• Fender Japan Stratocaster Serial Numbers
• Fender Amp Serial Numbers Decoder

2.0) The Fender serial number decoder currently supports all documented MIA, MIJ, MIM, MIK and MII formats with the exception of Custom Shop, Relic and Reissue instruments. The following chart came from Fender Japan official Homepage (Japanese only) Fender Japan never announced the manufacturers detailed. The OEM contractors for Fender Japan are Fujigen, Dyna, Terada and Tokai. We are sure that JV and E serials are Fujigen made. Early production lot have the serial number on head under Fender logo mark.

Serial #'s DATING YOUR U.S.-MADE FENDER STRINGED INSTRUMENT from For most of Fender’s U.S. Instrument production history, PRODUCTION DATES have been applied to various components.

Most notably, PRODUCTION DATES have been penciled or stamped on the butt end of the heel of the neck of most guitars and basses, although there were periods when this was not consistently done (1973 to 1981, for example) or simply omitted. Neck-dating can be useful in determining the approximate age of a guitar, but it is certainly not definitive because the neck date simply refers to the date that the individual component was produced, rather than the complete instrument. Given the modular nature of Fender production techniques, an individual neck may have been produced in a given year, then stored for a period of time before being paired with a body to create a complete guitar, perhaps, for example, in the following year.

Fender Japan Stratocaster Serial Numbers

Therefore, while helpful in determining a range of PRODUCTION DATES, a neck date is obviously not a precisely definitive reference. Most specifications for a given Fender instrument model change little (if at all) throughout the lifetime of the model. While there have been periods of dramatic change—such as the transition periods between the Leo Fender years and the CBS years or the transition between the CBS years and the current ownership—most models are generally feature-specific and do not change from year to year. SERIAL NUMBERS are also helpful in determining an instrument’s production year. For years, SERIAL NUMBERS have been used in various locations on Fender instruments, such as the top of the neck plate, the front or back of the headstock and the back of the neck near the junction with the body. SERIAL NUMBERS were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate on early ’50s Stratocaster® guitars, and on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles on some Telecaster® guitars. But once again, due to Fender’s modular production methods and often non-sequential serial numbering (usually overlapping two to four years from the early days of Fender to the mid-1980s), dating by serial number is not always precisely definitive.

DATING CHARTS The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1950 to 1964. Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. The only way to try to narrow the date range of your specific instrument is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the neck heel for a production date, which may be stamped or written there (if you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, please refer to an experienced professional guitar tech in your area). SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES Up to 6,000 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 Fender was sold to CBS in January 1965. Serial numbering didn’t change immediately because instruments continued to be made using existing, tooling, parts and serial number schemes. The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES 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 charts below detail the most common Fender serial number schemes from 1976 to the present. Once again, there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. The only way to try to narrow the date range of your specific instrument is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the neck heel for a production date, which may be stamped or written there (if you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, please refer to an experienced professional guitar tech in your area). SERIAL NUMBERS with an “S” prefix denote the 1970s (signifying a CBS attempt to use SERIAL NUMBERS to identify production years); an “E” prefix was introduced in 1979 to denote the 1980s. As seen in the overlap of numbers and years, even these references to actual PRODUCTION DATES are 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 saw the introduction of the U.S.

Vintage Series instruments and “V”-prefix SERIAL NUMBERS. The only way to definitively date U.S. Instruments with “V”-prefix SERIAL NUMBERS is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the neck heel for a production date, which may be stamped or written there. SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES EI + 5 digits E2 + 5 digits E3 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 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 except ’52 Telecaster) 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 except ’52 Telecaster) 1984 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) CBS sold Fender in March 1985.

Serial numbering didn’t change because instruments continued to be made using existing tooling, parts and serial number schemes. SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES E3 + 5 digits E4 + 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1985 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S.

Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 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 except ’52 Telecaster) 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 except ’52 Telecaster) 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 except ’52 Telecaster) 1989 (For U.S.

Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year). NOTE: “N”-prefix SERIAL NUMBERS denoting the 1990s were introduced in 1990. The numbers and decals were produced far in advance, and some N9 decals (denoting 1999) were inadvertently affixed to some instruments in 1990. Ess_nt32_enu. Consequently, some 1990 guitars bear 1999 “N9” SERIAL NUMBERS. SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES N9 + 5 digits see 'N' note N0 + 5 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1990 (For U.S.

Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) N0 + 5 digits N1 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 v (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1991 N1 + 5 or 6 digits N2 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1992 N2 + 5 or 6 digits N3 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1993 N3 + 5 or 6 digits N4 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1994 N4 + 5 or 6 digits N5 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1995 N5 + 5 or 6 digits N6 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1996 N6 + 6 or 6 digits N7 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 v (U.S.

Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1997 N7 + 5 or 6 digits N8 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series) 1998 N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N9 + 5 or 6 digits V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1999 1999 “Z”-prefix SERIAL NUMBERS denoting the new millennium appeared on U.S.-made instruments in 2000. Z0 denotes 2000; Z1 denotes 2001, etc. American Deluxe Series instruments use the same dating convention, but with the addition of a “D” in front of the “Z”; i.e., DZ1, DZ2, etc. As always, there is typically some number prefix overlap and carryover from year to year.

Using Fender Guitar Serial Numbers to determine the date of manufacture. Fender Serial Numbers, 1950 to 2007 (Identifying the Year).

An inexact science to be sure. Dating a Fender guitar with the serial number is a hit or miss propisition. It helps narrow things down, but in most cases is an inexact science. Leo Fender never intended for his guitars to become collectors items. He never invisioned a need to pinpoint the manufacturing date of any of his guitars.

At least not while he was at Fender Musical Instrument Corporation. With that said, and with great help from numerous sources including FMIC, George Gruhn's publications, and A. Duchossoir the following information should help you but it is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. Before 1977 Fender guitars hd a serial number on the bridgeplate or neckplate. Serial numbers are basically chronological, but there is some overlap in some years. Before the later 1970's Fender never expected the guitars to be collectable or for serial numbers to be important. The bridge plate or neckplate were applied to a guitar with no thought to keeping any kind of number sequence.

Fender serial numbers were assigned like this: 1. In the factory, there was a large container with serialized items such as neckplates and bridges. A Fender employee simply reached in and grabbed one (or many) and installed them on the instrument(s) as they worked. As you can see from this over-simplified example, serial number assignment was fairly random. Just keep this in mind. The only truly definitive way to date a pre-CBS fender is to look at all the dates on the instrument (body date, neck date, pot dates).

The serial number can only generalized the age of the instrument within a few years. Fender Esquire, Broadcaster, and Telecaster Serial Numbers 1950 to 1954 (serial number stamped on bridgeplate) This system of serial numbers is unique to these three models until about the early summer of 1954 (when Fender switched to a universal neck plate serial number system for all models): Esquire, Broadcaster and Telecaster, Numbers On Bridge Plate 0001 to 0999 = 1950 to 1952 1000 to 5300 = 1952 to 1954 Serial Numbers for all Fender Guitar Models, from summer 1954 to mid 1976 In mid-1954 Fender changed the location of serial numbers to the neckplate. This was probably done as a cost saving measure. Because different companies did the stamping of the serial numbers on neckplates they vary in location and layout. In 1957/1958 some serial numbers started with a minus sign ('-'), or had a '0' prefix before the number. Also in 1959/1960 some serial numbers were at the bottom of the neck plate instead of the usual top.

Double stamped serial number plates were also produced (number on both front and back of the neck plate) in late 1957 to early 1959. Unfortunately, there is also some overlap in serial numbers between years - again due to the fact that neckplates were re-ordered various times from various manufacturers. 4 to 6 digit Neck Plate Serial Numbers No other letters or markings on the neck plate, except for the rare '-' or '0' prefix, as noted. 0001 to 6000 = 1954 6000 to 9000 = 1955 9000 to 16000 = 1956 16000 to 25000 = 1957 (some numbers with a '0' or '-' prefix) 25000 to 30000 = 1958 (some numbers with a '0' or '-' prefix) 30000 to 40000 = 1959 40000 to 58000 = 1960 55000 to 72000 = 1961 72000 to 93000 = 1962 93000 to 99999 = 1963 L-Series (1963 to late 1965) Called an 'L Plate,' Fender neckplates started showing up with LXXXXX numbers sometime in 1963.

It was an error by the company that produced the neckplate stamping for Fender. Fender was using up their neckplates with numbers under 100,000. So, they ordered neckplates that were supposed to have numbers above 100,000. But the stamper misread the order and thought that the number '1' was an 'L' and so instead of plates starting with 100,000 they started with L00,000. Fender demanded corrected neckplates immediately.

But it took a while to manufacture and number the plates. So, the company just used the L Plates not wanting to let them go to waste. Neckplates with an 'L Plate' are considered a Pre-CBS Fender (even though the CBS corporation bought Fender in January 1965). Sometimes an 'L' serial number can be seen as early as late 1962. L00001 to L20000 = 1963 L20000 to L55000 = 1964 L55000 to L99999 = 1965 F-Series (late 1965 to mid-1976) After CBS took over Fender changed the neck plates once again. This time, probably in a corporate branding effort, a large Fender script 'F' was added to the neckplate below the serial number. F Series guitars are generally considered CBS Fenders.

Though most collectors will value all 1965 Fenders similarly to Pre-CBS (the sale was consummated in early February, 1965) 100000 to 110000 = late 1965 110000 to 200000 = 1966 180000 to 210000 = 1967 210000 to 250000 = 1968 250000 to 280000 = 1969 280000 to 300000 = 1970 300000 to 330000 = 1971 330000 to 370000 = 1972 370000 to 520000 = 1973 500000 to 580000 = 1974 580000 to 690000 = 1975 690000 to 750000 = 1976 Serial Number on Peghead Decal. For many reasons, Fender decided to change the serial numbering system and it's location in the mid-1970's. You can imagine that it might have been cheaper to have the serial numbers added to the decals rather than have them machined.

But you can also imagine that there were many times for inventory purposes when suppliers, vendors, and etc. Wanted to be able to see the serial number, and now, the year of production without turning the guitar over. So starting in mid-1976 the serial number was moved to a decal on the peghead. Even with the new system, Fender didn't like to throw away a perfectly good serialized decal just because the year code would be incorrect. So, the information on the peghead could be off as much as two years. Generally speaking, a 'S' prefix equals the 1970's (Seventies), 'E' prefix equals the 1980's (Eighties), and 'N' prefix equals the 1990's (Nineties). Also note: 'E' and 'N' prefix serial numbers were also sometimes also Japanese-made.

In March 1985, CBS sold Fender to a group of private investors made up of the management of the corporation at the time. The serial numbers do not reflect this change - Fender continued to make instruments using existing serial number schemes.

Fender Amp Serial Numbers Decoder

The new Fender (FMIC) did not acquire any physical assets of the old company, just the name 'Fender' and the rights to all products and trademarks. So, without any factories FMIC moved all guitar production during 1985 and early 1986 to Japan, while FMIC built a new factory in Corona, California. The Japanese-made Fenders do have some slight serial number differences (typically a 'J' serial number prefix).