This post is for any of you who have used the Fender's serial number lookup page and would like to know what all the abbreviations and/or acronyms mean when you look up your guitar. (PS: the Fender lookup is a great resource, but it won't cover vintage instruments. For that, you can see our serial number database, which covers Fender and many other brands.) I will be adding to this list regularly. PLEASE see more info at bottom of page that explains how the Fender lookup works!
2. There may be more than one abbreviation for the same term. If a term is not abbreviated (i.e., “BAJA” = Baja) then it won’t appear here. Note the Fender site abbreviates terms for space. So in a long name “Deluxe” may appear as “DLX.” While in a shorter name it may be spelled out “DELUXE.”
3. Though abbreviations show some consistency, it appears Fender employees make them up as needed and don’t follow an established company list.
How To Date Your Fender Guitar: Serial Numbers Neck Dates & Components
PS: Here are a few I've seen that I can't figure out. If you know what they mean, please put in comments below:
If your serial is in the database, it will tell you the date of manufacture, and it is especially helpful when you want to know the official name of the finish on your guitar (i.e., SOT = sunset transparent orange, SNB = sonic blue, etc.--there are so many!)
Note: if your serial number does not produce a result, it DOES NOT necessarily mean your guitar is not a real Fender. The database is by no means comprehensive. At that point, you should contact Fender support and ask them about your serial.
Beyond Serial Numbers: How To Date A Stratocaster?
This post took hours to compile and will help you make sense of the many abbreviations Fender uses. For instance if you were to look up your guitar's serial number, it might give you the model name as, FSR USA NITRO SAT STRAT MN HBST.
Important hint: look at the model number on the page, often you can click on it, and it will take you to a full product sheet with all specs. But the site will not always provide this, and knowing the naming abbreviations can tell you a lot about your instrument.
So anytime you are looking at a used Fender, take the time to look it up on their website. If you know an abbreviation I missed, by all means, let me know in the comments section below. Good luck!One way to find out how old is my Fender guitar is check the serial number against the Fender serial number records. The following is a nearly comprehensive list of Fender guitar serial numbers for Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jazzmasters, and Jaguars made from 1950 until the 1980s. Keep in mind that Fender serial numbers are not necessarily consecutive and the plates are easily swapped out using only a screwdriver. You can begin to date your Fender guitar by checking the serial number, then move on to the model specific pages for a more thorough view on the year your guitar was made.
Jackson Serial Number Lookup Usa & Japan Guitars! How To Date & Identi
How to use the Fender serial number lookup to find out how old is your Fender guitar: First find the location of the serial number. Check the back of the body on the metal plate in the middle (this is the neck plate). If nothing, then look on the front of the guitar in the center of the body where the strings attach (this is the bridge plate). If nothing, look on the front or the back of the headstock near the tuners. Second, decide if the serial number begins with a letter prefix. You'll need both the location of the number and the letter prefix (or lack thereof) to use the serial number lookup below.
Fender serial numbers from 1950 until 1955 are different than later numbers in that they are model or style specific. The Broadcaster, Esquire, and Telecaster have one set, the Precision Bass its own set, and the Stratocaster an entirely different set. I am looking for nice examples of each model of Fender guitars made in the 1950s. Let me know if you're considering selling one a Stratocaster, Telecaster, or Precision Bass from this time period: Sell a Fender .
Fender began stamping serial numbers on the metal plate on the back of the body in 1954. This serial number range is appropriate for dating Stratocasters, Telecasters, Jazzmasters from 1958 onward, and Jaguars from 1962 on. Remember that the plates are easily swapped for another plate using only a screwdriver, so it's only the first step in dating a vintage Fender guitar. If your neck plate has a serial number with more than six digits then it was not made in the 1950s or 1960s. Some of the earliest Stratocasters have a four digit serial number on the white plastic tremolo plate cover on the back of the body. I am looking for Fender guitars in the following serial number range so you can contact me here to sell a Fender guitar .
Offset Serial Number On My Mim
Fender serial numbers preceded by an L: Fender guitars made between 1963 and 1965 have a letter L preceding the serial number. The actual year of manufacture can range wildly during this time period, so it's important to check the model specific pages to accurately date Fender guitars with L serials.
Fender serial numbers with large F underneath: Leo Fender sold his company to CBS in 1965. The new owners instituted a mostly consecutive serialization system comprised of 6 digits and a large stylized F underneath. The F neck plate style was the location of Fender serial numbers from 1965 until 1976.
Fender began applying the serial numbers to the headstock instead of the neck plate in 1976. The serial number scheme usually began with a letter prefix to indicate the decade then a series of numbers. An S indicates 1970s, E indicates 1980s, and N = 1990s. The first digit after the prefix usually indicates the year but there is plenty of overlap. While the first two digits following the letter prefix is supposed to be the year it was made, some were made the following year or even 2 years after. I recommend dating these guitars with the neck date and potentiometer codes.
What Guitar Is This? Serial Number Lookup Didn't Work.
E.g. E2 xxxxx = 1982 . There is much overlap during this period, so the serial number is only a ballpark estimate. It's best to use potentiometer codes for a more accurate date.
Fender introduced a new US Vintage series in 1982 using a serial number system consisting of a letter V prefix and four or five following digits. We recommend dating these guitars using the neck heel and potentiometer codes instead of the serial numbers. Some of the earliest US Vintage series Stratocasters can be considered by many players to be vintage collectible guitars at this point.
The 1980s were a strange decade for the Fender company. The quality of imported guitars rose quickly so Fender began marketing less expensive Fender branded guitars manufactured in Japan. Fender's parent company sold the brand in 1984 to a group of investors and closed the Fullerton factory. All Fender guitars were made in Japan from the Fullerton plant closing in 1984 until the Corona plant began operations in 1986.
Help Decoding A Serial Number
Fender opened the Ensenada, Mexico factory in the late 1980s. Serial numbers for these guitars have an M prefix followed by a letter to indicate the decade. For more information on these guitars check out Ensenada from Fuzzfaced. I often get asked, how old is my Fender guitar? Most of the time this question can’t be answered specifically. The Fender numbers tell the story of the company over the years. Unfortunately, the serial number placement is sporadic and many ID numbers over lap between years and models.
In many instances, there is no exact known date for a specific guitar. That is why I decided to write this article. I want to help you understand how to tell the age of your Fender as well as any Fender you see.
Fender like Gibson has been producing guitars for many years. Certain styles and colors have come and gone over the years, but there is no real obvious way to tell how old a Fender is other than the identification number.
How To Date A Fender With Serial Numbers
Unfortunately, Fender decided not to simply write the date of manufacture on the guitar. They decided that it would be easier to decipher the serial number code than just write the year on the guitar. I say this only joking.
Most manufactures don’t actually write the production dates on the guitar in plain view. First let’s take a look at where to find ID numbers on a Fender guitar.
This article is intended to help you date your Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass guitars all the way back to the early 1950s. In order to tell how old your Fender is you will have to find the identification number or neck number. The serial number location has changed a few times of the years. From 1950 to 1954 Fender guitar unique numbers were stamped in the bridge cavity cover plate. From 1954 to 1976 Fender stamped its guitar’s serial number on either the top or bottom of the neck plate.
Gibson Les Paul Serial Numbers
Modern Fender production guitars, 1976
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