & 2nd) number following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 1998 - 2020.

                Example: CY02xxxxxxx = 2004

COS (“Crafted in China”) - Cor-Tek factory – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 2008 - 20012

                Example: COS10xxxxxx = 2010

COB (“Crafted in China”) - Probably Cor-Tek factory– The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 9-digit number. Used from 2008 - 20012

                Example: COB09xxxxxxx

CD '("Crafted in China")' - C = China, D = Dalian Dong Fang Factory. The first tow numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-ditig number. Used from 1998 - 1999

                Example: CD98xxxxxx = 1998

CT, CJ (“Made in China”, “Crafted in China”) - C = China, Yako Factory, the first number following the prefix is the year.

NC (“Made in China”) – Yako Factory. The first number following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number. Used from 1994 - 1997

                Example: NC8xxxxx = 2008

CXS ("Crafted in China") – C = China, X = Axl, S = Squier. The first 2 numbers may indicate month. 3rd & 4th numbers indicate year. 10-digit number. Used from 2007-2012

                Example CXS07xxxxxxx = 2007

CGR ("Crafted in China") - C = China, G = Grand Reward Factory, The 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9 digit number. Used from 2008 - 2009

                Example: CGR09xxxxxx = 2009

CGS (“Crafted in China”) – C = China, G = Grand Reward Factory. The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 7 or 8- digit number. Used from 2009 - 2020

                Example: CGS10xxxxxx = 2010

CGR + 1 Letter C = China, GR = Grand Reward Factory, Last Letter = Production month code (A for January to L for December). The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 2020 - current

                Example: CGRA21xxxxxx = 2021

CSS + 1 Letter C = China, S = Axl Factory, Last Letter = Production month code (A for January to L for December). The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 2020 - current

                Example: CSSL20xxxxxx = 2020

CYK + 1 Letter C = China, Y = Yako Factory, Last Letter = Production month code (A for January to L for December). The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 2020 - current

                Example: CYKE21xxxxxx = 2021

Indonesian Squiers

IC (“Crafted in Indonesia”) - I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek Factory, The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number. Used from 1999 - 2009

                Example: IC09xxxxxx = 2009

ICS (“Crafted in Indonesia”) – I = Indonesia, C= Cor-Tek Factory, 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. Used fro 2009 - 2020

                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, S = Samick, The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number. Used from 2019 - 2020

                Example: ISS19xxxx = 2019

SI(“Crafted in Indonesia”) – S = Samick, I = Indonesia, The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number. Used from 2002 - 2004

                Example: SI08xxxxxxx = 2008

ISS + 1 Letter ("Crafted in Indonesia") I = Indonesia, S = Samick, Last Letter = Production month code (A for January to L for December). The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 2021 - current

                Example: ISSB23xxxxxx = 2023

ICS + 1 Letter ("Crafted in Indonesia") - I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek, Last Letter = Production month code (A for January to L for December), The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number. Used from 2021 - current

                Example: ICSC22xxxxxx = 2022

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.