Skip to content 
1- 1982-1997 Made in Japan Fender Guitars
In March 1982, Fujigen initiated the production of Fender guitars in Japan.
Fujigen, renowned for owning the Greco brand in Japan, had been crafting Fender replicas for over a decade, steadily enhancing their quality over the years. A significant milestone was reached in 1976 when Fujigen began manufacturing copies remarkably faithful to the originals. The period from 1980 to 1982 marked another stride with the introduction of the Super Real series, presenting exceptionally high-end models.
Notably, Fender entered into a business agreement with KandaShokai (the distributor of the Greco brand) and Fujigen (the manufacturer and proprietor of the Greco brand in Japan). This collaboration led to the establishment of a production line for Japanese-made Fender guitars in 1982.”
| Decal | Serial Number | Production Year |
|---|---|---|
| Made in Japan | JV + 5 digits | 1982-1984 |
| Made in Japan | SQ + 5 digits | 1983-1984 |
| Made in Japan | E + 6 digits | 1984-1987 |
| Made in Japan | A + 6 digits | 1985-1986 |
| Made in Japan | B + 6 digits | 1985-1986 |
| Made in Japan | C + 6 digits | 1985-1986 |
| Made in Japan | F + 6 digits | 1986-1987 |
| Made in Japan | G + 6 digits | 1987-1988 |
| Made in Japan | H + 6 digits | 1988-1989 |
| Made in Japan | I + 6 digits | 1989-1990 |
| Made in Japan | J + 6 digits | 1989-1990 |
| Made in Japan | K + 6 digits | 1990-1991 |
| Made in Japan | L + 6 digits | 1991-1992 |
| Made in Japan | M + 6 digits | 1992-1993 |
| Made in Japan | N + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | O + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | P + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | Q + 6 digits | 1993-1994 |
| Made in Japan | S + 6 digits | 1994-1995 |
| Made in Japan | T + 6 digits | 1994-1995 |
| Made in Japan | U + 6 digits | 1995-1996 |
| Made in Japan | N + 5 digits | 1995-1996 |
| Made in Japan | V + 6 digits | 1996-1997 |
2- 1997-2008 Crafted in Japan Fender Guitars
In 1997, Fender transitioned to a serial number decal that included the words “Crafted in Japan” above the serial number.
| Decal | Serial Number | Production Year |
|---|---|---|
| Crafted in Japan | A + 6 digits | 1997-1998 |
| Crafted in Japan | O + 6 digits | 1997-2000 |
| Crafted in Japan | P + 6 digits | 1999-2002 |
| Crafted in Japan | Q + 6 digits | 2002-2004 |
| Crafted in Japan | R + 6 digits | 2004-2005 |
| Crafted in Japan | S + 6 digits | 2006-2008 |
| Crafted in Japan | T + 6 digits | 2007-2008 |
3- 2007-2011 Made in Japan Fender Guitars
2007 was another transitional year for the Made in Japan Fender guitars and basses, with the return to the “Made in Japan” country-of-origin identifier on the serial number decal.
This was a running change, and both “Made in Japan” and “Crafted in Japan” decals appear on instruments from 2007 and 2008.
| Decal | Serial Number | Production Year |
|---|---|---|
| Made in Japan | T + 6 digits | 2007-2010 |
| Made in Japan | U + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
Note: A new Japanese manufacturer was enlisted in 2010 to help meet demand for some models. The instruments listed below that were supplied by this factory continued to use “Made in Japan T + 6 digits” designation through 2011:
| Decal | Model | Serial Number | Production Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made in Japan | Geddy Lee Jazz Bass models | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
| Made in Japan | Marcus Miller Jazz Bass models | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
| Made in Japan | Pawn Shop Fender ‘51 | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
| Made in Japan | Pawn Shop Fender ‘72 | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
| Made in Japan | Pawn Shop Mustang Special | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
| Made in Japan | 70s Precision Bass | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
| Made in Japan | Jaguar Bass | T + 6 digits | 2010-2011 |
4- 2012 and on going Made in Japan Fender Guitars
2012 was one more transitional year for the MIJ Fender instruments, with the new serial number starting with “JD” followed by an eight-digit number with “Made in Japan” decals.
If your serial number starts with “JD” followed by an eight-digit number, the first two digits designates the year of manufacture.
However, there are some exceptions in this transition period in 2012. “JD + 8 digits” and some of instruments with “U + 6 digits” are also built in 2012.
| Decal | Serial Number | Production Year |
|---|---|---|
| Made in Japan | JD + 8 digits | 2012 and on going |
16 Responses
Thanks Frankie, your interest in Japanese guitars and your research has been helpful in dating my Fender Stratocaster to ’93-’94.
Hello Frankie and thank you for informing in such an accurate way. It must have been tremendous in terms of research, comparison of sources and other coroborating work. Checking various daters has never driven me so close to date myb basses. Thank you
hi thanks for article
I have been offered a jaguar, serial A, Drafted in Japan – serial number starts as s/n A0*****
why do crafted in japan go from A to O and not A to B
and why is A with s/n and not serial number?
and why are they 1997-1998, then O is 1997 – 2002, P 1999-2002 etc etc
are these fakes, or low quality, where were these made?
it is sunburst, road worn…dents etc
i’m curiou
I bought a squire Japan strat in 1987. Still have it. The number on the neck is ST357 which would suggest a ’57 , but the neck plate is AO and ends with 87. I do believe the body is a ’62 reissue. It’s not exactly light weight. It’s alder and routed sss. Single ply guard with eight screws. Pups were ceramic mags. It seems to me that this guitar was pieced together from whatever they had on hand. Being that they were fazing out the Japan squires and moving them to Korea.
I have a Stratocaster I bought new in USA in 1991. The serial code il F 0xxxx , so it should be made in Japan; but no mention of the origin on the headstock and at the bottom of the neck, back and close to the body, it is carved “made in USA”. According to you, what could be the reason for that?
Kind Regards.
Nice site, helped me track down the age of my Fender Tele delux troublemaker ,which i love.
You can see the work and reasearch you have put into this site.
Many thanks.
I have a Crafted in Japan Jazzmaster.
The neck is stamped JM-66 and the body has ALD Sep 97 but the serial number is N with 6 numbers.
Does anyone know why it would have N in the serial number?
I have a CIJ P****** SN. It is pink paisley is there a way to match the SN to what the finish was when it left the factory. Thanx.
No, there is no connection between the original color and the serial number.
Ho una stratocaster CIJ Antigua S/N Q031482 ma non si può sapere il anno di fabbricazione.
I have a MIJ Fugijen made Strat 85-86. Trying to determine the model. Some descriptions are close but not exact. Closest description number is ST314-55 but I can’t be certain. Also I believe a previous owner removed the MIJ decal with the correct serial number. Slab board neck very vintage feeling. Back plate serial number is A0XXXXX. Tuners not original but previous holes seem consistent with vintage style Klusens. 3 way switch. Spaghetti headstock decal. Unstamped bridge saddles. Trem block is MIJ stamped. Two string trees. 11 hole three ply pickguard. Looks like a thin clear poly coating burnt brownish color. Might be basswood. I love the neck so was considering using it on another project but not if the guitar has value. Anyone out there have a good answer for me?
I have a 1985/1986 MIJ Strat from with the ORDER MADE stamp. Very rare and pictures are being looked at today, as we speak by Makoto (Nick) Sugimoto. This guitar was produced as he was setting up the Custom Shop in Japan at that time. I am awaiting Mr. Sugimoto’s comments as to the historical background etc., of the few pre-custom shop, (order made) marked guitars. I will update as soon as he replies.
Hello, I have a ST-62 Made in Japan serial number F , based on the table above it should be built in 1986-1987 but on the neck it is hand written 6-14 89 so I guess it is from 1989. I bought it new in 1990
I was just curios to know if you have any comment
thank you
Hi Frank. Thanks for this resource, it’s super helpful.
My question – I have a TL-52 Tele, serial on the neck is “E966***” (built 84-87), but the serial on the bridge is “A041***” (85-86)
Is this unusual?
Does anyone know if the decoders work for Japan made Squires? I have a what I think is a made in Japan Squire, with a E serial number, but there is no made or crafted in Japan sticker on it. Is one of the rare 32 inch basses.
Thank you for the information!
I’m a Brazilian and I happy to be a owner of a 2012-13 JD13XXXXX model. 🙂