While a serial number is useful for roughly determining a guitar's age, it's often not the exact date. Also, due to the overlap between years, Fender serial numbers are not chronological by definition.
In the past (before 1976) serial numbers were often randomly assigned.
Most specifications for a given Fender guitar have changed little, if at all. Although there were times when major changes took place, such as CBS' acquisition of Fender and CBS Fender's transition to the current owner (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation). ), most models have not changed in general.
Neck-heel date
Therefore, in order to match pre-1976 guitars to the correct year of manufacture, the date or serial number on the neck heel must be checked. Usually a production date is stamped or written at the top of the paragraph to read this, theNeck must be screwedfrom the body.
Until around April 1962, the years at the end of the neck were handwritten. Then they switched to stamped years. Both the handwritten and the stamped date were usually encoded.
This codestands before the date and is a number between 1 and 28 that indicates which model the neck was made for. Contrary to what some assume, this is not the current date.
Early 1950's Stratocasters had serial numbers stamped on the back of the vibrato cover plate. On some Telecasters on the bridge between pickup and saddle.
patent numbers
Various patent numbers were added to the models between 1960 and 1977. These were stamped into the headstock below the Fender logo.
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Example:
PAT, 2,573,254 2,968,204 3,143,028 2,976,755 DES 1873042,573,254 for pickup and bridge combination.
2,968,204 for the single coil pickup patent issued in 1961 for Jaguar, Stratocaster, Duosonic, among others.
3,143,028 Fender's Adjustable Neck Patent, issued August 1964.
2,976,755 for the split coil pickup design. (Used for the Precision Bass since 1957) The DES is the serial number. |
Esquires, Broadcasters und Telecasters 1950-1954
The serial numbers of these three models can be found on the bridge plate and lasted until early 1954.
Fender then switched to a serial number on the neck plate for all models that year. | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | | 0001 - 0999 | 1950 - 1952 | | 1000 - 5300 | 1952 - 1954 | | Precision Basses 1951-1955
There is some overlap in serial numbers and dates. The serial number was placed on the bridge plate until 1955. Although Fender had switched to the headstock on all models as early as 1954, it was still stamped on the bridge plate with some Precison's. | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | | 100 - 400 | 1951 - 1952 | | 0001 - 0999 | 1952-1954 | | 1000 - 2000 | 1953 - 1955 | |
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All types
The table below shows the Fender serial numbers as used from 1950 through 1964.
The table below shows the most common Fender serial numbers from 1976 to present.
The serial numbers are basically chronological, but as mentioned earlier, due to Fender's numbering methods, there are a number of serial numbers and years that overlap.
The only way to find the date is to remove the neck from the body. If the year is illegible, it can also be written on the body under the pickguard or in the recess where the pickups are located. For fenders from before 1955, the exact year of manufacture cannot be determined from the serial numbers. The first Telecaster and Stratocaster appear to have separate numbering.
With telecasters it can happen that a 52 has a higher number than
a 53. The serial numbers from 1955 have a logical order. | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | | Bis 6000 | 1950 - 1954 | | Bis 10000 | 1954 - 1956 | | 10000 | 1955 - 1956 | | 10000 - 20000 | 1957 | | 20000 - 30000 | 1958 | | 30000 - 40000 | 1959 | | 40000 - 50000 | 1960 | | 50000 - 70000 | 1961 | | 60000 - 90000 | 1962 | | 80000 - 90000 | 1963 | | 90000 - L10000 | 1963 | | In January 1965, Fender was acquired by CBS Corporation.
Although this is not directly due to the serial numbers.
CBS continued to make the guitars using available community parts and the serial number system. The table below shows the serial numbers as they were used from 1965 to 1976. Again, there is a set of numbers and years that overlap. The serial numbers can give a rough indication of the year of manufacture. The letterLfollowed by 6 numbers on the neck plate indicates a guitar from the early 1960's. The big Fender logo | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
| L00001 - L19999(neck plate) | 1963 | | L20000 - L58999(neck plate) | 1964 | | L59000 - L99999(neck plate) | 1965 | | 100000 - 109999 | 1965 | | 110000 - 199999 | 1966 | | 200000 - 209999 | 1967 | | 210000 - 249999 | 1968 | | 250000 - 279999 | 1969 | | 280000 - 299999 | 1970 | | 300000 - 339999 | 1971 | | 340000 - 369999 | 1972 | | 370000 - 499999 | 1973 | | 500000 - 519999 | 1973 - 1974 | | 520000 - 579999 | 1974 | | 580000 - 689999 | 1975 | | 690000 - 750000 | 1976 |
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The table below shows the most common Fender serial numbers
from 1976 to today.
Note the introduction of the letter prefix to the serial numbers.
ThatSrepresents the decade of the seventies, an attempt by CBS to identify serial numbers for each year of productionEstands for the decade of the eighties and was first used in 1979. But here, too, there were a number of overlaps and the reference to
The correct production date is sometimes vague. | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | 76 + 5 digits
S6 + 5 digits | 1976 | S7 + 5 digits
S8 + 5 digits
| 1977 | S7 + 5 digits
S8 + 5 digits
S9 + 5 digits
| 1978 | S9 + 5 digits
E0 + 5 digits
| 1979 | S9 + 5 digits
E0 + 5 digits
E1 + 5 digits
| 1980 | S9 + 5 digits
E0 + 5 digits
E1 + 5 digits
| 1981 | |
In 1982 the U.S. Vintage Series with the avas a prefix to the serial number. | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | E1 + 5 digits
E2 + 5 digits
E3 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) |
1982
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | E2 + 5 digits
E3 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) |
1983
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | E3 + 5 digits
E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters)
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1984
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | |
In March 1985, CBS Corporation Fender was sold to a group of private investors led by William Schultz. The company received its current name; Fender Musical Instrument Corporation. The transition to the new owners cannot be deduced from the serial numbers, since the numbering has remained the same. | SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | E3 + 5 digits
E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) |
1985
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | | V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1986
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) |
1987
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | E4 + 5 digits
E8 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5, or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) |
1988
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | E8 + 5 digits
E9 + 5 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) |
1989
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | In order to correctly date American Vintage Series serial numbers with the 'V' prefix, the neck of the body must be unscrewed. The production date is stamped or written at the end of the neck heel. |
1990 became theNcame as a prefix for the serial numbers and stands for the nineties. The numbers and stickers were produced well in advance.
Due to a factory error, 1990 N9 decals (intended for use in 1999) were fitted to a number of instruments built that year.
As a result, you will come across a number of guitars built in 1990 with an N9 serial number. The 1990 guitars have the serial number on the face of the headstock. Fender moved the serial number to the back of the headstock in 1996.
| SERIAL NUMBER | YEAR OF PRODUCTION | N9 + 5 digits
N0 + 5 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1990
(For the US Vintage series, check the date on the neck for a specific year) | N1 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1991 | N1 + 5 or 6 digits
N2 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1992 | N3 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1993 | | V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1994 | N4 + 5 or 6 digits
N5 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1995 | N6 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1996 | N6 + 6 or 6 digits
N7 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1997 | N8 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series) | 1998 | N9 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecasters) | 1999
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ThatZfor the digits was added in 2000.
AZ0Prefix dates from 2000, aZ1from 2001 etc. The US deluxe series has the same standard but with the addition of aDfor theZ, z.B.DZ1,DZ2etc. But here, too, there is an overlap between numbers and years.
| N9 + 5 or 6 digits Z0 + 5 or 6 digits DZ0 + 5 or 6 digits (Am. Deluxe) V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) | 2000 | | Z0 + 5 or 6 digits Z1 + 5 or 6 digits DZ1 + 5 or 6 digits (Am. Deluxe) V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) | 2001 | Z1 + 5 or 6 digits
Z2 + 5 or 6 digits
DZ2 + 5 or 6 digits (Am. Deluxe)
V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) | 2002 | Z2 + 5 or 6 digits
Z3 + 5 or 6 digits
DZ3 + 5 or 6 digits (American Deluxe Series)
V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) | 2003 | Z3 + 5 or 6 digits
Z4 + 5 or 6 digits
DZ4 + 5 or 6 digits (Am. Deluxe)
V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster)
XN4 + 4 digits | 2004 | Z4 + 5 or 6 digits
Z5 + 5 or 6 digits
DZ5 + 5 or 6 digits (Am. Deluxe)
V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster)
XN5 + 4 digits | 2005 | 10 + 7 digits
(vintage series except '52 Telecaster which uses a five digit number) | Late 2009 - March 2010 | US + 8 digits
(vintage series except '52 Telecaster which uses a five digit number)The first two digits of the number indicate the year of manufacture. | From March 2010 |
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The following serial numbers are slightly outside of the familiar Fender numbering. If you are in doubt about an odd serial number, refer to the table below to see if you can find the letter-number combination here. | AMXN + 6 digits | California Series Electric Guitars and Basses, '97 and '98 (made in USA and Mexico) | | DN + 6 digits | American Deluxe Series instruments, '98 and '99 | | NC + 6 digits | Squier Strat balls (cfThe Squier Series) | | FN + 6 digits | Guitars and basses made in the USA intended for export. Some are not exported or returned. | | I + 7 digits | A limited number of themI-Seriewere made in '89 and '90. Manufactured for the export market and stamped 'Made in USA' on the heel of the nape. | | AND + 6 digits | Blonde Jazzmasters and Jaguars, built in 1994. Sold as a 3 piece promotional set featuring a Blonde Deluxe Reverb Amp. | CN + 6 digits
VN + 6 digits | Produced in Korea, Fender/Squier guitars. (dating unclear) | | CA + 5 digits | Gold Strat 1981, '82 and '83 | | CB + 5 digits | Precision Bass Special von 1981, CB(5 digits) Gold Jazz Bass von 1982 | | CC + 5 digits | Walnut Strat 1981, '82 and '83 | | CE + 5 digits | Precision Bass Special from 1981, Black and Gold Telecster from 1981 and 1982 | CD + 5 digits
CO + 5 digits | Precision Bass Special (walnut) from 1982 | | GO + 5 digits | Precision Bass Special (walnut) from 1982, Gold Strat 1982 and 1983 | | D + 6 digits | Jazz bass from 1982 |
SE + 6 digits
SN + 6 digitsSZ + 6 digits | Signature Series instruments
[Eighties] SE8 + 5 digits-'88, SE9 + 5 digits-'89
[Nineties] SN0 + 5 digits-'90, SN1 + 5 digits-'90, SN2 + 5 digits-'92 etc.
[two thousand] SZ0 + 5 digits-'00, SZ1 + 5 digits-'01, SZ2 + 5 digits-'02 etc. | | 3 digits 001-500 | 35th Anniversary Strat from 1989-1990 | | G + 6 digits | "STRAT" from ca. 1980, (gold hardware, rotary tone switch with 2 positions) | | 4 digits stamped on bridge plate | US '52 Vintage Telecaster 1982-1988 (Check Neck for specific year) | | 5 digits stamped on bridge plate | US '52 Vintage Telecaster 1988-Present (Check neck for specific year) | | T + 6 digits | Tribute Series instruments | | C + 6 digits | collector series | | XN + 5 digits | FSRs and '52 Telecasters | |
PREFIX10ORUS
At the end of 2009, a new 9-digit serial number format was introduced. This format is preceded by the number10(which stands for the second decade of the year 2000) followed by 7 digits.
In March 2010, this format was again replaced by an 8-digit with a two-letter prefix. The two letters indicate the place of production, the first two numbers the year of production. The last numbers are random and do not provide any further information.
JAPAN
Fender guitars made in Japan have the serial number on the back of the neck near where it attaches to the body.
On some reissue models it can be found on the headstock or neckstock. The combination of the text "Made in Japan" and the serial number was used until 1997.
Fender increased its production in March 1982 by letting the Japan-based company Fuji Gen Gakki also build instruments.
The MIJ (Made In Japan) guitars begin with one or more letters denoting the year of manufacture. This is the same system as the US serial numbers, however these MIJ serial numbers are less reliable.
Because this letter system was used imprecisely, the dating of MIJ guitars is questionable. Because this letter system was applied imprecisely, the dating of MIJ guitars is in doubt.
In 1997, the "Made in Japan" sticker was replaced with "Crafted in Japan". There is some overlap of "CIJ" (Crafted in Japan) with the "MIJ" models, so check to see if the instrument is marked "Made in Japan". or "Made in Japan".
| SERIES Made in Japan | YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
| JV + 5 digits | 1982 - 1984 | | SQ + 5 digits | 1983 - 1984 | | E + 6 digits | 1984 - 1987 | A + 6 digits
B + 6 digits
C + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 | | F + 6 digits | 1986 - 1987 | | G + 6 digits | 1987 - 1988 | | H + 6 digits | 1988 - 1989 | I + 6 digits
J + 6 digits | 1989 - 1990 | | K + 6 digits | 1990 - 1991 | | L + 6 digits | 1991 - 1992 | | M + 6 digits | 1992 - 1993 | N + 6 digits
O + 6 digits
P + 6 digits
Q + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 | S + 6 digits
T + 6 digits | 1994 - 1995 | U + 6 digits
N + 5 digits | 1995 - 1996 | | V + 6 digits | 1996 - 1997 | | | SERIES Made in Japan | YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
| A + 6 digits | 1997 - 1998 | | O + 6 digits | 1997 - 2000 | | P + 6 digits | 1999 - 2002 | | Q + 6 digits | 2002 - 2004 | | R + 6 digits | 2004 - 2005 | | S + 6 digits | 2006 - 2008 | | T + 6 digits | 2007 - 2008 | |
After 2007, the labeling was switched back to "Made in Japan". However, both stickers were used for a number of years.
Since this cover, the serial numbers have been continued in the same way as with the "CIJ" system.
MEXICO
| In the late 1980s, Fender opened a factory in Ensenada, Mexico, where the first instruments were produced in 1990.
The serial number of the Made in Mexico (MIM) fenders, starting with the letterMand can be found on the headstock.
Some exceptions are special editions and signature models and
the California series made in America/Mexica, whose serial numbers begin withAMXN.The MIM serial number system is quite simple.
Mexican fenders manufactured in the 1990s have the serial number
start withMNfollowed by a number indicating the year of the decadeMstands for Mexico and theNfor nineties.
Guitars from the 2000s follow the same system but start with it
MZ. ThatZhere the decade indicates 2000. And for the 2010s the
prefix isMX1. | | MN0 + 5 of 6 digits | 1990 | | MN1 + 5 of 6 digits | 1991 | | MN2 + 5 of 6 digits | 1992 | | MN3 + 5 of 6 digits | 1993 | | MN4 + 5 of 6 digits | 1994 | | MN5 + 5 of 6 digits | 1995 | | MN6 + 5 of 6 digits | 1996 | | MN7 + 5 of 6 digits | 1997 | | MN8 + 5 of 6 digits | 1998 | | MN9 + 5 of 6 digits | 1999 | | MZ0 + 5 of 6 digits | 2000 | | MZ1 + 5 of 6 digits | 2001 | | MZ2 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2002 | | MZ3 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2003 | | MZ4 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2004 | | MZ5 + 5 of 6 digits | 2005 | | MZ6 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2006 | | MZ7 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2007 | | MZ8 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2008 | | MZ9 + 5 out of 6 digits | 2009 | | MX10 + 6 digits | 2010 | | MX11 + 6 digits | 2011 | | MX12 + 6 digits | 2012 | | MX13 + 6 digits | 2013 | | MX14 + 6 digits | 2014 | | MX15 + 6 digits | 2015 | | MX16 + 6 digits | 2016 | | MX17 + 6 digits | 2017 | | MX18 + 6 digits | 2018 | | MX19 + 6 digits | 2019 | | MX20 + 6 digits | 2020 | |
KOREA
| There is very little information about the Korean serial number from 1988 to 1992. Numbers exist with and without a letter prefix. In addition, the serial numbers were used randomly during this period
and the correct dating is uncertain.It also doesn't give out much information about the serial numbers
1993 to 1998. Some have the letter prefix CN or CV. Beginning in 1997, serial numbers have the prefix KC followed by
eight digits, of which the first two digits indicate the year of manufacture. KC stands for Korean Cor-Tek Factory. | | 6, 7 out of 8 digits | 1988-1996 | CN0 + 5 digits
VN0 + 5 digits | 1990-1991 | CN1 + 5 digits
VN1 + 5 digits
CN2 + 5 digits | 1991-1992 | VN2 + 5 digits
CN3 + 5 digits | 1992-1993 | CN1 + 5 digits
VN3 + 5 digits
CN4 + 5 digits | 1993-1994 | VN4 + 5 digits
CN5 + 5 digits | 1994-1995 | CN1 + 5 digits
VN5 + 5 digits
CN6 + 5 digits | 1995-1996 | | VN6 + 5 digits | 1996-1997 | | KC97 + 6, 7 of 8 digits | 1997-1998 | | KC98 + 6 digits | 1998-1999 | | KC99 + 6 digits | 1999-2000 | | KC00 + 6 digits | 2000-2001 | | KC01 + 6 digits | 2000-2001 | | KC02 + 6 digits | 2001-2003 | | KC03 + 6 digits | 2003-2004 | | KC04 + 6 digits | 2004-2005 | | KC05 + 6 digits | 2005-2006 | | KC06 + 6 digits | 2006-2007 | | KC07 + 6 digits | 2007-2008 | | KC08 + 6 digits | 2008-2009 | | KC09 + 6 digits | 2009-2010 | | KC10 + 6 digits | 2010-2011 | | KC11 + 6 digits | 2011-2012 | | KC12 + 6 digits | 2012-2013 | | KC13 + 6 digits | 2013-2014 | | KC14 + 6 digits | 2014-2015 | |
Fender-Logo
If you can't find a guitar serial number (illegible, worn out), you can use the potentiometers to approximate the age of an electric or semi-acoustic guitar. The code on the potentiometer gives information about the manufacturer and the year and week when it was made.
See:Dating-Potentiometer
The Fender logo used can also be an indication of the time the guitar was made. Whether it is an original model or a vintage (the old logos are used there too) depends on how old the guitar is.
Spaghetti-Logo 1950-1965 |
Transitional logo 1960-1967 |
CBS-Era-Logo 1967- |
Fender used 3 different logos for guitars. The original logo, also known as the "spaghetti logo", the transitional logo, and the CBS-era logo. The spaghetti logo was used in the 1950s and is named for its thin silver letter with a thin black line. This logo was used in the mid-sixties.
In late 1959, a new logo was designed by designers Robert Perine and Leo Fender themselves. The logo has bold gold letters with a thicker black border. The logo was later called a transitional logo because it bridges the time between the thin spaghetti logo and the CBS era. The first guitar presented with this new logo was the Jazz Bass in 1960. All new models received the new logo from that moment on.
In 1967, after CBS acquired Fender, the design remained the same, but the letters became black with a gold-colored border.
Dating pickups Stratocaster, Telecaster and Precision
Another method to determine the year of manufacture of the guitar
is the date of pickups. The date code consists of 3, 4, 5 or 6 digits.
(no letters)The first or first 2 digits is the code of the Fender employee who wound the coil (winder). The next digits are the week and year.
| Late 1960s to early 1980s Stratocasters, Telecasters and Precisions pickups with date code can be decoded with the decoder.
Since the pickups were manufactured earlier than the guitar, you have to add about half a year for the year the guitar was built. The date code consists of only
3, 4, 5 or 6 digits.(no letters)
Example:1489or71494 |
Another way to determine the age of a Fender pickup is to measure its ohmic resistance (impedance).
The impedance values are based on the measured average
Values of collections from the respective year.The specifications in the table were obtained from data and measurements of numerous remanufactured cartridges, courtesy of Seymour Duncan. | | OHM | YEAR | WIRE OF | INSULATION | TURNS | WRAP | MAGN. POLE | WINDING PROCESS | | 6.37k | 1963 | 0,0028" | Formware | 8319 | TL/TG | south | Hand | | 6.33k | 1960 | 0,0028" | Formware | 8293 | TL/TG | south | Hand | | 6,25k | 1964 | 0,0027" | Formvar/Email | 7980 | TL/TG | south | Hand | | 6,22k | 1962 | 0,0028" | Formware | 8220 | TL/TG | south | Hand | | 6,20 k | 1958 | 0,0028" | Formware | 8350 | TL/TG | Norden | Hand | | 6.19k | 1961 | 0,0029" | Formware | 8119 | TL/TG | south | Hand | | 6.02k | 1957 | 0,0029" | Formware | 8105 | TL/TG | Norden | Hand | | 5,98k | 1956 | 0,0029" | Formware | 8012 | TL/GL | Norden | Hand | | 5,95k | 1959 | 0,0030" | Formware | 7925 | TL/GL | Norden | Hand | | 5,89k | 1955 | 0,0029" | Formware | 7844 | TL/GL | Norden | Hand | | 5.88k | 1967 | 0,0027" | Plain Enamel | 7656 | TL/GL | south | machine | | 5.80k | 1965 | 0,0026" | Plain Enamel | 7626 | TL/GL | south | machine | | 5.76k | 1954 | 0,0030" | Formware | 7956 | TL/GL | Norden | Hand | | 5.76k | 1966 | 0,0026" | Plain Enamel | 7630 | TL/GL | south | machine | |
In order to correctly date American Vintage Series serial numbers with the 'V' prefix, the neck of the body must be unscrewed. The production date is stamped or written at the end of the neck heel.
