There were a small number of guitars that carry one off features. Many had one-piece maple necks that feature a hybrid headstock shape, a combination of the first Stratocaster and Jazzmaster shapes.

Other early individual features are black pickup covers, black aluminum pickguards, Telecaster type knobs, and maple necks with rosewood fretboards.

By mid 1959, Fender had dropped the aluminum pickguard in favor for a celluloid one in a fake tortoiseshell pattern.

Custom color guitars often had white pickguards. Later an plate of aluminum was added to the back of the pickguard for electrical shielding.

The "offset-waist" contoured body was designed to be comfortable for playing the guitar while seated, as many jazz and blues artists prefer to sit when they performed. A full scale length (25-1/2”), a switchable lead and rhythm circuit with independent volume and tone controls.

The tremolo lock can be activated manually to stop the entire guitar from going out of tune if a string breaks, and it also had a longer tremolo arm than other Fender models.
The body is larger than that of other Fender guitars and had unique "soapbar" pickups that were unlike any other single coil. The pickups in a Jazzmaster are quite often mistaken for Gibson P90 pickups of the same era, but although their construction is similar they are not identical. The coil windings are flatter and wider, unlike Fender's usual style of a tall, thin configuration. This difference gives a warmer tone without losing the clarity of a single coil.

Jazzmaster guitars have a more mellow tone compared to a Telecaster or Stratocaster, although jazz musicians of the time weren't keen on using them. (except one notable exception, Joe Pass.)

Rock and surf rock guitarists took to the instrument however, and the Jazzmaster also played a part in the Indie rock scene, as well as being associated with Elvis Costello for the early part of his career.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

1958 Fender Jazzmaster 100 Original
	$5,500.00 (23 Bids) End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 14:00:06 PST Bid now

Vintage 1965 Fender Jazzmaster L series 100 REDUCED LAKE PLACID BLUE
	$5,949.00 End Date: Monday Mar-5-2012 21:31:53 PST Buy It Now for only: $5,949.00 Buy It Now

Vintage 1964 Fender Jazzmaster Guitar with OHSC Red Sparkle REDUCED Free Ship
	$3,495.00 End Date: Friday Mar-2-2012 10:59:03 PST Buy It Now for only: $3,495.00 Buy It Now

VINTAGE 1964 Fender Jazzmaster Guitar w Case All Original Pre CBS WOW
	$4,999.99 End Date: Monday Feb-20-2012 8:50:02 PST Buy It Now for only: $4,999.99 Buy It Now

1965 Fender Jazzmaster Vintage Guitar
	$3,750.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 15:33:59 PST Buy It Now for only: $3,750.00 Buy It Now

1962 Vintage Fender Jazzmaster Original Burgundy Mist Original Gold Hardware 62
	$15,995.00 End Date: Friday Feb-17-2012 11:07:56 PST Buy It Now for only: $15,995.00 Buy It Now

« Previous12345...89Next »

Billy Cox heard Jimi Hendrix before he saw or met him.
It was a rainy evening in 1961 at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, and Cox and a fellow soldier were walking by a service club where "the window was up maybe a couple of inches." From that small opening came a sound both men had never heard before.
"I told the guy next to me -- I didn't really know him -- that sounds incredible," Cox says. "He thought it sounded terrible. And to the human ear, maybe it did, but I wasn't listening to him. So I went in and introduced myself."

Thus was struck the friendship of a lifetime, one that Cox will revisit Tuesday during the Experience Hendrix Tour at the Benedum Center, Downtown.

Cox will join fellow musicians Steve Vai, Ernie Isley, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Living Colour, Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Eric Johnson, Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, Chris Layton of Double Trouble and the Slide Brothers in performing songs from the Hendrix catalog.

Hendrix remains a touchstone for every musician who has picked up a guitar in the 40 years since his death. As Cox says, "there are two types of guitarists: There are those who admit to being influenced by Jimi Hendrix, and those who try to pretend they aren't."
Cox says Hendrix "was my best friend," but admits his bond with Hendrix was cemented by music. Before they met, Cox had played in bands in high schools, but stopped once he was in the Army. Hendrix convinced him to borrow a bass from the desk at the service club, and the pair ended up jamming for most of the night.

Cox immediately recognized his new friend was not long for obscurity.
"The cards are dealt to you at birth, destiny is what you do with those cards," Cox says. "He got those cards, and he knew that destiny was calling upon him. Like (William) Faulkner said, 'Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.' He constantly tried to be better than himself."

Hendrix was singled-minded in his pursuit of music, and had few, if any interests, to distract him. Cox says, "we didn't fish, we didn't go bowling," but bonded solely over performing together. But when the time came for Hendrix to go to England, where he would find favor not only with the British press, but with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, Cox was reticent. He wanted a bit more security, and decided to stay in the states.

Hendrix made one last effort to enlist his friend.
"He called me from New York, said, 'Billy, this guy is going to send me to Europe and make me a star, and I told him about you,' " Cox says. "I said Jim, I'm no longer with the group, I got three strings on my bass and the fourth one is tied with a square knot, and I'm renting an amp. He said, 'Dog, you've fallen on hard times. I'm going to go to Europe and make it, and when I do I'm going to send for you.' And that's what he did."

Hendrix made it big in England with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. But in 1969, when he felt that band had run its course, he summoned Cox when he returned to the states for a gig of historic proportions: Woodstock, where Hendrix was slated to close the festival.

Because of delays, the new band didn't take the stage until early Monday morning, when most of the estimated crowd of 500,000 had left. Cox remembers coming up from behind the stage and looking out at what remained of the crowd.

In the video footage, it appears to be a sparse audience, but Cox says the camera angle is deceiving. The people who were to the left of the stage had merged to center "to catch a glimpse of this guy" who knew how to seize the moment.

"Jimi opened the curtain and said 'Ohhh,' " Cox says. "In his infinite wisdom, this young man, 26 years old, said, 'Those people are sending a lot of energy onstage. What we'll do is take that energy they're giving us and throw it back to them.' And that's exactly what we did, with the help of some Blue Nun wine."

Cox's reunion with Hendrix was brief. A little more than a year after Woodstock, and after Hendrix had formed Band of Gypsys with Cox and drummer Buddy Miles, the guitarist was dead. He was only 27, but left a body of music that Cox compares to that of Beethoven or Brahms or Mozart, a legacy comparable to those of George Gershwin, John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

"Every now and then, a spirit slips through the portal of time into this reality," Cox says. "He came through that portal. He was one of those individuals who came to us with a lot of wisdom, and I still don't know where he got that wisdom and knowledge."
-- Jimi Hendrix's birth name was Johnny Allen Hendrix; he was renamed James Marshall Hendrix by his father. His childhood nickname was Buster; the moniker Jimi was given to him by Chas Chandler, the British musician and producer who brought him to England in 1966.

-- According to Leon Hendrix, one of the first songs his brother played was the theme song from "Peter Gunn" -- on a one-string ukulele the pair found in a garage they cleaned out.
-- The name of Hendrix's first band in Seattle was the Velvetones. His first electric guitar, purchased by his father, was a Supro Ozark 1560S.
-- After being discharged from the Army in 1962, Hendrix started working as a sessions guitarist under the name Jimmy James. He worked for Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers and Little Richard before starting his own group, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames.
-- Two days after the Beatles released the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1967, Hendrix opened a show at the Saville Theater in London with a cover of the title track. In the audience were members of the Beatles, including Paul McCartney, who sought out Hendrix after the show and told him he should play the Monterey Pop Festival.
-- Hendrix, upset at not having a more prominent slot at the Monterey Pop Festival, decided to use lighter fluid to set his guitar on fire. Mama Cass Elliott of the Mamas and the Papas turned to Pete Townshend of the Who and told him Hendrix was stealing his act. Townshend replied, "No, he's doing my act."
-- In one of the weirdest double bills of rock 'n' roll history , Hendrix opened for the Monkees for a few shows in 1967. Hendrix became increasingly upset at the reaction from fans -- notably all the cries for Davy Jones, the Monkees' charismatic singer -- and made an obscene gesture during a concert in Forest Hills, N.Y. In order to save face, Chas Chandler concocted a story that the Daughters of the American Revolution objected to Hendrix's theatrics, thus forcing the Monkees to kick him off the tour.
-- The band Hendrix threw together for Woodstock, featuring his longtime friend Billy Cox on bass, Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, and percussionists Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez, was called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. That lineup was short-lived; soon after, Hendrix formed Band of Gypsys with Cox and drummer Buddy Miles.

Sources: www.jimihendrix.com; "Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Hero," a film by Jon Brewer; "Oops: 20 Life Lessons from the Fiascos That Shaped America" by Martin J. Smith and Patrck J. Kiger.

In 1961 Fender started using a more robust red dye for their three color sunburst. Also the dark brown part of the sunburst around the edge of the body is slightly more black. Hence the sunburst finish on a 1961 Fender Strat is much bolder looking. Fender also felt the need to add patent numbers to the peghead during 1961. Still has the "slab" rosewood fingerboard, but the back neck shape is larger (and more comfortable in my opinion).

Serial number range for the 61 Fender Stratocaster are generally 55000 to 72000 (on the neck plate). If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, use the serial number and the general features of the guitar. The serial number is located on the back metal neck plate. See the Fender Serial Number Info web page for help determining the year.

1961 Fender Stratocaster guitar specs:
• Peghead decal logo now has 2 patent numbers (2,573,254 & 2,741,146)
• Neck backshape is a fatter "D" shape, but still not nearly as fat as 1958 and prior Stratocaster necks.
• Fender now using a more robust red in their sunburst finish. Hence 1961 and later Strats don't have sunburst finished with a faded out red.
• The dark "Amber brown" part of the sunburst finish is now changed to "black". Hence the dark part of the sunburst is more striking and does not blend as well as prior sunburst finishes. It is a subtle change.
• White "chicklet" paper tone capacitor changes to a red round disc capacitor with yellow insulting tubing on one leg of the cap.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

1961 ORIG STRAT VINTAGE FENDER STRATOCASTER
	$18,900.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-14-2012 19:28:07 PST Buy It Now for only: $18,900.00 Buy It Now

VINTAGE PRE CBS 1961 FENDER STRATOCASTER ORIGINAL THREE TONE SUNBURSTTOLEX CASE
	$22,995.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 9:31:20 PST Bid now

SWEET VINTAGE 1961 FENDER STRATOCASTER MARY KAYE PINKY BLOND REFIN COOL ONE
	$8,499.99 End Date: Saturday Feb-18-2012 20:41:23 PST Buy It Now for only: $8,499.99 Buy It Now

1961 Fender Stratocaster and Vibrolux Package Vintage
	$21,999.00 End Date: Monday Feb-20-2012 16:47:47 PST Buy It Now for only: $21,999.00 Buy It Now

1961 Fender Stratocaster Custom Color Sonic Blue finish
	$85,000.00 End Date: Friday Mar-2-2012 11:53:01 PST Buy It Now for only: $85,000.00 Buy It Now

1961 Fender Stratocaster PRE CBS All original Slab board
	$26,900.00 End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 12:15:03 PST Buy It Now for only: $26,900.00 Buy It Now

« Previous123Next »

1963 did not bring any huge change to the Fender Stratocaster (compared to late 1962 models). The one subtle change is the movement of one pickguard screw, located between the neck and middle pickups. Other similar very subtle changes were seen. Probably the biggest change was the Tolex case material was now white with black leather ends (instead of brown Tolex and brown leather ends as used in 1959 to 1962).

Serial number range for the 63 Fender Stratocaster are generally 93000 to 99999 or L00001 to L20000 (on the neck plate). If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, use the serial number and the general features of the guitar. The serial number is located on the back metal neck plate.

Early 1963 Fender Stratocaster guitar specs:
• Location of the pickguard screw between the neck and middle pickup is moved about 1/2" towards the middle pickup.
• Bridge saddles' "Fender Pat.Pend" stamping is more pronounced.
• Contouring of the body is slightly less dramatic.
• By late 1963, body dates were no longer used.
• By late 1963 the 3-way CRL switch changes to the "half moon" shape instead of having the angled sides.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

1960s Fender Stratocaster Jack Cup Switchcraft Relic USA 1962 1963 1964 Aged
	$24.95 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 18:12:48 PST Buy It Now for only: $29.95 Buy It Now | Bid now

1963 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst PRE CBS STRAT
	$14,900.00 End Date: Thursday Feb-23-2012 9:42:39 PST Buy It Now for only: $14,900.00 Buy It Now

SWEET VINTAGE 1963 FENDER STRATOCASTER SUNBURST BEAUTY STRAT ALL ORIGINAL EX+
	$14,488.99 End Date: Sunday Mar-4-2012 19:30:28 PST Buy It Now for only: $14,488.99 Buy It Now

1963 ORIG FENDER STRATOCASTER VINTAGE STRAT Pre CBS Black
	$19,500.00 End Date: Sunday Feb-19-2012 10:06:12 PST Buy It Now for only: $19,500.00 Buy It Now

1963 ORIG FENDER VINTAGE STRATOCASTER PICKUPS POTS 3 Way PRE CBS STRAT
	$7,350.00 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 21:08:06 PST Buy It Now for only: $7,350.00 Buy It Now

Vintage Fender 1963 Stratocaster
	$19,200.00 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 8:40:30 PST Buy It Now for only: $19,200.00 Buy It Now

« Previous12345Next »

Because of this, Fender's most innocent era of the 1950's is their most collectible. This decade produced guitars with one-piece maple necks, single layer pickguards, thin "spaghetti" logos, and tweed cases that seem to capture collectors the most.

The early 1960's Fenders with "slab" rosewood fingerboards are also collectible, but not to the extent of the earlier 1950's maple-neck era. Of the rosewood fingerboard models, the "slab" fingerboard (1958/mid-1959 to August 1962) variants are more desirable than the "veener" fingerboard (August 1962 and later) pre-CBS models. The "transistion" era (late summer 1964 to December 1965) are the least collectible of the pre-CBS models. This era is known as a "transition" because later summer 1964 to December 1965 was the time when there was a transition from the Leo Fender management to CBS management, and mass-production manufacturing techniques were starting to take a firm hold.

By 1966 (a year after CBS bought Fender), CBS management had really taken hold of Fender's production facilities and incorporated many changes. The sum of of all these changes had a serious effect on Fender guitars as a whole. 1966 brought an era of "large" pegheads, less contoured bodies, and much higher production numbers. CBS looked for ways to cut production time and costs, which generally led to much lower quality. Because of this, 1966 and later Fender instruments are considered far less collectible than vintage pre-CBS Fender guitars.

The Guitar Models
The Esquire was Fender's first electric spanish guitar. Originally introduced in June of 1950 as a black (and later blond), one or two pickup model, it was discontinued by Fender's marketing arm in September 1950. Only about 50 of these original Esquires were shipped, though Fender had a backorder of hundreds of units. And many came back to Fender to have the neck (and body!) replaced because of neck warpage, from the lack of a truss rod. In October 1950, the Broadcaster replaced the Esquire as their two pickup electric spanish guitar, with a truss rod! The Esquire was re-introduced in early 1951 as a single pickup version of the Broadcaster. The 1951 and later Esquire, because of its single pickup, does not have the value today of its two pickup brother, due to its limited tonal range with one pickup. By February 1951, the Broadcaster was renamed the Telecaster (though the guitars didn't actually have a "Telecaster" decal on them until the summer of 1951), because of a naming conflict with a trademarked Gretsch drum line.

1954 Fender Stratocaster ad.

The Fender Stratocaster (and Telecaster) from the 1950's put the solidbody electric guitar on the map. The Stratocaster was like no other guitar ever produced. With three pickups, a contoured body that made playing guitar comfortable, and a tremolo built-in and designed correctly for the guitar, made it an instant sucess. Even today, nearly 50 years later, the Stratocaster is the electric guitar by which all others are judged.

From country, to rock and roll, to surf music, Fender found a niche with its instruments. Especially different for the era was those Fenders with Custom Color finishes. Hence they are more valuable than the standard finish (usually Sunburst, or Blond for the Telecaster/Esquire).

The Fender Jazzmaster, introduced in 1958, became Fender's "top of the line" instrument (though today's vintage guitar market does not hold this view; it's clearly a 3rd class citizen behind the Strat and Tele). Fender truely thought the Jazzmaster would make a sensation in the jazz scene. Instead, it became the main instrument of many Surf-guitar bands of the 1960's.

Likewise, in 1962 Fender introduced another "top of the line" instrument called the Jaguar. Again, this model quickly lost popularity, starting in 1968 with decreased sales. The short scale length of the Jaquar was one of its major flaws. Finally the Jaguar and Jazzmaster were discontinued by 1975 and 1982, respectively. Before the death of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, interest had revived in these models, though no were near the level of Strats and Teles. Now most collectors interested in these models do so because they can not afford a vintage Strat or Tele.

The Low-end Fender solidbodies such as the DuoSonic, MusicMaster, and the Mustang are not collectable and are considered student models. Even with the recent popularity of the Mustang, it's still a short scale, entry level instrument. All these instruments share that basic problem of a shorter scale length, and lower quality electronics.

The Bass Models
Fender hit another home run with the Precision Bass, the first fretted electric bass. Still today, it's the standard by which all basses are judged. Early P-basses (late 1951 to mid 1957) are collectable, but not as much as the models from mid-1957 to mid-1959 with split coil pickups, aluminum pickguards, and maple necks.
Early Jazz Basses with concentric tone and volume knobs are also very collectable, along with the three knob configuration pre-CBS Jazz basses. Until the late 1980's, the P-bass sound was more desirable by players than the J-bass. But by 1990, the sound and feel of the J-bass had become preferred.

The Amp Models.
Tweed covered Fender amps are very collectable. The more powerful tweed amps with multiple speakers are the most valued by collectors and players. The tweed Bassman with four 10 inch speakers and four inputs (1957-1960) is considered by many to be the finest guitar amp ever made.
Brown and white tolex amps (1960-1963), and some "black face" models (1964-1967) are highly regarded by players. "Silverface" and later models (post 1967) are fine utility amps, but have no collectable value.

Year, Model Description
• 1946 Hardwood Amplifiers
• 1948 Tweed Amplifiers
• 1950 June, Esquire (1 or 2 pickups)
• 1950 October, Broadcaster (replaced the 1 or 2 pickup Esquire)
• 1950 December, "NoCaster" as it is called since Fender clipped-off
the name "Broadcaster" from its decals as the name was already in use by Gretsch.
• 1951 January, Esquire (one pickup "NoCaster").
• 1951 summer, Telecaster.
• 1951 fall, Precision Bass, the first solidbody electric bass.
• 1954 spring, Stratocaster.
• 1956 spring, Electric Mandolin (four string).
• 1956 summer, Duosonic (two pickups) and MusicMaster (one pickup).
• 1958 summer, Jazzmaster.
• 1959 summer, Telecaster Custom (sunburst body with binding).
• 1960 White/Brown Amplifiers
• 1960 summer, JazzBass.
• 1961 late, Bass VI.
• 1962 summer, Jaquar.
• 1964 Black Amplifiers (know as "blackface" models)
• 1964 summer, Mustang
• 1965 summer, Electric XII (12 string solid body).
• 1968 fall, ThinLine Telecaster (semi-hollow "F" hole Tele).
• 1969 summer, Rosewood Telecaster (body and neck made of rosewood),
and the Thinline Tele were introduced.

Serial numbers compiled from several sources including the vintage guitar info guy, Gruhn, and Duchossoir.
Pre-1977 Fender guitars have a serial number on the bridgeplate or neckplate. Serial numbers are basically chronological, but there is some overlap amoung years. Fender serial numbers were assigned like this: bin with serialized plates/bridges. Assembler reached in and grabbed one (or many). Put them on the instrument(s). As you can see from this over-simplified example, serial number assignment was fairly random. Just keep this in mind. The only truely definitive way to date a pre-CBS fender is to look at all the dates on the instrument (body date, neck date, pot dates). The serial number can only generalized the age of the instrument within a few years.

Esquires, Broadcasters, Telecasters 1950 to 1954 (number on bridgeplate). This system of serial numbers is unique to these three models until about the early summer of 1954 (when Fender switched to a universal neck plate serial number system for all models):
Telecaster, Numbers On Bridge Plate
0001 to 0999 = 1950 to 1952
1000 to 5300 = 1952 to 1954

Precision Basses 1951 to 1955 (number on bridgeplate). Note there is some overlap. This system of serial numbers is unique to this model until about 1955 (even though Fender went to a universal neckplate serial number system on all instruments in 1954, some old style Precision Bass serialized bridges were still left over and used until 1955.)
Pbass, Numbers on Bridge Plate
100 to 400 = 1951 to 1952
0001 to 0999 = 1952 to 1954
1000 to 2000 = 1953 to 1955

All Models, summer 1954 to mid 1976
Serial number on neckplate. In 1957/1958 some serial numbers started with a minus sign ("-"), or had a "0" prefix before the number. Also in 1959/1960 some serial numbers were at the bottom of the neck plate instead of the usual top. Double stamped serial number plates were also produced (number on both front and back of the neck plate) in late 1957 to early 1959. As a good example of all four of these serial number oddities, click here. This shows a "double stamped" neck plate, one number with a "-" prefix and stamped on the bottom of the plate, and the other number with a "0" prefix! And yes there is some overlap in serial numbers between years.
4 to 6 digit Neck Plate Serial Numbers
No other letters or markings on the neck plate, except for the rare "-" or "0" prefix, as noted.
0001 to 6000 = 1954
6000 to 9000 = 1955
9000 to 16000 = 1956
16000 to 25000 = 1957 (some numbers with a "0" or "-" prefix)
25000 to 30000 = 1958 (some numbers with a "0" or "-" prefix)
30000 to 40000 = 1959
40000 to 58000 = 1960
55000 to 72000 = 1961
72000 to 93000 = 1962
93000 to 99999 = 1963

L-Series (1963 to late 1965)
Serial number on neckplate preceded with an "L". Considered Pre-CBS (even though CBS bought Fender in January 1965). Sometimes an "L" serial number can be seen on a late 1962 model.
L00001 to L20000 = 1963
L20000 to L55000 = 1964
L55000 to L99999 = 1965

F-Series (late 1965 to mid-1976)
Big script "F" on neckplate below serial number. Known as the CBS era.
100000 to 110000 = late 1965
110000 to 200000 = 1966
180000 to 210000 = 1967
210000 to 250000 = 1968
250000 to 280000 = 1969
280000 to 300000 = 1970
300000 to 330000 = 1971
330000 to 370000 = 1972
370000 to 520000 = 1973
500000 to 580000 = 1974
580000 to 690000 = 1975
690000 to 750000 = 1976

Serial Number on Peghead Decal.
U.S. made Fenders, starting in mid-1976 has the serial number on the peghead. Note the following number could be off as much as two years. Generally speaking, a "S" prefix equals the 1970's, "E" prefix equals the 1980's, and "N" prefix equals the 1990's. Note "E" and "N" prefix models are sometimes also Japanese-made (see below).
7600000 ("76" in bold) = 1976-1977
800000s = 1979-1981
1000000 to 8000000 = 1976-1981 (7 digits)
S1 to S5 + 5 Digits = 1979-1982
S6 + 5 digits = 1976
S7 + 5 digits = 1977-1978
S8 + 5 digits = 1977-1978
S9 + 5 digits = 1978-1981
E0 + 5 digits = 1979-1981
E1 + 5 digits = 1980-1981
E1 + 5 digits = 1982
E2 + 5 digits = 1982-1983
E3 + 5 digits = 1982-1984
E4 + 5 digits = 1984-1985, 1987-1988
E8 + 5 digits = 1988-1989
E9 + 5 digits = 1988-1990

In March 1985, CBS sold Fender to a group of private investors.
The serial numbers do not reflect this change - Fender continued to make instruments using existing serial number schemes. The new Fender did not acquire any physical assets of the old company, just the name "Fender". Hence during 1985 to 1987, production of Fender guitars was only done in Japan, while USA Fender created a new factory in California. The Japanese-made Fenders do have some slight serial number differences (typically a "J" serial number prefix).
N9 + 5 digits = 1990
N0 + 5 digits = 1990-1991
N1 + 5 or 6 digits = 1991-1992
N2 + 5 or 6 digits = 1992-1993
N3 + 5 or 6 digits = 1993-1994
N4 + 5 or 6 digits = 1994-1995
N5 + 5 or 6 digits = 1995-1996
N6 + 5 or 6 digits = 1996-1997
N7 + 5 or 6 digits = 1997-1998
N8 + 5 or 6 digits = 1998-1999
N9 + 5 or 6 digits = 1999-2000

DZ0 or Z0 + 5/6 digits = 2000
DZ1 or Z1 + 5/6 digits = 2001
DZ2 or Z2 + 5/6 digits = 2002
DZ3 or Z3 + 5/6 digits = 2003
DZ4 or Z4 + 5/6 digits = 2004
DZ5 or Z5 + 5/6 digits = 2005

Japanese Serial Numbers on Peghead Decal
Note the lack of S, E, N series. These are reserved for U.S. made Fenders in their corresponding decade. BUT note that the "E" and "N" series does sometimes appear on "made in Japan" models. I believe this was a mistake on Fender's part using the same prefix for both U.S. and Jap-made guitars. In any case, if it says "made in Japan", then it is...
JV + 5 Digits = 1982 to 1984
SQ + 5 Digits = 1983 to 1984
E + 6 Digits = 1984 to 1987
A + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986
B + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986
C + 6 Digits = 1985 to 1986
F + 6 Digits = 1986 to 1987
G + 6 Digits = 1987 to 1988
H + 6 Digits = 1988 to 1989
I + 6 Digits = 1989 to 1990
J + 6 Digits = 1989 to 1990
K + 6 Digits = 1990 to 1991
L + 6 Digits = 1991 to 1992
M + 6 Digits = 1992 to 1993
N + 6 Digits = 1993 to 1994
O + 6 Digits = 1994 to 1995
P + 6 Digits = 1995 to 1996
Other Fender Serial Number Schemes.
Fender has recently (in the last 20 years) introduced LOTS of different serial numbers schemes, depending on the country the Fender was made (USA, Mexico, Japan, Korea, etc). Not all schemes are covered here! Sorry, since I do not collect new Fenders, I don't really keep track of these things. Below are some examples of letter prefixes used in recent serial number schemes.
V + 4 to 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series) = 1982-1988 (neck date=exact year)
V + 5 to 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series) = 1989-present (model dependant)
AMXN + 6 DIGITS = California Series electric guitars and basses, '97 and '98
DN + 6 DIGITS = American Deluxe series instruments, '98 and '99
NC(XXXXXX) = Squier Strat Bullets (dating unclear)
FN(XXXXXX) = US made guitars and basses destined for the export market.
Some may have stayed in the U.S or found their way back
(dating unclear)
I(XXXXXXX) = Limited number of these "I" series guitars were made in '89/'90.
They were made for the export market and have Made in USA
stamped on neck heel.
LE(XXXXXX) = Blonde Jazzmasters and Jaguars with Gold hardware made in 1994.
Sold as a promotional 3 piece set with a Blonde Deluxe Reverb Amp
CN(XXXXXX) = Korean made Fender/Squier guitars (dating unclear)
VN(XXXXXX) = Korean made Fender/Squier guitars (dating unclear)
CA(XXXXX) = Gold Strat 1981, 82 and 83
CB(XXXXX) = Precision Bass Special from 1981, CB(XXXXX) Gold Jazz Bass from 1982
CC(XXXXX) = Walnut Strat 1981-82-83
CE(XXXXX) = Precision Bass Special from 1981, Black and Gold Tele from 1981-82
CD(XXXXX) = Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982
CO(XXXXX) = Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982
GO(XXXXX) = Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982, Gold Strat 1982-83
D(XXXXXX) = Jazz Bass from 1982
SE8(XXXXX) = Signature Edition Strats (dating unclear, check neck date)
SE9(XXXXX) = Signature Edition Strats (dating unclear, check neck date)
SN0(XXXXX) = Signature Edition Strats 1990
SN1(XXXXX) = Signature Edition Strats 1990
SN2(XXXXX) = Signature Edition Strats 1992
SN3(XXXXX) = Signature Edition Strats 1993
3 digits of 500 = 35th Anniversary Strat from 1989-1990
G(XXXXXX) = "STRAT" from about 1980, (Gold hardware, 2 pos. rotary tone switch)
4 digits stamped on bridge plate = 1952 reissue Telecaster 1982-1988
(Check neck date for exact year)
5 digits stamped on bridge plate = 1952 reissue Telecaster 1988-present
(Check neck date for exact year)

Fender Guitars and amplifiers revolutionized the music industry. Many guitar players dream of playing a Fender Stratocaster (or Strat) and many musicians, famous and not famous, do play them. Some well-known guitar players who play or have played Fenders include John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, Mike Einziger of Incubus, Tom De Longe of Blink 182, Rivers Cuomo and Brian Bell of Weezer, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers[i]. Fender guitars made a serious impact on music, defining many styles of music like jazz, rock, and metal.

It all started in the early 1940's. Clarence Leo Fender, a Californian inventor, looked at the designs of early electric guitars, and knew he could improve them. He began to make prototype solid-body electric guitars. Leo made the first instrument amplifiers with built-in tone controls. In 1951, he produced the Broadcaster, with George Fullerton[ii]. It was a prototype solid-body guitar that would later be renamed as the legendary Telecaster© (or Tele)[iii]. The Telecaster was the first solid-body electric Spanish style (six-string) guitar to go into commercial mass production. Leo Fender became the Henry Ford of musical instruments because of his many advances in the manufacturing of his guitars and amps[iv]. After the Tele, Leo created the Precision Bass© guitar in 1951. "For the first time ever, bass players were able to amplify their playing, [while] before, they were limited to the natural abilities of their acoustic instrument[v]." Fender created the first electric bass, which is now widely used for all kinds of music. He later invented the Jazz Bass©, which was just as popular as the Precision Bass©[vi]. Both instruments are still very popular today.

In 1954, Leo Fender invented the Fender Stratocaster©[vii]. "The Strat is Fender's most well-known guitar, and is a symbol of rock n' roll. The Strat was created in collaboration with professional musicians and Fender's awesome design team[viii]. Several things about the Strat made it as successful as it was. First, it had three single-coil pickups to achieve a wide range of tones, instead of having one or two like most other electrics at the time[ix]. The body shape was designed to be lighter, more comfortable to musicians playing it, and easier to play on the higher frets[x]. The largest change was the addition of the first ever vibrato, or tremolo, bridge[xi]. A vibrato bridge allows the guitarist to bend the strings to make them sound like a steel pedal guitar, which were popular among country musicians of the time[xii]. The Stratocaster wasn't restricted to country, though. Strats are very versatile instruments that have been successfully used to play many different music genres.

By 1965, Leo Fender was in poor health. He decided to sell his company to CBS[xiii]. After selling it, Leo took a break. He came back in 1971 designing amps for Music Man and guitars for G&L. On March 21, 1991, thirty-seven years after the creation of his legendary Stratocaster, Leo Fender died. He died in Fullerton, California, from complications caused by Parkinson's disease. Fender was buried in Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, California.[xiv]

Fender grew enormously and prospered under CBS for the next twenty years. While CBS knew how to manage a business, they didn't have many people who knew how to cater to what the musicians wanted. So, in 1981, they acquired a new group of people to manage Fender[xv]. William Schultz, the president, developed a plan with the others on the team to greatly improve the quality of the instruments and products and develop new things in the music field. In 1985, CBS decided to get out of the music industry so Schultz and a group of employees and investors promptly bought Fender© Musical Instruments Corporation.

After making the purchase, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation© improved greatly. Fender bought out other guitar companies, expanded its facilities, and even went overseas[xvi]. Fender's current U.S. facilities are in Scottsdale, Arizona; Corona, California; Nashville, Tennessee; New York City, New York; and Westerly, Rhode Island. Fender has international facilities in Ensenada, in Baja California, Mexico; London, England; Düsseldorf, Germany; Suresnes, France; and Brussels, Belgium; as well as factories in Japan, Korea, and China[xvii]. Fender improved after coming into the hands of people who knew and cared about music, and strived to create better instruments.

Fender made a serious impact on music and changed the image of the electric guitar forever. Jim Washburn, a writer in the 1970's, said, "Fender guitars did more to weaken the Iron Curtain than cruise missiles did[xviii]." That's how much influence Fender had/has on music and the world. Most likely, they will have more new and exciting innovations in the music industry to come. Leo Fender's dreams came true. The year 2004 was the fiftieth anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster© and a milestone for one of the greatest guitar makers of all time.

[i] "Featured Artists." 11 May .2005< http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/artists_lounge/featured_artists/
[ii] "Fender Musical Instruments," 11 May .2005.< http://www.guitarriffin.com/fendhist.html>
[iii] "History of Fender® Musical Instruments Corporation." Site created by Brad Traweek, 11 May .2005. 11 May .2005. < http://www.fender.com/resources/companyinfo/history.php
[iv] ibid
[v] "History of Fender® Musical Instruments Corporation." Site created by Brad Traweek, 11 May .2005. 11 May .2005. < http://www.fender.com/resources/companyinfo/history.php
[vi] "Fifty Years of Fender," 11 May .2005. < http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/WNAMM96/Fender/history.html>.
[vii]"History of Fender." Site created by Mike Klein, 11 May .2005 [viii] "History of Fender® Musical Instruments Corporation." Site created by Brad Traweek, 11 May .2005. 11 May .2005. < http://www.fender.com/resources/companyinfo/history.php
[ix] "Fender Musical Instruments," 11 May .2005. < http://www.guitarriffin.com/fendhist.html>
[x] "History of Fender® Musical Instruments Corporation." Site created by Brad Traweek, 11 May .2005. 11 May .2005. < http://www.fender.com/resources/companyinfo/history.php
[xi] ibid
[xii] ibid
[xiii] ibid
[xiv] "Gravest Hits," Guitar World [New York] Mar 2005: 90.
[xv] "History of Fender." Site created by Mike Klein, 11 May .2005 [xvi] "History of Fender." Site created by Mike Klein, 11 May .2005 [xvii] ibid
[xviii] "Fifty Years of Fender," 11 May .2005. < http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/WNAMM96/Fender/history.html>.

The Fender Stratocaster guitar is probably the most popular solidbody electric guitar ever made. Early models (1954 to 1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS Broadcaster Company bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible. Originality and condition are the two most important features of a vintage Fender Stratocaster guitar, and Fender Strats do seem to have been easily modified (due to their "bolt together" nature).

The 1956 is the last of the Ash body Strats. The change from Ash body to Alder body occured during the summer of 1956, along with the change in the peghead's E/B string retainer from the button style to the "butterfly" clip.

Serial number range for the 56 Fender Stratocaster are generally 9000 to 16000 (on the neck plate). If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, use the serial number and the general features of the guitar. The serial number is located on the back metal neck plate. See the Fender Serial Number Info web page for help determining the year.

Mid 1956 Fender Stratocaster guitar specs:
• Alder body replaces Ash on sunburst finished Strats (blond Strats still use Ash). Also the body finishing procedure changes because of the change to alder - Now the yellow in the sunburst is dyed into the wood, instead of being sprayed (as was done on Ash body sunburst Strats).
• Rectangle string tree ("butterfly") replaces round string tree.
• Neck backshape gets a large "soft V" shape.
• "Single Line" Kluson Deluxe tuners (which says "Kluson Deluxe" in a vertical line).
• Tremolo bar has an even less pronounced bend.
• Pickups no longer have the two very small "tits" in the bottom black fiber part of the pickup on the outside edge around the two wire eyelets. Also gone is the very faint ring pressed into the black fiber that goes around each eyelet.

This late '56 Stratocaster weighs just 7.10 lbs. and has a two-tone sunburst solid alder body, contoured on the back and lower bass bout. One-piece fretted maple neck with a nut width of just under 1 11/16 inches, a wonderful thick "V" neck profile. Small headstock with decal with Fender "spaghetti" logo in gold with black trim. Three white ABS plastic-covered black-bottom single-coil pickups with staggered polepieces and nice, balanced outputs of 6.14k, 5.79k, and 5.82k. Single-layer white ABS plastic pickguard with eight screws. The neck has a pencil mark of "12-56" and the tremolo cavity has a pencil mark of "6-56". This guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. There are a few small surface chips on the edges and some small scratches on the back of the body. There is a light amount of wear to the fretboard which is mainly confined to the first nine frets. The original frets show some light playing wear but have plenty of life left in them. Housed in its original Fender "Tweed" hardshell case with brown leather ends and orange plush lining (9.25).

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop Sunburst Closet Classic Soft V Neck 1956 Guitar
	$2,498.95 End Date: Monday Feb-6-2012 8:58:19 PST Buy It Now for only: $3,498.95 Buy It Now | Bid now

Fender Custom Shop 1956 NOS Stratocaster Reissue Fiesta Red Electric Guitar 2008
	$2,374.99 End Date: Tuesday Feb-28-2012 14:16:05 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,374.99 Buy It Now

2005 fender custom shop 1956 relic stratocaster guitar
	$1,899.00 End Date: Saturday Mar-3-2012 15:08:54 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,899.00 Buy It Now

NEW Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Strat Daphne Blue Electric Guitar
	$3,280.00 End Date: Saturday Mar-3-2012 10:05:59 PST Buy It Now for only: $3,280.00 Buy It Now

1956 Vintage Blond Ash C Shop Fender NOS Stratocaster
	$2,648.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 12:46:18 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,648.00 Buy It Now

Fender Closet Classic 1956 Stratocaster w Case
	$2,799.99 End Date: Friday Feb-24-2012 12:22:20 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,799.99 Buy It Now

« Previous123456Next »