The Fender Stratocaster Serial Numbers
FFender guitar produced before 1977 had a serial number on the bridgeplate or on the neckplate. These serial numbers are hronological, but there are some inconsitencies.
Actually, these serial numbers were assigned quite randomly grabbed from the bin by assembler. The only way to determine actual date of the guitar dating before CBS is to look at the dates on each part of the instrument (body, neck, pot dates).
Serial numbers from this period can only date the instruments by several years precision, so it's hard to appraise one just by looking at it personally or in photo books.
In years 1957-1958 serial numbers where starting by a "-" sign, or "0" before the number. In 1959-1960 some serial numbers were at the bottom instead of the usual top.
4 to 6 digit Serial Numbers on the Neck plate
| Serial Number | Year |
| 0001 to 6000 | 1954 |
| 6000 to 9000 | 1955 |
| 9000 to 16000 | 1956 |
| 16000 to 25000 | 1957 (some numbers with a "0" or "-" prefix) |
| 25000 to 30000 | 1958 (some numbers with a "0" or "-" prefix) |
| 30000 to 40000 | 1959 |
| 40000 to 58000 | 1960 |
| 55000 to 72000 | 1961 |
| 72000 to 93000 | 1962 |
| 93000 to 99999 | late 1963 to mid 1963 |
L-Series (late 1962 to late 1965) (serial number on neckplate preceded with an "L"):
| Serial Number | Year |
| L00001 to L20000 | late 1962 to late 1963 |
| L20000 to L55000 | 1964 |
| L55000 to L99999 | 1965 |
F-Series (late 1965 to mid-1976) (big script "F" on neckplate below serial number):
| Serial Number | Year |
| 100000 to 110000 | late 1965 |
| 110000 to 200000 | 1966 |
| 180000 to 210000 | 1967 |
| 210000 to 250000 | 1968 |
| 250000 to 280000 | 1969 |
| 280000 to 300000 | 1970 |
| 300000 to 330000 | 1971 |
| 330000 to 370000 | 1972 |
| 370000 to 520000 | 1973 |
| 500000 to 580000 | 1974 |
| 580000 to 690000 | 1975 |
| 690000 to 750000 | 1976 |
Serial Number on Peghead Decal. U.S. made Fenders, starting in mid-1976 has the serial number on the peghead. Note the following number could be off as much as two years. Generally speaking, a "S" prefix equals the 1970's, "E" prefix equals the 1980's, and "N" prefix equals the 1990's. Note "E" and "N" prefix models are sometimes also Japanese-made (see below).
| Serial Number | Year |
| 7600000 ("76" in bold) | 1976-1977 |
| 800000s | 1979-1981 |
| 1000000 to 8000000 | 1976-1981 (7 digits) |
| S100000's-S600000's | 1979-1982 |
| S700000's to S770000's | 1977 |
| S740000's to S800000's | 1978 |
| S810000's to S870000's | 1979 |
| S880000's to S980000's | 1980 |
| S950000's to S990000's | 1981 |
| E000000's to E100000's | 1979-1982 |
| E200000's | 1982 |
| E300000's to E310000's | 1983 |
| E320000's to E390000's | 1984-1985 |
| E400000's | 1984, 1985, 1987 |
| E800000's | 1988-1989 |
| E900000's | 1989-1990 |
| N900000's | 1990 |
| N000000's | 1990-1991 |
| N100000's | 1991 |
| N200000's | 1992 |
| N300000's | 1993 |
| N400000's | 1994 |
| N500000's | 1995 |
| N600000's | 1996 |
| N700000's | 1997 |
| N800000's | 1998 |
| N900000's | 1999 |
Japanese Serial Numbers
| Serial Number | Year |
| JV+ 5 digits | 1982-1984 |
| SQ + 5 digits | 1983-1984 |
| E + 6 digits | 1984-1987 |
| A + 6 digits | 1985-1986 |
| B + 6 digits | 1985-1986 |
| C + 6 digits | 1985-1986 |
| F + 6 digits | 1986-1987 |
| G + 6 digits | 1987-1988 |
| H + 6 digits | 1988-1989 |
| I + 6 digits | 1989-1990 |
| J + 6 digits | 1989-1990 |
| K + 6 digits | 1990-1991 |
| L + 6 digits | 1991-1992 |
| M + 6 digits | 1992-1993 |
| N + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| O + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| P + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| Q + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| S + 6 digits | 1994-1995 |
| T + 6 digits | 1994-1995 |
| U + 6 digits | 1995-1996 |
| N + 5 digits | 1995-1996 |
| V + 6 digits | 1996-1997 |
| Crafted in Japan A + 6 digits | 1997-1998 |
| Crafted in Japan O + 5 digits | 1997-2000 |
| Crafted in Japan P + 5 digits | 1999-2002 |
| Crafted in Japan Q + 5 digits | 2002-2004 |
| Crafted in Japan R + 5 digits | 2004-2005 |
Mexican Made Fenders
| Serial Number | Year |
| MN0+ 5 DIGITS | 1990-1991 |
| MN1+ 5 DIGITS | 1991-1992 |
| MN2+ 5 DIGITS | 1992-1993 |
| MN3+ 5 DIGITS | 1993-1994 |
| MN4+ 5 DIGITS | 1994-1995 |
| MN5+ 5 DIGITS | 1995-1996 |
| MN6+ 5 DIGITS | 1996-1997 |
| MN7+ 5 DIGITS | 1997-1998 |
| MN8+ 5 DIGITS | 1998-1999 |
| MN9+ 5 DIGITS | 1999-2000 |
| MZ0+ 5 DIGITS | 2000-2001 |
| MZ1+ 5 DIGITS | 2001-2002 |
| MZ2+ 5 DIGITS | 2002-2003 |
| MZ3+ 5 DIGITS | 2003-2004 |
| MZ4+ 5 DIGITS | 2004-2005 |
| MZ5+ 5 DIGITS | 2005-2006 |
