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!
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 "S" serial number (Courtesty of miurasv from photobucket)
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'80s Korean Squier headstock with "E" light serial number (Courtesy of Reverb)
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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
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
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"CN4" Squier Strat headstock
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In 1995 the serial number of the "standard" Squier Stratocasters moved to the neck plate
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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.
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, "E" serial number (reverb)
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Decals on a Korean Squier II Stratocaster, "S" serial number
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Indian Squier II Stratocaster headstock (Reverb)
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"M" AND "J" SERIES
Between 1991 and 1992 some rare Korean Stratocasters exhibited the serial numbers M1 (or J1) and M2, respectively.
Between 1991 and 1992 some rare Korean Stratocasters exhibited the serial numbers M1 (or J1) and M2, respectively.
1991 "M1" Series Squier II heastock
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1992 "M2" Series Squier II heastock
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Other Korean serial numbers
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KV
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The first two figures of a following 8 digit number provide year of production. For example: KV97xxxxxx = 1997-1998
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NK
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In the '90s, the first figure of a following 6 digit number provide year of production. For example: NK4xxxxx = 1994-1995
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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
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
