Fender Serial Numbers

Although a serial number is useful for roughly determining the age of a guitar, this is often not the exact date. As a result of the overlap between years, Fender serial numbers are also not by definition chronological.
In the past (before 1976) the serial numbers were often randomly assigned.
Most specifications for a particular Fender guitar have hardly changed, if at all. Although there have been times when major changes have taken place, such as the acquisition of Fender by CBS, and the transition from CBS Fender to the current owner (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation), most models have generally not changed.

Neck heel date
In order to approximate guitars from before 1976 to the correct year of manufacture, the date or serial number on the neck heel must therefore be inspected. Usually there is a production date stamped or written on the tip of the heel. In order to be able to read this, the neck will have to be screwed off the body.

Until about April 1962, the dates on the neck end were handwritten. Then switched to stamped dates. Both the handwritten and the stamped date were usually coded.
This code precedes the date and is a number between 1 and 28 which indicates for which model the neck was made. Contrary to what some assume, this is not the day date.

At Stratocasters from the early fifties, the serial numbers were stamped on the back of the vibrato cover plate. On some Telecasters at the bridge between the pick-up and the saddles.

Patent numbers
Various patent numbers were added to the models between 1960 and 1977. These were stamped in the headstock under the Fender logo.

Example:
PAT, 2,573,254 2,968,204 3,143,028 2,976,755 DES 187304

2,573,254 for pickup and bridge combination.
2,968,204 for the single coil pickup patent awarded in 1961 under other for Jaguar, Stratocaster, Duosonic.
3,143,028 the patent granted in August 1964 for Fender’s adjustable neck construction.
2,976,755 for the split coil pickup design. (Used since 1957 to the Precision Bass)

The DES is the serial number.

Esquires, Broadcasters and Telecasters 1950-1954
The serial numbering for these three models can be found on the bridge plate and lasted until the beginning of 1954.
Fender then switched to a serial numbering on the neck plate for all models in that year.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
0001 – 0999	1950 – 1952
1000 – 5300	1952 – 1954

Precision Basses 1951-1955
There is some overlap of the serial numbers and dates. The serial number was applied to the bridge plate until 1955. Although Fender had already in 1954 switched to be placed the serial number on the headstock for all models, it was still punched on the bridge plate with some Precison’s.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
100 – 400	1951 – 1952
0001 – 0999	1952 – 1954
1000 – 2000	1953 – 1955

All models

The table below shows the Fender serial numbers as they were used from 1950 to 1964.
The following table shows the most common Fender serial numbers from 1976 to the present.
The serial numbers are basically chronological, but as already mentioned, due to Fender’s numbering methods, there are a number of serial numbers and years that overlap.
The only way to try to find the date is to remove the neck from the body. If the year is unreadable, it can also be written on the body under the pickguard or in the cavity in which the pickups are.

With Fenders from before 1955 you cannot use the serial numbers to determine the exact year of construction. The first Telecasters and Stratocasters appear to have a separate numbering.
With Telecasters it can happen that a ’52er has a higher number than a ’53er. The serial numbers from after 1955 have a logical order.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
Until 6000	1950 – 1954
Until 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 CBS Corporation.
Although that is not directly attributable to the serial numbers.
CBS continued to make the guitars using the available, Community, parts, and the serial numbering system. The following table shows the serial numbers as they were used from 1965 to 1976.

Here too there are a number of numbers and years that overlap.

The serial numbers can give a rough indication of the year of construction.

The letter L followed by 6 numbers on the neckplate indicates a guitar from the early sixties. The large Fender logo “F” says that the guitar was made after the acquisition by CBS, i.e. from the mid to late 1960s.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
L00001 – L19999 (neckplate)	1963
L00001 – L19999 (neckplate)	1964
L59000 – L99999 (neckplate)	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
J	Japan
K	Korea
L	Korea
MC	China
MR	China [Korea to 2004]
O	Korea
P	Korea
R	Korea
QG	China
S	Korea
SI	Indonesia
SJ	China
SM	Korea
T	Japan
U	Korea
UC	China
Z	China

The following table shows the most common Fender serial numbers from 1976 to the present.
Note the introduction of the letter prefix to the serial numbers.
The S stands for the decade of the seventies, an attempt by CBS to identify serial numbers every year of production. The E stands for the decade of the eighties and was used for the first time in 1979.

But here too there were a number of overlaps and the reference to the correct production date is sometimes vague.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
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 entered with the V as the serial number prefix.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
E1 + 5 digits E2 + 5 digits E3 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1982 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E2 + 5 digits E3 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1983 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E3 + 5 digits E4 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1984 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)

In March 1985, CBS Corporation Fender was sold to a group of private investors led by William Schultz. The company was given the current name; Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

The transition to the new owners cannot be deduced from the serial numbers, because the numbering remained the same.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
E3 + 5 digits E4 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1985 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1986 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E4 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1987 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E4 + 5 digits E8 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1988 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E8 + 5 digits E9 + 5 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1989 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)

To date American Vintage Series with the prefix ‘V‘ serial numbers correctly, the neck of the body must be unscrewed. The production date is stamped or written on the end of the neck heel.

In 1990, the N came as prefix for the serial numbers, and stands for the nineties. The numbers and stickers were produced far in advance.
Due to a factory fault, N9 stickers (intended for use in 1999) were affixed in 1990 to a number of instruments built in that year.
As a result, you will come across a number of guitars built in 1990 with an N9 serial number. The guitars from 1990 have the serial number on the front of the headstock. Fender moved the serial number to the back of the headstock in 1996.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
N9 + 5 digits N0 + 5 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1990 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
N1 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1991
N1 + 5 or 6 digits N2 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1992
N3 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1993
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1994
N4 + 5 or 6 digits N5 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1995
N6 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1996
N6 + 6 or 6 digits N7 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’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 excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1999

The Z for the digits was added in 2000.
The Z0 prefix dates from 2000, the Z1 from 2001, etc. The U.S. Deluxe Series have the same standard but with the addition of a D for the Z, e.g. DZ1, DZ2 etc.

But here too there are overlaps of numbers and years.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’52 Telecaster) XN5 + 4 digits	2005
10 + 7 digits (Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster, which uses a five-digit number)	End 2009 – March 2010
US + 8 digits (Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster, which uses a five-digit number) First two digits of the number identify the year of manufacture.	Starting March 2010
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 excluded ’52 Telecasters)	1999

The following serial numbers are somewhat outside the familiar Fender numbering.

If in doubt about an odd serial number, check the table below to see if you can find the letter number combination here.

SERIAL	DESCRIPTION
AMXN + 6 digits	California Series electric guitars and basses, ’97 and ’98 (Made in USA and Mexico)
DN + 6 digits	American Deluxe serie instruments, ’98 and ’99
NC + 6 digits	Squier Strat Bullets (see Squier serials)
FN + 6 digits	US-made guitars and basses destined for export. Some are not exported or sent back.
I + 7 digits	A limited number of these I-Series were made in ’89 and ’90. Made for the export market and have ‘Made in USA’ stamped on the heel of the neck.
LE + 6 digits	Blonde Jazzmasters and Jaguars made in 1994. Sold as a promotional 3 piece set with 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 from 1981, CB(5 digits) Gold Jazz Bass from 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 digits SZ + 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 thousands] 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 about. 1980, (Gold hardware, 2 position rotary tone switch)
4 digits stamped on bridge plate	U.S. ’52 Vintage Telecaster 1982-1988 (Check neck for specific year)
5 digits stamped on bridge plate	U.S. ’52 Vintage Telecaster 1988-present (Check neck for specific year)
T + 6 digits	Tribute series instruments
C + 6 digits	Collectors Series
XN + 5 digits	FSRs and ’52 Telecasters

PREFIX 10 OR US
At the end of 2009 a new 9 digit serial number format was introduced. This format is prefixed with the number 10 (which stands for the second decade of 2000) followed by 7 digits.
In March 2010 this format was again replaced by an 8 digit with the prefix two letters. The two letters indicate the production location, the first two numbers the production year. The last numbers are random and provide no further information.

JAPAN

Fender guitars produced in Japan have the serial number on the back of the neck, near the attachment to the body.
In some reissue models it can be found on the headstock or the neck plate. The combination of the text “Made in Japan” and the serial number was used until 1997.

Fender increased its production in March, 1982 by having the Japan-based company Fuji Gen Gakki also build instruments.
The MIJ (Made In Japan) guitars start with a letter or a few letters indicating 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 inaccurately, the dating of MIJ guitars is questionable.Because this letter system was applied inaccurately, the dating of MIJ guitars is doubtful.

In 1997 the sticker “Made in Japan” was replace by “Crafted in Japan”. There are overlaps of “CIJ” (Crafted in Japan) with the “MIJ” models, so pay attention to whether the instrument is labeled “Made in Japan” or “Crafted in Japan”.

Made in Japan

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
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

Crafted in Japan

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
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 marking was switched back to “Made in Japan“. However, both stickers were used for a few years.
The serial numbers have continued since this cover 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 letter M and can be found on the headstock.
Some exceptions include special editions and signature models, and the American/Mexican-made California series whose serial numbers begin with AMXN.

The MIM serial number system is quite simple.
The Mexican Fenders made in the 1990s have the serial number starting with MN followed by a number indicating the year of the decade. The M stands for Mexico and the N for nineties.
Guitars made from the 2000s follow the same system, but start with MZ. The Z here indicates the 2000 decade. And for the 2010s the prefix is MX1.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
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 of 6 digits	2002
MZ3 + 5 of 6 digits	2003
MZ4 + 5 of 6 digits	2004
MZ5 + 5 of 6 digits	2005
MZ6 + 5 of 6 digits	2006
MZ7 + 5 of 6 digits	2007
MZ8 + 5 of 6 digits	2008
MZ9 + 5 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 both with and without letter prefix. In addition, the serial numbers were used randomly during this period and correct dating is uncertain.

There is also no much information about the serial numbers from 1993 to 1998. Some have letter prefix CN or CV.

From 1997 onwards, serial numbers have the prefix KC followed by eight digits, the first two digits of which indicate the year of manufacture. KC stands for Korean Cor-Tek factory.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
6, 7 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
MX16 + 6 digits	2016
MX17 + 6 digits	2017
MX18 + 6 digits	2018
MX19 + 6 digits	2019
MX20 + 6 digits	2020

Fender Logo

If you cannot find a serial number of the guitar (illegible, worn away), you can approximate the antiquity of a electric or semi-acoustic guitar by means of the potentiometers. The code on potentiometers gives information about the manufacturer and the year and week when it was made (See: Dating potentiometers).

The used Fender logo can also be an indication of the period in which the guitar was made. Whether it is an original model or a vintage (the old logos are used there too) depends on your own assessment of the age of the guitar.

Fender has used 3 different logos for guitars. The original logo, also called “spaghetti logo”, the transition logo and the CBS era logo. The spaghetti logo was used in the 1950s and is so named for its thin silver letter with a thin black line. This logo was used in the mid-sixties.

At the end of 1959 a new logo was designed by designer Robert Perine and Leo fender himself. The logo has bold gold letters with a thicker black border. The logo was later named transition logo, because it bridged the period between the thin spaghetti logo and the CBS era. The first guitar to be presented with this new logo was the Jazz Bass in 1960. All new models were given the new logo from that moment.

In 1967 after the takeover of Fender by CBS, the design remained the same but the letters turned black with a gold-colored border.

Dating Pickups Stratocaster, Telecaster and Precision

Another method of determining the guitar’s year of manufacturing is to date the 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 employé who wound the coil (winder). The next digits are the week and the year.

The pickups of Stratocasters, Telecasters and Precisions from the late 1960s to the early 1980s with a date code can be deciphered using the decoder.

Because the pickups were made earlier than the guitar, you have to add about half a year to it for the year of the guitar construction.

Another way to determine the age of a Fender pickup is to measure its ohmic resistance (impedance).

The impedance values are based on the average measured values of the pickups from the relevant year.

The specifications in the table are courtesy of Seymour Duncan obtained from the data and measurements of numerous remanufactured pickups.

OHM	PRODUCTION YEAR	WIRE OD	INSULATION	TURNS	WINDING	MAGN. POLE	WINDING METHOD
6.37k	1963	0.0028″	Formvar	8319	TL/TG	South	Hand
6.33k	1960	0.0028″	Formvar	8293	TL/TG	South	Hand
6.25k	1964	0.0027″	Formvar/Enamel	7980	TL/TG	South	Hand
6.22k	1962	0.0028″	Formvar	8220	TL/TG	South	Hand
6.20k	1958	0.0028″	Formvar	8350	TL/TG	North	Hand
6.19k	1961	0.0029″	Formvar	8119	TL/TG	South	Hand
6.02k	1957	0.0029″	Formvar	8105	TL/TG	North	Hand
5.98k	1956	0.0029″	Formvar	8012	TL/GL	North	Hand
5.95k	1959	0.0030″	Formvar	7925	TL/GL	North	Hand
5.89k	1955	0.0029″	Formvar	7844	TL/GL	North	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″	Formvar	7956	TL/GL	North	Hand
5.76k	1966	0.0026″	Plain Enamek	7630	TL/GL	South	Machine