1. Fender Strat Plus Serial Numbers
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3. Fender Stratocaster Serial Number Search

There's nothing like playing a genuine Fender electric guitar—the sound that both created and redefined musical possibilities. Learn more about Fender electric guitars. Fender was sold to CBS in January 1965. Serial numbering didn’t change immediately because instruments continued to be made using existing, tooling, parts and serial number schemes. The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. Fender telecaster serial number z9. Williston Forge 'Fender Stratocaster Guitar' Blueprint Graphic Art in White Grid/Blue Ink Item: WYF51.

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DATING YOUR MEXICAN-MADE FENDER INSTRUMENT Fender began producing instruments in its Ensenada, Mexico, factory in 1990. Instruments made between 1990 and 2000 carry “MN” prefix serial numbers, with the “M” designating Mexico and the “N” designating the 1990s. The numbers for each year typically overlap, as there is always a transitional period between successive years and as necks that are made and serial numbered late in any given year are used on instruments assembled in the early months of the following year. SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES MN0 + 5 or 6 digits 1990-1991 MN1 + 5 or 6 digits 1991-1992 MN2 + 5 or 6 digits 1992-1993 MN3 + 5 or 6 digits 1993-1994 MN4 + 5 or 6 digits 1994-1995 MN5 + 5 or 6 digits 1995-1996 MN6 + 5 or 6 digits 1996-1997 MN7 + 5 or 6 digits 1997-1998 MN8 + 5 or 6 digits 1998-1999 MN9 + 5 or 6 digits 1999-2000 At the end of 1999, the serial numbers transitioned from an “MN” prefix to an “MZ” prefix with the “M” designating Mexico and the “Z” designating the 2000s. SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES MZ0 + 5 or 6 digits 2000-2001 MZ1 + 5 or 6 digits 2001-2002 MZ2 + 5 or 6 digits 2002-2003 MZ3 + 5 or 6 digits 2003-2004 MZ4 + 5 or 6 digits 2004-2005 MZ5 + 5 or 6 digits 2005-2006 MZ6 + 5 or 6 digits 2006-2007 MZ7 + 5 or 6 digits 2007-2008 MZ8 + 5 or 6 digits 2008-2009 MZ9 + 5 or 6 digits 2009-2010 A new serial-numbering scheme was adopted toward the end of 2009 using the number “10” as a prefix, followed by a space, followed by seven digits.

The “10” prefix was designed to identify the first year of the second decade of the new millennium, and while it appears on the instrument decals, it was not captured in Fender’s operating system. Only the seven-digit suffixes were actually entered into the database. These serial numbers did not identify the country of origin in the body of the number. Instead, the instrument’s country of origin appears on the decal on the back of the headstock, near the serial number. This new numbering scheme was short-lived and was replaced only a few months later by an improved scheme that identifies an instrument’s country of origin and year of manufacture in the body of the serial number. This new scheme uses the letters “MX” as a prefix to designate an instrument made in Mexico, followed by an eight-digit number. The first two digits of the number identify the year of manufacture, (10 for 2010, 11 for 2011, etc.).

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The following six digits are the unit identifier, although it should be noted that these final six numbers are not sequential and do not provide any other identification information about the instrument. This new scheme is now used on the majority of Fender instruments made in Mexico, with certain exceptions. SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES “10” prefix followed by a space and eight digits Late 2009 through approximately March 2010 MX10 + 6 digits 2010-2011 MX11 + 6 digits 2011-2012 MX12 + 6 digits 2012-2013 MX13 + 6 digits 2013-2014 MX14 + 6 digits 2014-2015 MX15 + 6 digits 2015-2016 MX16 + 6 digits 2016-2017 MX17 + 6 digits 2017-2018 EXCEPTIONS The Jim Root Telecaster, James Burton Standard Telecaster, Buddy Guy Stratocaster (polka dot model), Robert Cray Stratocaster and Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster use an “MSN” serial number prefix. Note: in October 2010, some artist models switched to the new “MX10” numbering scheme. The Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster and Duff McKagan P Bass use an “MSZ” serial number prefix.

The Reggie Hamilton and Frank Bello Jazz basses used an “MX” serial number prefix before the 2010 change. California Series electric guitars and basses from 1997 and 1998 use an “AMXN” prefix and share U.S./Mexico origin.

Korean Squiers CN/VN: C = Cor-Tek (Cort), V = Saehan(Sunghan), S was already taken by Samick so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year. For example 'CN5' = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1995. 'VN5' = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1995. KC/KV: KC (Korean Cor-Tek (Cort)) and KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year.

For example 'KC97' = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1997. 'KV97' = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1997.

KC and KV serial number prefixes are usually used on Crafted in Korea Squiers. S/E: The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s. S = Samick, E = Young Chang, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars 3. The first number following the serial number prefix is the year.

For example 'S9' = made by Samick in 1989. 'E0' = made by Sung-Eum in 1990. 'E1' = made by Sung-Eum in 1991.

There were also Korean Squier serials with no serial number prefix and 6 or 7 numbers and the first number is the year. Some early 90's examples held a serial number with the prefix M followed by 7 numerals, featured the a high gloss maple neck with a slimmer 40mm body made from plywood. So mine was made in '93 right?

VN354061 The same model Eddy Van Halen had? Korean Squiers CN/VN: C = Cor-Tek (Cort), V = Saehan(Sunghan), S was already taken by Samick so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars), N = Nineties (1990s), the first number following the serial number prefix is the year. For example 'CN5' = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1995. 'VN5' = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1995.

KC/KV: KC (Korean Cor-Tek (Cort)) and KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)), the serial number prefix is followed by a 2 number year. For example 'KC97' = made by Cor-Tek (Cort) in 1997. 'KV97' = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1997. KC and KV serial number prefixes are usually used on Crafted in Korea Squiers. S/E: The S and E serial number prefix Korean Squiers are from the late 1980s/early 1990s.

S = Samick, E = Young Chang, E letter serial numbers were used on Young Chang's Fenix brand guitars 3. The first number following the serial number prefix is the year. For example 'S9' = made by Samick in 1989. 'E0' = made by Sung-Eum in 1990. 'E1' = made by Sung-Eum in 1991. There were also Korean Squier serials with no serial number prefix and 6 or 7 numbers and the first number is the year. Some early 90's examples held a serial number with the prefix M followed by 7 numerals, featured the a high gloss maple neck with a slimmer 40mm body made from plywood.

So mine was made in '93 right? VN354061 The same model Eddy Van Halen had? Click to expand.Probably not one Eddy 'had', the one in the auction was probably one that was signed by him for sale. If you go to a lot of bars that are music venues you will see a lot of Squiers on display that are signed by famous musicians. Often these musicians don't even play Fenders, let alone Squiers. They use Squiers for the promo-signatures because they are inexpensive.

It is kinda like the framed prints you see of sports people with knock-off jerseys. You will also often see signed Squiers like this for sale on eBay or Craigslist. Usually they don't really sell for that much more than what a used Squier does. It totally depends on how famous the person is who signed it, and often how elaborate the mounting/framing, etc. If you search online you can find a lot of places that sell music memorabilia like this.

Click to expand.Plywood Korean Squier's were those from the 80's NOT the 90's. While the bodies on 90's Korean Squiers may be made up of two or more piece wood (just like American made Strats since the 50's) these are still considered 'solid' wood, not plywood.

Pro Tone models (his is not one) had one-piece Ash bodies. I have read in a few authoritative Squier / Fender blogs that since Japanese Squier products had been stopped by Fender due to excessive labor costs (and probably because the.

guitars were better than the American made ones), Fender decided to upgrade the quality of Korean Squire's in the 90's to best as cheap quality Squier's were to be made in India, Indonesia and China (though some Taiwanese (a Y in the SN) made Squiers are reported to be as good as the Korean models. I'm still doing research on what wood types were used by each of the 80's 90's Korean factories.

If anyone knows of any authoritative sites or books, please let me know. Plywood Korean Squier's were those from the 80's NOT the 90's.

While the bodies on 90's Korean Squiers may be made up of two or more piece wood (just like American made Strats since the 50's) these are still considered 'solid' wood, not plywood. Pro Tone models (his is not one) had one-piece Ash bodies. I have read in a few authoritative Squier / Fender blogs that since Japanese Squier products had been stopped by Fender due to excessive labor costs (and probably because the. guitars were better than the American made ones), Fender decided to upgrade the quality of Korean Squire's in the 90's to best as cheap quality Squier's were to be made in India, Indonesia and China (though some Taiwanese (a Y in the SN) made Squiers are reported to be as good as the Korean models. I'm still doing research on what wood types were used by each of the 80's 90's Korean factories. If anyone knows of any authoritative sites or books, please let me know.

Click to expand.not quite all the way correct here. During the 80s squiers were made in japan, starting around 87 they were made in korea too, the E serial squiers made around 1987-1989 have soild wood bodies, however the S, VN, CN serials following from 1989-1995 and these mostly have laminate wood bodies. Some solid wood slipped though on the S VN and CN but most are laminate. 1996-1998 are the protones, and you are correct they are ash, but most are not one piece, most are very nicely matched two piece bodies some are three piece bodies I think. From 1997-1998, you are correct, the late 90s korea squiers the bodies are solid wood, and have better hardware then the early 90s korea squiers. Click to expand.Yea, there seems to be a fair amount of conflicting info on which ones are 'plywood' and which aren't. I wish Fender would settle this issue, but they are so screwed up, I doubt they kept records on what materials were used in the 80's and 90's off-shore production (probably not even now, as well).

I read on several Squier sites that ALL the Squier II's are plywood bodies, aren't those all 80's models? I didn't mean to include the Japanese Squier's in the 'plywood' group. I have a couple SQ and JV Squiers and two mid 80's Japanese made Strats marked as regular Stratocasters 'Made in USA'. They indeed are all solid or book-ended full wood bodies and they are better quality than any late 80's Corona made Strats.

You made one error in your listings though. Vester was an American Guitar brand owned by a company from Effingham, Illinois near Chicago, NOT a manufacturer from Korea. Saehan (Sunghan) made the Vesters for that company and Saehan does not own the name Vester.

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I'm originally from Chicago and owned a few Vesters. I demo'd the Vester's for the company at a few music conventions like NAMM from 1989 through 1991.

Nice people (I didn't pay for the Vester guitars, VVG guitars, higher quality than the Fender Squiers which is saying alot) Ref - Still looking for a definitive answer for what the wood type is on my 97 Saehan (Sunghan) 'KV' Squier Strat HSS. Anyone know of a answer site, please let me know.