From RKYT–(at)–ronus.bentley.edu Thu Jan 11 13:10:40 CST 1996
Article: 74940 of alt.guitar
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From: RKYT–(at)–ronus.bentley.edu (Richard Kyte – Ext. 2286)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Re: Japanese Strats How to date them?
Date: 11 Jan 96 10:19:28 EDT
Organization: Bentley College, Waltham MA
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Message-ID: <1996Jan11.10192--(at)--ronus.bentley.edu>
References: <30f1d947.85216--(at)--ntp.ix.netcom.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: cronus.bentley.edu

In article <30f1d947.85216--(at)--ntp.ix.netcom.com>, mdavis–(at)–x.netcom.com (Mark Davis) writes:
> I would like to know how to date the Strats made in Japan. I know the
> USA made ones start with an E for 80’s or N for 90’s etc., but I have
> never seen a chart for the Strats made in Japan. I have looked all
> over the net and found great information how to date all the other
> Strats just no info on the Japanese ones.
>
> Any help would be appreciated!
>

I just happen to have The Fender Book (Tony Bacon & Paul Day) with me here.

The Japan numbers run like this:

JV+5 digits 1982-83
SQ+5 digits ’83-’84
E+6 digits ’84-’87
A+6 digits ’85-’86
B+6 digits ’85-’86
C+6 digits ’85-’86
F+6 digits ’86-’87
G+6 digits ’87-’88
H+6 digits ’88-’89
I+6 digits ’89-’90
J+6 digits ’89-’90
K+6 digits ’90-’91
L+6 digits ’91-’92
M+6 digits ”92- current

The book then mentions that “Fender Japan have confirmed evidence that certain
series have been used beyond the production spans listed above, in particular
the A-, C- and G-prefixed numbers. This underlines the need for caution when
dating by using serial numbers.”

I hope this helps…. RK