Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

History

Fender, under the ownership of CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years. Before the Fender Squier series was introduced in 1982, Fender was making lower priced guitars such as the Fender Lead series

Fender Lead Series

The Fender Lead Series was produced by the Fender/Rogers/Rhodes Division of CBS Musical Instruments. The series comprised Lead I, Lead II and Lead III models.- General features :* Manufactured Fall 1979 through 1982....

 at its Fullerton California plant. Until the introduction of the Fender Squier series, Fender had never produced lower priced guitars based on its main Stratocaster

Fender Stratocaster

The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...

 and Telecaster

Fender Telecaster

The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...

 designs and had always used different model designs for its lower priced guitars.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Fender was facing competition from lower priced Japanese made guitars. The lower priced Fender guitars were made in America and could not compete with the lower prices of Japanese made Fender copies. In the early 1980s, Japanese labour and production costs were much lower than in America and to compete with the Japanese made guitars, Fender moved the lower priced Fender guitar production from America to Japan.

Fender was also losing sales in Japan to Japanese guitar brands such as Tōkai, Greco

Greco guitars

Greco are a brand of electric guitars produced by Kanda Shokai 神田商会. Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.-History:...

 and Fernandes

Fernandes Guitars

Fernandes Guitars is a guitar and accessory manufacturer that originated in Japan in 1969, building flamenco guitars. As the company grew it expanded production to include more acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and accessories to become one of the biggest guitar...

 and the establishment of Fender Japan

Fender Japan

Fender Japan is the Japanese division of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender Japan was officially created in March 1982 and consists of two Japanese Music companies that handle the ordering and distribution. The two companies are Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai...

 would benefit Fender sales in Japan as well as overseas. Fender began negotiations with several Japanese musical instrument distributors and reached an agreement with Yamano Gakki

Orville By Gibson

, also known simply as , was a brand of guitars that was managed by the Gibson Guitar Corporation for the Japanese market during the late 1980s and most of the 1990s.-History:...

 and Kanda Shokai

Greco guitars

Greco are a brand of electric guitars produced by Kanda Shokai 神田商会. Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.-History:...

 to establish Fender Japan. Yamano Gakki is also known for once being part of Epiphone Japan

Orville By Gibson

, also known simply as , was a brand of guitars that was managed by the Gibson Guitar Corporation for the Japanese market during the late 1980s and most of the 1990s.-History:...

. Kanda Shokai owned the Greco brand name and one of the conditions of the Fender Japan agreement was that Kanda Shokai cease production of its own Greco Fender copies.

This arrangement benefited Fender because it removed the Greco Fender copies from the Japanese market which were selling in Japan at much lower prices than the American made Fenders and it also benefited Kanda Shokai because Kanda Shokai could then distribute Japanese made Fender branded guitars in Japan. Further negotiations between Fender and Japanese guitar factories took place. Tokai was seriously considered to start building the first Japanese made Fenders, but after a breakdown in negotiations, FujiGen

FujiGen

FujiGen Gakki フジゲン 楽器 is a musical instrument manufacturer based at Matsumoto in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments"...

 Gakki was chosen instead.

The first Squier series was launched on July/August 1982 and over time the Squier series has slowly evolved to include original model designs and production has moved from Japan to various other Asian countries such as Korea and China.

Initial Squier JV & SQ series

The first Fender Japan models introduced in May 1983 were the 1957 and 1962 series, which were Fender Stratocaster models ST'57-115, ST'57-85, ST'57-65, ST'62-115, ST'62-85, ST'62-65 and the Precision Bass models PB'57-95, PB'57-70, PB'62-98, PB'62-75. These models were Fender models and not Squier models. They had Fender USA pickups installed and were made for the Japanese market only and not for export http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/index.htm.

Fender soon added a less expensive export Squier series based on the Fender Japan 1957 and 1962 series in July/August 1982, which had a large Fender logo with a smaller Squier logo and had a zinc rather than a steel tremolo block and had Fender USA pickups installed. The Squier series were also made available for the Japanese market in October 1982, which incorporated small changes compared to the export Squier series. The large Fender logo of the export Squier series was soon changed to a large Squier logo.

The first Fender Japan guitars are known as the JV Fenders and JV Squiers, with JV standing for Japanese Vintage and were made by the FujiGen

FujiGen

FujiGen Gakki フジゲン 楽器 is a musical instrument manufacturer based at Matsumoto in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments"...

 Gakki factory in Japan, using technical support from Fender USA. The SQ Squier series was introduced in late 1983 to early 1984. The SQ Squier series was based more on 1970s Fender models and also had Japanese made pickups installed.

Squier Classic Vibe Series

In 2008 Squier released its Classic Vibe series. A series of electric guitars and basses mirroring classic Fender

Fender

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...

 designs of the 50's and 60's. Each roughly reflecting the hardware, woods, color variations, finishes, body contours, and tonal characteristics of their respective era; although Squier state that the series was not created to be completely era correct, but rather impart the 'vibe' of a classic Fender design. Believed to be Squier's attempt at bringing back the vintage-quality feel, look, and sound of their first series of guitars in 1982.

The Classic Vibe series of guitars and basses include the following models:

• Classic Vibe Stratocaster (50's and 60's)
• Classic Vibe Telecaster (50's and 60's)
• Classic Vibe Duo Sonic 50's
• Classic Vibe Precision Bass (50's and 60's)
• Classic Vibe Jazz Bass 60's

Classic Vibe series guitars start with the serial CG followed by the Factory/Plant Letter and the year produced.

Serial number tracing

As follows is an approximate method in which Squier dates the serial numbers of manufactured instruments.

Japanese Squiers

For Japanese Squier serial number dating, see Fender's serial number dating service.
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

Tokai Gakki

, often referred as Tokai Guitars Company Ltd., is a Japanese guitar manufacturer founded in 1947 and situated in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture. Tokai have produced acoustic guitars, electric guitars, electric basses, autoharps, and melodicas...

 and Dyna from 1997.

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

Some USA made Squiers have a serial number with a E = Eighties (1980s) prefix, and some have a serial number with a N = Nineties (1990s) prefix.
Some USA made Squiers also had a 000XXX serial stamp on the neckplate with no letter prefix and no serial number on the headstock.

USA Squiers were made for less than a year spanning 1989 and 1990 before production of Squiers went back to Mexico.

Korean Squiers

CN/VN: C = Cor-Tek (Cort)

Cort Guitars

Cort Guitars is a guitar manufacturer centered in South Korea. The company is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, and produces instruments for many other companies.- History :...

, V = Saehan(Sunghan)

Vester Guitars

Vester was a music instrument manufacturer specializing in guitars and guitar amplifiers. Formed as a part of the Samuel Music Company based in Effingham, Illinois, Vester is perhaps best known for their good quality Japanese and Korean import electric and acoustic guitars.The Samuel Music Company,...

, S was already taken by Samick

Samick

Samick is the name of a Korea-based musical instrument manufacturer, one of the largest in the world.The name refers to the entire Samick Musical Instruments, which owns several manufacturers of pianos, guitars, and other instruments. The company started as 'Samick Pianos' in 1958, manufacturing...

 so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example

• "CN5" = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1995.
• "VN5" = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1995.

KC/KV: KC (Korean Cor-Tek (Cort)) and KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

For example

• "KC97" = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1997.
• "KV97" = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1997.

KC and KV serial number prefixes are usually used on Crafted in Korea Squiers.

S/E: The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s.
S = Samick, E = Young Chang

Young Chang

Young Chang is a Korean manufacturer of pianos and industrial wood working machinery, headquartered in Incheon, South Korea. Young Chang also currently holds 50% of the Korean piano market....

, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars.
The first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

The first guitars made ​​in Korea are those with serial number written in silver E1 + 6 digits

For example

• "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.

There were also Korean Squier serials with no serial number prefix and 6 or 7 numbers and the first number is the year.
Some early 90's examples held a serial number with the prefix M followed by 7 numerals, featured the a high gloss maple neck with a slimmer 40mm body made from plywood.

Chinese & Taiwanese Squiers

YN: Y = Yako (Taiwan), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example

• "YN5" = made by Yako in 1995.

CY: C = China, Y = Yako (Taiwan), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

For example

• "CY97" = made by Yako in 1997.

CY, COS, or COB serials are usually used on Crafted in China Squiers.
Some Chinese made Gretsch guitars also have a CY serial number.

Miscellaneous Chinese serials: CD, CT, CJ, NC: C = China, the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.
Probably made by Yako (Taiwan). 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.

Some Squiers that are sold only in the Chinese and Asian markets are made by Axl in China, these guitars usually have the serial number starting with CXS; with the 'X' standing for 'Axl'.

Squier Classic Vibe series guitars/basses serial numbers start with CG. eg. CGSxxxxxxx

Indonesian Squiers

IC: I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek (Cort), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.
IS: I = Indonesia, S = Samick, the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year. For example "IC02" Made in 2002. In 2009-10 some Indonesian Squier's had the prefix ICS09XXXXX and ICS10XXXXX. There are a number of standard models that have the ICS prefix some are FSR but some are just normal run models. It therefore appears as though the the S in ICS is only an indication as to whether it is a Factory Special Run or FSR guitar (manufactured by Cor-Tek in Indonesia). It also appears likely that any FSR guitar beginning with ICS will be a Squier 'Standard' as opposed to any of the other models i.e. CV, Deluxe etc.

Indian 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.

External links

• Squier Guitars official website
• Fender Guitars official website
• Squier-Talk.com - a Squier-dedicated discussion forum