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Squier II Precision authenticity? Please help me settle debate with seller.

friskinator

friskinator

Supporting Member
Apr 5, 2007
4,248
14,092
Georgia
#1
A local seller has an Indian-made Squier II Precision for sale. The serial is a sticker on the back of the butt end of the neck with a serial beginning in N01. Seems pretty obvious what it is, but he's asking a ridiculous amount and saying it's an "American made" Squier, and he "knows what he has."

I call BS on this, but just to be sure, Squiers have never been made in the USA, correct?

Below are pics of the bass in question.

Squire II P-Bass (3).JPG
Squire II P-Bass (5).JPG
Squire II P-Bass (2).JPG
 
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#8
According to the link you sent the N designation was used for American made squiers as well as Japanese squiers. American Squiers only being made in 89 and 90 (with N being the prefix for the ones made in 90 and E being the prefix for 89). This may be where you seller stopped looking for information because like @ScottfromCalgary and @C Stone I was also only able to find references to American made squire Stratocasters but no reference to any other kind of guitar, including basses.

1989 Fender Squier USA American Made Stratocaster-Rare USA produced Squier | Reverb

The link is a reverb listing of an actual American squier Stratocaster. On this model the cereal is on the front of the headstock, unlike the bass. given this I'd say it's probably Japanese or maybe Indian like you said. I'd send the seller this listing if you even still want to deal with them.

Personally I just wouldn't put up with the hassle this guy has put you through and get a different bass.
 
Last edited:
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#9
This is going back about 27yrs for me, but I used to teach with a guitarist that had an '80s Squier strat that was claimed to have come off the USA production line. I don't know if there were ever any US-made Squier IIs or P-basses.

Edit: looks like a couple other posters also mentioned the USA Strats, but no evidence of other USA-made Squiers.
 
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#10
ConfoundedBridg said:
According to the link you sent the N designation was used for American made squiers as well as Japanese squiers. American Squiers only being made in 89 and 90 (with N being the prefix for the ones made in 90 and E being the prefix for 89). This may be where you seller stopped looking for information because like @ScottfromCalgary and @C Stone I was also only able to find references to American made squire Stratocasters but no reference to any other kind of guitar, including basses.

1989 Fender Squier USA American Made Stratocaster-Rare USA produced Squier | Reverb

The link is a reverb listing of an actual American squier Stratocaster. On this model the cereal is on the front of the headstock, unlike the bass. given this I'd say it's probably Japanese or maybe Indian like you said. I'd send the seller this listing if you even still want to deal with them.

Personally I just wouldn't put up with the hassle this guy has put you through and get a different bass.
Click to expand...

From the link:

"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."

That's exactly what this bass has, as shown in the pics. I stopped debating the guy and told him "good luck with the sale." He's decided what he has, and it seems no one is going to convince him otherwise.
 
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#11
friskinator said:
From the link:

"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."

That's exactly what this bass has, as shown in the pics. I stopped debating the guy and told him "good luck with the sale." He's decided what he has, and it seems no one is going to convince him otherwise.
Click to expand...

Lol did you tell him that?! That is literally exact!!

Also where did you find this guy? CL, FB marketplace? I lurk my local CL for Bass gear and sometimes the listings make me chuckle with how ridiculous they can be.
 
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#13
ConfoundedBridg said:
Lol did you tell him that?! That is literally exact!!

Also where did you find this guy? CL, FB marketplace? I lurk my local CL for Bass gear and sometimes the listings make me chuckle with how ridiculous they can be.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I sent him that link and told him to scroll to the bottom. Who knows if he even read it. He responded and said "I've owned this since 1997...There is NO Made in India sticker on it nor is it embossed on it anywhere..." Ok, dude. I'm showing you EXACTLY what you have down to the last detail, and I'm the wrong one.

I found this one on FB Marketplace - he's apparently liquidating the contents of a studio he owns, and the bass is just one of many items. Maybe he'll find some poor sucker to overpay for it.
 
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#14
friskinator said:
Yeah, I sent him that link and told him to scroll to the bottom. Who knows if he even read it. He responded and said "I've owned this since 1997...There is NO Made in India sticker on it nor is it embossed on it anywhere..." Ok, dude. I'm showing you EXACTLY what you have down to the last detail, and I'm the wrong one.

I found this one on FB Marketplace - he's apparently liquidating the contents of a studio he owns, and the bass is just one of many items. Maybe he'll find some poor sucker to overpay for it.
Click to expand...

Like... there's no sticker or embossing of "made in the USA" either and given that that by itself can be a selling point for a lot of people, Fender would definitely be sure to add that (like they clearly did on the USA Strat)

Good on you for not being a poor sucker. Hope there's not one and it collects dust.
 
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#15
ConfoundedBridg said:
Like... there's no sticker or embossing of "made in the USA either" and given that, that by itself can be a selling point for a lot of people, Fender would definitely be sure to add that (like they clearly did on the USA Strat)

Good on you for not being a poor sucker. Hope there's not one and it collects dust.
Click to expand...

I didn't even point that out to him, but it wouldn't have mattered. That's a $300 bass at most, and he's asking over twice that. He can keep it.
 
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#20
friskinator said:
From the link:

"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."

That's exactly what this bass has, as shown in the pics. I stopped debating the guy and told him "good luck with the sale." He's decided what he has, and it seems no one is going to convince him otherwise.
Click to expand...
Ya done the right thing.
 

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