Home › Squier serial number lookup
Squier serial number lookup: find out when your guitar was made
Type the serial number from the back of the headstock. The decoder shows the production period, country and factory, based on Fender’s official charts and collector research.
Where to find the serial number on a Squier
On most Squiers, the serial is on the back of the headstock, next to wording such as “Made in Japan” or “Crafted in Indonesia”. That wording matters as much as the number: it separates identical serials used in different countries.
On early Chinese Affinity models, the serial is stamped on the plate that bolts the neck to the body. On Indian Squier IIs and some SE models, it is on a sticker on the back of the neck, which has often worn off. In that case, remove the neck: a date is sometimes written in the body’s neck pocket or on the neck heel.
Squier serial number charts by country
Rows marked “Fender” come from charts published by Fender customer support. The others come from cross-checked collector research: reliable in most cases, but never confirmed by Fender.
Squiers made in Japan
Japanese Squiers were built by FujiGen until 1997 (“Made in Japan” decal), then by Tokai and Dyna Gakki (“Crafted in Japan”). The same letters were reused, so the wording on the decal is what tells them apart.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| JV + 5 digits | 1982 – 1984 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| SQ + 5 digits | 1983 – 1984 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| E + 6 digits | 1984 – 1987 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| A + 6 digits | 1985 – 1986 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| B + 6 digits | 1985 – 1986 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| C + 6 digits | 1985 – 1986 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| F + 6 digits | 1986 – 1987 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| G + 6 digits | 1987 – 1988 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| H + 6 digits | 1988 – 1989 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| I + 6 digits | 1989 – 1990 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| J + 6 digits | 1989 – 1990 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| K + 6 digits | 1990 – 1991 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| L + 6 digits | 1991 – 1992 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| M + 6 digits | 1992 – 1993 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| N + 6 digits | 1993 – 1994 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| O + 6 digits | 1993 – 1994 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| P + 6 digits | 1993 – 1994 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| Q + 6 digits | 1993 – 1994 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| S + 6 digits | 1994 – 1995 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| T + 6 digits | 1994 – 1995 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| U + 6 digits | 1995 – 1996 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| N + 5 digits | 1995 – 1996 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| V + 6 digits | 1996 – 1997 | Made in Japan, FujiGen | Fender |
| A + 6 digits | 1997 – 1998 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| O + 6 digits | 1997 – 2000 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| P + 6 digits | 1999 – 2002 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| Q + 6 digits | 2002 – 2004 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| R + 6 digits | 2004 – 2005 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| S + 6 digits | 2006 – 2008 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| T + 6 digits | 2007 – 2008 | Crafted in Japan, Tokai / Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| T + 6 digits | 2007 – 2010 | Made in Japan, Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| U + 6 digits | 2010 – 2012 | Made in Japan, Dyna Gakki | Fender |
| JD + 8 digits | 2012 onwards (first 2 digits = year) | Made in Japan, Dyna Gakki | Fender |
Squiers made in South Korea
Fender started production in Korea in 1988, but its digital records only begin in mid-1993: earlier dates are approximate.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN + 6 or 7 digits | 1990 – 1997 (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea, Cor-Tek (Cort) | Fender |
| VN + 6 or 7 digits | 1990 – 1997 (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea, Saehan (Sunghan) | Fender |
| KC + 8 digits | 1997 – 2012 (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Korea, Cor-Tek (Cort) | Fender |
| KV + 8 digits | 1997 – 2000s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Korea, Saehan (Sunghan) | Collectors |
| S + 6 or 7 digits | late 80s – early 90s (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea, Samick | Collectors |
| E + 6 or 7 digits | late 80s – early 90s (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea, Young Chang or Sung-Eum | Collectors |
| M + 7 digits | early 1990s (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea, unknown | Collectors |
| 6 digits, no letters | 1988 – 1996 (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea / Crafted in Korea, unknown | Fender |
| 7 digits starting with 9 (96XXXXX…) | 1990 – 1997 (first 2 digits = year) | Made in Korea / Crafted in Korea, unknown | Fender |
| 7 digits (6XXXXXX…) | 1988 – 1996 (1st digit = year) | Made in Korea / Crafted in Korea, unknown | Fender |
| 8 digits, no letters | 1988 – 1997 (first 2 digits = year) | Made in Korea / Crafted in Korea, unknown | Fender |
Squiers made in China
Several factories share Chinese production, each with its own prefix. Some serials (CXS, CAE) do not contain the year.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| YN + 5 or 6 digits | 1990s (1st digit = year) | Made in China, Yako | Collectors |
| NC + 5 or 6 digits | about 1994 – 1997 | Made in China, Yako | Collectors |
| CY + 7 to 9 digits | 1998 – 2020s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in China, Yako | Collectors |
| CD, CT or CJ + digits | 1990s – 2000s | Made in China / Crafted in China, Yako (probably) | Collectors |
| CXS + 8 to 10 digits | about 2007 – 2012 | Crafted in China, AXL (Shanghai) | Collectors |
| CAE + digits | late 1990s – 2000s | Made in China, AXL | Collectors |
| CA + digits | 2000s | Made in China, AXL | Collectors |
| CGS + 7 to 9 digits | 2009 onwards (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in China, Grand Reward | Collectors |
| CGR + 7 to 9 digits | 2008 onwards (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in China, Grand Reward | Collectors |
| CGRA, CGRB… + 8 digits | 2010s – 2020s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in China, Grand Reward | Collectors |
| COB or COS + 8 or 9 digits | 2008 onwards (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in China, Cor-Tek (Cort) | Collectors |
Squiers made in Indonesia
Cort (IC, ICS) and Samick (IS, ISS, SI) build many of today’s Squiers. The two digits after the letters give the year.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICS + 7 to 10 digits | 2009 onwards (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Indonesia, Cor-Tek (Cort) | Collectors |
| IC + 8 or 9 digits | 2000s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Indonesia, Cor-Tek (Cort) | Fender |
| ISS + digits | 2010s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Indonesia, Samick | Collectors |
| IS + 8 or 9 digits | 2000s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Indonesia, Samick | Collectors |
| SI + 8 or 9 digits | 2000s (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in Indonesia, Samick | Collectors |
Squiers made in India
A few Squier IIs in the late 1980s, then the Vintage Modified series from about 2007 to 2012.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SH or CS + 8 digits | 2007 – 2009 (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in India, unknown | Collectors |
| ZSSH + 8 digits | 2007 – 2009 (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in India, unknown | Collectors |
| NSHA… NSHK + 8 digits | 2008 – 2010 (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in India, unknown | Collectors |
| NHS + 7 or 8 digits | 2010 – 2012 (first 2 digits = year) | Crafted in India, unknown | Collectors |
Squiers made in Mexico
Occasional Squier production in Ensenada in the 1990s, using the Mexican Fender numbering.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MN + 6 or 7 digits | 1990s (1st digit = year) | Made in Mexico, Fender Ensenada | Fender |
| MZ + 6 or 7 digits | 2000s (1st digit = year) | Made in Mexico, Fender Ensenada | Fender |
Squiers made in USA
Squiers assembled in Corona, California, in the 1980s and early 1990s.
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| E + 6 or 7 digits | 1980s (1st digit = year) | Made in USA, Fender Corona | Collectors |
Squiers made in USA or India (N prefix)
| Serial | Period | Decal and factory | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| N + 5 or 6 digits | 1990s (1st digit = year) | Made in USA or Made in India, Fender Corona / India | Collectors |
Frequently asked questions
Is the serial number enough to date my Squier?
It gives a range, not an exact date. Years overlap because necks numbered late in one year were often fitted the following year. To confirm, remove the neck: a date is often written in the neck pocket or on the heel, and the logo, pickups and hardware also help.
Where is the serial number on a Squier?
Usually on the back of the headstock, on the decal or under the finish. On early Affinity models and some Squier IIs, it is stamped on the neck plate or printed on a sticker on the back of the neck, which has sometimes fallen off.
What is the difference between “Made in Japan” and “Crafted in Japan”?
Until 1997, Japanese Squiers were built by FujiGen and marked “Made in Japan”. From 1997 to 2007-2008, Tokai and Dyna Gakki took over with “Crafted in Japan”, then “Made in Japan” came back. Because letters were reused, this wording is essential to date the guitar correctly.
My serial starts with CXS or CAE: why is there no year?
These Chinese serials from the AXL factory do not follow the “digits = year” rule, so you need to rely on the model and its features. Despite a common belief, “CAE” does not stand for the year 2000.
How much is my Squier worth?
Early-1980s Japanese JV and SQ Squiers are the most sought after and can sell for more than a recent Fender. Entry-level Chinese and Indonesian models resell for much less. Our Squier price guide (in French, prices in euros) gives an estimate. See the Squier price guide.
Sources
Official Fender customer support charts: Japan, Korea, Indonesia, odd serial numbers. Collector data cross-checked with Squier Wiki, Guitar Insite and Fuzzfaced.
Last updated . Found a mistake or a serial we don’t cover? Contact us.