Updated 2024.03.11
Getting specifications and wiring diagram is always a good thing. So here’s a list of great way to identify and get details on your Stratocaster. Complements of Bruce Baker Gombrelli 😉
SEE BOTTOM ON PAGE for INFO on how to FIGURE OUT OLDER STRATS 2000’s and lower. Fender website will not pull up older serial numbers before “roughly” 2004 ish.
Fender’s Own Spec Sheet Serial Number Lookup
Your Stratocaster may not show up here if it’s older (pre 2005 ish, especially in the 90’s on back. It might still give you the model, but not the specifications. A good starting place. You can always contact them. So if you axe doesn’t show up here, don’t panic yet.
Keep in mind, when trying to figure out your Stratocaster pay attention to the features that came out the year it was released. It could be a forgery (less likely if the serial is correct). The other defining features are headstock shape, location of the decals, font of the serial number, truss rod hole (big indicator). Pickups are not a good reference because they are easily changed, and Noiseless ones (the vintage) are a favorite forgery target (check bottom of pickup). Other websites might be scam ones so I’d focus on using Guitar Insite or the Fender Website.
FENDER SPECIFICATIONS BY MODEL
Fender specifications and FENDERS website!! Hope this lasts
FENDER More manuals and specifications
Stratocaster Original Specifications and wiring diagrams
This is useful because they collected a LOT of original Fender Stratocaster detailed parts lists and wiring diagrams. I buy some parts from the guys so thumbs up for collecting these together. Guitar Electronics collection of specs
Fuzz Faced (full of info with tons of popups to annoy you!)
Lastly, here’s a website (NOW with tons of Ads DANG THEM!!!). It’s useful for getting specifications if you know the model or area trying to find it out, it lists by years and it seems to be fairly accurate. You can’t copy the text, it is imaged and you can get an image unless…(and I won’t tell you how).
THIS IS AN DECENT quick REFERENCE FOR FINDING OUT MODELS AND SPECS BY Year and Source, but get ready for the land of irritating pop ups. They sold out.
PRE CBS STRATOCASTERS
Info about strats before CBS took over in the 60’s
FENDER COLORS
RAW SERIAL NUMBER DATA for STRATOCASTERS from GG USA
MIM (Made In Mexico)
- 1990 – MNO + 5 or 6 digits
- 1991 – MN1 + 5 or 6 digits – Some MN0 + 5 or 6
- ETC
In 2000’s they changed to MZ
- 2000 – MZ0 + 5 ot 6 digits – Some MN9 + 5 or 6
- 2001 – MZ1 + 5 ot 6 digits – Some MZ0- + 5 or 6
- ETC
In 2010’s they changed to MX but continued with the digits
- MX10 + 5 or 6 digits
- Some came out with just 10 + 5 or 6 digits
- Some came out with MX9 + 5 or 6 digits
- MX11 + 5 or 6 digits – Some MX10- + 5 or 6
- ETC
US
AMXN + 6 digits |
California Series electric guitars and basses; 1997 and 1998 |
DN + 6 digits |
American Deluxe series instruments; 1998 and 1999 |
NC(XXXXXX) |
Squier® Strat Bullets (dating unclear) |
FN(XXXXXX) |
U.S.-made guitars and basses destined for export market. Some may have stayed in the U.S. or found their way back (made to Standard Stratocaster specs; dating unclear) |
I(XXXXXXX) |
A limited number of these “I” series guitars were made in 1989 and 1990. They were made for the export market and have “Made in USA” stamped on the neck heel. |
LE(XXXXXX) |
Blonde Jazzmaster® and Jaguar® guitars with gold hardware made in 1994. Sold as a promotional three-piece set with a Blonde Deluxe Reverb® Amp |
CN(XXXXXX) VN(XXXXXX) |
Korean-made Fender/Squier guitars (dating unclear) |
Some other US Serial Number rules
- 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 number
- The prefix ‘N’ at the beginning of a serial number stands for the nineties
- The prefix ‘Z’ stands for guitars made in the noughties (2000 – 2010)
Still More Info
Starts with AMXN |
1997-1998. These guitars are actually American and Mexican. This is the California series. |
Starts with MSN |
Artist Model guitars, will have to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the date. |
Starts with DN |
98 and ’99 – American Deluxe |
Starts with NC |
Dating problems with NC instruments is common, can range from 80s to 90s. |
Starts with FN |
Dating Problems with FN models as well, these instruments were made and exported from the USA. |
Starts with LE |
If your guitar is either a Jazzmaster or Jaguar, the year is 1994, Otherwise if your guitar is an FSR, you’ll be looking at some dating issues. FSR stands for (Fender Special Run) which means they were made specifically for an individual retailer. The FSRs starting with LE start in the 200s. You might be able to find the date by taking off the neck and checking the bottom. |
Starts with CN
|
High Quality US Custom Shop |
Starts with CA |
1981-1983 |
Starts with CB |
1981-1982 |
Starts with CC |
1981-1983 |
Starts with CE |
1981-1982 |
Starts with CD, or CO |
1982 |
Starts with GO |
1982-1983 |
Starts with EE |
Started sometime in the mid 80s and ended before the 90s. |
Starts with SE, SN, SZ, or CZ |
Signature Series Instruments
SE = 88, SE9 = 89 SN = 90, SN2 = 92, SN3 = 93, and so on. SZ0 = 00, SZ1 = 01, SZ2 = 02, and so on. |
Starts with TN |
Dating problems with this model |
Starts with XN |
XN doesn’t always show up on these models, these are either 52′ Teles or FSR models (Fender Special Runs) which means they were specifically made models for individual retailers. For this reason they are harder to date. You might be able to find a date by taking off the neck and looking at the bottom. |
Starts with EJ |
Eric Johnson Signature Stratocasters, unclear date. |
Starts with US10 |
2010 On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US11 |
2011- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US12 |
2012- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US13 |
2013- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US14 |
2014- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US15 |
2015- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US16 |
2016- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with US17 |
2017- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ0 |
2000- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ1 |
2001- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ2 |
2002- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ3 |
2003- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ4 Or XN4 |
2004- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ5 Starts with XN5 |
2005- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ6 Starts with XN6 |
2006- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ7 Starts with XN7 |
2007- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ8 Starts with XN8 |
2008- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with DZ9 Starts with XN9 |
2009- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Even More Info
Starts with H, I, or K |
Serial numbers located on the front of the headstock. Not many of these were made. |
Starts with R or V |
These are US Custom Shop Instruments |
Starts with D |
1982 Bass Guitar |
Starts with G |
1980 |
Starts with C |
Collectors Series edition 1980 |
Starts with E4 or V |
1987- On the U.S. Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E4, E8, or V |
1988- On the U.S. Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E8, E9, or V |
1989- On the U.S. Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with V |
2010- 2017- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E9, N9, N0 or V |
1990- On the U.S. Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with N0 Starts with N1 Starts with V |
1991 |
Starts with N1, N2, or V |
1992 |
Starts with N2, N3, or V |
1993 |
Starts with N3, N4, or V |
1994 |
Starts with N4. N5, or V |
1995 |
Starts with N5, N6, or V |
1996 |
Starts with N6, N7, or V |
1997 |
Starts with N7, N8, or V |
1998 |
Starts with N8. N9, or V |
1999 |
Starts with N9, Z0, or V |
2000- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z0, Z1, or V |
2001- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z1, Z2, or V |
2002- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z2, Z3, or V |
2003- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z3, Z4, or V |
2004- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z4, Z5, or V |
2005- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z5, Z6, or V |
2006- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z6, Z7, or V |
2007- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z7, Z8, V |
2008- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with Z8, Z9, or V |
2009- On the American Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with EI, E2, E3, or V |
1982- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E2, E3, or V |
1983- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E3, E4, or V |
1984- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E3, E4, or V |
1985- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with V |
1986- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E4 or V |
1987- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E4, E8, or V |
1988- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
Starts with E8, E9, or V |
1989- On the US Vintage series models, you’ll need to take off the neck and look at the bottom to find the exact date. |
S6 + 5 digits |
1976 |
Starts with S7 or S8 |
1977 |
Starts with S7, S8, or S9 |
1978 |
Starts with S9 or E0 |
1979 |
Starts with S9 Starts with E0 Starts with E1 |
1980 |
Starts with S9 Starts with E0 Starts with E1 |
1981 |
L10,000s up to L20,000s |
1963 |
L20,000s up to L50,000s |
1964 |
L50,000s up to L90,000s |
1965 |