Tips to help you accurately date your Fender Japan guitar...
First, you want to determine whether your guitar is from the JV, SQ, MIJ or CIJ series.
Q: What's the difference and how can you tell?
A: The serial number of your guitar will begin with one of the above lettering sequences. Fender Japan used
all of the above lettering sequences for the serial numbering of their guitars and basses over the years, and
knowing this first will help you determine the year of manufacture. These stamps can be found in different
locations on your guitar, so now I'll tell you where you need to look to find these markings...
JV... acronym for 'Japan Vintage' On these guitars you will find the letters 'JV' stamped/engraved into the
neck plate of the Stratocasters and bass guitars and on the bridges of the Telecasters and other guitar
models. There will be 5 numbers also engraved after the 'JV' lettering. Fender 'JV' guitars were only
made from 1982 to 1984. On early Fender JV models, you will also find 'MADE IN JAPAN' written very
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
penciled neck dates (6-14-82) you can only see when the neck is removed from the body of the guitar.
SQ... acronym for 'Squier' These models were made by a different division of Fender and bear the Squier logo
and not the Fender logo. These models have the serial numbering and markings in the same location as
Fender JV guitars, and were made only during the years 1983 to 1984.
MIJ... acronym for 'MADE IN JAPAN' These models spanned the years from 1984 to 1997. You will find the
MADE IN JAPAN stamp on the heel of every guitar's neck, without variation. On Stratocasters and bass
guitars, you will find the serial number just below this stamp, also on the heel of the neck. On Telecasters
and certain other models, you will find the serial number on the bridge. The serial numbers will start with
a letter that corresponds to specific years of production. My chart will help you determine those specifics.
You will not find the MADE IN JAPAN stamp on the headstocks of Fender MIJ guitars.
CIJ... acronym for 'CRAFTED IN JAPAN' These guitars were made from 1997 and are still being manufactured
today. They follow the same serial numbering patterns as the Fender MIJ models.
Please refer to the chart I have provided below in order to pinpoint the exact year your guitar was manufactured...
First, you want to determine whether your guitar is from the JV, SQ, MIJ or CIJ series.
Q: What's the difference and how can you tell?
A: The serial number of your guitar will begin with one of the above lettering sequences. Fender Japan used
all of the above lettering sequences for the serial numbering of their guitars and basses over the years, and
knowing this first will help you determine the year of manufacture. These stamps can be found in different
locations on your guitar, so now I'll tell you where you need to look to find these markings...
JV... acronym for 'Japan Vintage' On these guitars you will find the letters 'JV' stamped/engraved into the
neck plate of the Stratocasters and bass guitars and on the bridges of the Telecasters and other guitar
models. There will be 5 numbers also engraved after the 'JV' lettering. Fender 'JV' guitars were only
made from 1982 to 1984. On early Fender JV models, you will also find 'MADE IN JAPAN' written very
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
penciled neck dates (6-14-82) you can only see when the neck is removed from the body of the guitar.
SQ... acronym for 'Squier' These models were made by a different division of Fender and bear the Squier logo
and not the Fender logo. These models have the serial numbering and markings in the same location as
Fender JV guitars, and were made only during the years 1983 to 1984.
MIJ... acronym for 'MADE IN JAPAN' These models spanned the years from 1984 to 1997. You will find the
MADE IN JAPAN stamp on the heel of every guitar's neck, without variation. On Stratocasters and bass
guitars, you will find the serial number just below this stamp, also on the heel of the neck. On Telecasters
and certain other models, you will find the serial number on the bridge. The serial numbers will start with
a letter that corresponds to specific years of production. My chart will help you determine those specifics.
You will not find the MADE IN JAPAN stamp on the headstocks of Fender MIJ guitars.
CIJ... acronym for 'CRAFTED IN JAPAN' These guitars were made from 1997 and are still being manufactured
today. They follow the same serial numbering patterns as the Fender MIJ models.
Please refer to the chart I have provided below in order to pinpoint the exact year your guitar was manufactured...
| Serial Number | Year of Manufacture | |
| Made in Japan | JV + 5 digit number | 1982-1984 |
| Made in Japan | SQ + 5 digit number | 1983-1984 |
| Made in Japan | E + 6 digit number | 1984-1987 |
| Made in Japan | A + 6 digit number | 1985-1986 |
| Made in Japan | B + 6 digit number | 1985-1986 |
| Made in Japan | C + 6 digit number | 1985-1986 |
| Made in Japan | F + 6 digit number | 1986-1987 |
| Made in Japan | G + 6 digit number | 1987-1988 |
| Made in Japan | H + 6 digit number | 1988-1989 |
| Made in Japan | I + 6 digit number | 1989-1990 |
| Made in Japan | J + 6 digit number | 1989-1990 |
| Made in Japan | K + 6 digit number | 1990-1991 |
| Made in Japan | L + 6 digit number | 1991-1992 |
| Made in Japan | M + 6 digit number | 1992-1993 |
| Made in Japan | N + 6 digit number | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | O + 6 digit number | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | P + 6 digit number | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | Q + 6 digit number | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | S + 6 digit number | 1994-1995 |
| Made in Japan | T + 6 digit number | 1994-1995 |
| Made in Japan | U + 6 digit number | 1995-1996 |
| Made in Japan | V + 6 digit number | 1996-1997 |
| Crafted in Japan | A + 6 digit number | 1997-1998 |
| Crafted in Japan | N + 5 digit number | 1995-1996 |
| Crafted in Japan | O0 + 5 digit number | 1997-2000 |
| Crafted in Japan | P0 + 5 digit number | 1999-2002 |
| Crafted in Japan | Q0 + 5 digit number | 2002-2004 |
| Crafted in Japan | R0 + 5 digit number | 2004-2006 |
| Crafted in Japan | S0 + 5 digit number | 2006-2008 |
| Crafted in Japan | T0 + 5 digit number | 2007-2008 |
| Made in Japan | T0 + 5 digit number | 2007-2010 |
| Made in Japan | U0 + 5 digit number | 2010- |
Fender Precision Bass Pickup Serial Number
Source : Fender Japan
- Early Fender Electric Blackface amps from 1964 and some into early 1965 did not have a Fender Logo on the grillcloth. ' Pre-CBS ' Blackface Original Amp Knobs have the set screw at the number '10' Fender Blackface amps & early Silverface amps used cloth covered wire until sometime in 1968.
- 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.
Fender P Bass Serial Numbers
Later in 1976, Fender moved the serial number to the headstock just below the logo. All serial numbers now began with an “S” for “seventies” and then later an “E” for eighties, “N” for nineties and a “Z” for 2000 and later. In 1995, Fender moved the serial number to the back of the headstock for all U.S.