Fender Japan Serial guide - the most complete and updated chart

Fender Japan Serial guide - the most complete and updated chart

Some old Fender guitars have the manufacture date written (by pencil) on the bottom of the neck (month, day, year) - second photo after the chart below ilustrates it. For Telecasters, please read the additional info.

Fender Japan	Production
Serial numbers	Dates
JV + 5 digits	1982 - 1984
SQ + 5 digits (Squier only)	1983 - 1984
(MIJ)  E + 6 digits	1984 - 1989*
(MIJ)  A + 6 digits	1985 - 1986
(MIJ)  B + 6 digits	1985 - 1986
(MIJ)  C + 6 digits	1985 - 1986
(MIJ)  F + 6 digits	1986 - 1987
(MIJ)  G + 6 digits	1987 - 1988
(MIJ)  H + 6 digits	1988 - 1989
(MIJ)  I + 6 digits	1989 - 1990
(MIJ)  J + 6 digits	1989 - 1990
(MIJ)  K + 6 digits	1990 - 1991
(MIJ)  L + 6 digits	1991 - 1992
(MIJ)  M + 6 digits	1992 - 1993
(MIJ)  N + 6 digits	1993 - 1994
(MIJ)  O + 6 digits	1993 - 1994
(MIJ)  P + 6 digits	1993 - 1994
(MIJ)  Q + 6 digits	1993 - 1994
(MIJ)  S + 6 digits	1994 - 1995
(MIJ)  T + 6 digits	1994 - 1995
(MIJ)  U + 6 digits	1995 - 1996
(MIJ)  V + 6 digits	1996 - 1997
transition from MIJ to CIJ**	1992 - 1997
(CIJ)  A + 6 digits	1997 - 1998
(CIJ)  B + 6 digits	1998 - 1999
(CIJ)  O + 6 digits	1997 - 2000
(CIJ)  P + 6 digits	1999 - 2002
(CIJ)  Q + 6 digits	2002 - 2004
(CIJ)  R + 6 digits	2004 - 2005
(CIJ)  S + 6 digits	2006 - 2008
(CIJ)  T + 6 digits****	2007 - 2010
transition from CIJ to MIJ***	2007 - 2010
(MIJ)  U + 6 digits	2010 - 2011
(MIJ)  JD11 + 6 digits	2011
(MIJ)  JD12 + 6 digits	2012
(MIJ)  JD13 + 6 digits	2013
(MIJ)  JD14 + 6 digits	2014

*Same logic until the present day: JD18 + 6 digits = 2018, for example.

Obs: MIJ - Made in Japan / CIJ - Crafted in Japan

*I have never seen a "E" serial dating 1984. The thing is that i had Fender Japan guitars with "E" serial dating 1988 and 1989 on the bottom of the neck (written by pencil on the wood of the neck, under the original finish coat), and I have seen other photos showing the same thing in some forums. See below one of the guitars I had with E8 serial (1988):

** There is some "Crafted in Japan" since 1992 (I had a CIJ "N" serial, probably from 1993/94), but the definitive change to "Crafted in Japan" happened in 1996/97.

*** Transition from CIJ to MIJ in 2007/08 (it is possible to find CIJ up to 2010). There is some MIJ with "T + 6 digits" serial.

**** For different models like Pawn Shop '51, '72, Mustang Special, Precision Bass '70s, Jaguar Bass, Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller Jazz Bass, the "T + 6 digits" serial was used with "Made in Japan" decal up to 2011.

Telecasters - in some japanese reissues, serial will not be showed with the Made/Crafted in Japan decal, instead there will be a "serial number" stamped on the bridge. However, this serial will always begin with the "A" letter (Fender Japan serial number chart will not apply in this case), and unfortunately it will be possible to know only if there is a written date on the bottom of the neck (if the neck is the original from the guitar... some people may swap necks or bodies...). If there is not anything written, all the parts will have to be analised and compared to the models showed in Fender Japan catalogs over the years...  it is not an easy thing to do and it may not be possible to know the accurate date...