![]() ![]() Only about half the guitars still carry any intelligible information here.īelow is a list of date formats and how they were marked on the neck-butts:ġ950-1954: Hand-written below the truss rod adjustment at the butt end of the neck. On some Telecaster guitars the serial number is found on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles.įrom the production of the first solidbody Fender guitars and until 1976, Fender tagged a production date at the butt of the detachable neck of their guitars. On early ’50s Stratocaster guitars serial numbers were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate. Since the neck is only a component of the guitar, it could have been produced a number of years before the actual instrument was assembled, hence the date on the neck is not necessarily the production date of the whole guitar. Neck dating can be useful in finding the approximate age of your guitar. Typically the serial number is penciled or stamped on the butt end of the heel of the neck of most guitars and basses. How do I find the serial number on my U.S.-made Fender? This article deals only with U.S.-made Fender guitars and basses from 1950 until today, since they are some of the predominant vintage guitars for sale on. Also, labeling techniques have changed with Fender owners, slightly adding to the confusion. The locations of the serial numbers and dates change from model to model and in some cases they have simply been omitted. To get as close as possible to determining the age of your Fender, make sure to check all dates on both body, neck and pots. As a result, many numbers and dates overlap. Why is this? Back in the day, Fender made their serial number plates in big batches and the assembler simply grabbed a decal or more from the crate and slapped it on the guitar. ![]() It is important to remember that Fender serial numbers are NOT conclusively chronological. Fender was sold to CBS in the first week of January 1965, but already in late 1964 mass production was slowly being introduced, which gradually lowered quality and ultimately collectibility. For most of Fender’s production history they have applied serial numbers and production dates that can help you determine their production date (within a few years’ margin, at least).ĭetermining the date can also be important from a collector’s perspective, since the pre-1966 vintage Fender guitars are generally considered the most valuable. No one likes it when you forget their birthday and neither does your Fender. This guitar certainly punches above its weight.ĭefinitely a one off, this surely is a must have for any collection.How to date and identify your Fender instruments using serial numbers and production date stamps. The neck feels comfortable and easy to play, the no-frills nature of the electronics yields a classy tone. The guitar comes with its correct hardshell case.Įven though this is a short scale guitar (22.5”) and aimed at students, there is no doubt that these are well made instruments. The hardware hardly shows the passing of time.Įlectrically everything is correct. The plastics must have been changed when the guitar was refinished for what would have been the currently available items. The fretboard and frets are in fantastic shape, the neck date reads December 1958. The new decal looks correct under black light, matching the finish. ![]() Interestingly the tuner ferrules have been painted over. The neck too has been refinished at the same time. There are a few knocks and scuffs but nothing too substantial. The three tone sunburst is almost entirely free of any damage. Released in June of 1956, the Duo Sonic went through a few changes alongside its stable mates and found favour with players as diverse as John McLaughlin, David Byrne, Patti Smith and of course Jimi Hendrix when he was backing the Isley Brothers. Whatever the origins of the finish is, it is very old and blacklights like an original and is a super cool looking guitar to say the least.įrom the very beginning, Leo had seen student models as a way to keep his instruments in players’ hands as they progressed. There are no numbers like you would normally expect see on a more expensive Fender guitar during a factory refin but the style of the refin is without a doubt late 64-66 factory Fender so our hypothesis is this may have been some kind of employee project. The colour, hue, paint and method of spraying is bang on for a factory finish circa late 1964 or 1965/6 however the headstock face has also been bursted which is unusual to say the least but looks very nice, especially over the ferrules! It was sold to us by a well known International dealer as a factory refin and it could well be, however there are a few little oddities.
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