• Fender Serial Number Color Code
• Check Fender Guitar Serial Number
• Fender Serial Number Lookup

• 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.
• ZZ = a number from 1 - 52 indicating the week of manufacture. Remember, your amp is newer than the newest component. For example, if you find pots from late ‘64 and transformers from early ’65, you can be pretty sure your amp is a 1965. COMMONLY USED FENDER EIA SOURCE CODES.
• 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.

May 07, 2014  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,. The Fender serial number decoder currently supports all documented MIA, MIJ, MIM, MIK and MII formats with the exception of Custom Shop, Relic and Reissue instruments. Please note that fender serial numbers tend to overlap by at least a year, and thereby the date of your guitar can only be approximated.

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.

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..

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

kcbuck

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

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

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26 Comments:

• 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.

Fender Serial Number Color Code

Although a serial number is helpful for roughly determining the age of a guitar, this is often not the exact date. As a result of the overlap between years, Fender serial numbers are also not by definition chronological.
In the past (we are talking about before 1976) the serial numbers were often randomly assigned.
To approximate the correct year of construction before this period (1976) is to also check the dates of the neck and potmeters. Usually the production date is stamped or written is on the heel of the neck. To read this it is necessary to unscrew the neck from the body.

Most specifications for the Fender guitars are hardly changed. Although there have been periods in which major changes occurred as the acquisition of Fender by CBS, and the transition from CBS Fender to the current owner (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation), most models are in general not changed.

Check Fender Guitar Serial Number

At the Stratocasters from the early fifties the serial numbers were stamped on the back vibrato cover. On some Telecasters at the bridge between the pickup and the saddles.

Fender Serial Number Lookup