i have a fender strat metallic blue with a serial number z1046111 how do i find out what year it is?

It was made in 2001 or 2002.

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx

or try fender's own chart from this very site:

http://www.fender.com/support/usa_instruments.php

each resource only gives you a date range. if you want specifics you need to pop off the neck and look at the date stamps.

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