I have been searching for the year of this strat on the net with no luck, hoping someone here can help.

The serial number is: US10081588

Thank you in advance!

I dont know that you have a valid serial number there NY you might want to check again...

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If there's no US in front of the numbers, isn't that one of those spesh-ul Highway 1 numbers from early 2010???

ya, that's a 2010 highway 1

US was the latest Highway 1 prefix followed by the year (10) follwed by 6 digit serial number.

Ok, it's a highway 1 strat. That's cool, thanks for all your help!

Actually all 2010 American Strats ( Standards and Highway ones) had the US10 prefix. So if it has a large headstock its a Highway one or American Special, small headstock is the standard.

The Hwy 1 statement is incorrect. They "early" 2010 Hwy 1 I have has just the numbers 1000xxxx, no "US".

Early Standards had the 10 serials too, not just highway ones

http://www.gryphonstrings.com/instpix/37433/37433.php

American Fender serials changed a couple of months into the year. I believe it was march of that year when "10" serials were replaced with "US10"

Yogi is correct - the serial numbers with the "10" prefix were used on all USA production line Fenders except the American Vintage series in early 2010; by May of 2010 I was seeing ones with the "US10" in stores so it was likely sometime around March/April that Fender made the switch. The "10" and "US10" were used on American Standards, American Deluxes, American Specials, Highway 1s, and USA-built Artist Signatures.

Fender stopped using the "D" for "American Deluxe" and "S" for "Artist Signature" extra prefixes when they started using the "10" numbers. Of course this also excludes the Eric Johnson Strats as they have their own serial numbers on the neck plate like the American Vintage series.

Now I am really confused. My guitar has the large headstock, white finish with maple board. It has a 4 bolt neck plate and chrome hardware. The backs of the tuners say "Fender". Any ideas? You would think in 2010 Fender would have a more accurate serial number system.

stratny , why not post a few pics and you will get a definitive answer , cheers
Alan

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Here you go!

Looks like an American Special.

2 roller style string trees, 6 screw bridge, 4 bolt neck plate without micro-tilt.

Fender is way, way behind in updating their information on the web; I believe their "USA Product Dating" page ends with 2005 serial numbers. Also, Bender serial numbers have always been an approximation of the year not an accurate date. That goes back to Leo's day where the numbers were on the neck plate and the plates were just thrown into a parts bin, left scattered on workbenches, etc.

Looks to me like you have one of the special run of the American Special Strat in white from 2010; however, I would email your serial number to Fender's consumer relations department (consumerrelations@fender.com); they can verify your guitar.

Thank you, I emailed them.