Two formats, two eras
The NC format follows the same decade-digit convention as the Korean CN prefix: one digit after the letters gives the year within the 1990s. The CY format is more modern and simply prints the two-digit year.
| Prefix | Structure | Period | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC | NC + year digit + sequence | 1990s | NC3123456 → 1993–1994 |
| CY | CY + two-digit year + sequence | 1997 onwards | CY05123456 → 2005 |
The NC and CN trap
NC is Chinese. CN is Korean. Both were used through the 1990s, both are followed by a year digit, and both appear in small print on a decal that has had thirty years to wear.
The consequence of getting it wrong is not just the country — Korean-era instruments trade at a premium over Chinese ones from the same period, so the transposition has a price attached to it.
Resolve it from the instrument
Reading a CY serial
Straightforward: CY, then the year, then the sequence. CY97123456 is 1997; CY05123456 is 2005. Two-digit years up to 30 read as the 2000s and above that as the 1990s, which works cleanly because Chinese Squier production began in the 1990s and there is no genuine ambiguity to resolve.
Examples
- CY05123456 — China, 2005
- NC9123456 — China, 1999–2000
Common questions
- Does NC mean Korean or Chinese on a Squier?
- NC is Chinese. The Korean prefix is CN — the same letters reversed. The country marking on the headstock decal is the reliable way to tell them apart.
- How do I read a CY Squier serial number?
- The two digits immediately after CY are the year. CY05123456 is 2005. The remaining digits are a production sequence and carry no date information.
Last reviewed 29 July 2026. Spotted something wrong? Report a correction.