Newsgroup: it.arti.musica.strumenti.chitarra
Titolo: Come identificare una Strato?

Ciao, da qualche tempo ho una Stratocaster messicana usata, ma è un pò
diversa da quelle che vendono adesso, e sarei curioso di sapere che modello
è e di che anno. Dal numero di serie si dovrebbe capire qualcosa? Sapete
indicarmi un sito utile per questo? Comunque, nel caso ci sia qualche
esperto, ve la descrivo:
numero di serie MN535170
2 single coils e 1 humbucker al ponte
selettore del pick up al ponte al posto di un controllo del tono
sunburst
tastiera acero
tasti grandi (21)
manico leggermente più stretto della standard
grazie!

 numero di serie MN535170
 Se per le Strato Mex vale lo stesso criterio delle USA la tua Strato è del
Marzo 1995:
M= non lo so per certo ma credo che stia x Mexican (nella mia strato USA non
c'è U però, ma penso sia sottinteso)
N = iniziale del decennio (in questo caso '90.....ninety....non mi ricordo
nel caso dei 60 e 70 qual'è la lettera)
5 = numero dell'anno (1995)
3 = numero del mese (3 = marzo)
Ciao.
                                    Filippo

Ciao, ti mando quello che ho trovato sulla FENDER SERIALIZATION
Serial numbers, in general, are found on the bridgeplate, the neckplate, the
backplate or the peghead. From 1950-1954, serial numbers are found on the
bridgeplate or vibrato backplate. From 1954-1976, the serial numbers are
found on the neckplate, both top or bottom of the plate. From 1976 to date,
the serial number appears with the peghead decal. Vintage Reissues have
their serial numbers on the neckplate and have been in use since 1982.
The Fender company also stamped (or handwrote) the production date on the
heel of the neck, in the body routs, on the pickups, and near the wiring
harness (the body, pickup, and wiring dating was only done sporadically,
during certain time periods). However, the neck date (and body date)
indicate when the neck (or body) part was completed! Fender produces necks
and guitar bodies separately, and bolts the two together during final
production. Therefore, the date on the neck will generally be weeks or
months before the actual production date.
When trying to determine the manufacturing date of an instrument by
serialization, it is best to keep in mind that there are no clear cut
boundaries between where the numbers began and where they ended. There were
constant overlapping of serial numbers between years and models. The
following are approximate numbers and dates.
1950 0001-0750
1951 0200-1900
1952 0400-4900
1953 2020-5030
1954 2780-7340
1955 6600-12800
1956 7800-16000
1957 14900-025200
1958 022700-38200
1959 31400-60600
1960 44200-58600
1961 55500-81700
1962 71600-99800
1963 81600-99200
In 1962, as the serialization count neared 100000, for one reason or
another, the transition did not occur. Instead, an L preceded a 5 digit
sequence. It ran this way from 1962 to 1965.
1962 L00400-L13200
1963 L00200-L40300
1964 L20600-L76200
1965 L34980-L69900
In 1965, when CBS bought Fender Musical Instruments, Inc., the serialization
has come to be known as the F Series, due to an "F" being stamped onto the
neckplate. This series of numbers went from 1965 to 1973. The approximate
numbers and years are as follows:
1965 100001-147400
1966 112170-600200
1967 162165-602550
1968 211480-627740
1969 238945-290835
1970 278910-305415
1971 272500-380020
1972 301395-412360
1973 359415-418360
In early 1973, Fender stopped the practice of writing/stamping the
production date on the heel of the neck (through 1982). The following are
rough approximations for the years 1973 to 1976:
Early 1973 to Late 1976: 400000 series
Late 1973 to Late 1976: 500000 series
Mid 1974 to Mid 1976: 600000 series
Mid 1976 to Late 1976: 700000 series
In late 1976, Fender decided to move to a new numbering scheme for their
serialization. The numbers appeared on the pegheads and for the remainder of
1976 they had a prefix of 76 or S6 preceding a 5 digit sequence. In 1977,
the serialization went to a letter for the decade, followed by a single
digit for the year and then 5 to 6 digits. Examples of the letter/digit code
follow like this: S for the '70s, E for the '80s, N for the '90s, etc.
1970s S (example) S8-1978
1980s E (example) E1-1981
1990s N (example) N2-1992
While the idea was fine, the actuality was a different matter. Instrument
production did not meet the levels for which decals had been produced, so
there are several overlapping years. Sometimes several prefixes found within
a single year's production. Here is the revised table of letter/digit year
codes:
1976 S6 (also 76)
1977 S7 and S8
1978 S7, S8, and S9
1979 S9 and E0
1980-1981 S9, E0, and E1
1982 E1, E2, and E3
1984-1985 E3 and E4
1985-1986 *No U.S. Production
1987 E4
1988 E4 and E8
1989 E8 and E9
1990 E9, N9, and N0
1991 N0 (plus 6 digits)
1992 N2
1993 N3
1994 N4
1995 N5
1996 N6
1997 N7
Serialization on Fender Japan Models
Fender Japan was established in March, 1982, in a negotiation between
CBS/Fender, Kanda Shokai, and Yamano Music. Instruments were built by Fuji
Gen Gakki, initially for the European market. When the Vintage/Reissues
models were offered in the early 1980s, a V in the serial number indicated
U.S. production, while a JV stood for Fender Japan-built models. For the
first two years of Japanese production, serial numbers consisted of a 2
letter prefix to indicate the year, followed by five digits. In late 1984,
this code was changed to a single letter prefix and six digits. Note the
overlapping year/multi-prefix letter codes:
1982-1984 JV
1983-1984 SQ
1984-1987 E (plus 6 digits)
1985-1986 A, B, and C
1986-1987 F
1987-1988+ G
1988-1989 H
1989-1990 I and J
1990-1991 K
1991-1992 L
1992-1993 M
1993-1994 N
1994-1995 O
1995-1996 P
Dating a Fender instrument by serialization alone can get you within an
approximate range of years, but should not be used as a definitive means to
determine the year of actual production.
(Fender Serialization overview courtesy A.R. Duchossoir; Later year
production codes courtesy Michael Wright, Vintage Guitar Magazine)