Trying to determine the age of guitar by serial number

[Randall_74]

This may be a dumb question or has probably been asked a million times but, here goes... Is there some type of database or website that someone can place the serial number of their guitar on to determine it's age or where it was made?

I ask because my dad gave me a Fender Precision several years ago. It was given to him by an older gentleman for helping him clean out his deceased son's house.

Anyway, the bass looks fairly old. The color of the body is now a sort of, pardon the terminology, "pee" yellow. I had to clean the fretboard and neck with a light-grain sandpaper and a little polish. The tuning pegs were, and to this day are still, hard to adjust. The pickups are bit rusty and the input needed some solder. (I haven't really changed anything, because I kinda like how it looks, feels and plays as is.) The old man thought it was white at one time but had no idea how old it was or when it was purchased.

I have several other guitars that I'd like to check the age on as well. Anything will help.

Thanks,

Randall

PS The old man also offered my dad a Gretsch that may have been pretty old, but my dad; not knowing much about music or guitars, for that matter, told the gentleman that I don't play guitar, therefore passing it up! Oh well.

 

[Dunder XIII]

You might want to try the bass manufacturer site, which is Fender's. At http://www.mrgearhead.com/faq/guitardater.html (the official fender support site) you can probably find out the year your guitar was manufactured.

You can do the same for your other guitars (well, you choose the correct manufacturer site of course).

You can always email them too.

 

[Randall_74]

You know? That never even crossed this tiny brain of mine. Must be lapses in the synapses?

I'll try that when I get home. Thanks.

Randall

 

[Scooter B]

Randall '74,

Fenders can be checked by taking the neck off the bass or guitar (loosen and take strings off first!). Then look at the "butt" of the neck. The end you cant see untill you unbolt the neck. All the older Fenders start with the first two numbers being the year made ie SN 68-xxxxx
made in 1968. I don't know if Y2K affected this or not but we are talking about what appears to be an old bass so its not an issue.

The yellowing is definitely a problem on older basses and guitars asthetically anyway. Smoke, stage lights etc can turn that pearly white new in the store look to pee yellow. I had a nice Dean Elite from the eighties that had yellowed and its usually the paint itself so you can either refinish (not recomended for vintage stuff) or appreciate its character as an old Fender bass that may be worth some serious money if made in '63 or earlier.
"Pre-CBS" (63 and older) can sell in the thousands and tens of thousands.

Mid 60's to late 70's also sell at a nice price. Early eighties Fender sent a lot of manufacturing to Japan making the Made IN the USA's more valuable. Fender recognized the loss of quality/market value and now distinguishes seperate line for Made in the USA and the Squire lines made overseas and now have MIM Made in Mexico lines as well.
Let us know what you find out on your free bass you may have quite a treasure on your hands. I have a '68 Tele that I bought used in the early eighties for $225 and would not trade it for anything but they are selling in the $1,000-2000 range.

 

[foo]

On the square plate through which the screws hold the neck on there is a number.

What is it?

Pre-CBS refers to an instrument made before Leo sold his company to CBS. The transaction occured on January 4th 1965, therefore instruments made before then are referred to as pre-CBS.

It actually took a few months to use up all the parts in stock, so a slightly later instrument may still be considered to be pre-CBS.

The numbers on the end of the neck (after you have unscrewed it from the body) are set up as follows:
From 1950 through March of 1962 - handwritten in pencil.
Mar '62 until 1969 - stamped code e.g. 5MAY64D
5 = Precision Bass
MAY = May
64 = 1964
D = Neck width

There are several other factors:
Is the fingerboard made of maple (a very light coloured wood) or rosewood (a very dark brown).

Post more information and I'll be happy to tell you when it was made. I may be able to help with your other guitars, too.

. . . and please don't do anything else to it with sandpaper!!!

foo