Fender instrument serial numbers

For example, a serial number starting with MN2 would be 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.

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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Oops, looks like you forgot something. Please check the fields highlighted in red. Yes, that's correct Do not update. For years, serial numbers have been used in various locations on Fender instruments, such as the top of the neck plate, the front or back of the headstock and the back of the neck near the junction with the body.

The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from to Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. Fender was sold to CBS in January The charts below detail the most common Fender serial number schemes from to the present.

Once again, there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. As seen in the overlap of numbers and years, even these references to actual production dates are rather loose. The only way to definitively date U. CBS sold Fender in March Number sequences ranging from four to six digits represent neck plates that were stamped between and Number sequences starting with an 'L' are considered to have been stamped between late and prior to Fender being bought by CBS.

If your neck plate has a large scripted 'F', it is considered to have been stamped between late and if it includes a number sequence starting from through Serial numbers where put on the headstock of guitar necks somewhere near Alphanumeric characters offer a faster way to identify the decade the neck was built. Necks built in the seventies started with an 'S'.

Both 'N' and 'E' series instruments could potentially have been created in Japan. Between and Fender instruments were only constructed in Japan while a recent new owner took over Fender and was building a new plant in America. Most Japanese-built instruments were marked with a 'J'. These are considered 'Gold Jazz Basses'. Whether you inherited your instrument or bought it at a swap meet, you're probably curious about its provenance.

Most gear has a serial number, either printed on a label inside it or stamped into the headstock or neck plate. Use our dating guides below to figure out when your instrument was made and where it came from. In the Custom Shop was born. The initial master builders were John Page and Michael Stevens. Since then the team has expanded and produced some of the most sought-after guitars made. The Fender Custom Shop produces special order guitars. Creating limited edition high-end quality instruments.

If you love the road-worn relic look, these guys assemble some real mouth-watering pieces. February the Ensenada Mexico manufacturing plant was burnt to the ground, leaving the production to move to Corona, CA for a temporary solution. Here is a summary of the serial number, model, and year. To gain the best results use our decoder.

During this time period, there are a lot of overlaps. Use our decoder to find out which instrument fits your serial number. Serial Numbers were from the midss but we lack instrument details and overlapping makes this period difficult. We know the year the guitar was made and manufactured in Fullerton, USA. Use decoder to determine. Use decoder for exact year. There are no model details just that this period was in Fullerton, USA.

The digits purely stand for a production number. This period of guitars were the U. S Vintage Series. The date of the guitar should be on the back of the neck.