Fender Serial Number Lookup

Fender serial numbers span many decades, with different code arrangements. Some, are more complex than others, but they all provide some important information to the owner. It’s a practical tool for those who seek to understand the history of their instrument.

This Killer Rig article will guide you through the maze of Fender’s serial numbers. We’ll explore and learn how to decode them.

We have more great serial number decoder tools:

Understanding Fender Serial Numbers

Fender serial numbers, like most others, are a code system that keeps track of the instrument from the day of production to present.

They are a structured system, and one that has improved over time. Understanding this system can offer insights into the origin, age, and model of a Fender guitar.

Where to Find the Serial Number?

Depending on the model and year of manufacturing, the serial number’s placement varies. The headstock, the neck plate, or the bridge plate are typical places.

How Does the Fender Serial Number System Work?

The system includes a combination of numbers and letters, with the format and location varying based on the era of production.

For example, a Fender guitar with a serial number starting with “L” on the neck plate was likely produced between 1963 and 1965. If it’s L20000, it was likely made in 1964.

Fender Serial Number Lookup Guide

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of Fender serial numbers based on the information gathered from various sources. Use this chart to help decode them on your guitar.

Keep in mind that these are only Fender serial numbers. If you are looking for Squier, click here.

Early Years (1950-1954)

This era of guitars has three to four digits in the serial number and is located on the bridge plate. You will see it stamped there near the saddles.

SerialYearModels
0001 – 09991950 โ€“ 1952Broadcaster, Telecaster, Esquire Guitars
000 – 53001952 โ€“ 1954Broadcaster, Telecaster, Esquire Guitars
161 – 19001951 โ€“ 1954Precision Basses

Some Telecasters will have a date recorded inside the neck joint. This will mainly be guitars from 1952. In order to get at it, the neck will have to be taken off the body.

Neck Plate (1954-1963)

In 1954, Fender began the practice of inscribing serial numbers on a metallic plate positioned at the back of their guitars. This is also known as the neck plate.

A few of the very first Stratocasters bear a four-digit serial number. This number is etched onto the white plastic cover of the tremolo plate. A cover found at the rear side of the guitar’s body.

SerialYear
0001 – 70001954
7001 – 90001955
9001 – 170001956
17001 – 250001957
25001 – 340001958
34001 – 440001959
44001 – 590001960
59001 – 710001961
71001 – 930001962
93001 – 999991963

L Series (1963-1965)

L Series Serial Number Plate

The serial numbers that begin with an L can be found in this table. Fender began to change their code structure as production really started to ramp up.

However, the year of manufacture can also range quite a bit as a result. These will also be found on the neck plate on the rear of the guitar.

SerialYear
L00001 – L200001963
L20001 – L590001964
L59001 – L999991965

F Series (1965-1976)

F Series Serial Number Plate

The F series serial numbers came into effect with the new owners of Fender called CBS. They continued to use the neck plate as the location of the code. But now they also added a stylized “F” under the serial number.

SerialYear
100000 – 1100001965 (Late)
110001 – 2000001966
200001 – 2100001967
210001 – 2500001968
250001 – 2800001969
280001 – 3000001970
300001 – 3400001971
340001 – 3700001972
370001 – 5200001973
500001 – 5800001974
580001 – 6900001975
690001 – 7500001976

Headstock Serial Numbers (Post 1976)

Fender S Serial Number

In 1976, Fender began to add the serial number to either the front or rear of the headstock. This depends on the decade in which they were made. They also began adding a letter to the front of the serial code.

This letter represents the decade in which the instrument was made. For example:

  • S = 1970s.
  • E = 1980s.
  • N = 1990s.
  • DZ or Z = 2000s.
  • US = 2010 to present.

1976 – 1989

The serial numbers for this decade are not as accurate as one would hope. The amount of overlap was quite broad, and so it’s best to try and date these guitars by potentiometer codes if at all possible.

SerialYear
S8 + 5 digits1978
S9 + 5 digits1978 – 1979
E0 + 5 digits1979 – 1981
E1 + 5 digits1980 – 1982
E2 + 5 digits1982 – 1983
E3 + 5 digits1982 – 1985
E4 + 5 digits1984 – 1988
E8 + 5 digits1988 – 1989
E9 + 5 digits1989 (End)

1990 – 1999

For this decade, the serial numbers begin with the letter “N”.

SerialYear
N9 + 5 digits1990
N0 + 5 digits1990 – 1991
N1 + 5 or 6 digits1991 – 1992
N2 + 5 or 6 digits1992 – 1993
N3 + 5 or 6 digits1993 – 1994
N4 + 5 or 6 digits1994 – 1995
N5 + 5 or 6 digits1995 – 1996
N6 + 5 or 6 digits1996 – 1997
N7 + 5 or 6 digits1997 – 1998
N8 + 5 or 6 digits1998 – 1999
N9 + 5 or 6 digits1999

2000 – 2009

The letter “Z” was used to begin the serial numbers for this era. But “DZ” can also be found on guitars made in this period.

SerialYear
Z0 + 5 or 6 digits2000 – 2001
Z2 + 5 or 6 digits2001 – 2002
Z3 + 5 or 6 digits2003 – 2004
Z4 + 5 or 6 digits2004 – 2005
Z5 + 5 or 6 digits2005 – 2006
Z6 + 5 or 6 digits2006 – 2007
Z7 + 5 or 6 digits2007 – 2008
Z8 + 5 or 6 digits2008 – 2009
Z9 + 5 or 6 digits2009

2010 – Present

After 2010, Fender began using “US” in front of their serial numbers for all USA made instruments. They continue to do so even now at the time of this writing.

SerialYear
US10 + 6 digits2010
US11 + 6 digits2011
US12 + 6 digits2012
US13 + 6 digits2013
US14 + 6 digits2014
US15 + 6 digits2015
US16 + 6 digits2016
US17 + 6 digits2017
US18 + 6 digits2018
US19 + 6 digits2019
US20 + 6 digits2020
US21 + 6 digits2021
US22 + 6 digits2022
US23 + 6 digits2023

Japanese Serial Numbers (1982-2008)

Fender Japan Serial Number

Fender guitars that were built in Japan were marked in two different ways for certain years. They were “made” and “crafted” in Japan. The serial numbers could normally be found on the back of the neck.

Made In Japan

SerialYear
JV + 5 digits1982 – 1984
SQ + 5 digits1983 – 1984
E + 6 digits1984 – 1987
A + 6 digits1985 – 1986
B + 6 digits1985 – 1986
C + 6 digits1985 – 1986
F + 6 digits1986 – 1987
G + 6 digits1987 – 1988
H + 6 digits1988 – 1989
I + 6 digits1989 – 1990
J + 6 digits1989 – 1990
K + 6 digits1990 – 1991
L + 6 digits1991 – 1992
M + 6 digits1992 – 1993
N + 6 digits1993 – 1994
O + 6 digits1993 – 1994
P + 6 digits1993 – 1994
Q + 6 digits1993 – 1994
S + 6 digits1994 – 1995
T + 6 digits1994 – 1995
U + 6 digits1995 – 1996
V + 6 digits1996

Crafted In Japan

The label crafted in Japan only last a short period. It was then changed back to Made in Japan after 2008.

SerialYear
A + 6 digits1997 – 1998
O + 6 digits1997 – 2000
P + 6 digits1999 – 2002
Q + 6 digits2002 – 2004
R + 6 digits2004 – 2005
S + 6 digits2006 – 2008
T + 6 digits2007 – 2008

Made in Mexico Serial Numbers (From 1990)

Fender Mexico Serial Number

The Made in Mexico Fender guitars carry a serial number on the headstock that begins with the letter “M”. After it is another letter which has changed through the decades, much like the US made guitars.

For the nineties and early 2000s, the letters were different. Now, they use “MX” and probably will do so moving forward. The table below will help you find your build and date.

SerialYear
MN0 + 5 or 6 digits1990
MN1 + 5 or 6 digits1991
MN2 + 5 or 6 digits1992
MN3 + 5 or 6 digits1993
MN4 + 5 or 6 digits1994
MN5 + 5 or 6 digits1995
MN6 + 5 or 6 digits1996
MN7 + 5 or 6 digits1997
MN8 + 5 or 6 digits1998
MN9 + 5 or 6 digits1999
MZ0 + 5 or 6 digits2000
MZ1 + 5 or 6 digits2001
MZ2 + 5 or 6 digits2002
MZ3 + 5 or 6 digits2003
MZ4 + 5 or 6 digits2004
MZ5 + 5 or 6 digits2005
MZ6 + 5 or 6 digits2006
MZ7 + 5 or 6 digits2007
MZ8 + 5 or 6 digits2008
MZ9 + 5 or 6 digits2009
MX10 + 6 digits2010
MX11 + 6 digits2011
MX12 + 6 digits2012
MX13 + 6 digits2013
MX14 + 6 digits2014
MX15 + 6 digits2015
MX16 + 6 digits2016
MX17 + 6 digits2017
MX18 + 6 digits2018
MX19 + 6 digits2019
MX20 + 6 digits2020
MX21 + 6 digits2021
MX22 + 6 digits2022
MX23 + 6 digits2023

Vintage Series

Fender V series Serial Number

In 1982, Fender released the Vintage Series guitars that were made in the USA. These guitars have a serial number that begins with the letter “V” and has 4, 5, or 6 digits following it.

Older models can only be dated by removing the neck from the body and checking the heel. The date is normally stamped there, confirming the year it was built.

Newer versions like the American Vintage II don’t have this issue. The serial numbers contain the date and are easy to see stamped into the bridge plate. Current models use the “V” plus 7 digits. The first two contain the year of manufacture.

Other Serial Numbers

There are many odd ball serial numbers that were used throughout the decades. Not all of them make sense, nor were they suppose to. Some were used for the production staff, mainly when keeping track of the models.

SerialModel or Year
AMXN + 6 digitsCalifornia Series – Mexico/USA Made
DN + 6 digitsAmerican deluxe 1998 – 1999
MSN + 6 digitsMexico Made Artist Guitars
H, I, K + 6 digitsGuitars made for the export market in 1989 – 1990
EE + 6 digitsMore export guitars made in the late 1980’s
SE + 6 digitsSignature series guitars ( Also CZ, SN, SE, SZ)
TN + 6 digitsTribute Series
EJ + 5 digitsEric Johnson Signature Series

Conclusion

Remember, while these serial numbers provide valuable insights into the origin, age, and model of your Fender guitar, they are not infallible. There may be exceptions and anomalies, and it’s always a good idea to verify the information with other characteristics of the guitar.

Photo of author

Author: Don East

My name is Don East, I'm the editor for Killer Rig. I've been playing guitar for over 20 years and have designed and manufactured products like guitar amps, effects pedals, and more. Over the years I have played in many bands and have a deep love for quality gear. I am an electrical engineer and have a passion for music gear, and now want to share what I know with the community!