Dating mim stratocaster

How do you date a Stratocaster model?

After 1962, an ink stamp was used to stamp the model code, month, year, and neck width code. Heres what a neck heel stamp looks like: This neck heel date stamp reads 2SEP65B which should read accordingly: 2 = Stratocaster model (not the day!), SEP = September, 65 = 1965, B = standard nut width or 1 5/8.

How old is this Fender Stratocaster?

This guitar is an excellent example of why Fender serial numbers can be misleading. This Fender Stratocaster exhibited a lot of features that indicated it was made in 1964. The serial number 1062, however, is from a range that indicates that it was made in 1954.

How important is the serial number on a Stratocaster?

The serial number is a good place to start but its often misleading and doesnt tell us the full story. Fender serial numbers on Stratocasters were assigned to a metal plate we call the neck plate that helps secure the neck to the body.

How do you date a Fender guitar?

Instead, the best approach to dating a Fender is to combine indicators from the design of the instrument, the dates found on the neck and body, along with the serial number.

How do you date a Fender Stratocaster?

The serial number is important to match the parts to the guitar but its not the only way to date a Fender Stratocaster. The way that a Fender guitar expert dates a Fender Stratocaster is with the neck and body dates, potentiometer codes, features, and the serial number.

How important is the serial number on a Stratocaster?

The serial number is a good place to start but its often misleading and doesnt tell us the full story. Fender serial numbers on Stratocasters were assigned to a metal plate we call the neck plate that helps secure the neck to the body.

How to identify a 1965 Fender Stratocaster?

The white Fender Stratocaster above has a neck stamp of 2SEP65B, but the first 2 doesnt indicate the day, its the model code for Stratocaster. The rest of the stamp indicates the neck was stamped during September of 1965 and has the standard neck width.

How do I know if my Telecaster has a date?

If your serial number has spaces between the first two numbers and the rest of the numbers, starts with a 76, or is only the number 500 refer to chart 2. Note: Only 4 or 5 digits? This means you have a “52 Vintage Telecaster”. Date will be under the neck which will have to be taken off.

How to date a Fender acoustic guitar?

To date a Fender acoustic guitar try my Fender acoustic guitar dater. There are a number of possible locations for the serial number on a Fender guitar. These include the top of the neck plate, somewhere on the headstock, on the bridge plate or the back of the neck near the body.

How can I tell how old my Fender guitar is?

Checking the date range can be done by removing the neck of the guitar and checking the butt end of the neck heel for a stamped or written date (See picture for an example). Also, another good way to properly date Fender guitars is to check the components (pots, pickups, body dates).

How do you date a guitar by serial number?

Dating a guitar by Serial Number is easy, as long as you know which serial numbers match which years for each guitar model. Grab your guitar and set your timer, because we’re going to figure out what year your guitar was made in just 60 seconds.

Do all Fender guitars have a dated neck?

Almost all Fender guitars have a dated neck. Some Fender guitar bodies and pickups also have dates written on them. Few Fender guitars have dates written on the bodies under the pickups, in the routed out cavities, and near the wiring harnesses. Fender only decided to write dates on the bodies for a few years here and there.