Lookup fender serial number 10
In March 1985, CBS sold Fender to a group of private investors. The serial numbers do not reflect this change - Fender continued to make instruments using existing serial number schemes. The new Fender did not acquire any physical assets of the old company, just the name Fender. Hence during 1985 to 1987, production of Fender guitars was only done in Japan, while USA Fender created a new factory in California. The Japanese-made Fenders do have some slight serial number differences (typically a J serial number prefix). N9 + 5 digits = 1990 N0 + 5 digits = N1 + 5 or 6 digits = N2 + 5 or 6 digits = N3 + 5 or 6 digits = N4 + 5 or 6 digits = N5 + 5 or 6 digits = N6 + 5 or 6 digits = N7 + 5 or 6 digits = N8 + 5 or 6 digits = N9 + 5 or 6 digits = DZ0 or Z0 + 5/6 digits = 2000 DZ1 or Z1 + 5/6 digits = 2001 DZ2 or Z2 + 5/6 digits = 2002 DZ3 or Z3 + 5/6 digits = 2003 DZ4 or Z4 + 5/6 digits = 2004 DZ5 or Z5 + 5/6 digits = 2005 Japanese Serial Numbers on Peghead Decal Note the lack of S, E, N series. These are reserved for U. S. made Fenders in their corresponding decade. BUT note that the E and N series does sometimes appear on made in Japan models. I believe this was a mistake on Fender's part using the same prefix for both U. S. and Jap-made guitars. In any case, if it says made in Japan, then it is. JV + 5 Digits = 1982 to 1984 SQ + 5 Digits = 1983 to 1984 E + 6 Digits = 1984 to 1987 A + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986 B + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986 C + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986 F + 6 Digits = 1986 to 1987 G + 6 Digits = 1987 to 1988 H + 6 Digits = 1988 to 1989 I + 6 Digits = 1989 to 1990 J + 6 Digits = 1989 to 1990 K + 6 Digits = 1990 to 1991 L + 6 Digits = 1991 to 1992 M + 6 Digits = 1992 to 1993 N + 6 Digits = 1993 to 1994 O + 6 Digits = 1994 to 1995 P + 6 Digits = 1995 to 1996 Other.
DATING EARLY FENDER AMPLIFIERS Dating early Fender amplifiers is sometimes quite challenging. While dating Fender amps made before 1994 by serial number is all but impossible (as records of these numbers were never kept all hope is not lost—the charts below should prove helpful in dating your Fender amp. First, it will be useful to you to understand the following five terms in order to choose the correct chart for dating your amp: Silverface, Blackface and Brownface are slang terms used to identify Fender amplifiers based on the color of the control panel (these terms are often misconstrued to refer to the color of the grille cloth). Tolex is the textured vinyl material that covers the amp; offered in many different colors and textures over the years. Tweed refers to the two-tone woven fabric that covered many early amplifiers. On early amps, this material was varnished to make it a more durable covering. Several different types, in vertical and diagonal weaves, were used. Please note that it’s quite difficult to precisely determine the production date of early Fender amps. Although the dates derived using the charts below will likely be a good approximation, they should not be considered exact. DATING CONTEMPORARY FENDER AMPLIFIERS All Fender amplifiers manufactured from 1990 to the present include a date code, printed on the quality assurance ( QA) sticker on the back of the amp chassis. This black-and-silver sticker contains several lines for “sign-offs” on completion of sound and electrical testing. The final line contains a date code of two printed or handwritten letters denoting the amplifier’s production date by year (the first letter) and month (the second letter). In the table below, for example, a “ CE” date code indicates a production date of May 1992. YEAR MONTH 1990 A January A 1991 B February B 1992 C March C 1993 D April D 1994 E May E 1995 F June F.
Our serial number guide shows approximate date of manufacture. For all dates, you will need to look at the construction technique and components used to get a more precise idea of the date of manufacture. SERIAL NUMBERS and APPROXIMATE PRODUCTION DATES 1950's to 1964 Serial Number Date Range Up to to 1954 Up to 10, to 1956 10,000s 1955 to 1956 10,000s to 20,000s,000s to 30,000s,000s to 40,000s,000s to 50,000s,000s to 70,000s,000s to 90,000s,000s to 90,000s,000s up to L10,000s 1963 L10,000s up to L20,000s 1963 L20,000s up to L50,000s 1964 In early 1965, Fender was sold to the CBS. The old Fender serial number scheme did not change immediately as CBS to use up existing parts and use existing tooling however a large F logo was added to the neck plate shortly after the accquisition. SERIAL NUMBERS and APPROXIMATE PRODUCTION DATES 1965 to 1976 Serial Number Date Range L50,000s up to L90,000s,000s,000s to 200,000s 1966 to 1967 200,000s,000s to 300,000s 1969 to 1970 300,000s 1971 to 1972 300,000s to 500,000s,000s to 500,000s 1974 to 1975 500,000s to 700,000s 1976 There were numerous serial number schemes used after 1976. Here are the most common schemes. Serial Number Date Range 76 + 5 DIGITS S6 + 7 + 5 DIGITS S8 + 7 + 5 DIGITS S8 + 5 DIGITS S9 + 9 + 5 DIGITS E0 + 9 + 5 DIGITS E0 + 5 DIGITS E1 + 9 + 5 DIGITS E0 + 5 DIGITS E1 + In 1982 the Vintage Series of guitars was introduced. The vintage series used a V prefix in serial numbers. Perhaps the best way to date the Vintage series is to carefully remove the necek and check the bottom of the neck for a production date. Serial Number Date Range EI + 5 DIGITS E2 + 5.