DATING GUITARS AND MANDOLINS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS. Samick serials Taylor serials Yamaha serials Potentiometer codes. If a serial number is not in the lists or is not recognized in the serial number decoder, it does not mean that the guitar is a fake. S, E (“Made in Korea”) S = Samick, E = Young Chang, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars. The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s. The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number.

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

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.

Samick Bass Guitar Serial Numbers Lookup

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

S, E(“Made in Korea”) S = Samick, E = Young Chang, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars. The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s. The first number following the prefix is the year. 6 or 7 digit number. The first guitars made in Korea are those with serial number written in silver E1 + 6 digits

Examples:

E1 + 6 digits with silver serial = made by Samick in 1987-88
S9 = made by Samick in 1989
E0 = made by Sung-Eum in 1990
E1 with black serial = made by Sung-Eum in 1991.

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

CA (“Made in China”, “Crafted in China”) - The first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

CAE ('Made in China' - may not be on all models) - The first 2 numbers following the prefix Is the year. 10-digit number.

Example: CAE-08xxxxxxxx = made in 2008

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

Example: YN5xxxxx = made by Yako in 1995.

CY(“Crafted in China”) - C = China, Y = Yako (Taiwan), the first number following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number.

Example: CY2xxxxxxx = made by Yako in 2002-03

COS(“Crafted in China”) – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number.

Example: COS10xxxxxx = 2010

COB(“Crafted in China”) – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 9-digit number. The plant from which the COB serial number prefix models originate remains a mystery. No documentation, or comment from the manufacturer has resolved the question of which plant produced them.

Example: COB09xxxxxxx

CD, CT, CJ(“Made in China”, “Crafted in China”) - C = China, the first number following the prefix is the year. Probably made by Yako (Taiwan).

NC(“Made in China”) – The first number following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number.

Example: NC8xxxxx = 2008

CXS(Crafted in China) – X = Axl, The first number following the prefix is the year. 9-digit number.

Example CXS07xxxxxxx = 2007

CGRL(“Crafted in China”) – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8-digit number.

Example: CGRL09xxxxxx = 2009

CGS(“Crafted in China”) – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 7 or 8- digit number.

Example: CGS10xxxxxx = 2010

Indonesian Squiers

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

Example: IC09xxxxxx = 2009

ICS(“Crafted in Indonesia”) – 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.

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, SS = ??, The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 6-digit number.

Example: ISS19xxxx = 2019

SI(“Crafted in Indonesia”) – The first 2 numbers following the prefix is the year. 8 or 9-digit number.

Example: SI08xxxxxxx = 2008

Samick Guitar Model Numbers

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.