Thinlines, and Esquires that code is 3. The information needed is serial number, model, neck type, green or red Since that article was written, however, a number of examples have been submitted to me that do not fit the aforementioned dating system. An example of this is 02033923 found Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. … red vs black vs green? Here is a list of those codes and the years that they were used. (Stamped 1963 Fender Neck Date: Fender Jazzmaster September '63) (Fender Neck Date Example: 1971 Telecaster Bass) (8th week of '74 Pot Codes on a 1974 Fender Stratocaster) (Fender Body Date 4/59: 1959 Fender Jazzmaster) Manufacturing Date Identification of Fender: Fender serial number schemes from 1950-1964 contain overlap in numbers and years. 01 = rosewood fingerboard We need to break the code up into pieces. With these being the model destinations : 3/4-Musicmaster/other 3/4 scales(?) The combination of the text "Made in Japan" and the serial number was used until 1997. a guitar or bass with this first style green code and you would like to submit is needed to test the decoding theory and your help will be greatly appreciated. Let’s practice that again okay? I examined and/or received information regarding stamped The strange and mysterious neck codes found on Fenders from 1969 – 80 have been all but ignored by the vintage and collectible guitar community. which was stamped in green or red ink. on the butt end of the neck in green or red ink. The pots date to very late 1974, but the neck code is 09033924 which would suggest 1972. Set up your decoder rings with the info above and try your hand on P-Bass (s/n 647149) with code 01031051. Copyright 1998, 20th The Fender serial number decoder currently supports all documented MIA, MIJ, MIM, MIK and MII formats with the exception of Custom Shop, Relic and Reissue instruments. The first 6 digits are paired to be relatively straight forward and the conclusions were confirmed by pickup Of these, less than half had useable information. The other three digits (320) are a mystery and perhaps are some kind of batch or lot number. Let’s practice that again okay? codes for about 150 Fenders made between 1967 and 1980. 3 where: 49 = model code (Musicmaster, Mustang, Bronco). As to the letter designations, "A", "B", "C" and "D". They are almost always on either the top of the neck plate (the piece of metal on the back of the guitar near the neck), on the headstock (the top part of the guitar where the strings attach), or close to the body at the bottom of the neck. Now that you’re all expert cryptographers let’s dive right into the 1972 – 80 coding system. legibility or the stamps were incomplete. Starting a the right we have the letter B. Besides, Fender stopped dating the neck in this time frame and started using codes that require deciphering, making it doubly difficult to tell the manufacture date (yes, you can still look at the pot dates). Additional information is needed to test the decoding theory and your help will be greatly appreciated. 04 = Mustang Bass TALK TO A FENDER SPECIALIST! The new code consisted of 6, … conclusions is relatively small and therefore, subject to change as new information The new stamped code, and any pot or pickup dates. Starting with the letter B, this is the same neck width code Fender has been using since 1962. Finding your serial number on your Fender should be very easy. It is also nice and heavy. extra credit for suggesting the explanation for the day of the week code. Strong evidence that this fretless maple fingerboard P-neck is 1975, not a 1971: 8-digit ink stamps were not known to be present in 71 …. Pickups that are found to be built prior to 1965 are considered extremely valuable. half had useable information. Telecaster (s/n S725092) with To date a Fender acoustic guitar try my Fender acoustic guitar dater. Greg Gagliano, a researcher devoted to vintage I understand that fender neck stamps indicated (vintage... say 60's) Model, month, year, width. Again, a neck was stamped with either the new type of code or the old date stamp, but not both. Again, the decoding hypothesis set forth here need to be tested further and any information that readers wish to submit will be greatly appreciated. would indicate a 1967 date and one has been reported with a possible 1968 Just put all the info into context, add a pinch luck, a dash of common sense and maybe some mojo just for good measure. Now at Harmonic Arts, and Tim Pershing the Fender Student Model Guru. date stamp that had been in use since 1962. For Stratocasters it is 22 and for This Fender Jazzmaster from 1963 has the stamp "4DEC62B". So that gives us 49 00 21 5 3 where: 49 = model code (Musicmaster, Mustang, Bronco). Exceptions do exist. For example, let’s take Telecaster Thinline (s/n 272207) with the code: 3320119B. July 30, 2018 at 7:43 pm want a wider neck (at the nut) to swap out for the original on a Fender Jazz Bass. For example, let’s take Telecaster Thinline (s/n 272207) At the beginning of 1965, Fender was sold to CBS. The neck stamps on Fenders from 1969 to 1971 can be most logically translated by reading from right to left. The next digit denotes the year, in this case 9 = 1969. A few Telecasters have shown up with neck codes that Copyright 2003, 20th Century Guitar Magazine. Also, is the stamp color meaningful? If the Fender neck pocket is 5/8″ deep and your neck is.750 under the overhang then you are good to go. It’s a Precision, maple neck, skunk stripe. The first one or two digits of the code, in this case 3, denotes the model. Many, many thanks to the folks who contributed data for this research During the late 1960s and 1970s many strange ideas were tried on the production floor.”  So, this means that every time there was a change of floor supervisor or quality assurance supervisor, there could be a change in how the date code was stamped. Many guitars had no stamped codes at all. of leftover necks – Fender is known to have done this often. It is not known why Fender used two completely different systems at the same time. surfaces. DATING YOUR MEXICAN-MADE FENDER INSTRUMENT. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Perhaps the best place to start when dating your Fender is to get an approximate idea of the era based on the instrument's design and components. for my research. completely different systems at the same time. So, if you have a Fender guitar that doesn’t exactly fit into my previous dating system, don’t panic! DATING FENDER AMPS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL/CHASSIS NUMBERS. 03 = fretted maple neck OR skunk stripe neck with rosewood board For Telecasters, Telecaster Instruments made between 1990 and 2000 carry “MN” prefix serial numbers, with the “M” designating Mexico and the “N” designating the 1990s. I won’t get into the pros and cons of 1970s Fenders here, but instead, I hope to shed some new light on those weirdo neck codes. Both type of stamps can be found on Fenders made from 1969 through 1971. Many also have penciled neck dates (6-14-82) you can only see when the neck is removed from the body of the guitar. 49 = Musicmaster, Mustang, Bronco, 00 = rosewood fingerboard The next one or two If Fender used the (e.g. Here’s a brief recap: In 1969, CBS-Fender began to implement a new type of neck stamp in place of the usual date stamp consisting of model code, month, year, neck width (e.g. outside inward. For Telecasters, Telecaster Thinlines, and Esquires that code is 3. it to the database I’m compiling, please send the model, serial number, code, Of these, less than It’s the last 4 digits that adds mystery in many cases, and relies on other clues around the bass (neck plate number, pots numbers, pickup numbers, inspection stamps) to pinpoint when assembled. I’m borrowing the following GREAT INFO from: Copyright 1998, 20th Century Guitar Magazine. Well, I’ll give you the ones that I know so far. Example: Music Master (s/n 595121) with code 49002153. Then in 1972, Fender changed to a new type of neck stamp which had 8-digits Starting a the right we have the letter B. The good news is that the overall percentage of the codes that fall into this third system is very low (less than 10%). The info can be sent to me c/o 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). These codes can, in general, be deciphered as described in the March 1998 article. 03 = rosewood fingerboard on skunk stripe neck. on a Jazz Bass. For neck codes (second pair of digits): 00 = rosewood fingerboard 01 = rosewood fingerboard 03 = fretted maple neck OR skunk stripe neck with rosewood board 10 = fretless maple neck . It’s a 4 screw, has the R Bush stamp & the last 2 digits are 52 so i’m thinking 1975. On later Fender JV models, the "MADE IN JAPAN" can be found on the heel of the guitar neck, just above the metal neck plate. 1 = Jaguar 1962-1965 Now, how the heck are you supposed to know the model codes and neck codes? In 1962, Fender began stamping the neck heels with an ink stamp that included a model code, month, year, and neck width code. Here’s our P-Bass again (s/n 277983) with or the other type of stamp… not both. One more time, since you love this stuff… Strat (s/n 279515) with code Fender guitars made from 1954 to mid 1976 have a neck plate serial number, which changes depending on the year. i believe ’71 necks were date-stamped, preceding the 8-digit code era, Everyone agrees about the first 4 digits … CALL 1-844-202-0924 MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-11PM EST Submit a request. Dating 1970s Fender Guitars by Neck Code:  An Update Other helpful links: How to date vintage Fender guitars  How to date a vintage Gibson Les Paul. I can’t remember exactly if the day or week number or year number came first but the code was some combination of the above.”  Dave said that the week numbers  were an important accounting tool because they appeared on many types of production documents used on the floor. Neck Profile Shape . and if you have them, the pot dates and pickup dates. 09 = Stratocaster been all but ignored by the vintage and collectible guitar community. The new code consisted of 6, 7 or 8 digits and was usually stamped in green ink. 10 = fretless maple neck. To clarify, a neck would have one Second, my data set for making conclusions is relatively small and therefore, subject to change as new information surfaces. He found that part of I examined and/or received information regarding stamped codes for about 150 Fenders made between 1967 and 1980. Second, my data set for making Potentiometer codes can often help inform that finding and add another data point in assigning value. Some guitars simply had the model name, such as "MUSTANG" stamped ( Log Out /  Fender tube amp information. There are a number of possible locations for the serial number on a Fender guitar. 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). example of this type of neck code found on a Precision Bass is 529129B. After 1981, most Fender neck dates are easy to read and understand; however, I’ve still seen a few Fender basses from the 1990s with no neck stamp at all. Yes, from 62 to 1968, the first to digits are the model number that the neck belongs to, not the day of the month, the stamps go like this, XX-MM-YY-W, the XX is the model number, the MM is the month, the YY is the last two digits of the year, and the W is the nut width, a … Factory standard for Jazz basses is 1.5. Thanks so much. 25 1/2" (37) Radius . Dave further advises “What you must remember is that there was very much a lack of consistency. In this case, the “4” probably represents 1974 and “2” is either the day of the week or perhaps the operator code. The strange and mysterious neck codes found on Fenders from 1969 – 80 In 1969, CBS-Fender began to implement a new type of neck stamp in place of the usual date stamp consisting of model code, month, year, neck width (e.g. Then in 1972, Fender changed to a new type of neck stamp which had 8-digits which was stamped in green or red ink. The info can be sent to me c/o the 20th Century Guitar offices at 135 Oser Ave, Hauppauge, NY 11788. From 1990 to the present, all fabricated Fender amplifiers have a … of the usual date stamp consisting of model code, month, year, neck width From 1972 through about March 1973, this new system was The next one or two digits are for the month, here 10 = October. and any information that readers wish to submit will be greatly appreciated. The first 6 digits are paired off and the last two digits are taken singly. Reply. Warm and sweet vintage output neck humbucker for Blues and Rock. For starters, there's the Reverb Price Guide which has thousands of entries with pictures and details on various guitars and other gear. Fender; Fender Product Support; Product Dating; Product Dating Find out exactly when your instrument or amplifier was manufactured. Its safe to say this is a genuine fender body as it must be from the same batch of guitars as the one you had. code consisted of 6, 7 or 8 digits and was usually stamped in green ink. This means two things for the owner of a 1969-80 Fender. I won’t get into the pros and cons of 1970s Fenders here, but instead, I hope to shed some new light on those weirdo neck codes. By Greg Gagliano. An have been all but ignored by the vintage and collectible guitar community. Hi, is there a fender jazz bass neck that cld fit a Fender Dimension body Especially a 5er Or a graphite neck ie. 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). From 1972 through about March 1973, this new system was used concurrently with the old Month-Year date stamp. digits of the code, in this case 3, denotes the model. 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). Hence, this update will explain how to interpret these other codes. Set up your decoder rings with the info above and try your hand on P-Bass (s/n 647149) with code 01031051. For example, let’s take a Stratocaster with the serial number 279515 and the code 22384109B. Break it into pieces: B = 1 5/8 inch neck width After March 1973, Fender dropped the old style date stamp and continued If you have Here’s a brief recap: In 1969, CBS-Fender began to implement a new type of neck stamp in place of the usual date stamp consisting of model code, month, year, neck width (e.g. Example: Music Master (s/n 595121) with code 49002153. In most cases, the stamp was smudged beyond legibility or the stamps were incomplete. In most cases, the stamp was smudged beyond Here’s the bottom line when trying to date a late ‘60s or 1970s Fender instrument with the strange green and red ink codes: all indicators (features, pot dates, pickup dates, etc.) Some guitars simply had the model name, such as “MUSTANG” stamped on the butt end of the neck in green or red ink. One plausible explanation is the use ( Log Out /  I won’t get into the pros and cons of 1970s Fenders In another example, 4242 could have been Thursday of week 24 in 1972 or Thursday of week 42 in 1972. In some reissue models it can be found on the headstock or the neck plate. Please note that fender serial numbers tend to overlap by at least a year, and thereby the date of your guitar can only be approximated. 09 = Stratocaster the profile decriptions are the thickness of the fret board, front to back, at the first fret, not the width of the fret board. other typical mid-70s characteristics with the body. Dating vintage guitars can be fun but also frustrating. Here’s a brief recap:  In 1969, CBS-Fender began to implement a new type of neck stamp in place of the usual date stamp consisting of model code, month, year, neck width (e.g. Here’s our P-Bass again (s/n 277983) with the code 529129B. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. You may recall that I wrote an article in the March 1998 issue of TCG that described my research findings for dating Fender guitars and basses with those whacky green or red ink stamped codes. An example of this type of neck code found on a Precision Bass is 529129B. Tim earned Well, I’ll give you the ones that I know so far. The following three digits, here 384, could be a batch or lot number, or i could be the count fo… with either the new type of code or the old date stamp, but not both. Andre Duchossoir briefly discussed his findings for the 1972-80 codes The date from 1969-71 stamped codes can be extracted by working from the The "4" is not the day, but a model code that indicated the neck was being made for a Jazzmaster model guitar. So that gives us 49 00 21 5 There’s a good chance that what Dave and Abigail know about these “other” date code schemes could very well apply to guitars. SERIAL NUMBERS: PRODUCTION DATES: E3 + 5 5 digits E4 + 5 5 digits V + 4, 5 or 6 5 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except ’52 Telecaster) 1985 (For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) So it would make sense that the “0” represents 1970. Breaking up the code we get: B = 1 5/8 inch neck width (correct for a ’69 P-Bass). You should get: One more time and we’ll call it a day…. The date from 1969-71 stamped codes can be extracted by working from the outside inward. In 1969, CBS-Fender began to implement a new type of neck stamp in place of the usual date stamp consisting of model code, month, year, neck width (e.g. How can I find out when my American-made instrument was manufactured? To clarify, a neck would have one or the other type of stamp… not both. Again, a neck was stamped Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In 1969, CBS-Fender began to implement a new type of neck stamp in place Dating older Fender amplifiers from before 1994 is difficult because no proper records were kept. Again, the decoding hypothesis set forth here need to be tested further appears to be the same neck width code that Fender had been using since 1962. at all. 01 = rosewood fingerboard Starting about April 1962, Fender went from a hand written neck butt date to stamped date. Fender guitars produced in Japan have the serial number on the back of the neck, near the attachment to the body. digits denote the month, in this case 11 = November. The other three digits (320) are a mystery and perhaps The inspection tags on the guitars also used this same type of code. The information needed is serial number, model, neck type, green or red stamped code, and any pot or pickup dates. However, the interpretation of the two date code systems appears to be relatively straight forward and the conclusions were confirmed by pickup dates and pot dates in most cases. Good luck in your adventures with dating 1970s Fender instruments! ( Log Out /  Many, many thanks to the folks who contributed data for this research including Jim Werner the Fender Collector Somewhere in Iowa, Hans Moust at Guitarchives, Jim Strahm and Matt Kesler at Midwestern Musical, Jay Keim at Harmonic Arts, and Tim Pershing the Fender Student Model Guru. She also confirmed that the formula did change from time to time. 02 = Jazz Bass cavity and/or back of the neck. For model codes (first pair of digits): 01 = Precision Bass The first one or two labels bearing Month-Day-Year date stamps appeared in the neck pocket, pickup Telecaster (s/n S725092) with rosewood board and code 1303167?. Century Guitar Magazine. The new style, 8-digit code was used until sometime in 1980 when small adhesive labels bearing Month-Day-Year date stamps appeared in the neck pocket, pickup cavity and/or back of the neck. the codes denoted neck type. 0101 = (01)precision bass, (01)rosewood fingerboard You should get: One more time and we’ll call it a day…. Click through to get 40% special discounts by simply using valid promo codes and Fender provides more offers on orders above $50. John Reed. Fender used at least four different serializing schemes from 1950 to 1980. ( Log Out /  My neck has the exact same stamp on the heel apart from the M for maple and my body is identical to the one in the first post with the ears and the sharper edges. This system may apply to some neck codes as well as pickups during the 1970s. An example of this type of neck code found on a Precision Bass is 529129B. of having an intact stamped code is about 50-50. (s/n 647149) with code 01031051. 22384109B. CBS-Fender used this neck code system concurrently with the standard Month-Year date stamp that had been in use since 1962. He found that part of the codes denoted neck type. The next one or two digits denote the month, in this case 11 = November. it's my favourite guitar. Precision Basses it is 5. 03 = rosewood fingerboard on skunk stripe neck. The next number is the production year, in this case 9 = 1969. Neck Configuration Codes: 00 = Rosewood fingerboard 01 = Rosewood fingerboard 02 = Maple fingerboard 03 = Maple fingerboard Neck & Body Stamps: WWYD Example: 0304 - Basically the same as the date portion of the nine digit neck stamp although in black ink. C Shape (35) V Shape (2) Orientation . (01)P-bass (10)fretless maple fingerboard. Now that you’re all expert cryptographers let’s dive right into the 1972 An example of this is 02033923 found on a Jazz Bass. of digits): 01 = Precision Bass Tim earned extra credit for suggesting the explanation for the day of the week code. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either. Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Neck Position Humbucker-Black. date, yet the rest of the guitar appears to be from 1969. 1-Jaguar 2-Stratocaster 3-Telecaster 4-Jazzmaster 02 = Jazz Bass This operator number was used in the date code (Abby’s was 6 and later 7). If Fender used the coding system as early as 1967, then we should see more 1967 and 1968 guitars surfacing with the green stamped code. Then in 1972, Fender changed to a new type of neck stamp which had 8-digits which was stamped in green or red ink. The bad news is that they cannot be fully deciphered using the system previously established. used concurrently with the old Month-Year date stamp. Breaking up the code we get: B = 1 5/8 inch neck width (correct for a ’69 P-Bass). on Fenders made from 1969 through 1971. First, the chances of having an intact stamped code is about 50-50. 49 = Musicmaster, Mustang, Bronco, 00 = rosewood fingerboard The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. One plausible explanation is the use of leftover necks – Fender is known to have done this often. coding system as early as 1967, then we should see more 1967 and 1968 guitars 08 = Telecaster Deluxe Right-hand (35) Left-hand (2) Scale Length . Greg Gagliano, a researcher devoted to vintage and collectible guitars and amps, clearly has way too much time on his hands since all he seems to do is compile Fender green stamped neck codes and Fender tube amp information. Now that these instruments are hitting the “magical” 25-year mark, they have suddenly gained attention. The next digit denotes the year, in this case 9 = 1969. An exact date is therefore not to define but is an approximation. 10 = fretless maple neck. The p-bass tunnel ended about 1973 …. This means two things for the owner of a 1969-80 Fender. Fender began producing instruments in its Ensenada, Mexico, factory in 1990. surfacing with the green stamped code. Deluxe Series Telecaster® Neck, 12" Radius, 22 Jumbo Frets, Pau Ferro Fingerboard $299.99 Classic Series '50s Telecaster® Neck with Lacquer Finish, "C" Shape - Maple Fingerboard This transposing of numbers is what makes things confusing. – 80 coding system. I have an 8 digit (red ink) P Bass with the first 4 being 0103. For model codes (first pair About the author:  Guitar and amp super sleuth, Greg Gagliano, can be contacted c/o TCG. Perhaps this is due to the fact that 1970s Fenders have, until recently, You should get: 01 = P-Bass . I used this information as the starting point Let’s look at some examples: Telecaster with serial number 291382 would appear to be from 1970 based on the serial number alone. including Jim Werner the Fender Collector Somewhere in Iowa, Hans Moust at Change ). since all he seems to do is compile Fender green stamped neck codes and Some browsing around the F… All Fender JV models had the serial numbers engraved into either the neck plate or bridge. Guitarchives, Jim Strahm and Matt Kesler at Midwestern Musical, Jay Keim It is not known why Fender used two Usually the date had a code (often mistaked as a day of the month/year) preceeding the date, to signify what model the neck belongs. Again, the percentage of these codes being reported to me is low, but still significant enough that you need to pay close attention and look at other clues. The Alnico 2 Pro Humbucker uses the soft treble attack and low string pull of an alnico 2 bar magnet, combined with a special vintage output coil wind to create a … The new code consisted of 6, 7 or 8 digits and was usually stamped in green ink. If you have a guitar or bass with this first style green code and you would like to submit it to the database I’m compiling, please send the model, serial number, code, and if you have them, the pot dates and pickup dates. As you can see, the official designations are far different than you are probably used to hearing when describing the neck of the Fender guitars. Now, how the heck are you supposed to know the model codes and neck codes? 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). in his excellent Telecaster and Stratocaster books. According to long time Fender employees, Dave Maddux and Abigail Ybarra, Fender often used a date code that included the week number, day of the week, and a single digit for the year. Moses. 11788. The new code consisted of 6, 7 or 8 digits and was usually stamped in green ink. 13 = Telecaster, Telecaster Custom, Telecaster Thinline 03 = fretted maple neck that these instruments are hitting the "magical" 25-year mark, they have A few Telecasters have shown up with neck codes that would indicate a 1967 date and one has been reported with a possible 1968 date, yet the rest of the guitar appears to be from 1969. suddenly gained attention. For Stratocasters it is 22 and for Precision Basses it is 5. 08 = Telecaster Deluxe With regard to pickup dates, according to Abigail there was one additional “wild card” in the numbering scheme, namely, that each operator had a number. One more time, since you love this stuff… Strat (s/n 279515) with code 22384109B. rosewood board and code 1303167?. and collectible guitars and amps, clearly has way too much time on his hands Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Several Fender basses from 1969 to 1980 have neck stamp codes that are difficult to decipher and sometimes impossible to read. the 20th Century Guitar offices at 135 Oser Ave, Hauppauge, NY American Professional Jazz Bass Neck, 20 Narrow Tall Frets, 9.5" Radius, Rosewood $549.99 Roasted Maple Vintera® '60's Jazz Bass® Neck, 20 Vintage Frets, 7.25", "C" Shape Andre Duchossoir briefly discussed his findings for the 1972-80 codes in his excellent Telecaster and Stratocaster books. This can be a tall order for someone less versed in guitar history, but we do have some resources here on Reverb to help you out. CBS-Fender used this neck code system concurrently with the standard Month-Year Break it into pieces: Exceptions do exist. The neck code is 318 204B. the P-body this neck belongs to has the pickup cavity trench (not a tunnel) going to the control cavity. Set up your decoder rings with the info above and try your hand on P-Bass Stratocaster with serial number 568851 would appear to be from 1974 based on the serial number. This However, the interpretation of the two date code systems appears Greg Gagliano has deciphered the neck coding of … This appears to be the same neck width code that Fender had been using since 1962. 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). First, the chances Additional information I used this information as the starting point for my research. 8 DEC 65 B for a Duo-Sonic II with a 1 5/8 inch neck width). Dave says “we stamped a 4 digit number… 2735 would be week 27, 3 for Wednesday, and 5 for year 1975.