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The most important thing to keep in mind when dating a Fender is the highly modular nature of the designs. Like Henry Ford, part of Leo Fender's genius was in optimizing the company's production efficiency. His guitars were built en masse by an entire factory, not a single luthier toiling over one instrument at a time. Features like bolt-on necks and pickups wired into the pickguard all helped the Fender factory churn out guitar after guitar, day after day. This also means that various parts used on a particular guitar may have come from different points in time, so no single number can absolutely define when the instrument was built. Instead, the best approach to dating a Fender is to combine indicators from the design of the instrument, the dates found on the neck and body, along with the serial number. Once you have the information you need, if you're interested in selling your Fender, you can use Reverb to get it in front of the largest audience of musicians in the world Design Changes and Features Perhaps the best place to start when dating your Fender is to get an approximate idea of the era based on the instrument's design and components.
This can be a tall order for someone less versed in guitar history, but we do have some resources here on Reverb to help you out. For starters, there's the Reverb Price Guide which has thousands of entries with pictures and details on various guitars and other gear. Some browsing around the can definitely help you find which model you have. We also have some other blog posts related to Fender that can hopefully be of some help.
There's and that follows the evolution of the most popular Fender guitar of all. Similarly, take a look at for general timeline of the history of everyone's favorite offset guitar. For Fender during the turning point era of the mid-'60s, check out Body and Neck Dates Through much of Fender's production history, Fender workers would print or write a production date on both bodies and necks where the two pieces meet. These dates will tell when the original part was manufactured, but are not exact indicators of when the guitar was actually put together and finished.
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Here is what the neck date and body date look like from a 1952 Telecaster: If you're not comfortable removing the neck of a guitar to peek at the date marker, I encourage you to take it to a local tech or luthier. I will also mention briefly pot-codes as a resource (numbers on the internal potentiometers of the guitar). These can definitely be useful in cases where no other numbers exist, but just tell when the pot itself was made. Who knows how long it was waiting in the Fender factory before finding its way into a Tele? Serial Numbers Like the body and neck dates, using serial numbers to date a Fender is not a sure bet. At many points in Fender's history, serial number usage overlapped again owing to the modular manner of production. Below we'll go into detail about the various serial number schemes employed by Fender as far back as 1950.
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There are certainly plenty of exceptions, so again, using serial numbers in conjunction with other dating methods is always the best bet. Click on the links here to jump directly to the serial number style that matches your instrument:.
The Early Years: 1950 - 1954 In the early years, Fender serial numbers schemes were specific to the model. Esquires, Broadcasters and Telecasters shared a serial number sequence, while the landmark Precision Bass had its own system. In this early period, the serial number can be found on the bridge of the instrument (see image). Here are the rough serial number ranges for the early Esquires and Telecasters. 161 to 357 1951 299 to 619 1952 0001 to 0160 1952 0161 to 0470 1951 - 1952 0475 to 0840 1952 - 1953 0848 to 1897 1953 - 1954 Also, for the first half or so of 1954, the inaugural run of Stratocasters had a distinct number sequence all under number 6000. Classic Serial Numbers - 1954 - 1963 By mid-1954, Fender began using a universal serial number sequence for all its instruments. At this time, the location of the serial number also shifted from the bridge to the neckplate (the metal plate located on back of where the neck meets the body).
Here's how the serial numbers break down from 1954 to the beginning of 1963, though there are some areas of inconsistency in this era. 0L00001 to L L20000 to L L59000 to L F Series - CBS Era 1965 - 1976 After the CBS purchase of Fender in 1965, the factory switched to a new serial sequence with numbers that continued the same general format used prior to the takeover.
These are generally referred to as F series due the large Fender branded F on the neckplates of the era. This period also saw a switch from the orginal four-bolt neckplate of the '60s to a three-bolt neckplate in just one example of cost-saving costs introduced under CBS. 100000 to 110000 late 1965 110000 to 2 200000 to 2 210000 to 2 250000 to 2 280000 to 3 300000 to 3 340000 to 3 370000 to 5 500000 to 5 580000 to 6 690000 to 7 Post 1976 Starting in 1976, Fender transitioned to a new serial number scheme and moved the placement of most serial numbers to the headstock of the instrument. Depending on the era and model, the number can be found on either the front or back of the headstock.
After a short period of overlap with the old system, the post-76 numbers will start with a letter that indicates the decade, followed by a number that indicates the year of that decade. The decade letter codes break down like this: S = 1970s, E = 1980s, N = 1990s, Z = 2000s. In the 2000s, you'll also see serials starting with a DZ which indicates the Deluxe series, but the format is otherwise the same. For example, a serial number with N4 would be from 1994. One starting with Z5 would be from 2005. This scheme is not 100% consistent due to a number of production factors, such as Fender producing more serialized decals than needed in a given year.
This is particularly pronounced in the transitional period of the mid-'80s, though the system has been pretty much on point since about 1990. After 2009, the letter changed to a format starting with US then two digits that tell the year of the current decade. Here's the breakdown of Post-1976 American-made Fender serials.
Fender Japan serial numbers can usually be found on the back of the neck near the neck joint. Though examples also exist with the number on the headstock or the neck-plate in the case of certain early reissue models. Up until 1997, the serial was paired with the words 'Made in Japan.' In 1982, Fender expanded operations with a series of instruments produced in Japan by the Fuji Gen Gakki company. Like the US serial numbers, MIJ (made in Japan) serials start with a letter or pair of letters that indicate the rough year of production. This system, however, is notoriously inconsistent and incomplete, which makes dating by serial number even less reliable for MIJ Fenders.
Here's a breakdown of serials for the 'Made in Japan' era. K + 6 digits 1990 - 1991 L + 6 digits 1991 - 1992 M + 6 digits 1992 - 1993 N + 6 digits 1993 - 1994 O + 6 digits 1993 - 1994 P + 6 digits 1993 - 1994 Q + 6 digits 1993 - 1994 S + 6 digits 1994 - 1995 T + 6 digits 1994 - 1995 U + 6 digits 1995 - 1996 N + 5 digits 1995 - 1996 V + 6 digits 1996 - 1997 Crafted in Japan Serial Numbers In 1997, Fender changed the 'Made in Japan' decal to say 'Crafted in Japan.' There is some overlap with the earlier 'MIJ' serials, so it's important to note if your instrument carries the 'Made in Japan' or 'Crafted in Japan' decal. MZ3 + 5 or 6 digits 2003 MZ4 + 5 or 6 digits 2004 MZ5 + 5 or 6 digits 2005 MZ6 + 5 or 6 digits 2006 MZ7 + 5 or 6 digits 2007 MZ8 + 5 or 6 digits 2008 MZ9 + 5 or 6 digits 2009 MX10 + 6 digits 2010 MX11 + 6 digits 2011 MX12 + 6 digits 2012 MX13 + 6 digits 2013 MX14 + 6 digits 2014 Exceptions There are a number of exceptions to all these serial number schemes. As mentioned above, many reissue models use serial numbers that don't really correlate to their age.
Additionally, there have been plenty of artist models, limited editions and other rare models that use a unique serial number. Examples include the 35th anniversary series, many of the uniquely finished Strats from the early '80s, as well as various export-specific models which carry a serial number starting with FN. Again, the serial number alone in any of these cases is not definitive and the best approach is to combine that with other methods like the neck and body dates, as well as just the features of the specific instrument.
If you have any questions as to what Fender you're dealing with, I encourage you to seek out a local guitar shop or luthier to help figure it out.
Superior Music - Fender American Guitar Dates DATING YOUR U S A MADE FENDER ELECTRIC STRINGED Guitar for your Japanese or Mexican Fender Guitar serial number For most of Fender's U. Instrument production history, production dates have been applied to various components. Production dates have been penciled or stamped on the butt end of the heel of the neck of most guitars and basses. There were periods of time when this was not consistently done, (between 1973 and 1981), and there are certainly other examples of short periods of time, and individual pieces, where the dating was simply omitted. Neck dating is useful in determining the age of a guitar, but is not definite.
The neck date simply refers to the date that the neck was produced. Given the modular nature of Fender's production techniques, a neck may have been produced in one year, placed in a warehouse and remained in stock for a period of time, and then subsequently paired with a body to create a complete guitar in the following year. So, obviously a neck date, while being helpful in providing a date range of production, cannot be a definitive reference. While there have been periods where dramatic changes have occurred, for example: the transition periods between Leo's Fender and the CBS years, as well as the transition between CBS' Fender and the current ownership, generally speaking, most models are feature specific and do not change from year to year.
Serial numbers are also helpful in determining the year of production of a given instrument. Serial numbers have been used in various locations on Fender instruments through the years.
They have been placed at the top of the neck plate, on the front of the headstock, on the back of the headstock, and on the back of the neck near where the neck bolts onto the body. They were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate (early '50s Strats), and on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles on some Telecasters. But due to the modular nature of Fender's production methods, and the fact that most serial numbers schemes are not sequential and usually overlap from between 2 to 4 years, (from the early days of Fender, through to the mid 1980s), dating by the serial number is not an exact science. DATING YOUR GUITAR The following chart details the Fender serial number schemes used from 1950 to 1964. There is quite a bit of overlap of numbers and years.
The only way to try to narrow the date range of your specific instrument would be to remove the neck and check the butt end of the heel of the neck for a production date, which may be stamped or written there. (If you are not comfortable performing this operation, please use an experienced professional guitar tech in your area or bring it to Superior Music).
SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES Up to 6000 1950 to 1954 Up to 10,000 1954 to 1956 10,000s 1955 to 1956 10,000s to 20,000s 1957 20,000s to 30,000s 1958 30,000s to 40,000s 1959 40,000s to 50,000s 1960 50,000s to 70,000s 1961 60,000s to 90,000s 1962 80,000s to 90,000s 1963 90,000s up to L10,000s 1963 L10,000s up to L20,000s 1963 L20,000s up to L50,000s 1964 In January of 1965, Fender was sold to the CBS Corporation. The serial numbers do not immediately reflect the change, as CBS continued to make instruments using existing, tooling, parts, and serial number schemes. The following chart details the Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. There is quite a bit of overlap of both numbers and years. L50,000s up to L90,000s 1965 100,000s 1965 100,000s to 200,000s 1966 to 1967 200,000s 1968 200,000s to 300,000s 1969 to 1970 300,000s 1971 to 1972 300,000s to 500,000s 1973 400,000s to 500,000s 1974 to 1975 500,000s to 700,000s 1976 The following charts detail the most common Fender serial number schemes used from 1976 to the present.
There is quite a bit of overlap of both numbers and years. The only way to try to narrow the date range of your specific instrument would be to remove the neck and check the butt end of the heel of the neck for a production date, which may be stamped or written there. (If you are not comfortable performing this operation, please use an experienced professional guitar tech in your area or bring it to Superior Music). Please note the introduction of the 'S' prefix serial numbers. The 'S', stood for decade of the 1970s, and began CBS' attempt to use serial numbers to identify the year of production for the piece. The 'E', stood for the decade of the 1980s and was, as shown below, introduced in 1979. As you can see by the overlaps of numbers and years, the reference to the actual production date is rather loose.
SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES 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 1982 - U.S. Vintage Series instruments introduced, and 'V' prefix serial numbers used.
The only way to definitively date the U.S. 'V' prefix serial numbered instruments, is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the heel of the neck for a production date, which may be stamped or written there.
EI + 5 DIGITS E2 + 5 DIGITS E3 + 5 DIGITS V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1982 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) E2 + 5 DIGITS E3 + 5 DIGITS V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1983 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) E3 + 5 DIGITS E4 + 5 DIGITS V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1984 (For U.S.
Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) In March of 1985, the CBS Corporation sold Fender to a group of private investors. The serial numbers do not reflect the change, as Fender continued to make instruments using existing tooling, parts, and serial number schemes. E3 + 5 DIGITS E4 + 5 DIGITS V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1985 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1986 (For U.S.
Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) E4 + 5 DIGITS V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1987 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) E4 + 5 DIGITS E8 + 5 DIGITS V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1988 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) E8 + 5 DIGITS E9 + 5 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1989 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 1990 introduced the 'N' prefix serial numbers, which stood for the 1990s.
The numbers and decals are produced far in advance, and apparently, some N9 decals, (which were supposed to be used in 1999), were affixed to some instruments in 1990. As a result, you will see some 1990 guitars bearing N9 serial numbers E9 + 5 DIGITS N9 + 5 DIGITS N0 + 5 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1990 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) N0 + 5 DIGITS N1 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1991 N1 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1992 N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S.
Vintage Series) 1993 N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1994 N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1995 N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1996 N6 + 6 or 6 DIGITS N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1997 N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S.
Vintage Series) 1998 N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N9 + 5 or 6 DIGITS V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series, except '52 Tele) 1999 Year 2000 introduced the 'Z' prefix serial numbers on US made guitars, which stood for the 0 of the new millennium. A Z0 prefix dates to 2000, a Z1 prefix dates to 2001 etcetera. The American Deluxe Series use the same dating code but add a 'D' in front of the 'Z', i.e.
DZ1, DZ2 etcetera. 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 Z1 + 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 Z5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS Z6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS DZ6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS (Am. Deluxe) V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) XN6 + 4 Digits 2006 Z6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS Z7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS DZ7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS (Am. Deluxe) V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) XN7 + 4 Digits 2007 Z7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS Z8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS DZ8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS (Am.
Deluxe) V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) XN8 + 4 Digits 2008 Z8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS Z9 + 5 or 6 DIGITS DZ9 + 5 or 6 DIGITS (Am. Deluxe) V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (American Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) XN9 + 4 Digits 2009 US10 + 6 DIGITS 2010 US11 + 6 DIGITS 2011 US12 + 6 DIGITS 2012 US13 + 6 DIGITS 2013 US14 + 6 DIGITS 2014 US15 + 6 DIGITS 2015 US16 + 6 DIGITS 2016 The following serial numbers are somewhat outside the more, well known Fender serial number schemes. If you have what you consider to be a somewhat 'odd' serial number, please check the following chart to see if you find your serial number configuration here. This chart contains ODD SERIAL NUMBERS NUMBER DESCRIPTION AMXN + 6 DIGITS California Series electric guitars and basses, '97 and '98 DN + 6 DIGITS American Deluxe series instruments, '98 and '99 NC(XXXXXX) Squier Strat Bullets (dating unclear) FN(XXXXXX) US made guitars and basses destined for the export market. Some may have stayed in the U.S or found their way back (Made to Standard Strat specs, dating unclear) I(XXXXXXX) A limited number of these 'I' series guitars were made in '89 and '90.
They were made for the export market and have Made in USA stamped on the heel of the neck. LE(XXXXXX) Blonde Jazzmasters and Jaguars with Gold hardware made in 1994.
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