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. 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 identification 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. 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 identification number or neck number. This article is intended to help you date your Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, and Precision Bass guitars all the way back to the early 1950s. First let’s take a look at where to find ID numbers on a Fender guitar. Most manufactures don’t actually write the production dates on the guitar in plain view. They decided that it would be easier to decipher the serial number code than just write the year on the guitar. Unfortunately, Fender decided not to simply write the date of manufacture on the guitar. Certain styles and colors have come and gone over the years, but there is no real obvious way to tell how old a Fender is other than the identification number. I want to help you understand how to tell the age of your Fender as well as any Fender you see.įender like Gibson has been producing guitars for many years. That is why I decided to write this article. In many instances, there is no exact known date for a specific guitar. Unfortunately, the serial number placement is sporadic and many ID numbers over lap between years and models. The Fender numbers tell the story of the company over the years. I often get asked, how old is my Fender guitar? Most of the time this question can’t be answered specifically. 8.1 Fender Anniversary, Reissue, Special Edition, and Signature Guitars.8 Fender Anniversary, Reissue, Special Edition, and Signature Series.7 1976-Present USA Fender Guitar Serial Numbers.6 1965-1976 Fender Guitar Serial Numbers.5.1 Late 1962 – Early 1965 Fender Guitars.5 Late 1962 – Early 1965 Fender Guitar Serial Numbers.4 1954-1963 Fender Guitar Serial Numbers.3.1 Telecaster – Esquire – Broadcaster – No-caster.3 1950-1954 Fender Guitar Serial Numbers.

2 Fender Serial Number Guide & Database Explained.1.2 What does the date on the neck mean?.1.1 Where do I find my Fender Serial Number?.

Gibson j 50 serial numbers