Fender guitars have been made in several countries, including the United States, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and China. The factory and country can help identify a guitar’s serial number format, production period, model line, and value.
Use this guide with our Fender Serial Number Decoder to find where your guitar or bass was made.
Quick Navigation
US Fender Factories
Fender has had two main guitar factories in the United States: Fullerton and Corona. The Corona factory is still in operation today.
Fullerton Factory
Leo Fender opened his audio equipment repair business in Fullerton, California, in 1938. In 1945, he began making musical instruments, including electric lap steel guitars.
Fender began mass-producing guitars in 1950 with the Broadcaster, later renamed the Telecaster. The Stratocaster was introduced in 1954, and Fender introduced more models over the following years.
CBS bought Fender in 1965. In 1985, a group of employees and investors led by William Schultz purchased the company and formed Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC).
The Fullerton factory was not included in the sale and closed in 1985.
Corona Factory
After the 1985 sale, Fender set up its new U.S. factory in Corona, California. The Fender Custom Shop opened there in 1987.
FMIC’s headquarters were also based in Corona until 1991, when the company moved them to Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Corona factory remains Fender’s main U.S. guitar factory.
Fender Factory in Mexico
Fender opened its operation in Ensenada, Mexico, in 1987. Today the facility covers more than 60,000 square meters and includes eight buildings used for guitars, electronics, amplifiers, and strings.
Regular Fender guitar production in Mexico began in 1990.
The Ensenada factory remains Fender’s main production site in Mexico.
Fender Factories in Japan
Fender Japan was established in 1982 with Japanese distributors Kanda Shokai and Yamano Gakki. Japanese factories produced Fender and Squier guitars for the Japanese market and for export.
The Fender Japan partnership ended in 2015, when Fender took direct control of its Japanese business through Fender Music Corporation Japan.
FujiGen Factory
FujiGen began making Fender guitars under an OEM agreement in 1982.
FujiGen is a Japanese guitar manufacturer based in Matsumoto, Nagano. The company was named after Mount Fuji. “Gen” refers to string instruments, while “Gakki” means musical instrument.
By 1983, FujiGen was producing more than 14,000 guitars per month, with about 80% made for export and 20% for the Japanese market.
FujiGen’s Fender production continued until 1997.
Tokai Gakki Factory
In 1997, Fender also worked with Tokai Gakki and Dyna Gakki for guitar production in Japan.
Tokai already had its own guitar factory and had been making Fender-style guitars since the late 1970s, before working with Fender.
Fender Factories in Korea
Fender/Squier guitars have been made in South Korea since the late 1980s. Several Korean factories produced guitars for Fender under OEM contracts.
Cort Factory
Cort, also known as Cor-Tek, is a South Korean guitar manufacturer. The company started in 1960 as a piano importer and later moved into guitar production.
From 1973, Cort produced guitars under OEM contracts for other brands, including Fender/Squier.
Samick Factory
Samick produced acoustic and electric guitars for many brands under OEM contracts, including Fender/Squier.
The company also sells guitars under its own Samick name.
Young Chang and Sung-Eum Factory
Young Chang and Sung-Eum also produced guitars for Fender and continued doing so until the late 1990s.
Fender Factories in Indonesia
Fender and Squier guitars have also been made in Indonesia, mainly at factories operated by Samick and Cort-Tek.
Samick Factory
In 1992, Samick moved part of its production to Bogor, Indonesia, where it opened a large factory covering about 50 hectares with 11 buildings.
The factory began producing acoustic guitars in 1993. By the end of 1994, it was also making electric guitars, including Squier models.
Cort Factory
Cort-Tek expanded into Indonesia in 1995, opening a guitar factory in Surabaya.
From 1998, Cort Indonesia produced Fender/Squier models along with guitars for other brands.
Fender Factories in China
Fender and Squier guitars have also been produced in China under OEM agreements with several manufacturers.
Yako Factory
Yako Musical Instruments began making Fender/Squier guitars in China under an OEM contract in 1994.
The company is headquartered in Taiwan and has operated factories in China, including production in Zhangzhou.
AXL Factory
AXL Musical Instruments is based in Shanghai and has several operations in China.
The company began producing Fender/Squier guitars in 2009, mainly for markets outside China.