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DATING YOUR INSTRUMENT
The following chart details the Fender serial
number schemes used from 1950 to 1964. You will notice that 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).
|
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. You will notice that there is quite a bit of overlap of
both 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 following charts detail the most common
Fender serial number schemes used from 1976 to the present. You will notice that
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).
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 marked the introduction of the U.S.
Vintage Series instruments and the use of the "V" prefix serial numbers. 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.
|
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) |
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.
|
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) |
With 1990 came the introduction of 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.
|
SERIAL NUMBERS |
PRODUCTION DATES |
E9 + 5 DIGITS
N9 + 5 DIGITS
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 DIGITS (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 DIGITS (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 |
With the year 2000 came the introduction of
the "Z" prefix serial numbers on US made instruments, 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 instruments use the same dating convention
but with the addition of a "D" in front of the "Z", i.e. DZ1, DZ2 etcetera. Once
again, and as always, there is typically some overlap and carryover of number
prefixes from year to year.
|
SERIAL NUMBERS |
PRODUCTION DATES |
|
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 |
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. Sold as a
promotional 3 piece set with a Blonde Deluxe Reverb Amp |
CN(XXXXXX)
VN(XXXXXX) |
Korean made Fender/Squier guitars (dating unclear) |
|
CA(XXXXX) |
Gold Strat 1981, 82 and 83 |
|
CB(XXXXX) |
Precision Bass Special from 1981, CB(XXXXX) Gold Jazz Bass from 1982 |
|
CC(XXXXX) |
Walnut Strat 1981-82-83 |
|
CE(XXXXX) |
Precision Bass Special from 1981, Black and Gold Tele from 1981-82 |
CD(XXXXX)
CO(XXXXX) |
Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982 |
|
GO(XXXXX) |
Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982, Gold Strat 1982-83 |
|
D(XXXXXX) |
Jazz Bass from 1982 |
SE(XXXXXX)
SN(XXXXXX)
SZ(XXXXXX) |
Signature Series Instruments
SE8(XXXXX)-'88, SE9(XXXXX)-'89
SN0(XXXXX)-'90,
SN1(XXXXX)-'90, SN2(XXXXX)-'92, etc.
SZ0(XXXXX)-'00, SZ1(XXXXX)-'01, SZ2(XXXXX)-'02, etc. |
|
3 DIGITS OF 500 |
35TH Anniversary Strat from 1989-1990 |
|
G(XXXXXX) |
"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 date for specific year)
|
|
5 DIGITS STAMPED ON BRIDGE PLATE |
U.S. '52 Vintage Telecaster 1988-present (Check neck date for specific year)
|
|
T(XXXXXX) |
Tribute series instruments |
|
C(XXXXXX) |
Collectors Series |
|
XN(XXXXX) |
FSRs and '52 Teles |
|
