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How To Identify The Age Of Your Fender Guitar

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How To Identify The Age Of Your Fender Guitar

Haywire Custom Guitars-Vintage Fender® Serial Number Guitar Identifying Information Chart 

image 1952 Telecaster once owned by Haywire Custom Guitars Front View of Body

1952 Telecaster once owned by Haywire Custom Guitars Front View of Body

 

image 1952 Telecaster once owned by Haywire Custom Guitars Butt End of Neck view

1952 Telecaster once owned by Haywire Custom Guitars Butt End of Neck view

1950’s to 1964

Sometimes it’s good to know how to identify the age of your Fender guitar with Vintage Fender® Serial Number.

 Here are serial numbers and approximate production years 1950’s to 1964 at Fender

Serial Number RangeProduction Years
Up to 6,0001950 to 1954
6,000 to 10,0001954 to 1956
10,000s1957
10,000s to 20,000s1957
20,000s to 30,000s1958
30,000s to 40,000s     1959
40,000s to 50,000s1960
50,000s to 70,000s     1961
60,000s to 90,000s   1962
80,000s to 90,000s1963
90,000s up to L10,000s1963
L10,000s up to L20,000s  1963
L20,000s up to L50,000s   1964
In 1965, Fender was sold to the CBS.  The old Fender serial number lists didn’t change immediately because CBS had to use up existing parts and use existing tooling.  The large “F” logo was added to the neck plates shortly after Fender was purchased.

More From 1950’s to 1964


 More serial numbers and approximate production years 1950’s to 1964 at the Fender factory.

Serial Number RangeProduction Years
L50,000s up to L90,000s1965
100,000s   1965
100,000s to 200,000s1966 to 1967
200,000s1968
200,000s to 300,000s1969 to 1970
300,000s  1971 to 1972
300,000s to 500,000s1973
400,000s to 500,000s    1974 to 1975
500,000s to 700,000s1976

After 1976

After 1976,  There were different serial number lists being used .

 Here are the common ones used :

Serial Number RangeProduction Years
76 + 5 DIGITS
S6 + 5 DIGITS		1976
S7 + 5 DIGITS
S8 + 5 DIGITS		1977
S7 + 5 DIGITS
S8 + 5 DIGITS
S9 + 5 DIGITS  		1978
S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS   		1979
S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS
E1 + 5 DIGITS    		1980
S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS
E1 + 5 DIGITS     		1981

 A Vintage Series of guitars was introduced approx. 1982.  The vintage series had the “V” prefix in the serial numbers
Also, the best way to date the Vintage series is to  remove the neck and look at the bottom of the heel for a manufacturing date. 
Serial Number RangeProduction Years
EI + 5 DIGITS
E2 + 5 DIGITS
E3 + 5 DIGITS
V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series except 1952 Telecaster)		1982 (The Vintage Series, check neck date for exact year)
E2 + 5 DIGITS
E3 + 5 DIGITS
V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series except 1952 Telecaster)     		1983

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year)
E3 + 5 DIGITS
E4 + 5 DIGITS
V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series except 1952 Telecaster)

Ordering From Haywire Custom Guitars

If you would like to order this or any other custom guitar, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your guitar needs.

By | 2019-12-17T07:51:26-05:00 January 24th, 2016|custom guitars, Guitar repair by Haywire Custom Shop, http://haywirecustomguitars.com/services.html|0 Comments

About the Author:

Mr. Rick Mariner Owner and Founder and CEO of Haywire Custom Guitars Inc. He is a member of The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (A.S.I.A.) as well as a guitar player. Rick holds a bachelors degree from University of Md. and a Masters degree from George Washington University. Rick developed his exclusive 8 – Point “Gig- Ready” guitar process that allows for Custom Guitars that are “GIG-READY”. With Rick’s many years of development and guitar set-up experience, Haywire Guitar shop “Builds satisfied players… one Haywire guitar at a time”.

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