Some browsing around the F… Four digit serial number on the bridge, 1950 - 1954. This is particularly pronounced in the transitional period of the mid-'80s, though the system has been pretty much on point since about 1990. I listed them in relative order of value. This article is intended to help you date your Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass guitars all the way back to the early 1950s. Well, for starters, it'll say on the headstock where it's made in. Some browsing around the Fender section of the Price Guide can definitely help you find which model you have. Ignoring Squire models, there are four main types of Fender Strats made today: Made in Mexico, Made in Japan, Made in America, and American Custom Shop models. You're not alone. 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. Secure Transactions and Shipping ProtectionDedicated Team of Gear Experts. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. For Mexican Fenders made in the 1990s, the serial will start with an MN followed by a number that indicates the year of the decade. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field or ask the community. I recently came across a fender stratocaster online for sale for about $1350 but the owner does not know what particular model it is.. whether it be an american standard or mexican.. All he can tell me is that it is in aqua blue. 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. 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. The serial number location has changed a few times of the years. In 1982, Fender expanded operations with a series of instruments produced in Japan by the Fuji Gen Gakki company. 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. Click on the links here to jump directly to the serial number style that matches your instrument: In the early years, Fender serial numbers schemes were specific to the model. Though examples also exist with the number on the headstock or the neck-plate in the case of certain early reissue models. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Fender serial number date decoder (v2.1) Enter only the serial number. DATING FENDER INSTRUMENTS WITH ODD AND NON-STANDARD SERIAL NUMBERS The “odd” serial numbers on the chart below exist somewhat outside the more well-known Fender serial number schemes. (No type or model) His guitars were built en masse by an entire factory, not a single luthier toiling over one instrument at a time. Here are the serial numbers for the "Crafted in Japan" or "CIJ" era: After 2007, Fender Japan switched back to marking Fenders as "Made in Japan" though for a few years instruments with both decals were made. These have serial numbers starting with V and do not strictly correlate to years. Up until 1997, the serial was paired with the words "Made in Japan.". There were some special "50th Anniversary" models, but I remember them being American Standards (Strat, Tele, P-Bass and J-Bass) with figured maple tops. Oops, looks like you forgot something. Big F on the neckplate with a six digit serial, 1965 - 1976. It's usually under the fender logo. A Brief History of the Stratocaster Part I. These can definitely be useful in cases where no other numbers exist, but just tell when the pot itself was made. 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. Fender opened a factory in Ensenada, Mexico in the late '80s and instruments started coming off the line in 1990. For example, a serial number starting with MN2 would be 1992. For example, a top-end Made in Mexico model will sell for as much or more than a base model American Standard Stratocaster. Below we'll go into detail about the various serial number schemes employed by Fender as far back as 1950. but ur probably right. Who knows how long it was waiting in the Fender factory before finding its way into a Tele? 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. Like Henry Ford, part of Leo Fender's genius was in optimizing the company's production efficiency. 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. 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. I will also mention briefly pot-codes as a resource (numbers on the internal potentiometers of the guitar). rotary tone switch) 4 digits stamped on bridge plate = 1952 reissue Telecaster 1982-1988 (Check neck date for exact year) 5 digits stamped on bridge plate = 1952 reissue Telecaster 1988-present (Check neck date Here the range of the L-series serial used each year. These are generally referred to as F series due the large Fender branded F on the neckplates of the era. 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. Please check the fields highlighted in red. Also, the N6XXXXX serial number does indicate the Strat in question is a USA, but if it's a Fat Strat it's not the special model. Within a few seconds, however, Russell—a guitarist who provides backing tracks, gear demos and reviews on YouTube—realized it was a fake. The major exception to all of this is the American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) series. Also, most MiM strats only have 21 frets. 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. Serial number starts with a letter followed by six or seven digits, 1976 - present. Similarly, take a look at Behold the Jazzmaster for general timeline of the history of everyone's favorite offset guitar. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information and entertainment. REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR DATING FENDER INSTRUMENTS If it's from the 90's or 00's, it is not yet old enough to command a vintage premium. 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. The serial number tells you the year. Additionally, there have been plenty of artist models, limited editions and other rare models that use a unique serial number. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: The neck dates on these guitars, however, are usually reliable. It's usually under the fender logo. The decade letter codes break down like this: S = 1970s, E = 1980s, N = 1990s, Z = 2000s. Used MIM Strats go for anywhere between $300 and $400 US dollars. If you want to know the year of manufacture of your Fender guitar, you can decipher it with the serial number decoder, or find it in the tables below. Currency: i could get a brand new american strat for around 1600, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. In order to tell how old your Fender is you will have to find the identification number or neck number. There have been dozens and dozens of Strat variants over the years. Press J to jump to the feed. Some of the earliest ones actually popped up in late 1962 as well: 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. 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: At the very end of 1962 and into 1963, Fender changed to a system where serial numbers began with an "L." According to some accounts, the L was supposed to just be a 1 to mark the cross over into the 100,000 range from the previous scheme, but an L was used by mistake. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section.