The only way to try to find the date is to remove the neck from the body. If the year is unreadable, it can also be written on the body under the pickguard or in the cavity in which the pickups are. With Fenders from before 1955 you cannot use the serial numbers to determine the exact year of construction.

How do I check my Fender Stratocaster serial number?

Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Fender Guitar?At the top of the neck plate.On the front or at the back of the headstock.On the cover plate of the vibrato (on Stratocasters)On the back of the vibrato cover plate (on early 50s Stratocasters)At the end of the heel of the neck.More items •Mar 23, 2021

What guitar did Kurt Cobain play?

Cobain played the retro acoustic-electric 1959 Martin D-18E during a legendary MTV Unplugged performance in 1993, just five months before he died. At $6.01m after fees, the guitar is the most expensive ever sold at auction, Juliens Auctions said.