Fender Serial Numbers Codes

Small under the Fender spaghetti logo on the headstock of the guitar. On later Fender JV models, the 'MADE IN JAPAN' can be found on the heel of the guitar neck, just above the metal neck plate. All Fender JV models had the serial numbers engraved into either the neck plate or bridge. Many also have.

Fender-Squier history in short
Jerome Bonaparte Squier and his son Victor Carroll Squier, two English immigrants who started a violin building and repair company in Boston in 1881.
In 1890 Victor opened a store in Battle Creek and a short time later
a violin factory at 427 Capital Ave SW. (V.C. Squier Company) Violin, banjo
and guitar strings were also produced here.
In the early 1950s the company also started making strings for the electric guitars of Leo Fender and became in 1963 an official supplier for Fender Electric Instruments. In 1965, shortly before the acquisition of Fender by CBS, Fender purchased V.C. Squier Company.
Before the Fender Squier line of guitars was introduced in 1982, Fender made cheaper guitars such as the Fender Lead series at its plant in
Fullerton, California.
Until the introduction of the Fender Squier series, Fender had never produced low-priced guitars based on the Stratocaster and Telecaster models. He had always used different model designs for the cheaper models.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fender was faced with competition from cheaper Japanese guitars.
Japanese labor and production costs were much lower than in America, and to compete with, Fender moved the cheaper Fender guitar production from America to Japan.
 Sales in Japan were disappointing, Fender could not compete with Japanese competitors such as Tökai and Greco.
Fender started negotiations with various Japanese distributors of musical instruments and reached an agreement with Yamano
Gakki and Kanda Shokai to found Fender Japan.
One of the conditions of the agreement was that Kanda Shokai
stops producing its own Greco Fender guitars.
Negotiations with Tökai were broken off and FujiGen Gakki was chosen.
The first Squier models appeared in August 1982.
Over time, the Squier series has slowly evolved and contains
original model designs. The production has also been moved from Japan to various other Asian countries such as Korea, China, Indonesia and India.

Victor Carroll Squier

courtesy of pianowow

Neither the date nor the value can be determined from the serial number. Fender’s amps, unlike their guitars, are not tracked by the serial number. In order to date a Fender amp or provide the value, you need to know one of the below:

* The 2 letter date code rubber stamped on the Tube Chart, or

* The 2 letter date code on the QA Sticker, or

* The Transformer Number that starts with “606-XX-XX”, with the 3 or 4 Xs being the unknown numbers that need to be provided by the owner of the amplifier asking the question.

Fender Guitar Serial Number Code

NOTE: The transformer number tells you when the transformer was made and not necessarily the date the amplifier left the Fender Factory, the “2 Letter” date code on the Tube Chart or QA Sticker actually tells you that and that makes it the most accurate option for dating the month and year it was made....

Fender Serial Numbers Lookup

The type of face, grille cloth, type and number of speakers, type and number of knobs, etc. only come into play when you’re trying to value the amplifier in the Blue Book for Guitar Amplifiers per the model description that is provided. They are not of a concern with dating as only the 2 letter date codes on whichever chart or sticker and the transformer number comes into play for that.... There are other ways but the above is a more accurate method.

Per Blue Book and Fender Consumer Relations Department. For more information, please visit this site: Fender Support

Fender guitar serial number lookup

kcbuck

Fender Serial Numbers Codes Lookup

So... what do you think? Please leave me a comment.

Kcbuck isa master administrator and an all time top contributor at My Guitar Buddies.

Fender Serial Numbers Telecaster

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26 Comments:

Fender Serial Number Decoder

  • Vale:It seems like this question comes up quite often. Did Fender have any reason for using this method over the serial number?
  • kcbuck:Evidently they did, or why would they have used it?
  • kcbuck:That’s what I’m here for just ask The Bonehead.
    Bubba Doll
  • joe:You can date a Fender amp by serial number:
    http://www.superiormusic.com/page195.htm
    At the very least, it’s one more bit of data to add to the mix.
  • kcbuck:No.... You need one of the following;
    1. The 2 letter date code rubber stamped on the Tube Chart, or
    2. The 2 letter date code on the QA Sticker, or
    3. The Transformer Number that starts with “606-XX-XX”, with the 3 or 4 Xs numbers being the date code when the transformer was made and not necessarily when the amp was made.
    Just exactly as indicated in the blog post above. Did you read it first?
  • joe:Yes, I read it. Instead of repeating yourself, why don’t you explain why the link I posted is inaccurate? That would be very helpful.
  • kcbuck:Well Dah!!!! You have to select what you’re looking for in the pull down menu to the right and go from there through the various categories. Did you think it read your mind or something?
  • joe:'That’s what I’m here for just ask The Bonehead.'
    Very appropriate name. I’m out.
  • kcbuck:She earned that name and answers to it too. She is a sweetie most of the times and my favorite aggravation, just like the kids.
  • Luca:I have a Fender hot rod deville 410, serial B170582 Made in mexico, type PR 247. What are the dating and value? Thanks a lot. Luca. Italy
  • kcbuck:This is a blog post and I will not answer dating questions in a blog post. Therefore, you’ll have to create a question by clicking on 'Ask A Question' and provide the make, model, and one of the below 3 listed items in order to date the amp;
    * The 2 letter date code rubber stamped on the Tube Chart, or
    * The 2 letter date code on the QA Sticker, or
    * The Transformer Number that starts with “606-XX-XX”, with the 3 or 4 additional numbers.
  • Mikey T:Super reverb NK
    Transforme 605-4-20
    Above that acode # 125C1A
    Serial no.A05897
    The transformer looks like its been replaced
    This is believed to be a black face 1964 Super Reverb
  • kcbuck:It was born in the 20 week of 1964. If you post a picture, I can confirm the model.
  • Mikey T:Age
  • Mikey T:Email correction
  • kcbuck:Open a new post by clicking on the icon in the upper right hand corner of the opening page, select a forum, write your post and at the bottom where you write your post there is an option to 'Add a Photo'. Click on that button and navigate to where your photo is and insert it into your post.
  • Billy:I am trying to date my Fender Vibrolux
    serial # AB 011158
    Any help would be greatly appreciated
    Thanks In advance
    Bill
  • kcbuck:This is a blog post and I will not answer dating questions in a blog post. Therefore, you’ll have to create a question by clicking on 'Ask A Question' and provide the make, model, and one of the below 3 listed items in order to date the amp;
    * The 2 letter date code rubber stamped or hand written on the Tube Chart,
    * The 2 letter date code on the QA Sticker, and/or
    * The Transformer Number that starts with “606-XX-XX”, with the 3 or 4 additional numbers.
  • T.H.Smith:I am trying to determine the worth of my Super 60 Fender Amp. The model # LL66385 SN# LO 106926 Fender Musical Instruments The Numbers on the silver & black sticker I cannot read & doesn’t show up on a photo.
  • kcbuck:T>H>:
    The Fender Super, which is a 60W tube amp has a current listed resale value of:
    Exc. Cond: $$650.00 to $800.00 USD
    Ave. Cond: $475.00 to $500.00 USD
    Please put any future question in a post and not piggy-backing onto any blog posts. FYI: It was made between 1992 and 1995.
    Regards,
    kcbuck - Texas Boy
  • Loren:In all of these amp dating sites they do not list the 'Ultra Chorus PR 204'. The serial # is LO-627197 the # on the QA sticker is CJ 316290...any ideas?
  • kcbuck:Loren:
    Your amplifier was made in October of 1992 per the 2-Letter Date Code.