Squier Serial Number Formats
IC + YY + digits(2000-present)Indonesian Cort factory. YY is the 2-digit year.
ICS + YY + digits(2000-present)Indonesian Cort (Surabaya). YY is the 2-digit year.
CY + YY + digits(2000-present)Chinese Yako factory. YY is the 2-digit year.
CGS + YY + digits(2000-present)Chinese Guangzhou Sound factory.
CAR + YY + digits(2010-present)Chinese production, often Affinity series.
ISS + YY + digits(2020-present)Indian production.
JV + 5 digits(1982-1984)Japanese Vintage series — highly sought after early Squiers made at FujiGen.
S/E/V + digit + digits(1987-present)Korean production (Samick, Cort, Saehan factories).
Where to Find Your Squier Serial Number
- ▶On the headstock (front or back)
- ▶On the neck plate (some bolt-on models)
Tips
- ▶JV-prefix Japanese Squiers (1982-1984) are collector's items and can be worth significantly more than their original price.
- ▶The Squier Classic Vibe series is widely considered the best value in the current lineup.
- ▶If your serial starts with a single letter followed by digits, it's likely Korean-made.
Spotting Counterfeit Squier Guitars
While Squier guitars are affordable, counterfeits still exist — especially fake JV-series Japanese Squiers, which command collector prices. Here's what to watch for.
Serial Number & Labels▼
- ▶Verify the serial number prefix matches a known Squier factory. Unknown prefixes or formats that don't match any documented pattern are a red flag.
- ▶JV-series serials (1982-1984) should be 5 digits after the "JV" prefix. Longer or shorter numbers are suspicious.
- ▶Check the "Made in" label on the headstock — it should match the serial number's country of origin.
Build Quality & Branding▼
- ▶The Squier logo should be properly aligned on the headstock. The "by Fender" text underneath should be present on most modern models.
- ▶Even budget Squiers have decent fretwork. Extremely rough frets, sharp fret ends, or visible glue suggest a sub-Squier counterfeit.
- ▶Check the neck plate — genuine Squiers have a cleanly stamped "Squier" or "Fender" logo. Blank or poorly stamped neck plates are suspect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was my Squier guitar made?▼
The serial number prefix identifies the country: IC/ICS = Indonesia, CY/CGS/CAR/CXS = China, JV/SQ = Japan, S/E/V = Korea, ISS = India. Check the first 2-3 letters of your serial.
Are Japanese Squiers better than other Squiers?▼
Japanese-made Squiers (JV and SQ prefix, 1982-1987) are widely considered the best Squiers ever made. Built at the FujiGen factory in Japan using original Fender blueprints and USA-made pickups, their quality so alarmed Fender's management that they were quietly discontinued. Originals with "JV" or "SQ" serial prefixes now sell for several hundred dollars and are considered superior to many Fender-branded guitars of the same era.
What year is my Squier Stratocaster?▼
For modern Squiers with 2-3 letter prefixes (IC, CY, CGS, etc.), the 2 digits immediately after the prefix are the year. For Korean Squiers with single-letter prefixes (S, E, V), the first digit after the letter is the year.
Is my Squier guitar a good guitar?▼
Squier makes excellent guitars for the price. The Classic Vibe series is particularly well-regarded. The origin and year can affect quality — Japanese Squiers are legendary, and recent Indonesian and Chinese models have improved significantly.
Squier Links & Resources
Squier Gallery
More About Squier
The V.C. Squier Company was founded by Victor Carroll Squier in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1890 as a manufacturer of violin strings. The company became a major supplier of strings to Fender in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and Fender acquired the Squier brand in 1965, initially continuing to use it as a string brand.
In 1982, Fender resurrected the Squier name for a new purpose: competing with the high-quality Japanese copies of Fender guitars that were flooding the market and often outperforming CBS-era American originals. Partnering with Fujigen Gakki — the same factory producing those copies — Fender launched the JV (Japanese Vintage) series under the Squier name. Built with original Fender specifications and USA-made pickups, their quality so alarmed Fender's management that the JV and SQ series (1982–1987) became collector touchstones.
Production shifted from Japan to Korea in the late 1980s, then to China, Indonesia, and India as the line expanded. Today Squier serves as Fender's entry-level line. The Japanese-made JV and SQ series remain highly sought after — widely considered superior to many more expensive guitars made anywhere in the world during the same period.