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. But it doesn't show in the serial number printed behind the headstock.How to date and identify your Fender instruments using serial numbers and production date stamps. Nonetheless, the original tag which was sent with the guitar by the previous owner (with the bar codes and all), reads ' 00-01' in bold letters at the back, ad repeated in the full serial number on the same tag.

Made in ' 07 July, Japan, hence first year of production.

I checked on your site guys, and it gave me some data: And now I want to know where it comes from, where and when my baby was born Yet, it's only after acquiring a PRS recently, that I realised one more time how genuinely wonderful this guitar is in every sense of the way (except that I hate floyd systems but eh). I absolute love it, according to an Ibanez guy I met in 2015, it's one of their finest built, even for a JEM77. I bought an Ibanez JEM77V-BK second hand on a Ibanez forum in 2014 which I think is.

Prs serial number decoder