Fender Serial Number Lookup Guide with Date Codes

Have you been wanting to find out the date of your Fender guitar or bass? This guide will help you look up serial numbers and date codes that are found on Fenders. From 1950 to present day. This works for Fender's iconic models like Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazz Bass and more!

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QUICK FENDER SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP AND GUIDE

Fender Advertisement from the 1960's. Blond Fender amp with reverb

1950-1964 Fender Serial Numbers

1950-1964 Fender Serial Numbers:

Telecaster Serial Numbers (1950-1954):

 1950 - 1952: 0001 - 0999

 1952 - 1954: 1000 - 5300

P Bass Serial Numbers (1951-1955:

1951 - 1952: 100 - 400

1952 - 1954: 0001 - 0999

1953 - 1955: 1000 - 2000

Fender Serial Numbers 4-6 Digits:

Serial Numbers 1954-1963:

1954: 0001 - 8000

1955: 6000 - 10000

1956: 9000 - 16000

1957: 16000 - 25000

1958: 25000 - 30000

1959: 30000 - 40000

1960: 40000 - 58000

1961: 55000 - 72000

1962: 72000 - 93000

1963: 93000 - 99999 

L-Series Serial Numbers (1963-1965):

1963: L00001 - L20000

1964: L20000 - L55000

1965: L55000 - L99999

1965-1976 Fender Serial Numbers

F-Series Serial Number (1965-1976):

1965: 100000 - 110000

1966: 110000 - 200000

1967: 180000 - 210000

1968: 220000 - 250000

1969: 250000 - 280000

1970: 280000 - 300000

1971: 300000 - 330000

1972: 330000 - 370000

1973: 370000 - 520000

1974: 500000 - 580000

1975: 580000 - 690000

1976: 690000 - 750000

1976-2009 Fender Serial Numbers

Fender Serial Numbers (1976-2009):

1976: 76 + 5 digits

1976 - 1981: S6 + 5 digits

1977 - 1978: S7 + 5 digits

1977 - 1980: S8 + 5 digits

1978 - 1983: S9 + 5 digits

1979 - 1981: E0 + 5 digits

1980 - 1982: E1 + 5 digits

1982 - 1983: E2 + 5 digits

1982 - 1983: E3 + 5 digits

1984 - 1985, 1987 - 1988: E4 + 5 digits

1988 - 1989: E8 + 5 digits

1989 - 1990: E9 + 5 digits

1990: N9 + 5 digits

1990 - 1991: N0 + 5 digits

1991 - 1992: N1 + 5 or 6 digits

1992 - 1993: N2 + 5 or 6 digits

1993 - 1994: N3 + 5 or 6 digits

1994 - 1995: N4 + 5 or 6 digits

1995 - 1996: N5 + 5 or 6 digits

1996 - 1997: N6 + 5 or 6 digits

1997 - 1998: N7 + 5 or 6 digits

1998 - 1999: N8 + 5 or 6 digits

1999 - 2000: N9 + 5 or 6 digits

2000: DZ0 or Z0 + 5 or 6 digits

2001: DZ1 or Z1 + 5 or 6 digits

2002: DZ2 or Z2 + 5 or 6 digits

2003: DZ3 or Z3 + 5 or 6 digits

2004: DZ4 or Z4 + 5 or 6 digits

2005: DZ5 or Z5 + 5 or 6 digits

2006: DZ6 or Z6 + 5 or 6 digits

2007: DZ7 or Z7 + 5 or 6 digits

2008: DZ8 or Z8 + 5 or 6 digits

2009: DZ9 or Z9 + 5 or 6 digits

2010-2024 Fender Serial Numbers

2010-2024 Fender Serial Numbers:

Late 2009 - March 2010: "10" prefix followed by a space + 7 digits

2011: US11 + 6 digits

2012: US12 + 6 digits

2013: US13 + 6 digits

2014: US14 + 6 digits

2015: US15 + 6 digits

2016: US16 + 6 digits

2017: US17 + 6 digits

2018: US18 + 6 digits

2019: US19 + 6 digits

2020: US20 + 6 digits

2021: US21 + 6 digits

2022: US22 + 6 digits

2023: US23 + 6 digits

2024: US24 + 6 digits

and so on...

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Fender Serial Number Lookup

1950-1976 Fender Serial Numbers (Telecaster, Early Esquire, Broadcaster, P-Bass, 4-6 Digits, L-Series, F-Series)

1976-2018 Fender Serial Numbers (starting with S, E, V, N, Z, DZ, & US prefix)

Where is the serial number or date located on a Fender guitar?

What year is my Fender guitar?

What model is my Fender guitar?

Sell Your Fender Guitar Contact Form

Fender Serial Numbers and Dates

1 10

1950-1976 FENDER SERIAL NUMBERS

  • img link 1950 Fender Broadcaster Serial Number bridge plate

    1950-1954

    Fender Telecaster (Early Esquire and Broadcaster) Serial Numbers from 1950-1954:

    The Telecaster was introduced in 1951. It was originally called the Broadcaster and it was the first solid body mass produced electric guitar. The serial number from this era will be found on the bridge plate.

    Telecaster Serial Numbers (1950-1954):

    0001 - 0999: 1950 - 1952

    1000 - 5300: 1952 - 1954

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  • img link 1950's Fender Precision Bass with Serial Number on bridge

    1951-1955 PRECISION BASS

    Fender Precision Bass Serial Numbers from 1951-1955:

    Fender also introduced the Precision Bass (P-Bass) in 1951.

    P-Bass Serial Numbers (1951-1955):

    100 - 400: 1952 - 1954

    0001 - 0999: 1951 - 1952

    1000 - 2000: 1953 - 1955

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  • img link 1950's Fender Serial Number Plate Example Date My Guitar

    1954-1963

    Fender Serial Numbers 4-6 Digits On NECK PLATE:

    Serial Numbers (1954-1963):

    0001 - 8000: 1954
    6000 - 10000: 1955
    9000 - 16000: 1956
    16000 - 25000: 1957
    25000 - 30000: 1958
    30000 - 40000: 1959
    40000 - 58000: 1960
    55000 - 72000: 1961
    72000 - 93000: 1962
    93000 - 99999: 1963

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  • img link 1960's Fender Serial Number L-Series Example

    1963-1965

    L-Series Serial Numbers (1963-1965):

    L00001 - L20000: 1963

    L20000 - L55000: 1964

    L55000 - L99999: 1965

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  • img link 1960's Fender F-Series Serial Number example

    F-Series Serial Numbers (1965-1976):

    100000 - 110000: 1965
    110000 - 200000: 1966
    180000 - 210000: 1967
    220000 - 250000: 1968
    250000 - 280000: 1969
    280000 - 300000: 1970
    300000 - 330000: 1971
    330000 - 370000: 1972
    370000 - 520000: 1973
    500000 - 580000: 1974
    580000 - 690000: 1975
    690000 - 750000: 1976

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1976-2024 FENDER SERIAL NUMBERS

  • img link 1970's Fender Big Headstock with S Serial Number example

    Fender Serial Numbers (1976-2009):

    In mid-1976, Fender began putting serial numbers on the peghead for U.S. made guitars. (See picture above). "S" Serial Numbers = 1970's, "E" Serial Numbers were started in 1979 to denote the 1980's, "V" Serial Numbers were introduced in 1982 for U.S. Vintage Series. “N” Serial Numbers denote the 1990’s. “N” and “E” Serial Numbers can also denote Japanese-made instruments. CBS sold Fender in March 1985 and serial numbers of instruments stayed the same. There are overlap with numbers and years.

    “Z” Serial Numbers denote the instruments made in the USA starting in 2000. “DZ” denotes American Deluxe Series instruments.

    76 + 5 digits: 1976
    S6 + 5 digits: 1976 - 1981
    S7 + 5 digits: 1977 - 1978
    S8 + 5 digits: 1977 - 1980
    S9 + 5 digits: 1978 - 1983
    E0 + 5 digits: 1979 - 1981
    E1 + 5 digits: 1980 - 1982
    E2 + 5 digits: 1982 - 1983
    E3 + 5 digits: 1982 - 1983
    E4 + 5 digits: 1984 - 1985, 1987 - 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
    DZ0 or Z0 + 5 or 6 digits: 2000
    DZ1 or Z1 + 5 or 6 digits: 2001
    DZ2 or Z2 + 5 or 6 digits: 2002
    DZ3 or Z3 + 5 or 6 digits: 2003
    DZ4 or Z4 + 5 or 6 digits: 2004
    DZ5 or Z5 + 5 or 6 digits: 2005
    DZ6 or Z6 + 5 or 6 digits: 2006
    DZ7 or Z7 + 5 or 6 digits: 2007
    DZ8 or Z8 + 5 or 6 digits: 2008
    DZ9 or Z9 + 5 or 6 digits: 2009

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  • img link 2011 Fender Serial Number Date Headstock US

    2010-2024 Fender Serial Numbers:

    "10" prefix followed by a space + 7 digits: Late 2009 - March 2010

    US11 + 6 digits: 2011
    US12 + 6 digits: 2012
    US13 + 6 digits: 2013
    US14 + 6 digits: 2014
    US15 + 6 digits: 2015
    US16 + 6 digits: 2016
    US17 + 6 digits: 2017
    US18 + 6 digits: 2018

    2018: US18 + 6 digits

    2019: US19 + 6 digits

    2020: US20 + 6 digits

    2021: US21 + 6 digits

    2022: US22 + 6 digits

    2023: US23 + 6 digits

    2024: US24 + 6 digits

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Where is the Serial Number or Date Located on a Fender Guitar?

Fender Serial Numbers: Serial numbers can be found on neck plates, bridges, and the headstock. Fender neck plates were selected from large bins and it's difficult to properly date these guitars by neck plate alone.

Fender Dates: Checking the date range can be done by removing the neck of the guitar and checking the butt end of the neck heel for a stamped or written date (See picture for an example). Also, another good way to properly date Fender guitars is to check the components (pots, pickups, body dates). Please refer to an experienced guitar tech or luthier if you are not sure about doing so.

SO WHERE DO I LOOK FOR THE DATES ON MY FENDER GUITAR?

Locations of Fender date codes including neck stamp pot codes and pickup dates

Fender Serial Number Location Examples

Location of Fender Neck Dates and Other Date Codes

WHAT YEAR IS MY FENDER GUITAR?

Serial numbers get you pretty close. Checking the date range can be done by removing the neck of the guitar and checking the butt end of the neck heel for a stamped or written date (See picture for an example). Also, another good way to properly date Fender guitars is to check the components (pots, pickups, body dates). Fender neck plates were selected from large bins and it's difficult to properly date Fender's by neck plate alone. Please refer to an experienced guitar tech or luthier if you are not sure about doing so.

1950's Fender Neck Date, Handwritten in 1956

Example: 1956 Fender Precision Bass Handwritten Neck Date

Fender Neck Heel Date

Checking the date range can be done by removing the neck of the guitar and checking the butt end of the neck heel for a stamped or hand written date.

1950's Fender handwritten body date 1959

Example: 1959 Fender Jazzmaster Fender Body Date 4/59

Fender Body Date

Prior to 1965, Fender had body dates that were handwritten in different cavities of the guitar. Not all guitars had body dates. Also, in the late 1960's, there were short date codes on the body at times.

1970's Fender potentiometer pot codes dating

Example: 8th week of '74 Pot Codes on a 1974 Fender Stratocaster

Fender Components

Another good way to properly date Fender guitars is to check the components (pots, pickups, body dates).

1950's Fender Neck Plate Serial Number

Example: 1958 Fender Musicmaster

Neck Plate

Fender neck plates were selected from large bins and it's difficult to properly date Fender's by neck plate alone.

Fender back of the headstock serial number example

Example: 2006 Fender American VG Stratocaster Fender Peghead Decal "Z6"

Back of Headstock

Here you will see a serial number on the back of the headstock. In this era, you can also use the Fender serial number decoder which can be helpful.

1950 Fender Broadcaster Serial Number bridge plate

EXAMPLE: 1950 Fender Broadcaster with low serial number under 1000.

Bridge Plate

Early Fender Telecasters had serial numbers on the bridge plate. NOTE: There are also reissue Telecasters with bridge plate serial numbers.

1970's Fender pickup date code 1974

EXAMPLE: Fender Pickup Date code, the last two digits are "74" which signifies 1974

Pickup Dates

From the 1960's to the early 1980's pickups had date codes off and on. Especially on gray-bottom pickups like this example.

WHAT MODEL IS MY FENDER GUITAR?

If you are unsure what model your Fender is, please refer to the section below for examples of popular Fender guitars and basses. Popular Fender guitar and bass models include the following:

Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, Jazz Bass, Jaguar, Musicmaster, Duo-Sonic, Mustang, Esquire, Telecaster Thinline, Electric XII, Telecaster Bass, Mustang Bass, Bass VI and more...

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