Squier Serial Numbers.

[jimrib]

Hello again folks.
I've bought a late 80s/early 90s Squier Strat and it has a serial number I cannot decipher.
I'm wondering if anyone here is Squier serial number literate

The serial number is a decal on the headstock and is of the form
K708XXX. Nothing I've found on the net matches it.

Hopefully when it's delivered it will be worth the whole $50 I spent on it

Thanks for any help.

Regards,
Jim

[ccso8462]

I don't know if this applies to Squier, but the Fender website lists Fender Japanese product serial numbers in your range (K + six digits) as 90-91 production models. Think that might be it?

HTH

Carl

[jimrib]

ccso8462 said:

I don't know if this applies to Squier, but the Fender website lists Fender Japanese product serial numbers in your range (K + six digits) as 90-91 production models. Think that might be it?

HTH

Carl

I saw that after I posted and wondered about it.
Is the Squier considered a "Fender made instrument?" /hypothetical


Thanks for pointing it out.

Regards,
Jim

[ccso8462]

Well, Jim, I think that as far as the serial numbers go it would be considered a Fender product.

A purist might look down their nose at it, but I say if it plays well and has the sound you want (or will have when you're done modding it), who cares?

That's just my 2 cents worth. Can somebody from the legal department give us an opinion?

[jimrib]

ccso8462 said:

Well, Jim, I think that as far as the serial numbers go it would be considered a Fender product.

A purist might look down their nose at it, but I say if it plays well and has the sound you want (or will have when you're done modding it), who cares?

That's just my 2 cents worth. Can somebody from the legal department give us an opinion?

Actually... I was being a smart butt. I don't, for the most part, care who made a guitar if it plays well. Later Epiphones being the general exception.

I was attracted to this one because I had an old, supposedly MIJ Squier in the 80s that was very nice.

Anyone have some Ibanez Blazer parts around so I can rehab my old favorite?

[sumgai]

From: Legal Department
To: Anybody wondering about the Fender moniker
Subject: What constitutes a Fender?

At the end of the day, it only matter who's holding the money. In the case of Squier guitars, that would be Fender Musical Instruments Co. In my opinion, that makes them Fenders, even if many collectors disdain them for being of allegedly lower quality. That's their loss, in my book.

Carl's note about the serial number being from Japan tells you that someone didn't know what he/she had in their hands. Even if it's a bit beat up, you are about to experience some rather joyful moments, as you realize that this thing is worth much more than what you paid for it.

But I'll take bets that the first thing you do to is the "Quieting the Beast" mod. Unless it's been done already.

HTH


sumgai

p.s. You might cast around for a tortoise-shell pickguard, they look very nice on that color finish.

[Ripper]

jimrib...

I have 3 pickups and the 5 way selector switch from my Ibanez Blazer BL-500FR.
Im talkin about hmmmm? 1980-81

[jimrib]

sumgai said:

From: Legal Department
To: Anybody wondering about the Fender moniker
Subject: What constitutes a Fender?

At the end of the day, it only matter who's holding the money. In the case of Squier guitars, that would be Fender Musical Instruments Co. In my opinion, that makes them Fenders, even if many collectors disdain them for being of allegedly lower quality. That's their loss, in my book.

Carl's note about the serial number being from Japan tells you that someone didn't know what he/she had in their hands. Even if it's a bit beat up, you are about to experience some rather joyful moments, as you realize that this thing is worth much more than what you paid for it.

But I'll take bets that the first thing you do to is the "Quieting the Beast" mod. Unless it's been done already.

HTH


sumgai

p.s. You might cast around for a tortoise-shell pickguard, they look very nice on that color finish.

I was hoping it was a MIA Squier which is why I bought it sight unseen
Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Regards,
Jim

[jimrib]

deepblue said:

jimrib...

I have 3 pickups and the 5 way selector switch from my Ibanez Blazer BL-500FR.
Im talkin about hmmmm? 1980-81

Any chance you have the pickguard?
If so, we should talk

[sumgai]

jimrib said:

I was hoping it was a MIA Squier which is why I bought it sight unseen
Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Regards,
Jim

If your seller had even halfway known what he/she had on hand, it wouldn't have gone for 50 smackers! An extremely small production run of American-made Squiers was shipped between late 1989 and early 1990. The serial numbers started with an E8, as if they had been true Fender guitars.

Trust me, that Japanese unit is gonna make you smile very hugely, like this: ;D


sumgai

[Ripper]

jimrib...

Sorry my friend, the p/g is loooong gone.
What I did in the ealy 80's was re-do my Blazer. I gutted it, and had one humbucker ( ala Van Halen ) installed. All the leftover parts I gave away. All thats left are the 3 single coil pups. I believe they were called Super Tap 6 ?....I have the whammy bar, and the 5 way switch. I dont even have the guitar anymore. Its a shame. Looking back, it was a beautiful guitar.

[warmstrat]

I have a squire of similar age, and its serial number doesnt match up with the Fender serial numbers.

How do i know this?

... because i unbolted the neck, and took a look at the production datestamp on the neck, which was sometime in August '90

... making the guitar two months older than me

But thats my advice - if you want a date, just look on the heel of the neck where it fits into the body...