Vintage Fender Guitars

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1961 Fender Stratocaster Guitar

Written by drbob on October 22, 2010 – 11:57 pm -

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). 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... more


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An Introduction to Vintage Fender Guitars

Written by drbob on August 21, 2010 – 11:57 am -

For most collectors, pre-CBS (pre-1966) Fender vintage guitars and amps are the desirable ones. Although CBS purchased Fender (officially) on January 3rd 1965, it took some time till the guitars changed (though by mid 1964, six months before CBS bought Fender, things were already "on the way down"). By the end of 1965, the general look and feel of the Fender guitars had changed significantly. All collectors feel the quality of their instruments and amps suffered as CBS employed more "mass production" manufacturing processes to the Fender guitars. The "large peghead" (starting in late 1965) as used on the Fender Stratocaster was one example of the (bad) changes to come. The "custom contoured" bodies Fender was famous for no longer were as sculped... more


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Posted in Fender Bass, Fender Electric, Jaguar, Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Precision Bass, Stratocaster, Telecaster | No Comments »

Timeline of Fender Electric Guitars, Basses, Amps.

Written by drbob on August 21, 2010 – 11:49 am -

Timeline of Fender Electric Guitars, Basses, Amps. 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... more


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Posted in Fender Bass, Fender Electric, Jaguar, Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Precision Bass, Stratocaster, Telecaster | No Comments »

How to Identify Fender Year of Manufacture by Serial Numbers, 1950 to Present

Written by drbob on August 21, 2010 – 11:41 am -

Fender Serial Numbers, 1950 to Present (Identifying the Year). 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... more


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Posted in Fender Acoustic, Fender Bass, Fender Electric, Jaguar, Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Precision Bass, Stratocaster, Telecaster | No Comments »

1956 Fender Stratocaster Guitar Review

Written by drbob on July 16, 2010 – 3:10 pm -

1956 Fender Stratocaster Guitar 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... more


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