Reading Fender Guitar Serial Numbers
So you have a vintage Fender guitar in your possession? Wonderful news: American-made Fender guitars from the 1950s through the 1970s are not only national treasures, they can sell for large sums of money due to high-demand by musicians and collectors alike. Here at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, TN, Music City U.S.A., we have established a reputation for transparency and ultimately helping vintage Fender guitar owners sell their instruments for their maximum value; our consignment program is the most competitive in the industry!
Your first question is probably: What year is my Fender guitar? Most Fender guitar serial numbers are found on the metal plate screwed on the back of the guitar, some early Telecasters ones are on the bridge plate, and give an approximate time for when it was built. We here at Carter Vintage Guitars are experts in vintage Fender guitar authentication and offer hands-on and online vintage guitar appraisal packages. That being said, let’s go over the basics of dating a vintage Fender guitar with the following Fender serial number charts:
Bridgeplate Serial Numbers (4-5 Digits)
Broadcaseter, Esquire, and Telecaster
- 0001 – 1300: 1950 – 1952
- 1300 – 3000: 1951 – 1954
- 3000 – 5000s: 1952 – 1954
Precision Bass
- 100 – 600 = 1951 or 1952
- 0001 – 0900 = 1952 and 1953
- 0900 – 2000 = 1954
We love blackguards and early whiteguards and regularly sell them for between $30k and $100k! Contact us if you have one to sell!
Neckplate Serial Number (4-5 Digits)
- 0001 – 8000 = 1954
- 6000 – 10000 = 1955
- 9000 – 16000 = 1956
- 16000 – 25000 = 1957
- 25000 – 30000 = 1958
- 30000 – 40000 = 1959
- 40000 – 58000 = 1960
- 55000 – 72000 = 1961
- 72000 – 93000 = 1962
- 93000 – 99999 = 1963
- L00001 – L20000 1963
- L20000 – L55000 1964
- L55000 – L99999 1965
Pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster and Telecasters regularly sell for more than $30k if in original condition. Some early examples, incredibly clean and/or custom colors can easily fetch double or triple that! Jazzmasters, Jaguars, and Basses from this time frame can also fetch upwards of $10k. Contact us if you would like to sell yours!
“F” Neckplate serial Number (6 digits)
- 100000 – 110000 1965
- 110000 – 200000 1966
- 180000 – 210000 1967
- 210000 – 250000 1968
- 250000 – 280000 1969
- 280000 – 300000 1970
- 300000 – 330000 1971
- 330000 – 370000 1972
- 370000 – 520000 1973
- 500000 – 580000 1974
- 580000 – 690000 1975
- 690000 – 750000 1976
Contact us if you have a Fender with a serial number in this range that you would like to sell/consign!
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