japanese squier stratocaster serial numbers

These guitars are often called Crafted in Japan or CIJ guitars because of the stamp on the neck heel. They switched to Tokai and Dyna to build their Japanese guitars after 1997. So what about serial numbers after 1997? Well, Fender stopped using Fuji Gen Gakki to build their guitars. 1982 – 1984 Japanese Vintage and Squier Fender Guitars Numbers 🙂 In 1984, Fender went back to a single letter followed by six digits. Fender only made the JV and SQ guitars for two years, so of course they decided to change the numbering system on us again. The Squier models came from a different division of Fender than the Stats and Teles, so the Squiers did not have the Fender logo on the headstock. The double-letter serial number was also used on the Squier “SQ” numbers. The JV models also had the Made in Japan decal on either the headstock or the neck heel. These numbers were stamped or engraved in the neck plate of Stats and basses and the bridge of Teles.

The JV serial numbers started with JV followed by five digits. Fender wanted to differentiate the American made Reissue and Vintage guitars from the Japanese ones, so Fender substituted a “JV” serial number, Japanese Vintage, for the “V” serial number on the American guitars. The first Japanese models were Fender Reissues or Vintage guitars. The Japanese Fender serial numbers from 1982 - 1984 have a few oddities.

Japanese Vintage and Japanese Reissue Modelsġ982 – 1984 Japanese Vintage and Squier Fender Serial Numbers.

Take a look at the tables to see how old your Japanese Fender is. Fender switched to using Crafted in Japan or CIJ decals in 1997 and returned to the original Made in Japan decals in 2007.Īre you confused yet? Well, I have divided these serial numbers into three main categories and wrote a little history about each one.

These Fenders are commonly referred to as Made in Japan Fenders or MIJ because of the made in Japan stamp on the neck heel. Fender used Fuji Gen Gakki or the Fuji String Instrument Production Corporation exclusively to build all of their Japanese guitars until 1997. Originally, the Japanese Fenders were only offered to the European market but later became available in the US. Fender decided to start building guitars in Japan in March 1982 after CBS, then owner of Fender guitars, worked out a deal with Yamaha Music and Kanda Shokai. In the late 1970s many American products were being sent overseas to be manufactured.

Japanese squier stratocaster serial numbers