Dating Fender Guitars

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
JV + 5 digits	1982-1984
SQ + 5 digits	1983-1984
E + 6 digits	1984-1987
A + 6 digits	1985-1986
B + 6 digits	1985-1986
C + 6 digits	1985-1986
F + 6 digits	1986-1987
G + 6 digits	1987-1988
H + 6 digits	1988-1989
I + 6 digits	1989-1990
J + 6 digits	1989-1990
K + 6 digits	1990-1991
L + 6 digits	1991-1992
M + 6 digits	1992-1993
N + 6 digits	1993-1994
O + 6 digits	1993-1994
P + 6 digits	1993-1994
Q + 6 digits	1993-1994
S + 6 digits	1994-1995
T + 6 digits	1994-1995
U + 6 digits	1995-1996
N + 5 digits	1995-1996
V + 6 digits	1996-1997

In 1997, Fender transitioned to a serial number decal that included the words “Crafted in Japan” above the serial number.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
Crafted in Japan A + 6 digits	1997-1998
Crafted in Japan O + 6 digits	1997-2000
Crafted in Japan P + 6 digits	1999-2002
Crafted in Japan Q + 6 digits	2002-2004
Crafted in Japan R + 6 digits	2004-2005
Crafted in Japan S + 6 digits	2006-2008
Crafted in Japan T + 6 digits	2007-2008

2007 was another transitional year for Japanese-made Fender instruments, with the return to the “Made in Japan” country-of-origin identifier on the serial number decal. This was a running change, and both “Made in Japan” and “Crafted in Japan” decals appear on instruments from 2007 and 2008.

SERIAL NUMBERS	PRODUCTION YEAR
Made in Japan T + 6 digits	2007-2010
Made in Japan U + 6 digits	2010-2011

Guitar Serial Dating Pages: