#FENDER TELECASTER SERIAL NUMBERS LOOKUP HOW TO#
#FENDER TELECASTER SERIAL NUMBERS LOOKUP SERIAL NUMBER#
#FENDER TELECASTER SERIAL NUMBERS LOOKUP CODE#

The вЂњXXвЂќ does not refer to the day it is a code for the neck type (e.g. March 1962 to 1965: Dark blue or red ink stamps below the truss rod adjustment at the neck butt. Markings start to appear again around mid-year. Date format is usually M-D-YY and often features the woodworkerвЂ™s initials as well.ДЎ954-1959: Same as above, only the format is M-YY, leaving out the day.ДЇirst half of 1959: No markings for a period after a customer complained about an obscenity written on the neck butt. Only about half the guitars still carry any intelligible information here.Д«elow is a list of date formats and how they were marked on the neck-butts:ДЎ950-1954: Hand-written below the truss rod adjustment at the butt end of the neck.

#FENDER TELECASTER SERIAL NUMBERS LOOKUP SERIAL NUMBER#

On some Telecaster guitars the serial number is found on the bridge plate between the pickup and the saddles.ДЇrom 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 вЂ™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 FenderвЂ™s production history they have applied serial numbers and production dates that can help you determine their production date (within a few yearsвЂ™ margin, at least).Дetermining the date can also be important from a collectorвЂ™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.

#FENDER TELECASTER SERIAL NUMBERS LOOKUP HOW TO#

How to date and identify your Fender instruments using serial numbers and production date stamps.

Fender telecaster serial numbers lookup