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How to date a stratocaster

Stratocaster Serial Numbers: made in Korea

Italian
English
In 1987 Fender started the production of new Squiers, which until now have been made only in Japan, in Korea, at first in the Samick, Young Chang and Sung-Eum factories.
It is interesting to note that the serial numbers of the guitars of the '80s released by the Samick factory was "Sxxxxxx", whose first number usually indicated the year of production.  
The Young Chang and Sung-Eum factories, instead, adopted the serial number "Exxxxxx"; however, in the '80s, the first number did not express the calendar year, but the period of Korean production: in 1987 and 1988 they used as first number “1”, in 1989 “2”, while only since 1990 they have started to follow the classic numbering based on the year of production and then, after the serial number E0 in 1990, repeated those E1 and E2, respectively 1991 and 1992!  However it is possible to distinguish the serial numbers E1 and E2 of the '80s from those of the '90s because the first ones were printed in very light, barely visible, silver, the second in black.
In addition, sometimes the serial number of the Korean guitars was composed by only numbers, without letters, and some rare Stratocasters released by Young Chang in the first years of production had the serial numbers E7 or E9! In conclusion, a great confusion! 

First serial numbers
1988 - 1996         6 digits              
1988 - 1996         7 digits            
1988 - 1996         8 digits
 
Young Chang and Sung-Eum factories
1987 - 1988         E1 + 6 light digits
1988 - 1989         E2 + 6 light digits  
1989 - 1990         E0 + 6 black digits
1991 - 1992         E1 + 6 black digits
1992 - 1993         E2 + 6 black digits         
1993 - 1994         E3 + 6 black digits
 
Samick factory
1989 - 1990         S9 + 6 digits    
1990 - 1991         S0 + 6 digits   
1991 - 1992         S1 + 6 digits   
1992 - 1993         S2 + 6 digits  
1993 - 1994         S3 + 6 digits  

NOTE: Other Korean Strats had E7 or E9 serial numbers!
1989 Squier headstock with black
1989 Squier headstock with black "S" serial number (Courtesty of miurasv from photobucket)
'80s Korean Squier headstock with
'80s Korean Squier headstock with "E" light serial number (Courtesy of Reverb)
Between 1990 and 1994 Fender started to move the production in Cor-Tek (Cort) and Saehan (Sunghan) factories, and the serial numbers were changed respectively in CN and VN, and from 1997 in KC and KV.

Cor-Tek (Cort) factory
1990 - 1991         CN0 + 5 digits            
1991 - 1992         CN1 + 5 digits             
1992 - 1993         CN2 + 5 digits              
1993 - 1994         CN3 + 5 digits              
1994 - 1995         CN4 + 5 digits              
1995 - 1996         CN5 + 5 digits              
1996 - 1997         CN6 + 5 digits              
 
Saehan (Sunghan) factory
1990 - 1991         VN0 + 5 digits              
1991 - 1992         VN1 + 5 digits                
1992 - 1993         VN2 + 5 digits             
1993 - 1994         VN3 + 5 digits             
1994 - 1995         VN4 + 5 digits              
1995 - 1996         VN5 + 5 digits              
1996 - 1997         VN6 + 5 digits               
"VN2" Squier Strat headstock
"CN4" Squier Strat headstock
In 1995 the serial number of the
In 1995 the serial number of the "standard" Squier Stratocasters moved to the neck plate
SQUIER II
The serial number of the Korean Squier II was placed on the headstock and started with E or S according to the production’s factory, while that of the Indian Squier II, which followed an American-like numbering (E for '80s and N for '90s) was printed on a sticker attached to the base of the neck which often came off.
Decals on a Korean Squier II Stratocaster,
Decals on a Korean Squier II Stratocaster, "E" serial number (reverb)
Decals on a Korean Squier II Stratocaster,
Decals on a Korean Squier II Stratocaster, "S" serial number
Indian Squier II Stratocaster headstock (Reverb)
Indian Squier II Stratocaster headstock (Reverb)
"M" AND "J" SERIES
Between 1991 and 1992 some rare Korean Stratocasters exhibited the serial numbers M1 (or J1) and M2, respectively.
1991 "M1" Series Squier II heastock
1992
1992 "M2" Series Squier II heastock

Other Korean serial numbers

​KV
The first two figures of a following 8 digit number provide year of production. For example: KV97xxxxxx = 1997-1998

NK
In the '90s, the first figure of a following 6 digit number provide year of production. For example: NK4xxxxx = 1994-1995

Squier MIK domestic
KC97 + 6 digits    1997 - 1998
KC97 + 7 digits    1997 - 1998
KC97 + 8 digits    1997 - 1998
KC98 + 6 digits    1998 - 1999
KC99 + 6 digits    1999 - 2000
KC00 + 6 digits    2000 - 2001
KC01 + 6 digits    2001 - 2002
KC02 + 6 digits    2002 - 2003
KC03 + 6 digits    2003 - 2004
KC04 + 6 digits    2004 - 2005
KC05 + 6 digits    2005 - 2006
KC06 + 6 digits    2006 - 2007
KC07 + 6 digits    2007 - 2008
KC08 + 6 digits    2008 - 2009
KC09 + 6 digits    2009 - 2010
KC10 + 6 digits    2010 - 2011
KC11 + 6 digits    2011 - 2012
KC12 + 6 digits    2012 - 2013
KC13 + 6 digits    2013 - 2014
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