Fender Guitar Serial Numbers By Year

How To Check The Date Of Fender Guitars By Serial Number

If you are wondering "How do I find out what year my Fender guitar was made?", simply reference your serial number using the dating guide below. This Fender guitar serial number lookup details the serial number ranges and prefixes used by Fender during a given year. Note that the serial number style and location of the serial number on the instrument varies over the years. Serial numbers are not always assigned sequentially, especially in earlier decades. Fender serial numbers are a good reference point for the year of production, but are not always the definitive identifying marker. At times the neck, body and/or electronic component dates will need to be used to identify the year of your instrument.

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Locating the serial number on your Fender guitar

Fender serial numbers are located in a few different locations depending on the year of manufacture. Here is a simple guide:

How to read the date of your Fender guitar serial number

Once you have located your serial number, reference the tables below. Be sure to match both the style of serial number and the physical location of the serial number on your instrument to our reference list to ensure accuracy.

Fender Serial Number Lookup Guide

1950 to 1954 Fender Bridge Plate Serial Numbers

Serial numbers in this era are unique to the model, so some repetition occurs across models before Fender switches to a universal neck plate serial number system in 1954. Bridge plates were stamped and assigned at random. Some Precision Bass plates are not used up until 1955.

Models: Broadcaster, Esquire, Nocaster, Telecaster

Models: Precision Bass

1954 Fender Stratocaster Backplate Serial Numbers

Serial numbers for early Stratocaster production during the first half of 1954 are located on the white plastic backplate that covers the tremolo spring cavity. It is quite rare to find a Stratocaster with this serial number placement.

Models: Stratocaster

1954 to 1963 Fender Neck Plate Serial Numbers

During 1954, Fender adopts a universal serial number system and standardizes the location of the serial number on the instrument's neck plate. Neck plates are number stamped in batches and assigned to instruments at random. From 1957-1958 some serial numbers have a "-" or "0" prefix. From 1959-1960 some serial numbers are located at the bottom of the plate as opposed to the top. There are also rare instances where a plate has a serial number stamped on both the front and back sides.

Models: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Esquire, Precision Bass (Starting in 1955), Jazzmaster (Introduced 1958), Jazz Bass (Introduced 1960), Jaguar (Introduced 1962)

1963 to 1965 Fender L-Series Neck Plate Serial Numbers

During this era, serial numbers have an "L" prefix and are still located on the neck plate for all instruments. This era is generally referred to as Pre-CBS, as CBS purchases Fender in 1965. Serial numbers are assigned randomly and not necessariy sequential during this time.

Models: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Esquire, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Precision Bass, Jazz Bass

1965 to 1976 Fender F-Series Neck Plate Serial Numbers

Beginning in late 1965, Fender neck plates have a large script "F" below the serial number. There are no letter prefixes before the serial number. This period is generally referred to as the CBS Era, due to CBS taking ownership of Fender during 1965.

Models: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Esquire, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Precision Bass, Jazz Bass & More

1976 to 1981 Fender Headstock Serial Numbers Without Letter Prefix

Beginning in mid-1976, Fender moves the serial number location from the neck plate to the headstock face. Early headstock serial numbers have no letter prefix, and number ranges span multiple years.

1976 to 2000 Fender Serial Numbers with "S", "E", or "N" Prefix

Beginning in mid to late 1976, Fender uses a letter prefix system that spans the next few decades. Loosely, an "S" letter prefix denotes 1970s production, an "E" prefix denotes 1980s production, and an "N" prefix denotes 1990s production. During this era, these serial numbers are mostly found on the headstock and indicate instruments manufactured in the USA. Note that the table below does not apply to "Made In Japan" or "Crafted In Japan" instruments with an "S", "E" or "N" prefix, those serial numbers are covered later in this article.

2000 to 2009 Fender Serial Numbers with "Z" or "DZ" Prefix

Starting with the year 2000 Fender serial numbers begin with a "Z" or "DZ" prefix, the letter Z indicating the 2000-2009 decade. Generally the first number following the "Z" denotes which year of the 2000s the instrument was built during. For example, Z1 or DZ1 would denote 2001. Instruments serialized with a "DZ" prefix are generally part of the American Deluxe Series, while "Z" prefixes denote American Standard Series or normal USA Production models. Serial numbers during this era are mostly found on the back of the headstock and indicate manufacture in the USA.

2010 to Present Fender Serial Numbers with "US" Prefix

Starting in the year 2010, Fender began serializing USA Production instruments with a "US" prefix. Generally speaking the two digits immediately after "US" are the year. For example, US10 would denote USA production in 2010, while US23 would denote US production in 2023. Note that in early 2010, as Fender transitioned from the "Z" prefix serial numbers used in 2009, some 2010 models had no letter prefix at all, but were serialized simply with "10" at the beginning indicating 2010 production. Also note that while an instrument was in production and serialized during a given year, it's possible the instrument was not completed or shipped until the following year. For example, a US15 serial from 2015 could have been completed and shipped in early 2016.

1990 to Present Fender Serial Numbers with "MN", "MZ" or "MX" Prefix Made In Mexico

In 1990, Fender began producing instruments in Ensenada, Mexico. Their partner for the facility in Mexico was Fujigen, the manufacturer of Fender instruments in Japan. Serial numbers for instruments manufactured in Mexico roughly follow the US production serial numbers listed above, but have an "M" added to the beginning. For example, an "MN" serial prefix would indication Mexico production in the 90s the same way an "N" prefix indicates USA production in the 90s. And like USA production, the next number indicates the year, such as "MN5" for Mexico 1995 or "MZ5" for Mexico 2005. In 2010 when Fender USA production serials switch to the "US" prefix (plus two digits for the year), Mexico production begins using an "MX" prefix which is still in use today. For example, "MX15" would indicate Mexico production in 2015.

1982 to 1997 Fender Serial Numbers Made In Japan

In 1982 Fender entered into an agreement to have Fujigen manufacture Fender-branded instruments in Japan. Fujigen was already well-known for the Greco brand, and for their high-quality replicas of iconic vintage Fender instruments. From 1982 until 1997, these instruments are labeled specifically "Made In Japan" (MIJ) and serialized with a letter prefix. This era is not to be confused with the later era of "Crafted In Japan" (CIJ) instruments, where letter prefixes are reused.

1997 to 2008 Fender Serial Numbers Crafted In Japan

In 1997, Fender instruments produced in Japan began carrying a "Crafted In Japan" (CIJ) label, as opposed to the earlier "Made In Japan" label. Serial numbers during this era still have a letter prefix. However, as letters are reused from the previous MIJ era, it's important to note the distinction between "Crafted In Japan" and "Made In Japan" labels when dating your instrument.

2007 to 2011 Fender Serial Numbers Made In Japan with "T" or "U" Prefix

In 2007, Fender again began using a "Made In Japan" label on instruments produced in Japan. Both "Made In Japan" and "Crafted In Japan" labels are found during 2007-2008 production with "T" serial number prefixes. Note that "T" and "U" prefixes plus "Made In Japan" labels are used both in 1990s and 2000s production, so further identification such as neck, body or electronic component dates may be required to accurately date your instrument. Also note that while the "U" prefix denotes 2010-2011 production, some models built in 2010-2011 have a "T" prefix still such as the Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, 70s Precision Bass, Jaguar Bass & Pawn Shop models.