There is a lot of conflicting on the internet regarding Fender Japan serial numbers. This page is my attempt to reconcile the serial numbers and production dates of mid-80’s Made in Japan Fender Telecasters & Esquires, mainly ‘62 reissue double-bound custom models.
I have been compiling this data for the past several years; this list only includes guitars where I was able to ascertain both the serial number and the neck date. Many sellers of these guitars do not reference or show a neck date, but based on the data, it is safe to assume that a guitar with an A00 or A01 serial number was produced in 1985, and a guitar with an A02 serial number was built in 1986.
Guitars produced in 1983 or 1984 (which are rare) will have either a JV serial number or a very low A00 serial number.
These guitars were produced in significantly lower numbers after 1986.