
- #Fender bass guitar identification serial numbers#
- #Fender bass guitar identification serial number#
- #Fender bass guitar identification series#
Unlike Gibson, Leo found did everything the cheapest and fastest way possible. Leo Fender was a genius with minimizing the costs of production. Why is this? It all has to do with how Fender produced guitars. After reviewing the ID number, you might find out that the two corresponding dates don’t coincide. Many people think that the date on the heel of their Fender neck is the production date of the guitar. Fender only decided to write dates on the bodies for a few years here and there. Few Fender guitars have dates written on the bodies under the pickups, in the routed out cavities, and near the wiring harnesses. Some Fender guitar bodies and pickups also have dates written on them. Almost all Fender guitars have a dated neck. This marking is only visible when the neck is removed from the body because it is covered in the neck pocket. After the neck was finished, a Fender employee would either stamp or handwrite the date on the end of the guitar neck on its heel. Fender also dated the neck when it was manufactured.
#Fender bass guitar identification serial numbers#
The serial numbers on the outside of the body are not the only way to date a Fender guitar however. True to form the reissue guitars have their indentification numbers stamped in the neck plate. These guitars were replicas of the early 19s era guitars. In 1982 Fender decided to start making reissued vintage guitars. Modern Fender production guitars, 1976 to the present, have their ID numbers on the front or back of the headstock near the Fender decal.
#Fender bass guitar identification serial number#
From 1954 to 1976 Fender stamped its guitar’s serial number on either the top or bottom of the neck plate. From 1950 to 1954 Fender guitar unique numbers were stamped in the bridge cavity cover plate. The serial number location has changed a few times of the years. In order to tell how old your Fender is you will have to find the indentification number or neck number. This numbering system was used for a few months, then it was replaced with serial numbers with “US” as a prefix and an 8-digit number with the first 2 digits denoting the year (US).This article is intended to help you date your Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass guitars all the way back to the early 1950s. The “10” prefix denotes instruments made in 2010. (Fender Peghead Decal "Z6" Example: 2006 Fender American VG Stratocaster)Ī new serial numbering system was used starting towards the end of 2009 with a “10” prefix with a space and 7 digits.
#Fender bass guitar identification series#
“DZ” denotes American Deluxe Series instruments. “Z” Serial Numbers denote the instruments made in the USA starting in 2000. There are overlap with numbers and years. CBS sold Fender in March 1985 and serial numbers of instruments stayed the same. “N” and “E” Serial Numbers can also denote Japanese-made instruments. "S" Serial Numbers = 1970's, "E" Serial Numbers were started in 1979 to denote the 1980's, "V" Serial Numbers were introduced in 1982 for U.S. In mid-1976, Fender began putting serial numbers on the peghead for U.S. (Fender F-Series Serial Number Example: 1974 Fender Stratocaster w/ 3-bolt neck design) Fender Peghead Decal Serial Numbers: (Fender F-Series Serial Number Example: 1973 Fender Precision Bass) (Fender F-Series Serial Number Example: 1967 Fender Coronado II Bass) Serial numbers of instruments did not change immediately as they continued using existing production tools and parts. (Fender L-Series 1963 Serial Number Example: 1963 Fender Jazzmaster )įender was sold to CBS in January of 1965.

(1958 Fender Serial Number Example: 1958 Fender Musicmaster) Fender L-Series Serial Numbers: It was originally called the Broadcaster and it was the first solid body mass produced electric guitar.įender P Bass Serial Numbers from 1951-1955:įender also introduced the Precision Bass (P Bass) in 1951. Remember these serial number plates were just taken from the pile and Fender Telecaster (Early Esquire and Broadcaster) Serial Numbers from 1950-1954: Manufacturing Date Identification of Fender:įender serial number schemes from 1950-1964 contain overlap in numbers and years. (Fender Body Date 4/59: 1959 Fender Jazzmaster) (8th week of '74 Pot Codes on a 1974 Fender Stratocaster) (Fender Neck Date Example: 1971 Telecaster Bass) (Stamped 1963 Fender Neck Date: Fender Jazzmaster September '63) (Handwritten 1962 Fender Neck Date: Fender Jazzmaster March '62)

(Handwritten Fender Neck Date Example on a 1956 Fender Precision Bass) Please refer to an experienced guitar tech or luthier if you are not sure about doing so. Fender neck plates were selected from large bins and it's difficult to properly date Fender's by neck plate alone.

Also, another good way to properly date Fender guitars is to check the components (pots, pickups, body dates). Checking the date range can be done by removing the neck of the guitar and checking the butt end of the neck heel for a stamped or written date (See picture for an example).
