The serial number of the Japanese Stratocasters is usually marked on the back of the neck, at the junction with the body of the guitar; in some cases, however, it is possible to find it on the headstock or on the neck-plate, as in the case of the "JV", "SQ" and "A" serial numbers.
Until 1997 the serial number of these guitars was paired with the "Made in Japan" decal (period called MIJ Era); between 1995 and 1997 Fender has replaced this decal with the "Crafted in Japan" one, paving the way for the CIJ Era (some CIJs, however, appeared already in 1995). This change happened by chance concurrently with the gradual shift of production from Fujigen factory to Tokai (only few months) and Dyna Gakki. After 2007 Fender used again the “Made in Japan” decal, though for a few years both were printed.
The serial number of the Japanese guitars composed by one or two letters followed by some numbers. The first series of the Japanese Stratocasters is that called “JV”, and it is surrounded by an aura of magic: there are many guitarists who, after having tried them, have praised their construction quality and sound.
Some CIJ serial numbers overlap the MIJ ones, so that to distinguish them it is essential to see which decal is applied.
To complicate matters there are the serial numbers used on the “Standard” models made from 1997 just for the Japanese market, like the ST-38. These Stratocasters, all characterized by a Modern logo, had a decal “MADE IN JAPAN” on the headstock, although they were built during the “Crafted in Japan” period!
Until 1997 the serial number of these guitars was paired with the "Made in Japan" decal (period called MIJ Era); between 1995 and 1997 Fender has replaced this decal with the "Crafted in Japan" one, paving the way for the CIJ Era (some CIJs, however, appeared already in 1995). This change happened by chance concurrently with the gradual shift of production from Fujigen factory to Tokai (only few months) and Dyna Gakki. After 2007 Fender used again the “Made in Japan” decal, though for a few years both were printed.
The serial number of the Japanese guitars composed by one or two letters followed by some numbers. The first series of the Japanese Stratocasters is that called “JV”, and it is surrounded by an aura of magic: there are many guitarists who, after having tried them, have praised their construction quality and sound.
Some CIJ serial numbers overlap the MIJ ones, so that to distinguish them it is essential to see which decal is applied.
To complicate matters there are the serial numbers used on the “Standard” models made from 1997 just for the Japanese market, like the ST-38. These Stratocasters, all characterized by a Modern logo, had a decal “MADE IN JAPAN” on the headstock, although they were built during the “Crafted in Japan” period!
Made in Japan
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Crafted in Japan
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MIJ Serial Numbers
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JV + 5 digits
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JV0xxxx April - July 1982
JV1xxxx August - October 1982 JV2xxxx October 1982 - January 1983 JV3xxxx January - March 1983 JV4xxxx March - May 1983 JV5xxxx May - June 1983 JV6xxxx June - August 1983 JV7xxxx August - October 1983 JV8xxxx October - December 1983 JV9xxxx December 1983 - circa February 1984 (export models only) |
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SQ + 5 digits
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1983 - 1984 (Made in Japan decal)
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E + 6 digits
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1984 - 1987 (Made in Japan decal)
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A0 + 5 digits
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1985 - 1986 (Made in Japan decal)
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B0 + 5 digits
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1985 - 1986 (Made in Japan decal)
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C0 + 5 digits
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1985 - 1986 (Made in Japan decal)
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F0 + 5 digits
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1986 - 1987 (Made in Japan decal)
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G0 + 5 digits
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1987 - 1988 (Made in Japan decal)
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H0 + 5 digits
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1988 - 1989 (Made in Japan decal)
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I0 + 5 digits
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1989 - 1990 (Made in Japan decal)
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J0 + 5 digits
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1989 - 1990 (Made in Japan decal)
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K0 + 5 digits
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1990 - 1991 (Made in Japan decal)
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L0 + 5 digits
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1991 - 1992 (Made in Japan decal)
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M0 + 5 digits
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1992 - 1993 (Made in Japan decal)
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N0 + 5 digits
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1993 - 1994 (Made in Japan decal); It was used in 1995-1996, too
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O0 + 5 digits
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1993 - 1994 (Made in Japan decal)
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P0 + 5 digits
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1993 - 1994 (Made in Japan decal)
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Q0 + 5 digits
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1993 - 1994 (Made in Japan decal)
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S0 + 5 digits
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1994 - 1995 (Made in Japan decal)
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T0 + 5 digits
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1994 - 1995 (Made in Japan decal)
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U0 + 5 digits
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1995 - 1996 (Made in Japan decal)
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N0 + 5 digits
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1995 - 1996 (Made in Japan decal); It was already used in 1993-1994
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V0 + 5 digits
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1996 - 1997 (Made in Japan decal)
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CIJ Serial Numbers* (*MIJ on Standard models)
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N0 + 5 digits
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1995 - 1996 (Crafted in Japan decal)
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V0 + 5 digits
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1996 - 1997 (Crafted in Japan decal)
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A0 + 5 digits
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1997 - 1998 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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B0 + 5 digits
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1998 - 1999 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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O0 + 5 digits
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1997 - 2000 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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P0 + 5 digits
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1999 - 2002 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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Q0 + 5 digits
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2002 - 2004 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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R0 + 5 digits
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2004 - 2006 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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S0 + 5 digits
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2006 - 2008 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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T0 + 5 digits
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2007 - 2010 (Crafted in Japan decal; Made in Japan on Standard Models)
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MIJ Serial Numbers
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S0 + 5 digits
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2007 - 2008 (Made in Japan decal)
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T0 + 5 digits
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2008 - 2009 (Made in Japan decal)
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U0 + 5 digits
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2010-2011 (Made in Japan decal)
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JD11 + 6 digits
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2011 and a few in 2012 (Made in Japan decal)
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JD12 + 6 digits
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2012 and a few in 2013 (Made in Japan decal)
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JD13 + 6 digits
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2013 and a few in 2014 (Made in Japan decal)
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JD14 + 6 digits
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2014 and a few in 2015 (Made in Japan decal)
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JD15 + 6 digits
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2015 and a few in 2016 (Made in Japan decal)
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JD16 + 6 digits
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2016 and a few in 2017 (Made in Japan decal)
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And so on...
