Neck-dating can be useful in determining the approximate age of a guitar, but it is certainly not definitive because the neck date simply refers to the date that the individual component was produced, rather than the complete instrument. You might also consider consulting one or more of the many instrument dealers who offer appraisals of vintage instruments, such as Elderly Instruments (www.elderly.com), Gruhn Guitars (www.gruhn.com), Mandolin Bros. (www.mandoweb.com), Norman’s Rare Guitars (www.normansrareguitars.com) or Tundra Music (www.tundramusic.com). “Z”-prefix serial numbers denoting the new millennium appeared on U.S.-made instruments in 2000. This new scheme is now used on the majority of U.S.-made Fender instruments, with exceptions including the American Vintage series and certain special-run instruments. This will enable you to figure out the year your amp was made.Link ==> Superior Music – Fender Amp, Amplifier Serial Numbers. Other resources include the Orion Blue Book (or Blue Book of Guitar Values), which might be found in your local library. From 1990 to the present, all fabricated Fender amplifiers have a … V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster), “10” prefix followed by a space and seven digits (late 2009 through March 2010). You might consider referring to Vintage Guitar magazine (www.vguitar.com), a great and helpful resource for those who buy, sell and trade vintage instruments. Serial numbering didn’t change immediately because instruments continued to be made using existing, tooling, parts and serial number schemes. Once again, there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. FENDER AMP Chassis Serial Number DATE CODES. N0 + 5 digits = 1990-1991. I own a N72XXXXX and it’s a Fender American standard made in 1997. If, however, you’re interested in determining a relative value for your instrument(s), we recommend that you contact used or vintage instrument dealers in your area. Fender was sold to CBS in January 1965. Also used on many FSRs starting in the 2000s. CBS sold Fender in March 1985. The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. Once again, there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. Blonde Jazzmasters® and Jaguars® with Gold hardware made in 1994. Serial numbering didn’t change immediately because instruments continued to be made using existing, tooling, parts and serial number schemes. These are the numbers you will find stamped into the chassis. As a manufacturer and distributor of new instruments, Fender has no direct involvement in the used, collector or vintage instruments markets, and is therefore unable to comment or speculate on the current value of such instruments. SZ0(XXXXX)-'00, SZ1(XXXXX)-'01, SZ2(XXXXX)-'02, etc. The only way to try to narrow the date range of your specific instrument is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the neck heel for a production date, which may be stamped or written there (if you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, please refer to an experienced professional guitar tech in your area). Serial numbering didn’t change because instruments continued to be made using existing tooling, parts and serial number schemes. As always, there is typically some number prefix overlap and carryover from year to year. How can I find out when my old Fender® banjo was manufactured? How can I find out when my Mexican-made instrument was manufactured? Fender was sold to CBS in January 1965. ), REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR DATING FENDER INSTRUMENTS. Although the tables below are as accurate as possible, serial numbers of these acoustic guitars have never been archived and are of no assistance when attempting to date these instruments. Back to Fender.com Serial numbers were stamped on the back vibrato cover plate on early ’50s Stratocaster® guitars, and on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles on some Telecaster® guitars. However Superior Music has done a really good summary and here is a link to their website. The following six digits are the unit identifier, although it should be noted that these final six numbers are not sequential and do not provide any other identification information about the instrument. For most of Fender’s U.S. instrument production history, production dates have been applied to various components. SN0(XXXXX)-'90, SN1(XXXXX)-'90, SN2(XXXXX)-'92, etc. They were made for the export market and have Made in USA stamped on the heel of the neck. The only way to definitively date U.S. instruments with “V”-prefix serial numbers is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the neck heel for a production date, which may be stamped or written there. Precision Bass® Special from 1981, CB(XXXXX) Gold Jazz Bass from 1982, Precision Bass Special from 1981, Black and Gold Tele from 1981-82, Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982, Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982, Gold Strat 1982-83, Some U.S. made instruments from the mid to late '80s made specifically for export to Europe had an EE prefix. Some may have stayed in the U.S. or found their way back (Made to Standard Strat specs, dating unclear). Therefore, while helpful in determining a range of production dates, a neck date is obviously not a precisely definitive reference. For years, serial numbers have been used in various locations on Fender instruments, such as the top of the neck plate, the front or back of the headstock and the back of the neck near the junction with the body. Serial numbers are on the front of the headstock. Indeed, we use these same books here at Fender when researching historical and date-related issues. Given the modular nature of Fender production techniques, an individual neck may have been produced in a given year, then stored for a period of time before being paired with a body to create a complete guitar, perhaps, for example, in the following year. What can you tell me about the historical patent markings that appear on some of your products? there used to be a link on the Fender website for amp dating from the serial numbers. The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. An exact date is therefore not to define but is an approximation. The serial numbers are basically chronological, but as already mentioned, due to Fender's numbering methods, there are a number of serial numbers and years that overlap. The Japanese-made Fenders do have some slight serial number differences (typically a "J" serial number prefix). Most specifications for a given Fender instrument model change little (if at all) throughout the lifetime of the model. How can I find out when my American-made instrument was manufactured? But once again, due to Fender’s modular production methods and often non-sequential serial numbering (usually overlapping two to four years from the early days of Fender to the mid-1980s), dating by serial number is not always precisely definitive. "STRAT®" from about 1980, (Gold hardware, 2 position rotary tone switch), U.S. '52 Vintage Telecaster® 1982-1988 (Check neck date for specific year), U.S. '52 Vintage Telecaster 1988-present (Check neck date for specific year), FSRs and '52 Teles (Note: the XN prefix typically does not appear on the instrument itself, but it is a prefix that is entered in our OS database. They are detailed reference resources with a wealth of information on determining the production years of various instruments and on Fender history in general. How can I find out when my Indonesian-made instrument was manufactured? A limited number of these "H", "I" and "K" series guitars were made in '89 and '90. 1982 saw the introduction of the U.S. Vintage Series instruments and “V”-prefix serial numbers. You can order these titles through your local Authorized Fender Dealer. Instead, the instrument's country of origin appears on the decal on the back of the headstock, near the serial number. This new numbering scheme was short-lived and was replaced only a few months later by an improved scheme that identifies an instrument’s country of origin and year of manufacture in the body of the serial number. Z0 denotes 2000; Z1 denotes 2001, etc. The “10” prefix was designed to identify the first year of the second decade of the new millennium, and while it appears on the instrument decals, it was not captured in Fender’s operating system. ), Some Mexico made Artist model instruments, American Deluxe series instruments, '98 and '99, U.S. made guitars and basses destined for the export market. N9 + 5 digits = 1990. A new serial-numbering scheme was adopted toward the end of 2009 using the number “10” as a prefix, followed by a space, followed by seven digits. How can I find out when my Korean-made instrument was manufactured? Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. The “odd” serial numbers on the chart below exist somewhat outside the more well-known Fender serial number schemes. Sold as a promotional 3 piece set with a Blonde Deluxe Reverb Amp. We highly recommend each of them. Many pawnshops use this book and others like it to establish instrument values. California Series electric guitars and basses, '97 and '98 (The California Series instruments with an AMXN prefix share U.S./Mexico origin. The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. 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