Four or five digit serial number on the neck plate with no letters, 1954 - 1963. Serial number on neckplate starts with an L, 1963 - 1965. Big F on the neckplate with a six digit serial, 1965 - 1976. Serial number starts with a letter followed by six or seven digits, 1976 - present.

What do the numbers in a fender serial number mean?

The prefix L at the beginning of a serial number indicates a guitar from the early 60s. The prefix S at the beginning of a serial number stands for the decade of the seventies. The prefix E stands for the decade of the eighties. The U.S. Vintage Series (launched in 1982) uses V as a prefix for the serial

How do you tell the age of a Fender guitar?

In order to tell how old your Fender is you will have to find the identification number or neck number. The serial number location has changed a few times of the years. From 1950 to 1954 Fender guitar unique numbers were stamped in the bridge cavity cover plate.