Fender Japan paisley tele serial numbers

I'm interested in buying a JV (1982-1984) or 1985-86 A-serial Paisley Telecaster. I've been spending a lot of time comparing the early models, new models and those in between. Ok so we know a 1982-1984 will have a JV prefix serial number stamped on the bridge with Made in Japan on the lower back of the neck. A 1985-1986 will have an A prefix serial number stamped on the bridge and Made in Japan on the neck too. Moving forward to 1997 there are both Made in Japan and Crafted in Japan (one or the other) on the neck and the serial number on the neck also.

I've come across something I just cannot understand. The first photo below is of a bridge from a 1996 with an A prefix serial number and Made in Japan on the neck with no serial number on the neck ! The second photo is a 2002 with an A serial number on the bridge also however the seller of this guitar has confirmed the neck says Crafted in Japan (as it should) with a P prefix serial number under the words Crafted in Japan. The new Paisley Telecasters are back to Made in Japan on the neck with a serial number on the neck also with no serial number on the bridge, I think.

So I've come across one from 1996 and one from 2002 with an A serial bridge, the 1996 has Made in Japan on the neck only and the 2002 has an A serial bridge with Crafted in Japan on the neck and a P prefix serial number on the neck. The serial numbers on the bridge don't correlate with the numbers on the neck obviously.

Finally here are the auctions to confirm what I'm saying.
Fender Paisley Telecaster 50th Anniversary 1996 Superb Guitar | eBay

Here is the auction of the 2002, seller has confirmed neck has Crafted in Japan and a P prefix serial number on the neck.

2002 Fender 69 Reissue Paisley Telecaster Japan 1969 RI Tele Pink | eBay

Comments welcome, this is driving me crazy

 

Looks like I've found the answer. I found a post from a guy on TDPRI and according to him all of the 1985 - 2006 Fender Japan Telecasters have an A prefix number on the bridge plate.

 

Thanks. Could you please have a look at the lower back of your guitar's neck and tell me what you see ? If it's a 1986 it will have Made in Japan on the neck but is there a serial number under that ? Thanks.

 

I'm glad I've found this out today as there is a guy selling one in Australia and I came close to buying it. Looks like new and because it has an A prefix number on the bridge and Made in Japan on the neck I assumed it was from 85-86. The seller like many others is pushing the A serial as if it automatically means it's from 85 ! I did find a photo today, see below. It shows a MIJ Paisley with a T serial number on the neck (2007-2010). The question I'm working on now is when did Fender Japan first start putting a serial number on the necks of their MIJ Telecasters ?

 

Can you recall if it had a serial number on the back of the neck ?

 

Thanks. So from that I can assume that the first time they put a serial number on the neck is after 1989. I've edited one of my posts above as the photo showing the T serial number was on a 2008 paisley. Perhaps the first paisleys to have a number on the neck is 1997 when the Crafted in Japan started.