Fender Serial Numbers

Here is a nearly comprehensive list of Fender serial numbers to help you with how to date a Fender guitar. Keep in mind that Fender serial numbers are not necessarily consecutive and easily swapped out using only a screwdriver. The serial number on a Fender guitar can be a quick and easy way to begin the process of dating your Fender guitar. 

You can use this list of Fender serial numbers for an easy serial number lookup, then go further into dating your Fender guitar with a Fender guitar expert. As a Fender guitar expert, I can help you date your Fender guitar with neck and body dates, potentiometer codes, and more importantly the features. Here are some model specific articles on Fender guitar dating:

How to date a Fender Stratocaster

How to date a Fender Jazzmaster

How to date a Fender Jaguar

Fender Serial Numbers on the bridge plate

Some of the earliest Fender serial numbers were applied to the bridge plate on the Fender Broadcaster, Fender (no model name, often called the Nocaster), and Fender Esquire. You can find these serial numbers on the metal plate in the middle of the body between the pickup and where the strings attached. I am looking for Fender guitars in this serial number range applied to the bridge plate so you can contact me here to sell a Fender guitar.

0001 – 0999 1950, 1951, 1952

1000 – 5300 1952, 1953, 1954

You can contact me here if you have a guitar with this Fender serial number range: Sell a Fender guitar.

Fender Serial Numbers on the neck plate

Fender serial numbers started being applied on the back of the guitar on the neck plate in 1954. Remember that these serial numbers are on a metal plate that is easily swapped for a different plate with only a screwdriver so they're not the only way to date a Fender guitar. If your neck plate has a serial number with more than six digits then it was not made in the 1960s. I am looking for Fender guitars in this serial number range so you can contact me here to sell a Fender guitar.

0001   –   8000 1954
6000   – 10000 1955
9000   – 16000 1956
16000 – 25000 1957 0 or – prefix possible
25000 – 30000 1958 0 or – prefix possible
30000 – 40000 1959
40000 – 58000 1960
55000 – 72000 1961
72000 – 93000 1962
93000 – 99999 1963

Fender serial numbers preceded by an "L"

L00001 – L20000 1963
L20000 – L55000 1964
L55000 – L99999 1965

Fender serial numbers with large "F" underneath

100000 – 110000 1965
110000 – 200000 1966
180000 – 210000 1967
210000 – 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

Fender serial numbers on the headstock:

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.

S76xxxxx 1976
S77xxxxx 1977
S78xxxxx 1978
S79xxxxx 1979
E80xxxxx 1980
E81xxxxx 1981
E82xxxxx 1982