Fender began producing instruments in its Ensenada, Mexico, factory in 1990.
Instruments made between 1990 and 2000 carry MN prefix serial numbers,
with the M designating Mexico and the N designating the 1990s.
The numbers for each year typically overlap, as there is always a transitional period between successive
years and as necks that are made and serial numbered late in any given year are used on instruments assembled in the early
months of the following year.
SERIAL NUMBERS
PRODUCTION DATES
MN0 + 5 or 6 digits
1990-1991
MN1 + 5 or 6 digits
1991-1992
MN2 + 5 or 6 digits
1992-1993
MN3 + 5 or 6 digits
1993-1994
MN4 + 5 or 6 digits
1994-1995
MN5 + 5 or 6 digits
1995-1996
MN6 + 5 or 6 digits
1996-1997
MN7 + 5 or 6 digits
1997-1998
MN8 + 5 or 6 digits
1998-1999
MN9 + 5 or 6 digits
1999-2000
At the end of 1999, the serial numbers transitioned from an MN prefix to an MZ prefix
with the M designating Mexico and the Z designating the 2000s.
SERIAL NUMBERS
PRODUCTION DATES
MZ0 + 5 or 6 digits
2000-2001
MZ1 + 5 or 6 digits
2001-2002
MZ2 + 5 or 6 digits
2002-2003
MZ3 + 5 or 6 digits
2003-2004
MZ4 + 5 or 6 digits
2004-2005
MZ5 + 5 or 6 digits
2005-2006
MZ6 + 5 or 6 digits
2006-2007
MZ7 + 5 or 6 digits
2007-2008
MZ8 + 5 or 6 digits
2008-2009
MZ9 + 5 or 6 digits
2009-2010
A new serial-numbering scheme was adopted toward the end of 2009 using the number 10 as a prefix,
followed by a space, followed by seven digits. The 10 prefix was designed to identify the first year of the second decade
of the new millennium, and while it appears on the instrument decals, it was not captured in Fender’s operating system.
Only the seven-digit suffixes were actually entered into the database. These serial numbers did not identify the country of
origin in the body of the number. Instead, the instrument’s country of origin appears on the decal on the back of the headstock,
near the serial number.
This new numbering scheme was short-lived and was replaced only a few months later by an improved scheme
that identifies an instrument's country of origin and year of manufacture in the body of the serial number.
This new scheme uses the letters MX as a prefix to designate an instrument made in Mexico,
followed by an eight-digit number. The first two digits of the number identify the year of manufacture,
(10 for 2010, 11 for 2011, etc.). The following six digits are the unit identifier, although it should be noted that
these final six numbers are not sequential and do not provide any other identification information about the instrument.
This new scheme is now used on the majority of Fender instruments made in Mexico, with certain exceptions.
SERIAL NUMBERS
PRODUCTION DATES
10 + space + eight digits
Late 2009 - March 2010
MX10 + 6 digits
2010-2011
MX11 + 6 digits
2011-2012
EXCEPTIONS
The Jim Root Telecaster, James Burton Standard Telecaster, Buddy Guy Stratocaster (polka dot model),
Robert Cray Stratocaster and Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster use an MSN serial number prefix. Note: in October 2010,
some artist models switched to the new MX10 numbering scheme.
The Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster and Duff McKagan P Bass use an MSZ serial number prefix.
The Reggie Hamilton and Frank Bello Jazz basses used an MX serial number prefix before the 2010 change.
California Series electric guitars and basses from 1997 and 1998 use an AMXN prefix and share U.S./Mexico origin.
