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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.