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Serial numbers
Enter only the serial number.(No type or model)
For example: MX12023124 or 4367123
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.
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.
Neck heel date
In order to approximate guitars from before 1976 to the correct year of manufacture, the date or serial number on the neck heel must therefore be inspected.
Usually there is a production date stamped or written on the tip of the heel.
In order to be able to read this, the
neck will have to be screwed off the body.
Until about April 1962, the dates on the neck end were handwritten.
Then switched to stamped dates.
Both the handwritten and the stamped date were usually coded.
This code
precedes the date and is a number between 1 and 28 which indicates for which model the neck was made.
Contrary to what some assume, this is not the day date.
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.
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Patent numbers Various patent numbers were added to the models between 1960 and 1977. These were stamped in the headstock under the Fender logo. 
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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The table below shows the Fender serial numbers as they were used from 1950 to 1964.
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In January 1965, Fender was acquired CBS Corporation.
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The following table shows the most common Fender serial numbers
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In 1982, the U.S. Vintage Series launched with the V as a prefix for the serial number.
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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.
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.
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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.
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The Z for the digits was added in 2000.
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The following serial numbers are somewhat outside the familiar Fender numbering.
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In March 2010 this format was again replaced by an 8 digit with the prefix two letters. The two letters indicate the production location, the first two numbers the production year. The last numbers are random and provide no further information.
JAPAN
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".
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The serial numbers have continued since this cover in the same way as with the "CIJ" system.
MEXICO
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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. |
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KOREA
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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 employé who wound the coil (winder). The next digits are the week and the year. 
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The pickups of Stratocasters, Telecasters and Precisions from the late 1960s to the early 1980s with a date code can be deciphered using the decoder. Because the pickups were made earlier than the guitar, you have to add about half a year to it for the year of the guitar construction.
The date code only consists of3, 4, 5 or 6 digits. (no letters) Example: 1489 or 71494 |
Another way to determine the age of a Fender pickup is to measure its ohmic resistance (impedance). The impedance values are based on the average measured values of the pickups from the relevant year. The specifications in the table are courtesy of Seymour Duncan obtained from the data and measurements of numerous remanufactured pickups. |
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