Serial numbers were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate on early '50s Stratocaster® guitars, and on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles on some Telecaster® guitars.

How do I tell what year my Telecaster is?

The only way to try to find the date is to remove the neck from the body. If the year is unreadable, it can also be written on the body under the pickguard or in the cavity in which the pickups are. With Fenders from before 1955 you cannot use the serial numbers to determine the exact year of construction.

Where do I find the serial number on a guitar?

The serial number will vary in location based on the model. Locations include the back of the headstock (sticker or printed), neckplate, the label inside the soundhole, stamped below the last fret, or stamped on the neck block inside an acoustic.