How Do You Date A Vintage Fender Guitar?

In order to approximate guitars from before 1976 to the correct year of manufacture, the date or serial number on the neck heel must therefore be inspected. Usually there is a production date stamped or written on the tip of the heel.

How can I tell the age of my Fender guitar?

Dating Your U.S.-Made Fender Instrument
Most notably, production dates have been penciled or stamped on the butt end of the heel of the neck of most guitars and basses, although there were periods when this was not consistently done (1973 to 1981, for example) or simply omitted.

How do you date a vintage guitar?

How old is my Vintage guitar? Locate the serial number on the rear of the headstock. Ignore the letters of the serial number if they have any. The first and second number indicates the year of manufacturer, ie 99 = 1999, 07 = 2007.

How do I find out what year my guitar was made?

For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter. That letter indicates the decade. The second character will usually be a number. That number indicates the specific year.
That number indicates the specific year.

1. S9 means 1979.
2. E4 means 1984.
3. N8 means 1998.
4. Z5 means 2005.
5. US11 means 2011.

How do you decode a Fender serial number?

Four or five digit serial number on the neck plate with no letters, 1954 – 1963. Serial number on neckplate starts with an L, 1963 – 1965. Big F on the neckplate with a six digit serial, 1965 – 1976. Serial number starts with a letter followed by six or seven digits, 1976 – present.

How much is my Fender guitar worth?

What’s A Fender Guitar Worth? Fender guitars are typically worth around $500, give or take a few hundred dollars depending on the model, condition, and age of the guitar. It is common for Fender guitars to hold their value well because they are made in the United States.

What is considered vintage Fender?

However, a common increase in value for standard American made guitar models occurs from the late 60s to the early 70s, thus setting a general date for “vintage” guitars as anything manufactured before 1970.

What year guitars are considered vintage?

For electric guitars, the ’50s and ’60s are often considered the ultimate vintage guitars. So they’re less than 100 years old. There are more and more vintage guitars emerging from the 70s. So there is no strict definition as with antiques.

Do vintage guitars increase in value?

The index guitars that cost $153,000 in 1991 could have been bought in 1980 for around $37,550 and in 1970 for around $15,100. Our experience has been that from 1963-75 vintage fretted instruments increased in value as much as 25 percent per year.

How do I know if my guitar is worth money?

A quick Google or Ebay search of your make and model will show you what others are selling guitars like yours for. You can also consult the Blue Book of Guitar Values to see what it is worth. Another great resource is Vintage Guitar Magazine’s Price Guide, which is regularly updated and available at Amazon.

What year was my product made?

To Determine Manufacture Date Based on Serial Number: The 1st three numbers of your serial number will always provide your manufacture date. The 1st number is the YEAR of manufacture; the 2nd & 3rd numbers indicate the MONTH of manufacture.

How do I tell what year my Fender acoustic guitar is?

There are a few ways to tell what year your Fender was made. One is to look at the serial number on the back of the headstock. The serial number will start with a letter that corresponds to the year the guitar was made. For example, a guitar with a serial number that starts with an “A” was made in 1965.

Can you tell the year of a guitar with the serial number?

Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp. But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear. With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and location of the largest well-known brands.

How do I look up my guitar serial number?

Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Gibson Guitar?

1. On electrics, they are almost always on the back of the headstock, at the top.
2. On acoustic guitars, they’re usually in the soundhole.

How do you read a serial number?

The first two characters of the serial number represent the year and month of manufacture. The remainder of the serial is a sequential production number, seven digits in length before December 2007 (DM), and eight digits in length after.

Do Fender guitars hold their value?

Most Fender guitars depreciate quickly after purchase, but the guitar becomes a rare, esteemed piece after decades, resulting in appreciation. However, the guitar’s condition determines how much it appreciates in value. For example, a well-maintained vintage guitar is sure to appreciate well.

How much is a 1960 Stratocaster worth?

$4,500 to $100,000
We have found that 1960’s Fender Stratocasters can range in value from $4,500 to $100,000. There are many factors that go into that valuation and we can assist in finding the actual value of your instrument.

Why are old Fender guitars so expensive?

Supply and Demand
Since these guitars are so renowned,there’s ample demand to own one. High demand and only 1400 guitars ever made is bound to drive the cost up. This is a huge factor as well when it comes to guitar amplifiers. Unlike guitars, they have almost always been made out of the same materials.

What is the most sought after Fender guitar?

The 1951 Fender Broadcaster and “Nocaster” are electric guitars with an interesting history. The Broadcaster and No-Caster is the forerunner of Fender’s Telecaster, the most popular solid body electric guitar in history.

What finish did Fender use in the 70s?

Fender started using polyester finishes in the 1970s. Thick and hard, polyester finishes were introduced in several industries that decade—musical instrument manufacturing included—and quickly proved popular.

How do you identify a vintage?

How to Tell if Something is True Vintage

1. Look at the logo on the tag. If you don’t recognize the brand name, it might be vintage.
2. Flip the label over to see where the garment was made.
3. Check the fabric composition tag.
4. Look for unique construction details and/or handmade sew jobs.
5. Check for a metal zipper.