Fender Serial Numbers

Also See Gibson Serial Numbers

0000-0600
0601-9999

00001-20000
20001-50000
50001-99999

L00001-L99999
100000-199999
200000-399999
400000-599999
600000-999999

0000000-9999999
S000000-S999999

E000000-E999999
E00000-E99999

F000000-F999999
F00000-F99999

G000000-G999999
G00000-G99999

V000000-V999999

pre 1956
pre 1960

1954-1957
1957-1961
1959-1963

1962-1965
1965-1967
1966-1973
1966-1975
1972-1982

1976-1982
1976-1982

1980-forward
1980-forward

1982-forward

The serial number is usually found on the neck/body plate, bridge plate, or on the headstock itself. They were first located on the back plate of the tremolo but were moved to the neck/body plate in mid 1954. A quick look at them you'll find the following. You'll notice some overlap in the times for various serial numbers.

There are many Fender necks that have the date stamped on them. You'll find it on the bottom of the neck. On some of the old one they are actually penciled in. You may have to actually remove the neck to see the number. Depending on the neck you may only have to remove the pickguard to see most of the date code.

More Info: Fender Stratocaster

Fender Serial Numbers and Dates
Serial #	Year	Serial #	Year	Serial #	Year
Up to 6000	1950-1954	80,000s to 90,000s	1963	300,000s	1971 to 1972
Up to 10,000	1954-1956	90,000s up to L10,000s	1963	300,000s to 500,000s	1973
10,000s	1955-1956	L10,000s up to L20,000s	1963	400,000s to 500,000s	1974-1975
10,000s to 20,000s	1957	L20,000s up to L50,000s	1964	500,000s to 700,000s	1976
20,000s to 30,000s	1958	L50,000s up to L90,000s	1965* (CBS Takeover)	*Change of date format	1976
30,000s to 40,000s	1959	100,000s	1965	.	.
40,000s to 50,000s	1960	100,000s to 200,000s	1966-1967	.	.
50,000s to 70,000s	1961	200,000s	1968	.	.
60,000s to 90,000s	1962	200,000s to 300,000s	1969-1970	.	.

Serial #	Year	Serial #	Year
76 + 5 DIGITS S6 + 5 DIGITS	1976	E8 + 5 DIGITS E9 + 5 DIGITS	1989
S7 + 5 DIGITS S8 + 5 DIGITS	1977	E9 + 5 DIGITS N9 + 5 DIGITS N0 + 5 DIGITS	1990
S7 + 5 DIGITS S8 + 5 DIGITS S9 + 5 DIGITS	1978	E9 + 5 DIGITS N9 + 5 DIGITS N0 + 5 DIGITS	1991
S9 + 5 DIGITS E0 + 5 DIGITS	1979	N1 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1992
S9 + 5 DIGITS E0 + 5 DIGITS E1 + 5 DIGITS	1980	N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1993
S9 + 5 DIGITS E0 + 5 DIGITS E1 + 5 DIGITS	1981	N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1994
EI + 5 DIGITS E2 + 5 DIGITS E3 + 5 DIGITS	1982 (In 1982 a seperate "V" series of #s were designated for the US Vintage series)	N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1995
E2 + 5 DIGITS E3 + 5 DIGITS	1983	N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1996
E3 + 5 DIGITS E4 + 5 DIGITS	1984	N6 + 6 or 6 DIGITS N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1997
E3 + 5 DIGITS E4 + 5 DIGITS	1985* (Fender sold by CBS)	N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1998
E4 + 5 DIGITS	1986-1987	N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS N9 + 5 or 6 DIGITS	1999
E4 + 5 DIGITS E8 + 5 DIGITS	1988	.	.