- Chinese Fender Squier Serial Numbers
- Fender Squier Mij Serial Numbers
- Fender Guitar Serial Number Lookup
- Fender Squier Stratocaster Serial Numbers
So you need to figure out the year of production for your Fender guitar or bass. You're not alone. Fenders rank as the most frequently bought and sold instruments on Reverb, and finding a precise date of manufacture can be key to determining the value and specifics of an instrument.
The most important thing to keep in mind when dating a Fender is the highly modular nature of the designs. Like Henry Ford, part of Leo Fender's genius was in optimizing the company's production efficiency. His guitars were built en masse by an entire factory, not a single luthier toiling over one instrument at a time. Features like bolt-on necks and pickups wired into the pickguard all helped the Fender factory churn out guitar after guitar, day after day. 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.
There were also Korean Squier serials with no serial number prefix and 6 or 7 numbers and the first number is the year. Some early 90's examples held a serial number with the prefix M followed by 7 numerals, featured the a high gloss maple neck with a slimmer 40mm body made from plywood.'
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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. Once you have the information you need, if you're interested in selling your Fender, you can use Reverb to get it in front of the largest audience of musicians in the world by clicking on this link.
Design Changes and Features
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. 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.
For starters, there's the Reverb Price Guide which has thousands of entries with pictures and details on various guitars and other gear. Some browsing around the Fender section of the Price Guide can definitely help you find which model you have.
![Serial Serial](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126528606/943466462.JPG)
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We also have some other blog posts related to Fender that can hopefully be of some help. There's A Brief History of the Stratocaster Part I and Part II that follows the evolution of the most popular Fender guitar of all. Similarly, take a look at Behold the Jazzmaster for general timeline of the history of everyone's favorite offset guitar. For Fender during the turning point era of the mid-'60s, check out Fender and the CBS Takeover.
Learn everything you need to know to choose the right Stratocaster for you.
Body and Neck Dates
Through much of Fender's production history, Fender workers would print or write a production date on both bodies and necks where the two pieces meet. These dates will tell when the original part was manufactured, but are not exact indicators of when the guitar was actually put together and finished.
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.
I will also mention briefly pot-codes as a resource (numbers on the internal potentiometers of the guitar). These can definitely be useful in cases where no other numbers exist, but just tell when the pot itself was made. Who knows how long it was waiting in the Fender factory before finding its way into a Tele?
Serial Numbers
Like the body and neck dates, using serial numbers to date a Fender is not a sure bet. At many points in Fender's history, serial number usage overlapped again owing to the modular manner of production. Below we'll go into detail about the various serial number schemes employed by Fender as far back as 1950. There are certainly plenty of exceptions, so again, using serial numbers in conjunction with other dating methods is always the best bet.
Click on the links here to jump directly to the serial number style that matches your instrument:
The Early Years: 1950 - 1954
In the early years, Fender serial numbers schemes were specific to the model. Esquires, Broadcasters and Telecasters shared a serial number sequence, while the landmark Precision Bass had its own system. In this early period, the serial number can be found on the bridge of the instrument (see image).
Here are the rough serial number ranges for the early Esquires and Telecasters:
0001 to 0999 | 1950 - 1952 |
000 to 5300 | 1952 - 1954 |
And here are the ranges for the original Precision Basses:
161 to 357 | 1951 |
299 to 619 | 1952 |
0001 to 0160 | 1952 |
0161 to 0470 | 1951 - 1952 |
0475 to 0840 | 1952 - 1953 |
0848 to 1897 | 1953 - 1954 |
Also, for the first half or so of 1954, the inaugural run of Stratocasters had a distinct number sequence all under number 6000.
Classic Serial Numbers - 1954 - 1963
By mid-1954, Fender began using a universal serial number sequence for all its instruments. At this time, the location of the serial number also shifted from the bridge to the neckplate (the metal plate located on back of where the neck meets the body).
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:
0001 to 7000 | 1954 |
7000 to 9000 | 1955 |
9000 to 17000 | 1956 |
17000 to 25000 | 1957 |
25000 to 34000 | 1958 |
34000 to 44000 | 1959 |
44000 to 59000 | 1960 |
59000 to 71000 | 1961 |
71000 to 93000 | 1962 |
93000 to 99999 | 1963 |
Learn everything you need to know to choose the right Telecaster for you.
L Series - The Transition Period of 1963 to 1965
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.
Here the range of the L-series serial used each year. Some of the earliest ones actually popped up in late 1962 as well:
0L00001 to L20000 | 1963 |
L20000 to L59000 | 1964 |
L59000 to L99999 | 1965 |
F Series - CBS Era 1965 - 1976
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. These are generally referred to as F series due the large Fender branded F on the neckplates of the era. This period also saw a switch from the orginal four-bolt neckplate of the '60s to a three-bolt neckplate in just one example of cost-saving costs introduced under CBS.
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100000 to 110000 | late 1965 |
110000 to 200000 | 1966 |
200000 to 210000 | 1967 |
210000 to 250000 | 1968 |
250000 to 280000 | 1969 |
280000 to 300000 | 1970 |
300000 to 340000 | 1971 |
340000 to 370000 | 1972 |
370000 to 520000 | 1973 |
500000 to 580000 | 1974 |
580000 to 690000 | 1975 |
690000 to 750000 | 1976 |
Post 1976
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. Depending on the era and model, the number can be found on either the front or back of the headstock.
After a short period of overlap with the old system, the post-76 numbers will start with a letter that indicates the decade, followed by a number that indicates the year of that decade. The decade letter codes break down like this: S = 1970s, E = 1980s, N = 1990s, Z = 2000s. In the 2000s, you'll also see serials starting with a DZ which indicates the Deluxe series, but the format is otherwise the same.
For example, a serial number with N4 would be from 1994. One starting with Z5 would be from 2005.
Chinese Fender Squier Serial Numbers
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. This is particularly pronounced in the transitional period of the mid-'80s, though the system has been pretty much on point since about 1990.
After 2009, the letter changed to a format starting with US then two digits that tell the year of the current decade.
Here's the breakdown of Post-1976 American-made Fender serials:
76 + 5 digits | 1976 |
S6 + 5 digits | 1976 |
S7 + 5 digits | 1977 - 1978 |
S8 + 5 digits | 1978 |
S9 + 5 digits | 1978 - 1979 |
E0 + 5 digits | 1979 - 1981 |
E1 + 5 digits | 1980 - 1982 |
E2 + 5 digits | 1982 - 1983 |
E3 + 5 digits | 1982 - 1985 |
E4 + 5 digits | 1984 - 1988 |
E8 + 5 digits | 1988 - 1989 |
E9 + 5 digits | 1989 - 1990 |
N9 + 5 digits | 1990 |
N0 + 5 digits | 1990 - 1991 |
N1 + 5 or 6 digits | 1991 - 1992 |
N2 + 5 or 6 digits | 1992 - 1993 |
N3 + 5 or 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
N4 + 5 or 6 digits | 1994 - 1995 |
N5 + 5 or 6 digits | 1995 - 1996 |
N6 + 5 or 6 digits | 1996 - 1997 |
N7 + 5 or 6 digits | 1997 - 1998 |
N8 + 5 or 6 digits | 1998 - 1999 |
N9 + 5 or 6 digits | 1999 - 2000 |
Z0 + 5 or 6 digits | 2000 - 2001 |
Z2 + 5 or 6 digits | 2001 - 2002 |
Z3 + 5 or 6 digits | 2003 - 2004 |
Z4 + 5 or 6 digits | 2004 - 2005 |
Z5 + 5 or 6 digits | 2005 - 2006 |
Z6 + 5 or 6 digits | 2006 - 2007 |
Z7 + 5 or 6 digits | 2007 - 2008 |
Z8 + 5 or 6 digits | 2008 - 2009 |
Z9 + 5 or 6 digits | 2009 - 2010 |
US10 + 6 digits | 2010 |
US11 + 6 digits | 2011 |
US12 + 6 digits | 2012 |
US13 + 6 digits | 2013 |
US14 + 6 digits | 2014 |
Signature Series
American-made signature series instruments follow a very similar scheme to the above, but use a prefix S before the decade letter. For example, a Signature Series guitar from 1998 would have a serial starting with SN8 followed by five digits.
American Vintage Reissue models
The major exception to all of this is the American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) series. These have serial numbers starting with V and do not strictly correlate to years. The neck dates on these guitars, however, are usually reliable.
Made in Japan Fender Serials
Fender Japan serial numbers can usually be found on the back of the neck near the neck joint. Though examples also exist with the number on the headstock or the neck-plate in the case of certain early reissue models. Up until 1997, the serial was paired with the words 'Made in Japan.'
In 1982, Fender expanded operations with a series of instruments produced in Japan by the Fuji Gen Gakki company. 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. This system, however, is notoriously inconsistent and incomplete, which makes dating by serial number even less reliable for MIJ Fenders.
Here's a breakdown of serials for the 'Made in Japan' era:
JV + 5 digits | 1982 - 1984 |
SQ + 5 digits | 1983 - 1984 |
E + 6 digits | 1984 - 1987 |
A + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 |
B + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 |
C + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 |
F + 6 digits | 1986 - 1987 |
G + 6 digits | 1987 - 1988 |
H + 6 digits | 1988 - 1989 |
I + 6 digits | 1989 - 1990 |
J + 6 digits | 1989 - 1990 |
K + 6 digits | 1990 - 1991 |
J + 6 digits | 1990 - 1991 |
K + 6 digits | 1990 - 1991 |
L + 6 digits | 1991 - 1992 |
M + 6 digits | 1992 - 1993 |
N + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
O + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
P + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
Q + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
S + 6 digits | 1994 - 1995 |
T + 6 digits | 1994 - 1995 |
U + 6 digits | 1995 - 1996 |
N + 5 digits | 1995 - 1996 |
V + 6 digits | 1996 - 1997 |
Crafted in Japan Serial Numbers
In 1997, Fender changed the 'Made in Japan' decal to say 'Crafted in Japan.' 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.
Here are the serial numbers for the 'Crafted in Japan' or 'CIJ' era:
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 |
After 2007, Fender Japan switched back to marking Fenders as 'Made in Japan' though for a few years instruments with both decals were made. Serial numbers since this transition have continued the same sequence as the 'CIJ' era.
Made in Mexico Fender Serials
Fender opened a factory in Ensenada, Mexico in the late '80s and instruments started coming off the line in 1990. Mexican-made (MIM) Fenders carry a serial number on the headstock starting with an M. Some exceptions include a handful of special editions and signature models as well as the split US/Mexican-made California series which all have a 'AMXN' at the beginning of their serials.
The MIM serial number scheme is actually very straight-forward. 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. Instruments made in the 2000s follow the same form but start with MZ. For the 2010s, the prefix is MX1. For example, a serial number starting with MN2 would be 1992.
Fender Squier Mij Serial Numbers
Here's the serial number breakdown for a majority of MIM Fenders:
MN0 + 5 or 6 digits | 1990 |
MN1 + 5 or 6 digits | 1991 |
MN2 + 5 or 6 digits | 1992 |
MN3 + 5 or 6 digits | 1993 |
MN4 + 5 or 6 digits | 1994 |
MN5 + 5 or 6 digits | 1995 |
MN6 + 5 or 6 digits | 1996 |
MN7 + 5 or 6 digits | 1997 |
MN8 + 5 or 6 digits | 1998 |
MN9 + 5 or 6 digits | 1999 |
MZ0 + 5 or 6 digits | 2000 |
MZ1 + 5 or 6 digits | 2001 |
MZ2 + 5 or 6 digits | 2002 |
MZ3 + 5 or 6 digits | 2003 |
MZ4 + 5 or 6 digits | 2004 |
MZ5 + 5 or 6 digits | 2005 |
MZ6 + 5 or 6 digits | 2006 |
MZ7 + 5 or 6 digits | 2007 |
MZ8 + 5 or 6 digits | 2008 |
MZ9 + 5 or 6 digits | 2009 |
MX10 + 6 digits | 2010 |
MX11 + 6 digits | 2011 |
MX12 + 6 digits | 2012 |
MX13 + 6 digits | 2013 |
MX14 + 6 digits | 2014 |
Exceptions
There are a number of exceptions to all these serial number schemes. As mentioned above, many reissue models use serial numbers that don't really correlate to their age. Bank check serial number. Additionally, there have been plenty of artist models, limited editions and other rare models that use a unique serial number. Examples include the 35th anniversary series, many of the uniquely finished Strats from the early '80s, as well as various export-specific models which carry a serial number starting with FN.
Again, the serial number alone in any of these cases is not definitive and the best approach is to combine that with other methods like the neck and body dates, as well as just the features of the specific instrument. 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.
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FDP Forum / The Squier Forum / Squier Serial Numbers
Fender Guitar Serial Number Lookup
leadowner australia |
Pre-1996 dating is approximate. Japanese Squiers: For Japanese serial number dating see Fenders site. The Japanese MIJ Squiers were made by FujiGen up to 1997 and the Japanese CIJ Squiers were made by Tokai and Dyna from 1997. Mexican Squiers: M stands for Mexico, the second character refers to the decade: N represents Nineties (1990's). And the first number following is the year. So, for example 'MN8' = made by Fender at Ensenada Mexico in 1998. USA Squiers: USA Squires are very rare and usually have a E serial number and were made for less than a year spanning 1989 and 1990. Korean Squiers: C refers to Cort, V refers to Saehan(Sunghan), S was already taken by Samick so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars). Those made by Cort are the most desirable. The second character refers to the decade: N represents Nineties (1990's). And the first number following is the year. So, for example 'CN6' = made by Cort in 1996 and 'VN6' = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1996. Exceptions: Pro-Tone Series (solid ash bodies) had serial numbers with either a) no preceding letters and 7 digits, with the first number being the year, or b) starting with KC for Korean Cort, followed by 2-digit year. Stagemaster Deluxe (neck-thru maple necks with basswood wings), and the Double Fat Tele Deluxe (all solid mahogany with set necks), with serial numbers starting with KC for Korean Cort, followed by 2-digit year. There were also some KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)) serial numbers followed by 2-digit year. The KC and KV forms are apparently associated with the change to Crafted in Korea. So, post-1996 models only would have this form of serial number. Six-digit serial numbers with no preceding letters, with the first number being the year. Squier II's could not possibly have been assembled before 1987/88, as these represent the transition to Indian and then Korean production, and all the ramifications of such (the serial numbers can be off by years for these particular axes, and neck dates may also be misleading). The S and E Squires seem to be from the late 1980's/early 1990's and don't seem to have a reliable serial number system for dating. Some Squier II's were made in India around 1989-1990. A lot of the Squier II's had a plywood body. Chinese Squiers: YN: Y = Yako (Taiwan). The second character refers to the decade N = Nineties (1990's). And the first number following is the year. So, for example 'YN6' = 1996. This form is associated with Made in China Affinitys (with the standard body thickness of 45mm/1.75). CY: Y = Yako (Taiwan) C = China. CY is followed by 2-digit year. CY appears on most models produced in China, and is by far the most common form. These forms are apparently associated with the change to Crafted in China, so post-1996 models only would have this form of serial number. Some Chinese Gretsch's use a CY serial number. YN is associated with 'made in china' rather than 'crafted in china' and 1996 was the year they swapped to 'crafted in china' and mostly CY prefixes. Miscellaneous Chinese serials: CD, CT, CJ, NC: C = China, the first number following the serial number prefix is the year. Probably made by Yako (Taiwan). Squier serial numbers beginning with CA are made by Axl China. Indonesian Squiers: IC = Made in Indonesia by Cort (solid agathis from 1998), followed by 2-digit year. IS = Made in Indonesia by Samick. Bullet Series (plywood), followed by 2-digit year. Indian Squiers: Some Squier II's were made in India around 1989-1990. Some recent Squiers are being made in India. (This message was last edited by leadowner at 06:07 AM, Jul 18th, 2007) | |
trex160 florida |
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metulmykul Australia hell this is fun |
+1! | |
leadowner australia |
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Rand-O-Monium Jax,FL USA 'Scalloped & Stickered' |
What about a MIK with an E9(Strat)? | |
Ausquier Australia |
I reckon all this needs compiling into a Squier FAQ. Its a pity there is no official Squier history. | |
BlindFusion USA |
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cfender USA |
This was part of a Strat Pak that came with a Squier Champ 15 amp. Anyone know what CJ actually indicates? I called Fender. They had no clue. | |
faelup Germany/Europe Fender Lite Ash Nature Strat |
Black Squier logo with silver outlines .. Squierlogo, then beyound small made in korea, beyound the black serialnumber beneath the squierlogo stands stratocaster beyound that stands by Fender Look at the picture (This message was last edited by faelup at 05:28 AM, Jun 15th, 2007) | |
leadowner australia |
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texasb5 Texas, USA New Strat (& Tele) fan |
That may be Mexico?? I think that logo looks cool. Edited to add: What does it say below the Squier logo? Korea? (This message was last edited by texasb5 at 09:33 AM, Jun 15th, 2007) | |
oil rig USA / SLC 51, 2, 3, 4. |
It looks like is says 'Made in Korea' to me. I've never seen a headstock with that many decals on it. Original? | |
Ausquier Australia |
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faelup Germany/Europe Fender Lite Ash Nature Strat |
The S-Serial Strats Ausquier mentioned, I know . had one by myself .. give it away as a present for christmas 2.5 years ago .. had it since 1996 .. build march 1989 according to the neckfootstamp. | |
WireDog Contributing Member **** Baghdad See Eternity today, in your Chevrolet.. |
They are sold as a Strat-pac with a little Squier 10W amp. They are black with a three ply WBW Pickguard, 21 frets, small headstock, 6 point trem, and non-staggered ceramic pups. Many, including mine, have really nice frets and necks. I've A/Bd mine with an Affinitie, and they are very different. The CAE's rosewood slab is thinner; the saddles are different, the frets were carefully rounded at the ends, to name a few. There is an EXCEPTION that I saw last year in a shop in Regensburg, Germany. It was a CAE prefix, Three Tone Sunburst, 22 frets, and 2 Point trem. The frets weren't real nice. So I'm thinking there are export lines intended for different locations, or the factory that does CAE's has gone through some changes. Thanks for compiling this great list, leadowner! (This message was last edited by WireDog at 05:17 AM, Jun 17th, 2007) | |
Trucking704 Contributing Member USA |
Any info on those? | |
leadowner australia |
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Ausquier Australia |
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Trucking704 Contributing Member USA |
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Ausquier Australia |
I don't know what year the MIC and MII Squiers kicked off, but it would have to have been after 1994 I reckon. Anyway I will scan and post on my website when I get a chance. BTW a lot of the Standard Fender models at this time are listed with Poplar or Basswood bodies. Including reissues like Jazzmasters and Mustangs. So again I have to assume that the 'Classic Stratocaster shape' bodies are either out of any old parts bin or ply. Sorry about the long post, it was alot of reading;-) |
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