What type of fender guitar do i have

Through much of Fender's production history, Fender workers would print or write a production date on both bodies and necks where the two pieces meet. These dates will tell when the original part was manufactured, but are not exact indicators of when the guitar was actually put together and finished.

If you're not comfortable removing the neck of a guitar to peek at the date marker, I encourage you to take it to a local tech or luthier. I will also mention briefly pot-codes as a resource numbers on the internal potentiometers of the guitar.

These can definitely be useful in cases where no other numbers exist, but just tell when the pot itself was made. Who knows how long it was waiting in the Fender factory before finding its way into a Tele? Like the body and neck dates, using serial numbers to date a Fender is not a sure bet.

At many points in Fender's history, serial number usage overlapped again owing to the modular manner of production. Below we'll go into detail about the various serial number schemes employed by Fender as far back as There are certainly plenty of exceptions, so again, using serial numbers in conjunction with other dating methods is always the best bet. Click on the links here to jump directly to the serial number style that matches your instrument:. In the early years, Fender serial numbers schemes were specific to the model.

Esquires, Broadcasters and Telecasters shared a serial number sequence, while the landmark Precision Bass had its own system. In this early period, the serial number can be found on the bridge of the instrument see image. Here are the rough serial number ranges for the early Esquires and Telecasters :. Also, for the first half or so of , the inaugural run of Stratocasters had a distinct number sequence all under number By mid, Fender began using a universal serial number sequence for all its instruments.

At this time, the location of the serial number also shifted from the bridge to the neckplate the metal plate located on back of where the neck meets the body. Here's how the serial numbers break down from to the beginning of , though there are some areas of inconsistency in this era:. At the very end of and into , Fender changed to a system where serial numbers began with an "L.

Here the range of the L-series serial used each year. Some of the earliest ones actually popped up in late as well:. The latest series to be launched by the Californian company, the American Ultra Luxe is the new top dog in the Fender catalog.

Consisting of four distinct Strat and Tele models, these instruments share many similarities with their predecessor but with a few notable changes. The most apparent feature is undoubtedly the introduction of stainless steel frets — a first from Fender.

These frets are advantageous in many ways, being that they are virtually impervious to fret wear and are a godsend for silky smooth bends.

The neck profile of the American Ultra Luxe has also been revamped. This, combined with meticulously rolled fingerboard edges and a tapered neck heel are the recipe for endless playing comfort with effortless access to the highest register.

A versatile, state-of-the-art instrument — this novel series will undoubtedly inspire you to push your playing to new heights! This is where the Fender Custom Shop comes in.

Thanks for taking the time to look at our Fender Guitar Guide — we do hope that it has made your guitar buying decision a lot more clearer. Stay tuned to our website and the Swee Lee Blog for product highlights from the new shipment of Fender products that will be coming in soon. Join us as we reminisce in the best way possible — with an aural odyssey down memory lane. Ask any guitar player what is their most indispensable tool and you might hear a few of them mention the capo.

Especially those who fancy the acoustic guitar. The capo can sometimes be an unglamorous topic at the gear discussion table. We've included period correct details including the signature one-ply pickguard and "soft-V" neck. Choose from three colors including Inca Silver. It's got all the appointments needed to get the job done, executed in a way that caters to the modern musician while capturing the ethos of Leo Fender's original design. Vintage pickups combined with modern wiring options provide a range of tonal possibilities further expanded by the S-1 switch which blends the neck pickup into any switch position.

Body contours, a tapered neck heel and rolled fingerboard edges make this guitar as comfortable to play as it is functional. The "Modern D" neck profile with satin finish and 10" - 14" compound radius are perfect for those looking for a "fast" neck for soloing and leads.

The Ultra is available in seven colors including Plasma Red Burst and the increasingly popular Texas Tea which changes colors in the light. The hollow body means this guitar sounds great plugged into an amp on stage or in your lap. The top is made of spruce, which is a common choice for acoustic guitars due to its resonance. The "Mod Knob" gives you control of these 10 voices by giving you the option to switch between or blend 2 distinct models available in each of 5 positions.

Here is a quick summary of the tones offered:. Learn more about the American Acoustasonic Series Stratocaster here.

While all Fender guitars are held to an extremely high standard of quality for component parts, fit and finish, some models include advanced features that can make the cost jump. Features like a rosewood fingerboard or innovations like the pop-in tremolo arm, locking tuning and body contouring will also make the cost of any instrument rise.

Due to variations in the density of wood and the structure of various components, no two Stratocasters—even from the same series—are likely to weigh exactly the same. And no two Strats from the same series that weigh the same may not sound the same. That said, almost all of the Strats featured here fall somewhere between seven and nine pounds, with the majority in the meaty middle of that range. People with smaller builds may prefer an instrument on the lighter side, while a lighter guitar doesn't feel substantial enough for others.

Woe to the southpaw player. Always searching for guitars only to find that left-handed options aren't available. More left-handed guitars here. Skip to main content. It had become an archetypal form by then; a silhouette that leapt to mind immediately on the mention of the term electric guitar. In the time-honored Fender instrument lineup, the Stratocaster had become the Fender instrument as ticked over to On the eve of the year , the future of the Stratocaster looked brighter than ever.

The instrument spanned decades and genres as an uncannily versatile and relevant electric guitar; chosen time and again by successive generations of new players.

It remained the choice of seasoned professionals and eager newcomers alike, its sleek form and pure sound continually attractive to players everywhere at all levels.

All the while, as always, the Stratocaster continued to find its way into new hands. Bands that had either formed in the s or came to prominence post continued to embrace the instrument. Strokes , among many others. A decade later, when Jimi Hendrix so memorably played one at the Monterey Pop Festival in , it still looked like the future—even more so, perhaps. A decade after that, when rock was busy tearing itself down and reinventing itself in particularly aggressive fashion in , the Strat was right there in the midst of it.

Ten years later, in , when Fender itself was coming through a bold self-reinvention, the newly revitalized Stratocaster stood at the top of the line, still very much the future. People everywhere certainly do love their Stratocasters.

The instrument wears its plus years well. It still sounds fantastic. It still feels phenomenal. And it still looks like the future. Modern Stratocaster bodies are still made of the same woods the originals were made from over 60 years ago: alder and ash. Most contemporary Strats are alder, while the Strats featured in the Deluxe range feature ash bodies.

The alder used in most Fender guitars boasts many sonic advantages. It imparts excellent sustain and sharp attack. Ash can be difficult to work with. The pores must be filled before finishes are applied, and two swamp ash guitar bodies are more likely to differ from one another tonally than two bodies made of alder, which has a tighter, more consistent grain.

Ash imparts articulation and presence with a great balance between brightness and warmth, and it looks great. This is one place where each of the seven Strat models compared here differ from one another, though most are Fender offers guitars with a handful of different neck profiles, but the guitars included here feature variations on the classic "C"-shaped neck, which has a more rounded profile than the pointed "V" or flatter "U" style.

The fingerboard radius is the measure of the arc of the fingerboard across its width. The Deluxe models features the flattest fingerboard with a radius of 12", while the Classic Series '60s Stratocaster and the American Vintage '65 Stratocaster feature the roundest fingerboard with a radius at 7.