We get asked all the time: “Hey Guitar Hunter, can you help me identify how old my vintage Fender guitar (or bass) is?”
Instead of answering everyone individually, we thought it would be best to create a short and direct guide on How to Date Your Vintage Fender Guitar & Bass. This way, you’ll also learn a bit of Fender history and, more importantly, the history of your own Fender instrument.
At Guitar Hunter, we specialize exclusively in vintage Fender guitars and basses built between the ’50s and ’70s. We are proud to say that we have had some of the most rare Fender guitars in our inventory over the years, including everything from original 1950 Broadcasters and Nocasters to Roy Lanham’s Seminole Red 1957 Stratocaster, and countless different pre-CBS Fender custom-color guitars. We’ve had over 200 original vintage Fender guitars and basses pass through our shop over the years, and we’re proud to sell some of the best examples out there.
Note! This guide only covers Fender guitars and basses made before 1980, as these are the guitars we work with and specialize in.
The first thing to note when dating a vintage Fender guitar or bass is that you cannot look at one indicator in isolation. You need to look at all the indicators we list in this guide and then make an informed conclusion. It is always the last date on the guitar that indicates when it left the factory. That’s very important to remember, and it’s something we see a lot of people forget. Furthermore, it’s crucial to remember that Fender had transition/overlap years where they would use up old parts.
Let’s take an example: You have an untouched and all original Fender Stratocaster with a serial number and a body date that indicate late ’63, but the pot codes indicate February ’64. Yes, your guitar was nearly finished in ’63, but it was assembled and finished completely in ’64. Therefore it’s always important to date all the indicators. But after reading this guide, you’ll be fully informed and ready to date your vintage Fender.
These are the indicators we will go through in this guide:
Fender serial number lookup
First, where do you find the serial number on a vintage Fender guitar? The primary places you will find it are on the neck plate or the bridge plate. Additionally, on the first 200 or so Stratocasters produced in 1954, the serial number was placed on the tremolo cover plate.
Why isn’t it enough to look only at the serial number when dating a vintage Fender guitar? Because the three places where the serial number is attached are all parts that can be quite easily replaced. Furthermore, Fender didn’t necessarily place the neck plates on instruments in consecutive order. Therefore, you can use the serial number as a starting point for dating your guitar, but it can’t be looked at in isolation from the other parts of this guide.
In the early 1950s, the serial number was placed on the bridge cover. This applies to the following models produced between 1950 and the middle of 1954: Broadcaster, Esquire, Telecaster, and Precision Bass. Click here to read the in-depth description on how to read the serial number placed on the bridge plate.
In the middle of 1954, Fender started placing the serial numbers on the neck plate, with the exception of the first 200 or so Stratocasters produced, where the serial number was on the tremolo cover plate. But as mentioned, since 1954 and 1955 were transition years, it is still likely that you can find serial numbers placed on the bridge plate on early 1955 instruments. From this point on until 1976, all Fender instruments featured the serial number on the neck plate. Click here to read the in-depth description on how to read the serial number placed on the neck plate.
Note: The serial number on a vintage Fender Lap Steel and Electric Mandolin (Mandocaster) cannot be used in any way to determine the date of these instruments. Instead, you’ll have to look at the specifications and pot codes to determine when your instrument was built.
From 1976 onward, up until 1995, Fender placed the serial number on the front of the headstock.
| Placement | Period | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Plate | 1950 - mid-1954 | Broadcaster, Esquire, Telecaster, Precision Bass |
| Tremolo Cover Plate | Short period in 1954 | On the first 200 or so Stratocasters produced in 1954 |
| Neck Plate | mid-1954 - 1976 | All Fender Instruments |
| Front of headstock | 1976 to 1995 | All Fender Instruments |
How to read the bridge plate serial number
The serial number placed on the bridge plate is a 4-digit number. The serial numbers are not entirely sequential, but can roughly be placed in the following brackets:
1950-1954 Fender Telecaster bridge plate serial numbers:
| Year | Range |
|---|---|
| 1972 | 330001 - 370000 |
| 1973 | 370001 - 499999 |
| 1973-1974 | 500000 - 520000 |
| 1974 | 520001 - 580000 |
| 1975 | 580001 - 690000 |
| 1976 | 690000 - 750000 |
1951-1954 Fender Precision Bass bridge plate serial numbers:
| Year | Range |
|---|---|
| 1951-1952 | 100 - 600 |
| 1952-1953 | 0001 - 0900 |
| 1954 | 0-800 - 2000 |
Here you actually see an early ’55 Fender Precision Bass with some ’54 features and a serial number that also indicates ’54. Since the body- and neck date on this example indicates early ’55, that’s when the bass left the factory. A clear example of overlap years.
How to read the tremolo cover plate serial number
In 1954, when Leo Fender began the initial production of the Fender Stratocaster, he placed the serial number on the back of the tremolo cover plate on the first 200 or so Stratocasters produced. These serial numbers also feature 4-digits.
1954 Fender Stratocaster tremolo cover plate serial numbers:
| Year | Range |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 0100 - 0209 |
How to read the neck plate serial number
In mid 1954, Fender moved the serial number from the bridge plate and tremolo cover plate to the neck plate of their guitars. They kept it this way all the way up until 1976.
1954-1963 Fender instruments — 4-5 digits
| Year | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 0100 - 8000 | |
| 1955 | 6000 - 10000 | |
| 1956 | 9000 - 16000 | |
| 1957 | 16000 - 25000 | “ - ” / “ 0 “ premix may appear on serial numbers from this year. |
| 1958 | 25000 - 30000 | “ - ” / “ 0 “ premix may appear on serial numbers from this year. |
| 1959 | 30000 - 40000 | |
| 1960 | 40000 - 58000 | In some occasions, the serial number on Jazzmasters was placed at the bottom of the neck plate instead of the top. |
| 1961 | 55000 - 72000 | |
| 1962 | 72000 - 93000 | |
| 1963 | 93001 - 99999 |
In 1957, it is not unusual to see a second serial number on the other side of the neck plate.
This is only visible when you remove the neck plate and look at the side that meets the body.
The serial number on the back of the neck plate typical features a “-“ in front of it.
1963-1965 Fender Instruments – 5 digit number w/ “L” prefix
| Year | Range |
|---|---|
| 1963 | L00001 - L20000 |
| 1964 | L20001 - L60000 |
| 1965 | L55000 - L99999 |
This period is known as the “L-Series” and ran from ’63 to fall-’65.
1965-1972 Fender (CBS) Instruments – 6 digit number w/ “F” Plate
| Year | Range |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 100000 - 110000 |
| 1966 | 110001 - 179999 |
| 1966-1967 | 180000 - 200000 |
| 1967 | 200001 - 210000 |
| 1968 | 210001 - 250000 |
| 1969 | 250001 - 280000 |
| 1970 | 280001 - 300000 |
| 1971 | 300001 - 330000 |
In start January 1965, CBS bought Fender, and by the third quarter of the year, the 5-digit L-series serial numbers were replaced with a 6-digit serial number and a large “F” on the neck plate.
1972-1976 Fender CBS Instruments – 6 digit number w/ “F” Plate – 3 bolt mount
| Year | Range |
|---|---|
| 1972 | 330001 - 370000 |
| 1973 | 370001 - 499999 |
| 1973-1974 | 500000 - 520000 |
| 1974 | 520001 - 580000 |
| 1975 | 580001 - 690000 |
| 1976 | 690000 - 750000 |
In this CBS-era transition, Fender adopted the 3-bolt neck mounting system in place of the traditional 4-bolt design.
This 1976 example retains its serial number on the neck plate, whereas from 1977 onwards, serial numbers were relocated to the front of the headstock, leaving the 3-bolt plate unnumbered.
Using the neck heel stamp or the pencil date to date your vintage Fender guitar
The second place you want to look at, after you have found the range in which the serial number indicates the guitar or bass was built, is in the neck heel of your vintage Fender guitar.
Fender used two different methods to indicate what year and month the necks were made and by which employee. The first method they used was a date code indicating the month and the year written with a pencil, and the second method was a black ink stamp indicating the model code, month and year, and neck width code.
In the following paragraph we will go through the timeline of Fender’s neck heel dating systems. Remember during the period from mid-1959 through mid-1960, Fender instruments didn’t feature a neck pencil date. Furthermore, some Fender Precision Basses made in 1966 didn’t feature a neck stamp.
Pencil Date 1950-1962
1950 – Late-1953: Fender guitars made in this period typically feature the inspector initials and the date of the inspection – Month, Day, Year. Signed with a pencil.
The most common inspector initials are:
- ‘TG’ for Tadeo Gomez
- ‘DZ’ for Dickie Zamora (mostly featured in 1950)
- ‘XA’ for Xavier Armenta (mostly featured in 1956)
Initials such as ‘AG’ and ‘TD’ can also be found, but the names of these inspectors remain unknown.
Between mid-1951 until 1954 Nocasters, Telecasters and Esquires can feature a “D” stamp in either the neck pocket or at the neck heel or both. Nobody can confirm the actual meaning behind the “D” stamp.
Note: According to The Blackguard book by Nacho Baños, early examples of the Broadcaster did not feature a pencil date just like this 1950 Fender Broadcaster we had through our store.
Here is a typical early pencil that features month, day, year code + inspector initials.
Late-1953 through 1959: Fender instruments made in this period typically only feature a month-year date code and not the day. Although a day code can still be found on a few instances on 1954 necks.
Note: In 1956, the inspector’s initials, XA for Xavier Armenta, appeared, but only on examples made in 1956 (as far as we know). These date codes were signed with a pencil.
Spring-1959 through Mid-1960: Fender instruments made in this period typically didn’t feature a neck date. Nobody knows why Fender didn’t put neck dates on their guitars in this period.
Here is an example of a Fender guitar from 1959 that doesn’t feature a neck date.
Mid-1960 through start-1962: In this period Fender went back to the month-year date format. Signed with a pencil.
Here is an example of a Fender guitar from august 1960 that features a pencil date.
Ink Stamp – 1962-1973
In March 1962 Fender started to use a black ink stamp instead of a signed pencil code.
The ink stamp features a model code (1 or 2 digits see here), the first three letters of the month (example ‘AUG’ = august, etc. ), year code and a neck width code (see here).
Here is an example of a Fender Jaguar from 1962 that features a black ink stamp.
Model codes:
1 = Jaguar (1962 – 1965)
2 = Stratocaster (1962 – November 1965)
3 = Telecaster
4 = Jazzmaster (1962 – 1965)
5 = Precision Bass
6 = Bass VI
7 = Jazz Bass
8 = Mustang / Musicmaster II / Duo Sonic II – Models featuring 22-frets & 24”-scale length (1964 – 1965)
9 = Mustang / Musicmaster II / Duo Sonic II – Models featuring 21-frets & 22 3/4”-scale length (1964 – 1966)
10 = Coronado I / Coronado II / And some 1966 Jazzmaster and Stratocasters
11 = Bass VI
12 = Electric XII / Maverick / Custom Models
13 = Stratocaster (December 1965 through 1967) / On many 1966 Jazzmaster
14 = Coronado XII
15 = Jaguar (1966 – 1972)
16 = Mustang / Musicmaster II / Duo Sonic / Bronco
17 = Mustang Bass / Musicmaster Bass
18 = Coronado Bass
19 = Jazzmaster / Coronado II
22 = Stratocaster (used between 1967 and April 1973)
23 = Telecaster Bass
27 = Villager 12
28 = Shenandoah 12
09 = 09 was the model code for Stratocasters from 1972 and onwards.
3/4 = Musicmaster / Duo Sonic – First models with a small headstock featuring 21-frets (1962 – early 1964)
Neck Width codes:
‘A’ = Narrow = 1 1/2” – 1.500”
‘B’ = Standard = 1 5/8” – 1.625”
‘C’ = Wide = 1 3/4” – 1.750”
‘D’ = Extra Wide = 1 7/8” – 1.875”
1969 – April 1973: Fender guitars made in this period feature a green ink stamp instead of black and a new numeric code featuring 6, 7, or 8 digits.
This method was used simultaneously with the traditional method mentioned above and features some similarities.
For example, the green ink stamp code still features the model number first (see explanation here) and the nut width code last (see explanation here).
In addition, it also features a ‘lot’ number after the model number. The 3-letter month code is now replaced with a 1- or 2-digit month code, and the 2-digit year code is shortened to only feature the last digit of the year. These two numbers are stamped together with the nut width code.
Example of a Mustang from 1972 that features the old black ink stamp code. Another indicator that this code system was used simultaneously with the green ink stamp code.
Example of a Mustang Competition from 1969 that features the green ink stamp code.
1972 – 1980: Fender guitars made in this period feature another numeric code for dating their guitars. It’s important to remember that the green ink stamp code was used all the way up until April 1973, while this code was already implemented in 1972, meaning that the two codes were used simultaneously during this short period.
The color of this new code can either be black, green or red. It features an 8-digit code that indicates the fretboard type, day of the week and week of the year of the production of the neck, as well as the last digit of the year and model number.
In other words, the nut width code, lot number and month of the year have been replaced. The 8-digit code was sometimes separated into two groups of 4 digits with a mark such as ‘x’, ‘-‘, ‘.’, ‘1/2’ or ‘1/4’.
Fretboard code:
’00’ & ’01’ = Rosewood fretboard
’02’ = Maple fretboard
’03’ = Both rosewood & maple fretboard with a walnut skunk stripe
Note: In some cases, the code for the year and for the day of the week was reversed.
Using the body date to date your vintage Fender guitar or bass
Fender instruments made between 1950 through 1963 typically feature a date code on the body that indicates when the body was produced.
Another important detail to notice is that solid-color custom color examples do not feature a body date – only the standard sunburst and the custom color Blond finish examples.
The body date is located in a few different places on the body, depending on the model and year, and is signed with a pencil. The code is simple and indicates the month and year the body was produced, like so ‘M / YY’. Between 1950 and 1955 you will typically find the body date placed in the neck pocket.
The three most typical places you will find a pencil body date are in the tremolo spring cavity, neck pocket, pickup cavity, or in rare occasions on Strats in the control cavity, where it is signed on a little piece of masking tape. This masking tape date even features the signature of the person who wired the guitar as well as the day of the wiring.
Example of a ’61 Stratocaster with the body date in the tremolo spring cavity.
Example of a ’56 Telecaster with the body in the bridge pickup cavity. The most common body date placement on a Telecaster in this period.
Example of a ’51 Nocaster with the body date in the neck pocket. Additionally it features Tadeo Gomez’s initials and the “D” stamp.
Example from a ’57 Stratocaster with the body date in the pickup cavity. Note: In 1957 you can find the body date placed either in the middle pickup cavity or in the tremolo spring cavity.
Using the potentiometer codes to date your vintage Fender guitar
The next step when dating your vintage Fender guitar is to date when the potentiometers were produced. In this regard, it is very important to note that potentiometer codes can’t tell you exactly when the guitar was produced, but rather a rough estimate. It is common, especially in the CBS-era, that the potentiometers could be a lot older than the rest of the guitar since Fender bought huge batches of potentiometers that took some time to use up. For example, in 1966, Fender bought a huge CTS potentiometer batch that took around 5 years to use up.
Potentiometers feature a 6- or 7-digit code that indicates which manufacturer produced the potentiometer, as well as the last two digits of the year and the week of the year, like this ‘MAN-YY-WW’ or ‘MAN-Y-WW’. (MAN = Manufacturer code, YY = last 2 digits of the year e.g. ’67’ = 1967, WW = Week of the year).
Let’s do a quick example with the following pot code: “304-6408”. The first three digits are the manufacturer code; in this case, 304 is the manufacturer code for the company Stackpole. The two digits in the middle are the last two digits of the year; in this case, 64 indicates 1964. The last two digits are the week of the year; in this case, 08 is the 8th week of 1964.
Example of a Stackpole potentiometer.
Example of a CTS potentiometer.
Using the masking tape note inside the control cavity to date your vintage Fender
In the early 50’s, it was not unusual to find a little piece of masking tape inside the control cavity with the date (D/M/Y) the guitar was wired and the name of the person who wired the guitar.
Using the pickup date to date your vintage Fender guitar
Before we dive into the world of Fender pickup dates and how to read them, we’ll provide a quick history of Fender pickups:
- Black Bottom pickups: 1950-1964.
- Grey Bottom pickups: Introduced in March 1964.
By 1964, Fender began to date their pickups on the bottom plate of pickup bobbins on at least one of the pickups. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Fender used three different methods to date their pickups.
The first method was only in use for a few months in the start of ’64 when Fender was still using black bottom pickups. The black bottom pickups featured a rubber-stamp date stamped with yellow ink. It featured the month, day, and year the pickup was produced – example: ‘JAN DD YY’.
When Fender replaced the black bottom pickups with grey bottom pickups in March 1964, they kept the same type of dating with yellow ink while also introducing a pencil date. This new method featured the month code in number instead of an abbreviation, like so ‘MM DD YY’. In some instances, the worker who wound the pickup’s initials could also appear.
Later in the ’60s, they introduced the black ink stamp to date their pickups. Fender introduced the darker grey bottom pickups around 1969, and along with them, a new pickup date coding system featuring 3, 4, 5, or 6 digits. The last or the two last digits indicate the year it was wound. This code was rubber stamped with black ink.
Example of a black bottom pickup with a yellow ink stamp.
Example of a Jazzmaster pickup with a pencil date signed by hand. Bonus info: this pickup also features the initials of the worker who wounded the pickups – in this instance A.Y. stands for Abigail Ybarra, who is now a legend among pickup enthusiasts.
Example of grey bottom pickup with a yellow ink stamp.
Example of the later pickup date coding system featuring a 6 digit code done with black ink.
Using the decal to date your vintage Fender guitar
The decal on your vintage Fender guitar can give you a very accurate idea of when that guitar was produced, since the decal was usually one of the last things added to the neck after the lacquer was sprayed on. In the following paragraph, we will go through the timeline of Fender decals.
1950-1961: Fender (Spaghetti Logo)
- No patent number.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Tremolo” on Stratocasters.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Floating Tremolo” on Jazzmasters.
- It features the text “Original Contour Body” on all contour-body instruments.
Example of a 1952 Telecaster with a silver Spaghetti logo.
Example of a 1957 Stratocaster with a gold Spaghetti logo and “With Synchronized Tremolo.
Example of a 1958 Jazzmaster with a gold Spaghetti logo and “With Synchronized Floating Tremolo.
1961-1962: Fender (Spaghetti Logo)
- 2 patent numbers.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Tremolo” on Stratocasters.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Floating Tremolo” on Jazzmasters.
- It features the text “Original Contour Body pat. pend.” on all contour-body instruments.
Example of a 1961 Stratocaster with a gold Spaghetti logo and 2 patent numbers.
1962-1964: Fender (Spaghetti Logo)
- 3 patent numbers.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Tremolo” on Stratocasters.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Floating Tremolo” on Jazzmasters.
- It features the text “Original Contour Body pat. pend.” on all contour-body instruments.
Example of a 1963 Stratocaster with a gold Spaghetti logo and 3 patent numbers.
1964-1967: Fender (Transition Logo)
- 4 patent numbers.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Tremolo” on Stratocasters.
- It features the text “With Synchronized Floating Tremolo” on Jazzmasters.
- It features the text “Original Contour Body” on all contour-body instruments.
Note: In 1964, the color of the transition logo can vary.
Note: In 1966, the shape of the transition logo can vary.
Example of a 1965 Stratocaster with a gold Transition logo.
Note: It is not uncommon to find a spaghetti logo on late ’64 export models, though it is important to notice that the logo was placed slightly closer to the end of the headstock.
1967-1977: Fender (CBS Logo)
- Black Logo.
- Bigger model names.
- “R” stamp on the right side of the logo.
- It features the text “Original Contour Body Patented” on all contour-body instruments until 1976, when the serial number was added.
- In 1976, a “made in USA” stamp was added underneath the model name and the serial number was added beneath the logo.
- From 1967 to 1970, it features the text “With Synchronized Tremolo” on Stratocasters.
- From 1967 to 1976, it features the text “With Synchronized Floating Tremolo” on Jazzmasters.
Note: It is not uncommon to find a black decal on a late ’66 Fender especially custom color models such as the Jazzmaster and Jaguar. At the same time, you can also find a early ’67 featuring a gold Transition logo. It’s important to always remember that there was overlap years at Fender.
Here is a clear example of a 1966 Fender Jazzmaster in custom color Blue Ice Metallic with matching headstock featuring a black CBS logo.
Example of the Fender CBS-era black logo.
Explore the most desirable Vintage Fender guitars we’ve had through Guitar Hunter
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