1962 Fender Stratocaster setup specs are the benchmark for the pre-CBS golden era. The 1962 Strat kept the same 7.25" fingerboard radius, 25.5" scale length, and vintage synchronized tremolo introduced in 1954, but it also sits at a transitional moment: mid-year Fender switched from thick slab rosewood fingerboards to thinner curved-veneer rosewood. Whether you own an all-original 1962 Strat or a…
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Pre-CBS Fender Serial Numbers Explained Pre-CBS Fender serial numbers are the key to dating any Fender guitar or bass built before the January 1965 sale of the company to CBS. This guide covers Fender guitars and basses made from 1954 through 1964: the approximate serial ranges by year, where the number appears, how decals and neck plates changed, what the neck heel date means, and why pre-CBS…
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CBS-era Fender Serial Numbers Explained CBS-era Fender serial numbers cover the two decades after Columbia Broadcasting System bought Fender in January 1965, plus the brief Fullerton Music Instruments Company (FMIC) transition that followed in 1985. The serial formats from this period are more varied than the pre-CBS years, but they still follow a clear pattern once you know what to look for. This…
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Mustang Bass Serial Numbers Explained Mustang Bass serial numbers are the quickest way to turn a stamped or printed code into the birth year, factory, and era of your short-scale Fender bass. Whether you are hunting for a vintage specimen, verifying a used listing, or just curious about the instrument in your hands, the serial number is always the best place to start. Fender launched the Mustang…
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Musicmaster Serial Numbers Explained Musicmaster serial numbers are the key to dating Fender's first student electric guitar. Introduced in 1956 with a 22.5-inch short scale and a single pickup, the Musicmaster was built for beginners but has become a genuinely collectable vintage model. Whether you have a 1950s slab-body original, a 1970s CBS-era example, or a modern reissue, the serial number is…
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Jag-Stang Serial Numbers Explained Jag-Stang serial numbers are the fastest way to place a Fender Jag-Stang in the right year, factory, and era. Whether you are chasing an original 1990s model tied to Kurt Cobain, comparing a 2021 Made-in-Japan reissue, or checking whether a used listing is priced fairly, the serial number is the first filter every buyer and seller should use. Fender introduced…
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Duo-Sonic Serial Numbers Explained Duo-Sonic serial numbers are the fastest way to turn a stamped or printed code into the year, factory, and era of your Fender Duo-Sonic. Whether you are buying a vintage example, listing a reissue, or just curious about the short-scale sitting in your room, the serial number is the first clue to decode. Fender has used several numbering systems since the Duo…
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Precision Bass Serial Numbers Explained Precision Bass serial numbers are the fastest way to turn a stamped or printed code into the year, factory, and era of your Fender Precision Bass. Whether you are buying a used P-Bass, selling one, or settling a debate, the serial number is the first place to look. Fender has used several numbering systems since the Precision Bass launched in 1951, and…
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Jazz Bass Serial Numbers: Dating & Identification Guide Jazz Bass serial numbers are the fastest way to turn a stamped or printed code into a production year, factory, and era for Fender's most versatile bass. Whether you are hunting for a vintage 1960s J-Bass, decoding a used American Professional II, or verifying a Japanese reissue, the serial number is the first thing to check. Fender…
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Acoustic guitar humidity belongs near the top of your checklist when comfortable action suddenly becomes stiff, buzzy or uneven. Before turning the truss rod or removing saddle material, measure the storage environment, inspect the instrument and compare the symptoms with your previous setup. For many wooden acoustics, 45–55% relative humidity is the maker's recommended storage range. Follow your…
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Acoustic Guitar String Gauges by Playing Style Acoustic guitar string gauges are the fastest way to change how your instrument feels, sounds, and responds to your hands. A set of 12-53 lights feels completely different from 13-56 mediums — not just in tension, but in volume, sustain, bass response, and how easily your fingertips can fret a barre chord. In this guide, you will learn what each…
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The headstock shape, decal style, and serial location are the three fastest clues to what Fender model and era you own. Fender Model Identification: How to Tell What Fender You Have Fender model identification is the process of working out exactly which Fender guitar or bass you own, where it was made, and roughly when. You do not need to be a luthier to get it right. With a few visual checks and…
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The Fender Telecaster has been in continuous production since 1950. That long history means values spread across thousands of dollars, depending on era, origin, and condition. Fender Telecaster Value Guide: How Much Is a Tele Worth? How much is a Fender Telecaster worth? The answer can be anywhere from a little over one hundred dollars for a well-used beginner Squier to six figures for a pristine…
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The Z prefix on a Fender serial number places the guitar squarely in the 2000s. The digit that follows it gives the exact year. Fender Z-Series Serial Numbers: 2000s Dating & Value Guide Fender Z-series serial numbers are the quickest way to date a 2000s Fender electric guitar or bass. If your serial starts with the letter Z followed by a single digit, you are looking at an instrument built during…
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The S prefix on a Fender serial number places the guitar in the late 1970s, at the end of the CBS era in Fullerton, California. Fender S-Series Serial Numbers: 1976–1981 Dating & Value Guide Fender S-series serial numbers mark the beginning of Fender's letter-prefix dating system and the final years of CBS ownership. If your serial starts with the letter S followed by a single digit, you are…
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The N prefix on a Fender serial number places your guitar squarely in the 1990s. The digit after the N tells you the exact year. Fender N-Series Serial Numbers: 1990s Dating & Value Guide Fender N-series serial numbers are the quickest way to date a 1990s Fender electric guitar or bass. If your serial starts with the letter N followed by a single digit, you are looking at an instrument built…
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The MX prefix on a Fender serial number means the guitar was built in Mexico from 2010 onward. The two digits after MX tell you the exact year. Fender MX-Series Serial Numbers: 2010+ Mexico Dating & Value Guide Fender MX-series serial numbers are the key to dating any modern Mexican Fender made from 2010 to the present. If your serial starts with the letters MX followed by two digits and a six…
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The first two letters of a Mexican Fender serial number tell you the country and the decade. MN means the 1990s; MZ means the 2000s. Fender MN / MZ Serial Numbers: 1990s & 2000s Mexico Dating Guide Fender MN and MZ serial numbers identify the first two decades of Mexican Fender production at the Ensenada factory. If your serial starts with MN, you are looking at a guitar made between 1990 and 199…
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The JV and SQ prefixes on a Fender-family guitar point to the earliest days of Japanese production. They are also some of the most copied serial formats on the used market. Fender JV / SQ Serial Numbers: 1982-1984 Fuji-Gen Japan Dating & Value Guide Fender JV and SQ serial numbers mark the very beginning of Fender's official Japanese production line. If your guitar carries a JV or SQ prefix…
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The first two letters of a Fender Japan serial number point to the factory era. JV and SQ mean early 1980s Fuji-Gen, while JD marks modern Dyna Gakki production. Fender Japan Serial Numbers: Complete MIJ & CIJ Dating Guide Fender Japan serial numbers cover one of the most respected chapters in Fender history. From the first Fuji-Gen JV and SQ guitars of 1982 through the MIJ and CIJ decades and…
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