Проверка серийных номеров гитар fender

SERIAL-NUMBER-DECODER.CO.UK

Find the date of a Fender guitar by serial number

You can use this Fender serial number decoder to date a Fender guitar. The tool works for most Fender electric guitars including the Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Fender bass guitars, Fender Squier models and many custom shop and reissue models (although some cannot be dated by serial number). If this tool fails you can also get the date by using my pot decoder. To date a Fender acoustic guitar try my Fender acoustic guitar dater.

There are a number of possible locations for the serial number on a Fender guitar. These include the top of the neck plate, somewhere on the headstock, on the bridge plate or the back of the neck near the body.

Enter the Fender’s serial number and select if your guitar was made in USA, Japan, Mexico, Korea, Indonesia or China.

Click here for an idea of what it may be worth (via previously sold items on eBay)

Click here to date another Fender guitar

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Проверка серийных номеров гитар fender

DATING SQUIER GUITARS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

From 1982 Fender Squiers are also produced outside the USA, in that year the production startedin Japan. The Korean Fender Squiers were produced from 1988, but there were no serial numbers until mid-1993 documented. Other low-budget countries followed, like China, Indonesia and India.
The serial number registration of these countries also leaves sometimes to be desired.

Where to find the serial number
The serial number is generally stamped on the front or back of the headstock,or in some cases on the neck plate.

If you want to know the production year of your Squier guitar,you can decipher it with the serial number decoder, or find it in explanation about the dating system below.

Fender-Squier history in short
Jerome Bonaparte Squier and his son Victor Carroll Squier, two
English immigrants who started a violin building and repair company
in Boston in 1881.
In 1890 Victor opened a store in Battle Creek, Michigan and a short
time later a violin factory at 427 Capital Ave SW. (V.C. Squier Company).
Violin, banjo and guitar strings were also produced here.

In the early 1950s the company also started making strings for the electric guitars of Leo Fender and became in 1963 an official supplier
for Fender Electric Instruments. In 1965, shortly before the acquisition
of Fender by CBS, Fender purchased V.C. Squier Company.

Before the Fender Squier line of guitars was introduced in 1982,
Fender made cheaper guitars such as the Fender Lead series at its
plant in Fullerton, California.

Until the introduction of the Fender Squier series, Fender had never produced low-priced guitars based on the Stratocaster and Telecaster models. He had always used different model designs for the cheaper models. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fender was faced with competition from cheaper Japanese guitars.
Japanese labor and production costs were much lower than in America, and to compete with, Fender moved the cheaper Fender guitar production from America to Japan.

Sales in Japan were disappointing, Fender could not compete with Japanese competitors such as Tцkai and Greco.
Fender started negotiations with various Japanese distributors of musical instruments and reached an agreement with Yamano
Gakki and Kanda Shokai to found Fender Japan.

One of the conditions of the agreement was that Kanda Shokai
stops producing its own Greco Fender guitars. Negotiations with Tцkai were interrupted and FujiGen Gakki was chosen.

The first Squier models appeared in August 1982.

Over time, the Squier series has slowly evolved and contains
original model designs. The production has also been moved from Japan to various other Asian countries such as Korea, China, Indonesia and India.
Victor Carroll Squier

The Squiers «Made in USA» have been produced since 1985 in Corona, California.
«Made in USA» – E = Eighties, 6 or 7 digits.
«Made in USA» – N = Nineties, 6 or 7 digits.

Some USA Squiers had no serial number stamped on the headstock but a number without a prefix on the neck plate.
A date with such a number is difficult to determine.

Made in Japan

LETTER YEAR DIGITS LETTER YEAR DIGITS
A 1985-1986 6 B 1985-1986 6
C 1985-1986 6 E 1984-1987 6
F 1986-1987 6 G 1987-1988 6
H 1988-1989 6 I 1989-1990 6
J 1989-1990 6 K 1990-1991 6
L 1991-1992 6 M 1992-1993 6
N 1993-1994 6 O 1993-1994 6
P 1993-1994 6 Q 1993-1994 6
S 1994-1995 6 T 1994-1995 6
U 1995-1996 6 N 1995-1996 5
V 1996-1997 6 JV 1982-1984 5
SQ 1983-1984 5

Crafted in Japan

LETTER YEAR DIGITS LETTER YEAR DIGITS
A 1997-1998 6 B 1998-1999 6
C 1985-1986 6 N 1995-1996 5
F 1986-1987 6 O 1997-2000 6
P 1999-2002 6 Q 2002-2004 6
R 2004-2006 6 S 2006-2008 6
T 2007-2008 6

Made in Japan

T 2006-2008 6 U 2007-2008 6

In 1987 Fender opened the plant in Ensenada, Mexico where built amps and combos. The production of Squier guitars started here in 1991.
MN — M = Mexico, N = Nineties MZ — M = Mexico, Z = 2000’s
On February 11, 1994 the Ensenada plant burned down and production was temporarily moved to Corona.

CA – C = China A = Axl (made by Axl).
CD, CT en CJ – C = China. Probably made by Yako (Taiwan).

«Made in China»
CAE – 10 digits.
NC – 6 digits. YN – Y = Yako (Taiwan) N = Nineties, 6 digits.

«Crafted in China»
CY – C = China Y = Yako (Taiwan), 8 or 9 ditgits.
CY appears on all models produced in China and is by far the most common form.
CXS – C = China X = Axl S= Squier, 9 digits.
CGS – C = China G = factory code S= Squier, 7 or 8 digits.
CGRA, CGRB, CGRG, CGRH, CGRI, CGRJ, CGRK and CGRL
— C = China. GR = Grand Reward (factory)
— Last letter A, B, G, H, I, J, K, L = factory code , 8 digits.
COS – 8 digits.
COB – 9 digits.
Serial numbers with COS or COB prefix are Crafted by Cor-Tek, China.


Samick factory, Korea

The dating of the Korean instruments built before 1993 is uncertain because information about them is incomplete or missing.

Korean Squiers with a black logo on the headstock always have a thin laminated body. They are the lowest quality Korean Squiers. They were built between 1992 and 1995.
The serial numbers start with CN2, CN3 and VN4.

Silver logos were used for models built in the late 80s and for the Fender Squier Series strats, built in 1992 and 1993. These serial numbers start with CN2, CN3 and VN3.

Squiers with a gold-colored logo have an alder body or ash wood if it
is from the ProTone series.
The Squiers with a gold-colored logo were built from mid-1995.

Stratocasters, Telecasters, Bullets, P-Basses and Jazz basses were built from 1987 to 1998.
Stagemasters and Showmasters were built between 1999 and 2002.
The models from the 24 series were built between 2002 and 2004.
The Series 24 guitars were released by Fender in January 2002 in honor of Squier’s 20-year anniversary.
The Master Series models were built between 2004 and 2007.

«Made in Korea» and «Crafted in Korea»
CN — C = Cor-Tek (Cort) N = Nineties, 6 or 7 digits.
KC en KV — KC = Korean Cor-Tek (Cort), 8 digit. KV = Korean Saehan(Sunghan), 8 digits.

«Made in Korea»
VN — V = Saehan(Sunghan) N = Nineties, 6 or 7 digits.
S and E -S = Samick, 6 of 7 digits. E = Young Chang, 6 or 7 digits.
Squiers with prefix S and E are from the late eighties and early nineties.
E-letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang’s Fenix brand guitars.
M — 7 digits. Used in the early 90s, characterized by the high-gloss maple neck and plywood slim 40 mm body.

«Crafted in Indonesia»
IC — I = Indonesia C = Cor-Tek (Cort), 8 or 9-cijfers.
ICS – I = Indonesia C = Cor-Tek (Cort) S = Special Run, 8 or 7 digits.
In 2009 and 2010, some Indonesian Squier’s had an ICS serial number with 7 digits instead of 8 or 9.
ISS – I = Indonesia S = Samick S = Special Run, 6 digits.
Typically, the S indicates a Factory Special Run or FSR guitar.
FSR stands for ‘Fender Special Run’ of a limited edition.
Many Fender FSR guitars are simple modified versions of existing models. Fender fits for example a Stratocaster with a Bigsby vibrato or change the headstock of a Telecaster.
However, some models in the FSR range are finished in a separate color. This is often the case with Squier FSR models.
IS – I = Indonesia S = Samick, 8 or 9 digits.
SI – S = Squier I = Indonesia , 8 or 9 digits.

Some Squier IIs were made in India around 1989-1990, with
«MADE IN INDIA» on the headstock. The Squier IIs made in India seem to follow the numbering scheme in the USA.
The serial number is on a sticker on the back of the neck, close to the attachment point with the body.
Some more recent Squiers, including the Vintage Modified series
(the serial numbers start here with SH), were in Introduced in 2007.
The VM series has «Crafted in India» on the back of headstock.
With this VM series the serial number is stamped on the headstock
and therefore has no sticker.

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Проверка серийных номеров гитар fender

DATING FENDER GUITARS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

Fender’s production methods from the early 1950s resulted in the serial numbers sometimes not being consecutive. Repetition and overlapping of serial numbers and years also occur regularly.

Where to find the serial number
The serial numbers have been placed on or in the guitar in different places over the years.
At the top of the neck plate, on the front or at the back of the headstock or on the cover plate of the vibrato (Stratocasters), or at the end of the heel of the neck.
Between 1973 and 1981 there were periods when this did not happen consistently.

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.

Although a serial number is useful for roughly determining the age of a guitar, this is often not the exact date. As a result of the overlap between years, Fender serial numbers are also not by definition chronological.
In the past (before 1976) the serial numbers were often randomly assigned. To approximate the correct year of construction for the period before 1976, also look at the date on the heel of the neck and of the potmeters. Usually the production date is stamped or written on the heel of the neck. To approximate the correct year of construction for the period before 1976, also look at the date on the heel of the neck and of the potmeters. To read this it is necessary to unscrew the neck from the body.

Most specifications for a particular Fender guitar have hardly changed, if at all. Although there have been times when major changes have taken place, such as the acquisition of Fender by CBS, and the transition from CBS Fender to the current owner (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation), most models have generally not changed.

At Stratocasters from the early fifties, the serial numbers were stamped on the back of the vibrato cover plate. On some Telecasters at the bridge between the pick-up and the saddles.

Patent numbers
Various patent numbers were added to the models between 1960 and 1977. These were stamped in the headstock under the Fender logo.
Example:
PAT, 2,573,254 2,968,204 3,143,028 2,976,755 DES 187304

2,573,254 for pickup and bridge combination.
2,968,204 for the single coil pickup patent awarded in 1961 under other for Jaguar, Stratocaster, Duosonic.
3,143,028 the patent granted in August 1964 for Fender’s adjustable neck construction.
2,976,755 for the split coil pickup design. (Used since 1957 to the Precision Bass)

The DES is the serial number.

Esquires, Broadcasters and Telecasters 1950-1954
The serial numbering for these three models can be found on the bridge plate and lasted until the beginning of 1954.
Fender then switched to a serial numbering on the neck plate for all models in that year.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
0001 — 0999 1950 — 1952
1000 — 5300 1952 — 1954
Precision Basses 1951-1955
There is some overlap of the serial numbers and dates. The serial number was applied to the bridge plate until 1955. Although Fender had already in 1954 switched to be placed the serial number on the headstock for all models, it was still punched on the bridge plate with some Precison’s.
SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
100 — 400 1951 — 1952
0001 — 0999 1952-1954
1000 — 2000 1953 — 1955

The table below shows the Fender serial numbers as they were used from 1950 to 1964.
The serial numbers are basically chronological, but as already mentioned, due to Fender’s numbering methods, there are a number of serial numbers and years that overlap.
The only way to try to find the date is to remove the neck from the body. If the year is unreadable, it can also be written on the body under the pickguard or in the cavity in which the pickups are.

With Fenders from before 1955 you cannot use the serial numbers to determine the exact year of construction. The first Telecasters and Stratocasters appear to have a separate numbering.
With Telecasters it can happen that a ’52er has a higher number than
a ’53er. The serial numbers from after 1955 have a logical order.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
Until 6000 1950 — 1954
Until 10000 1954 — 1956
10000 1955 — 1956
10000 — 20000 1957
20000 — 30000 1958
30000 — 40000 1959
40000 — 50000 1960
50000 — 70000 1961
60000 — 90000 1962
80000 — 90000 1963
90000 — L10000 1963

In January 1965, Fender was acquired CBS Corporation.
Although that is not directly attributable to the serial numbers. CBS continued to make the guitars using the available, Community, parts, and the serial numbering system. The following table shows the serial numbers as they were used from 1965 to 1976.

Here too there are a number of numbers and years that overlap.

The serial numbers can give a rough indication of the year of construction.

An L followed by a number indicates a guitar from the early 1960s, while the large Fender F logo implies that the guitar was made after being taken over by CBS, so from the mid to late 1960s.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
L10000 — L20000 (neckplate) 1963
L20000 — L59000 (neckplate) 1964
L59000 — L90000 (neckplate) 1965
100000 1965
100000 — 200000 1966 — 1967
200000 1968
200000 — 300000 1969 — 1970
300000 1971 — 1972
300000 — 500000 1973
400000 — 500000 1974 — 1975
500000 — 700000 1976

The following table shows the most common Fender serial numbers
from 1976 to the present.
Note the introduction of the letter prefix to the serial numbers.
The S stands for the decade of the seventies, an attempt by CBS to identify serial numbers every year of production. The E stands for the decade of the eighties and was used for the first time in 1979.

But here too there were a number of overlaps and the reference to
the correct production date is sometimes vague.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
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

In 1982, the U.S. Vintage Series launched with the V as a prefix for the serial number.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
E1 + 5 digits
E2 + 5 digits
E3 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1982
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E2 + 5 digits
E3 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1983
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E3 + 5 digits
E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1984
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)

In March 1985, CBS Corporation Fender was sold to a group of private investors led by William Schultz. The company was given the current name; Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

The transition to the new owners cannot be deduced from the serial numbers, because the numbering remained the same.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
E3 + 5 digits
E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1985
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters) 1986
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1987
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E4 + 5 digits
E8 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1988
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
E8 + 5 digits
E9 + 5 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1989
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)

To date American Vintage Series with the prefix ‘V’ serial numbers correctly, the neck of the body must be unscrewed. The production date is stamped or written on the end of the neck heel.

In 1990, the N came as prefix for the serial numbers, and stands for the nineties. The numbers and stickers were produced far in advance.
Due to a factory fault, N9 stickers (intended for use in 1999) were affixed in 1990 to a number of instruments built in that year.
As a result, you will come across a number of guitars built in 1990 with an N9 serial number. The guitars from 1990 have the serial number on the front of the headstock. Fender moved the serial number to the back of the headstock in 1996.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION YEAR
N9 + 5 digits
N0 + 5 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1990
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check date on the neck for specific year)
N1 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1991
N1 + 5 or 6 digits
N2 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1992
N3 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1993
N5 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1995
N6 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1996
N6 + 6 or 6 digits
N7 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1997
N8 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series)
1998
N9 + 5 or 6 digits
V + 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series excluded ’52 Telecasters)
1999

The Z for the digits was added in 2000.
A Z0 prefix dates from 2000, a Z1 from 2001, etc. The U.S. Deluxe Series have the same standard but with the addition of a D for the Z, e.g. DZ1, DZ2 etc.

But here too there are overlaps of numbers and years.

SERIAL PRODUCTION YEAR

Z0 + 5 or 6 digits

DZ0 + 5 or 6 digits (Am. Deluxe)

V + 5 or 6 digits (American Vintage Series excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’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 excluded ’52 Telecaster)
XN5 + 4 digits 2005 10 + 7 digits
(Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster, which uses a five-digit number) End 2009 — March 2010 US + 8 digits
(Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster, which uses a five-digit number)

First two digits of the number identify the year of manufacture.

Starting March 2010

The following serial numbers are somewhat outside the familiar Fender numbering.

If in doubt about an odd serial number, check the table below to see if you can find the letter number combination here.

SERIAL DESCRIPTION
AMXN + 6 digits California Series electric guitars and basses, ’97 en ’98 (Made in USA and Mexico)
DN + 6 digits American Deluxe serie instruments, ’98 en ’99
NC + 6 digits Squier Strat Bullets (see Squier serials)
FN + 6 digits US-made guitars and basses destined for export.
Some are not exported or sent back.
I + 7 digits A limited number of these I-Series were made in ’89 and ’90. Made for the export market and have ‘Made in USA’ stamped on the heel of the neck.
LE + 6 digits Blonde Jazzmasters and Jaguars made in 1994. Sold as a promotional 3 piece set with a Blonde Deluxe Reverb Amp.
CN + 6 digits
VN + 6 digits
Produced in Korea, Fender/Squier guitars. (dating unclear)
CA + 5 digits Gold Strat 1981, ’82 and ’83
CB + 5 digits Precision Bass Special from 1981, CB(5 digits) Gold Jazz Bass from 1982
CC + 5 digits Walnut Strat 1981, ’82 and ’83
CE + 5 digits Precision Bass Special from 1981, Black and Gold Telecster from 1981 and 1982
CD + 5 digits
CO + 5 digits
Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982
GO + 5 digits Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982, Gold Strat 1982 and 1983
D + 6 digits Jazz Bass from 1982
SE + 6 digits
SN + 6 digits

SZ + 6 digits Signature Series Instruments
[eighties] SE8 + 5 digits-’88, SE9 + 5 digits-’89
[nineties] SN0 + 5 digits-’90, SN1 + 5 digits-’90, SN2 + 5 digits-’92, etc.
[two thousands] SZ0 + 5 digits-’00, SZ1 + 5 digits-’01, SZ2 + 5 digits-’02, etc. 3 digits or 500 35th Anniversary Strat from 1989-1990 G + 6 digits «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 for specific year) 5 digits stamped on bridge plate U.S. ’52 Vintage Telecaster 1988-present (Check neck for specific year) T + 6 digits Tribute series instruments C + 6 digits Collectors Series XN + 5 digits FSRs and ’52 Telecasters

Fender guitars produced in Japan have the serial number on the back of the neck, near the attachment to the body.
In some reissue models it can be found on the headstock or the neck plate. The combination of the text «Made in Japan» and the serial number was used until 1997.

Fender increased its production in March, 1982 by having the Japan-based company Fuji Gen Gakki also build instruments.
The MIJ (Made In Japan) guitars start with a letter or a few letters indicating the year of manufacture. This is the same system as the US serial numbers, however these MIJ serial numbers are less reliable.
Because this letter system was used inaccurately, the dating of MIJ guitars is questionable.Because this letter system was applied inaccurately, the dating of MIJ guitars is doubtful.

In 1997 the sticker «Made in Japan» was replace by «Crafted in Japan». There are overlaps of «CIJ» (Crafted in Japan) with the «MIJ» models, so pay attention to whether the instrument is labeled «Made in Japan» or «Crafted in Japan».

SERIAL Made in Japan PRODUCTION YEAR
JV + 5 digits 1982 — 1984
SQ + 5 digits 1983 — 1984
E + 6 digits 1984 — 1987
A + 6 digits
B + 6 digits
C + 6 digits
1985 — 1986
F + 6 digits 1986 — 1987
G + 6 digits 1987 — 1988
H + 6 digits 1988 — 1989
I + 6 digits
J + 6 digits
1989 — 1990
K + 6 digits 1990 — 1991
L + 6 digits 1991 — 1992
M + 6 digits 1992 — 1993
N + 6 digits
O + 6 digits
P + 6 digits
Q + 6 digits
1993 — 1994
S + 6 digits
T + 6 digits
1994 — 1995
U + 6 digits
N + 5 digits
1995 — 1996
V + 6 digits 1996 — 1997
SERIAL Crafted in Japan PRODUCTION YEAR
A + 6 digits 1997 — 1998
O + 6 digits 1997 — 2000
P + 6 digits 1999 — 2002
Q + 6 digits 2002 — 2004
R + 6 digits 2004 — 2005
S + 6 digits 2006 — 2008
T + 6 digits 2007 — 2008
In the late 1980s, Fender opened a factory in Ensenada, Mexico where the first instruments were produced in 1990.
The serial number of the Made in Mexico (MIM) Fenders, starting with the letter M and can be found on the headstock.
Some exceptions include special editions and signature models, and
the American/Mexican-made California series whose serial numbers begin with AMXN.

The MIM serial number system is quite simple.
The Mexican Fenders made in the 1990s have the serial number
starting with MN followed by a number indicating the year of the decade. The M stands for Mexico and the N for nineties.
Guitars made from the 2000s follow the same system, but start with
MZ. The Z here indicates the 2000 decade. And for the 2010s the
prefix is MX1.

SERIAL PRODUCTION YEAR
MN0 + 5 of 6 digits 1990
MN1 + 5 of 6 digits 1991
MN2 + 5 of 6 digits 1992
MN3 + 5 of 6 digits 1993
MN4 + 5 of 6 digits 1994
MN5 + 5 of 6 digits 1995
MN6 + 5 of 6 digits 1996
MN7 + 5 of 6 digits 1997
MN8 + 5 of 6 digits 1998
MN9 + 5 of 6 digits 1999
MZ0 + 5 of 6 digits 2000
MZ1 + 5 of 6 digits 2001
MZ2 + 5 of 6 digits 2002
MZ3 + 5 of 6 digits 2003
MZ4 + 5 of 6 digits 2004
MZ5 + 5 of 6 digits 2005
MZ6 + 5 of 6 digits 2006
MZ7 + 5 of 6 digits 2007
MZ8 + 5 of 6 digits 2008
MZ9 + 5 of 6 digits 2009
MX10 + 6 digits 2010
MX11 + 6 digits 2011
MX12 + 6 digits 2012
MX13 + 6 digits 2013
MX14 + 6 digits 2014
MX15 + 6 digits 2015
MX16 + 6 digits 2016
MX17 + 6 digits 2017
MX18 + 6 digits 2018
MX19 + 6 digits 2019
MX20 + 6 digits 2020
There is very little information about the Korean serial number from 1988 to 1992. Numbers exist both with and without letter prefix. In addition, the serial numbers were used randomly during this period
and correct dating is uncertain.

There is also no much information about the serial numbers from
1993 to 1998. Some have letter prefix CN or CV.

From 1997 onwards, serial numbers have the prefix KC followed by
eight digits, the first two digits of which indicate the year of manufacture. KC stands for Korean Cor-Tek factory.

SERIAL PRODUCTION YEAR
6, 7 of 8 digits 1988-1996
CN0 + 5 digits
VN0 + 5 digits
1990-1991
CN1 + 5 digits
VN1 + 5 digits
CN2 + 5 digits
1991-1992
VN2 + 5 digits
CN3 + 5 digits
1992-1993
CN1 + 5 digits
VN3 + 5 digits
CN4 + 5 digits
1993-1994
VN4 + 5 digits
CN5 + 5 digits
1994-1995
CN1 + 5 digits
VN5 + 5 digits
CN6 + 5 digits
1995-1996
VN6 + 5 digits 1996-1997
KC97 + 6, 7 of 8 digits 1997-1998
KC98 + 6 digits 1998-1999
KC99 + 6 digits 1999-2000
KC00 + 6 digits 2000-2001
KC01 + 6 digits 2000-2001
KC02 + 6 digits 2001-2003
KC03 + 6 digits 2003-2004
KC04 + 6 digits 2004-2005
KC05 + 6 digits 2005-2006
KC06 + 6 digits 2006-2007
KC07 + 6 digits 2007-2008
KC08 + 6 digits 2008-2009
KC09 + 6 digits 2009-2010
KC10 + 6 digits 2010-2011
KC11 + 6 digits 2011-2012
KC12 + 6 digits 2012-2013
KC13 + 6 digits 2013-2014
KC14 + 6 digits 2014-2015

If you cannot find a serial number of the guitar (illegible, worn away), you can approximate the antiquity of a electric or semi-acoustic guitar by means of the potentiometers. The code on potentiometers gives information about the manufacturer and the year and week when it was made.
See: Dating potentiometers

The used Fender logo can also be an indication of the period in which the guitar was made. Whether it is an original model or a vintage (the old logos are used there too) depends on your own assessment of the age of the guitar.


spaghetti-logo 1950-1965

transition logo 1960-1967

CBS era logo 1967-

Fender has used 3 different logos for guitars. The original logo, also called «spaghetti logo», the transition logo and the CBS era logo. The spaghetti logo was used in the 1950s and is so named for its thin silver letter with a thin black line. This logo was used in the mid-sixties.

At the end of 1959 a new logo was designed by designer Robert Perine and Leo fender himself. The logo has bold gold letters with a thicker black border. The logo was later named transition logo, because it bridged the period between the thin spaghetti logo and the CBS era. The first guitar to be presented with this new logo was the Jazz Bass in 1960. All new models were given the new logo from that moment.

In 1967 after the takeover of Fender by CBS, the design remained the same but the letters turned black with a gold-colored border.

Another method of determining the guitar’s year of manufacturing
is to date the pickups. The date code consists of 3, 4, 5 or 6 digits.
(no letters)

The first or first 2 digits is the code of the Fender employй who wound the coil (winder). The next digits are the week and the year.

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