How to date a Fender by its serial number
- Find the serial. Look on the headstock (front or back) and on the neck plate. Instruments from 1950–1976 carry a plain number on the neck plate, or on the earliest Telecasters and Esquires, the bridge plate[1][2].
- Note the country. The decal says “Made in USA”, “Made in Mexico”, “Made in Japan”, “Crafted in Japan” and so on. Older American instruments may show no country at all.
- Enter both above. The lookup shows every year the published charts allow, and which source says so.
A serial number narrows the date; it doesn’t pin it down. Fender made decals ahead of time and used them as needed, so a code can span two to four years. Fender itself says its serials before the mid-1980s overlap and that the date written or stamped on the neck heel (under the neck, where it meets the body) is a better guide [1].
Why the country matters
Fender reused the same serial shapes in different factories. “E4 12345” is a 1980s American serial, but “E” plus six digits is also a 1980s Japanese one. A plain six-digit number can be a 1960s American neck plate or a Korean-made instrument. Picking the decal sorts these out. If you’re not sure, choose “Not sure” and the lookup shows every match, grouped by country.
USA serial numbers
| Serial looks like | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers only (up to 6 digits) | 1950–1976 | Bridge plate, then neck plate. See the vintage table below. |
L + 5 digits | 1963–1965 | Neck plate. |
76 + 5 digits | 1976 | 1976 only. |
S or E + digit + 5 digits | 1976–1990 | S = 1970s, E = 1980s; each code spans 2–4 years (table below). |
N + digit + 5–6 digits | 1990s | Digit = year (N4 = 1994–95). Some 1990 guitars got N9 decals early. |
Z + digit + 5–6 digits | 2000s | Z5 = 2005–06. DZ = American Deluxe, same years. |
10 + 6–8 digits | Late 2009 – early 2010 | Used in both the USA and Mexico; the decal says which. |
US + 2-digit year + 6 digits | 2010 on | US12 = 2012. |
SE, SN, SZ + digit | 1988–2009 | Signature Series: SN8 = 1998. |
AMXN + 6 digits | 1997–1998 | California Series (USA/Mexico). |
1950–1976 numbers: Fender’s chart vs Reverb’s
Fender’s own chart for these years is deliberately loose, with ranges that overlap by several years[1]. Reverb’s guide gives narrower, year-by-year ranges [2]. The lookup shows every year either source allows, so you see the full range of possibilities.
| Year | Fender’s chart | Reverb’s chart |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Up to 6,000 | 1–999 |
| 1951 | Up to 6,000 | 1–999 |
| 1952 | Up to 6,000 | 1–999; 1,000–5,300 |
| 1953 | Up to 6,000 | 1,000–5,300 |
| 1954 | Up to 6,000; Up to 10,000 | 1,000–5,300; 1–7,000 |
| 1955 | Up to 10,000; 10,000s | 7,000–9,000 |
| 1956 | Up to 10,000; 10,000s | 9,000–17,000 |
| 1957 | 10,000s to 20,000s | 17,000–25,000 |
| 1958 | 20,000s to 30,000s | 25,000–34,000 |
| 1959 | 30,000s to 40,000s | 34,000–44,000 |
| 1960 | 40,000s to 50,000s | 44,000–59,000 |
| 1961 | 50,000s to 70,000s | 59,000–71,000 |
| 1962 | 60,000s to 90,000s | 71,000–93,000 |
| 1963 | 80,000s to 90,000s; 90,000s up to L10,000s; 90,000s up to L10,000s; L10,000s up to L20,000s | 93,000–99,999; L0–L20,000 |
| 1964 | L20,000s up to L50,000s | L20,000–L59,000 |
| 1965 | 100,000s; L50,000s up to L90,000s | 100,000–110,000; L59,000–L99,999 |
| 1966 | 100,000s to 200,000s | 110,000–200,000 |
| 1967 | 100,000s to 200,000s | 200,000–210,000 |
| 1968 | 200,000s | 210,000–250,000 |
| 1969 | 200,000s to 300,000s | 250,000–280,000 |
| 1970 | 200,000s to 300,000s | 280,000–300,000 |
| 1971 | 300,000s | 300,000–340,000 |
| 1972 | 300,000s | 340,000–370,000 |
| 1973 | 300,000s to 500,000s | 370,000–520,000 |
| 1974 | 400,000s to 500,000s | 500,000–580,000 |
| 1975 | 400,000s to 500,000s | 580,000–690,000 |
| 1976 | 500,000s to 700,000s | 690,000–750,000 |
S and E serials, 1976–1990
| Prefix | Fender | Reverb |
|---|---|---|
S6 | 1976 | 1976 |
S7 | 1977 or 1978 | 1977 or 1978 |
S8 | 1977 or 1978 | 1978 |
S9 | 1978–1981 | 1978 or 1979 |
E0 | 1979–1981 | 1979–1981 |
E1 | 1980–1982 | 1980–1982 |
E2 | 1982 or 1983 | 1982 or 1983 |
E3 | 1982–1985 | 1982–1985 |
E4 | 1984–1988 | 1984–1988 |
E8 | 1988 or 1989 | 1988 or 1989 |
E9 | 1989 or 1990 | 1989 or 1990 |
Neither source lists E5, E6 or E7.
Mexico serial numbers
Mexican-made Fenders use MN + a year digit in the 1990s (MN2 = 1992–93), MZ + a year digit in the 2000s (MZ7 = 2007–08) and MX + a two-digit year from 2010 (MX15 = 2015–16)[3][2][4]. Fender’s chart gives each code a two-year window; Reverb and Tone Wolf give the single year. The lookup shows Fender’s wider window. Some Mexican artist models use MSN or MSZ, which Fender doesn’t date.
Japan serial numbers
Japanese Fenders reused the same letters across three eras, so the decal wording matters[8][2][4]: “Made in Japan” (1982–1997), “Crafted in Japan” (1997–2008), then “Made in Japan” again (2007–2012). Since 2012 the serial starts JD + a two-digit year; only Fender documents that style, so the lookup labels it “per Fender”.
| Serial | Made in Japan, 1982–97 | Crafted in Japan | Made in Japan, 2007–12 |
|---|---|---|---|
JV + 5 digits | 1982–1984 | — | — |
SQ + 5 digits | 1983 or 1984 | — | — |
E + 6 digits | 1984–1987 | — | — |
A + 6 digits | 1985 or 1986 | 1997 or 1998 | — |
B + 6 digits | 1985 or 1986 | — | — |
C + 6 digits | 1985 or 1986 | — | — |
F + 6 digits | 1986 or 1987 | — | — |
G + 6 digits | 1987 or 1988 | — | — |
H + 6 digits | 1988 or 1989 | — | — |
I + 6 digits | 1989 or 1990 | — | — |
J + 6 digits | 1989–1991 | — | — |
K + 6 digits | 1990 or 1991 | — | — |
L + 6 digits | 1991 or 1992 | — | — |
M + 6 digits | 1992 or 1993 | — | — |
N + 6 digits | 1993 or 1994 | — | — |
O + 6 digits | 1993 or 1994 | 1997–2000 | — |
P + 6 digits | 1993 or 1994 | 1999–2002 | — |
Q + 6 digits | 1993 or 1994 | 2002–2004 | — |
S + 6 digits | 1994 or 1995 | 2006–2008 | — |
T + 6 digits | 1994 or 1995 | 2007 or 2008 | 2007–2010 |
U + 6 digits | 1995 or 1996 | — | 2010–2012 |
N + 5 digits | 1995 or 1996 | — | — |
V + 6 digits | 1996 or 1997 | — | — |
R + 6 digits | — | 2004 or 2005 | — |
Fender notes that its early Japanese records are incomplete, so treat these as guides [8].
Korea and Indonesia
- Korea:
CNorVN+ a year digit in the 1990s (CN2 = 1992–93), andKC+ a two-digit year from 1997 to 2012 [9][10][11]. Korean serials with no letters (6–8 digits) are from about 1988–1998; Fender calls dating them before 1993 “highly uncertain”, so the lookup gives the whole window. - Indonesia:
ICorICF+ a two-digit year (IC08 = 2008–09)[12][13].
Custom Shop and vintage reissues
Some serials name a product line but carry no year. The lookup identifies them and says so instead of guessing:
CZ+ 6 digits: Fender Custom Shop [6][7]. Not a 2000s “Z” code.R+ 5 digits orCN+ 5 digits: many U.S. Custom Shop instruments [1].V+ 4–6 digits: American Vintage reissues, from 1982 [1][2].
For these, the certificate of authenticity or the neck date gives the year.
Worked examples
| Serial | Style | How it reads | Made | Example from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
45000 | Numbers only, 1950–1976 (bridge plate or neck plate) | 45000 = serial number, looked up in the published number rangesFender: 30,000s–40,000s = 1959 and 40,000s–50,000s = 1960; Reverb: 44,000–59,000 = 1960. | 1959 or 1960 | Constructed to show the rule |
L55000 | "L" + 5 digits (1963–1965) | 55000 = serial number, looked up in the published number rangesFender: L50,000s = 1965; Reverb: below L59000 = 1964. | 1964 or 1965 | Constructed to show the rule |
S912345 | S or E + year digit + 5 digits (1976–1990) | S9 = series prefix (1978–1981 in the published tables) | 1978–1981 | Fender Musical Instruments |
N912345 | "N9" decals used early (1990) | Looked up in the published tablesCombined with the “"N" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s)” format the full answer is 1990, 1999 or 2000. | 1990 | Fender Musical Instruments |
Z5123456 | "Z" + year digit + 5–6 digits (2000s) | 5 = last digit of the year (2005 or 2006) | 2005 or 2006 | Reverb |
US12345678 | "US" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on) | 12 = year ’12Fender: "10 for 2010, 11 for 2011"; US12 = 2012. | 2012 | Fender Musical Instruments |
MN2123456 | "MN" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s) | 2 = last digit of the year (1992 or 1993)Reverb: "MN2 would be 1992"; Fender: MN2 = 1992–1993. | 1992 or 1993 | Reverb |
MX15123456 | "MX" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on) | 15 = year ’15 | 2015 or 2016 | Fender Musical Instruments |
E123456 | "Made in Japan" decal, 1982–1997 | E = series prefix (1984–1987 in the published tables) | 1984–1987 | Fender Musical Instruments |
Q123456 | "Crafted in Japan" decal, 1997–2008 | Q = series prefix (2002–2004 in the published tables) | 2002–2004 | Fender Musical Instruments |
JD12345678 | "JD" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2012 on) | 12 = year ’12 | 2012 | Fender Musical Instruments |
CN212345 | "CN" or "VN" + year digit + 5 digits (1990s) | 2 = last digit of the year (1992 or 1993)Guitar Insite: CN2xxxxx = 1992; Fender: CN2 = 1992–1993. | 1992 or 1993 | Guitar Insite |
KC97123456 | "KC" + two-digit year + 6 digits (1997–2012, Cort factory) | 97 = year ’97 | 1997 or 1998 | Fender Musical Instruments |
IC08123456 | "IC" + two-digit year + 6–7 digits (Cort factory) | 08 = year ’08 | 2008 or 2009 | Fender Musical Instruments |
What this lookup doesn’t cover
- China-made Fender and Squier prefixes (CY, CGS, CXS, COB…): sources agree on the factories but not on whether the year is encoded.
- Squier-only and some Korean (KV) prefixes, which only one source dates.
- Special-run prefixes (CA, CB, LE, FN and others), which are model-specific; Fender’s “odd serial numbers” page lists them [5].
- Acoustic guitars and amplifiers.
Common questions
How do I find out what year my Fender was made?
Enter the serial and the decal’s country above. For instruments from before the mid-1980s, check the neck date too.
What does MX mean on a Fender serial number?
Made in Mexico, 2010 or later. The next two digits are the year: MX15 is 2015 (or early 2016).
What does the Z mean in a Fender serial number?
A U.S. serial from the 2000s. The digit after it is the year: Z5 is 2005. CZ is different: it marks the Custom Shop.
Is my Fender American or Mexican?
The decal says. The serial helps too: US, N, Z and DZ prefixes are American; MN, MZ and MX are Mexican. Serials that start with 10 were used in both countries around 2009–2010.
Why does the lookup show several years?
Because Fender’s serials do overlap. Decals were printed ahead of time, and sources disagree on some ranges. Rather than pick one, the lookup shows each possible year and which source supports it.
Can the serial tell me the model or value?
No. It only narrows the production year. Model and value depend on features, condition and originality.
Also dating a Gibson? Try the Gibson serial number lookup.
Sources
- Fender Musical Instruments (support site): How can I find out when my American-made instrument was manufactured?Used for: Numbers only, 1950–1976 (bridge plate or neck plate); "L" + 5 digits (1963–1965); "76" + 5 digits (1976); S or E + year digit + 5 digits (1976–1990); "N" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s); "N9" decals used early (1990); "Z" + year digit + 5–6 digits (2000s); "DZ" + year digit (American Deluxe, 2000s); "10" + 7 digits (late 2009 – about March 2010, USA or Mexico); "US" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on); "V" + 4–6 digits (American Vintage reissues, 1982 on); "AMXN" + 6 digits (California Series, USA/Mexico); "R" + 5 digits or "CN" + 5 digits (Custom Shop).
- Reverb: How to Date a Fender with Serial Numbers (Dan Orkin, 2023-06-18)Used for: Numbers only, 1950–1976 (bridge plate or neck plate); "L" + 5 digits (1963–1965); "76" + 5 digits (1976); S or E + year digit + 5 digits (1976–1990); "N" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s); "N9" decals used early (1990); "Z" + year digit + 5–6 digits (2000s); "DZ" + year digit (American Deluxe, 2000s); "US" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on); Signature Series: SE / SN / SZ + year digit; "V" + 4–6 digits (American Vintage reissues, 1982 on); "AMXN" + 6 digits (California Series, USA/Mexico); "MN" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s); "MZ" + year digit + 5–6 digits (2000s); "MX" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on); "Made in Japan" decal, 1982–1997; "Crafted in Japan" decal, 1997–2008.
- Fender Musical Instruments (support site): How can I find out when my Mexican-made instrument was manufactured?Used for: "10" + 7 digits (late 2009 – about March 2010, USA or Mexico); "MN" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s); "MZ" + year digit + 5–6 digits (2000s); "MX" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on); "MSN" / "MSZ" + digits (some Mexican artist models).
- Tone Wolf: Fender Guitar Serial Numbers By YearUsed for: "10" + 7 digits (late 2009 – about March 2010, USA or Mexico); "US" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on); "MN" + year digit + 5–6 digits (1990s); "MZ" + year digit + 5–6 digits (2000s); "MX" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2010 on); "Made in Japan" decal, 1982–1997; "Crafted in Japan" decal, 1997–2008; "Made in Japan" decal, 2007–2012.
- Fender Musical Instruments (support site): How can I find out how old my instrument is if it uses an odd or non-standard serial numbering scheme?Used for: Signature Series: SE / SN / SZ + year digit; "AMXN" + 6 digits (California Series, USA/Mexico); "MSN" / "MSZ" + digits (some Mexican artist models).
- Stars Music: Fender Custom Shop 1960 Stratocaster #CZ566764 (retail listing)Used for: "CZ" + 6 digits (Custom Shop).
- Chicago Music Exchange: Fender Custom Shop 1962 Jazzmaster Journeyman Relic (retail listing, serial CZ562350)Used for: "CZ" + 6 digits (Custom Shop).
- Fender Musical Instruments (support site): How can I find out when my Japanese-made instrument was manufactured?Used for: "Made in Japan" decal, 1982–1997; "Crafted in Japan" decal, 1997–2008; "Made in Japan" decal, 2007–2012; "JD" + two-digit year + 6 digits (2012 on).
- Fender Musical Instruments (support site): How can I find out when my Korean-made instrument was manufactured?Used for: "CN" or "VN" + year digit + 5 digits (1990s); "KC" + two-digit year + 6 digits (1997–2012, Cort factory); 6, 7 or 8 digits, no letters (1988–1997).
- Guitar Insite: Squier Serial Number LookupUsed for: "CN" or "VN" + year digit + 5 digits (1990s).
- fuzzfaced.net (Antonio Calvosa): Serial number Stratocaster KoreaUsed for: "KC" + two-digit year + 6 digits (1997–2012, Cort factory).
- Fender Musical Instruments (support site): How can I find out when my Indonesian-made instrument was manufactured?Used for: "IC" + two-digit year + 6–7 digits (Cort factory); "ICF" + two-digit year + 6 digits (Fender-branded, Cort factory).
- fuzzfaced.net (Antonio Calvosa): Serial number Stratocaster China / IndonesiaUsed for: "IC" + two-digit year + 6–7 digits (Cort factory); "ICF" + two-digit year + 6 digits (Fender-branded, Cort factory).