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Post subject: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:12 pm
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Hi there, I recently picked up a partscaster guitar with a Fender USA neck but I'm a little confused if it's real or not. The serial number starts with N9+5 digits and has the "newer" style logo so I figured it was a 1990 model. But when I removed the neck there is a date stamped "Apr. 08 1992" What are your opionions on this? Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 7:56 pm
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N9 would typically be a 1999, so the 1992 stamp is suspect.
A 1992 stamp on an N1 or N3 I wouldn't give a 2nd thought.

What does the Fender database report when you put the serial number in under "Register your Fender"?

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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 9:34 pm
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CB91710 wrote:
N9 would typically be a 1999, so the 1992 stamp is suspect.
A 1992 stamp on an N1 or N3 I wouldn't give a 2nd thought.

What does the Fender database report when you put the serial number in under "Register your Fender"?

You got that right on all counts, Rich. The date stamped on the butt of the neck is the date the neck was built. The serial number/date on the head of the neck is related to the finish date of the assembly of the guitar.

Because the neck (and sometimes wired pickguard) can be found to be made earlier and set aside days, weeks, or months before assembly, the two relative dates can definitely be different.

However, as majorityrocker wrote and as you point out Rich, N9 being 1999 or the stamp of 1992 (more likely) is suspect since there is a seven year spred between them. Not impossible, but I highly doubt that would happen at Fender. Never say never, however. Perhaps, the logo, position or other details, might add to the confirmation that something is definitely askew.

FSB

Note: Unless the pickups and electronics have been fully modded, maybe some clues (like the pots’ IDs) under the pickguard would help. Being that it’s a partscaster I would guess not.

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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:25 am
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Remember the Fender glitch; an N9 serial could also mean 1990, which would make the 1992 stamp even weirder.
The serial number registration database gives nothing on the serial (N980957), which would be weird for a 1999 US made guitar, but quite expectable for a 1990-1992 instrument.
I'd try checking the serial with Fender Consumer Relations, if the origin of the neck is really important on a partsie.

Based on those two pics only, the neck could very well be legit (lefty, string guides removed), but we have very little to go on.


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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:40 am
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Fender used left-over serial numbers after Bill Schultz bought the firm from CBS.


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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 12:42 am
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majorityrocker wrote:
Hi there, I recently picked up a partscaster guitar with a Fender USA neck but I'm a little confused if it's real or not. The serial number starts with N9+5 digits and has the "newer" style logo so I figured it was a 1990 model. But when I removed the neck there is a date stamped "Apr. 08 1992" What are your opionions on this? Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 11:09 am
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Fender used left-over serial numbers after Bill Schultz bought the firm from CBS.


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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 4:02 am
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zoziano wrote:
Fender used left-over serial numbers after Bill Schultz bought the firm from CBS.


But wasn't that in 1985?

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Post subject: Re: Is this a real USA neck?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 11:02 pm
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1981 Bill Schultz moves from Yamaha to Fender (still part of CBS) and takes the job as President.

1985 Bill Schultz and others buy Fender from CBS.

Here is what I found, much of what is known on the Forum and reported elsewhere. I just narrowed it to the topic FYI:

Serial numbers that started with:

E4 ( some ‘84s, some ‘85s, and 1987)
left over numbers ran until June/Jul ‘88

E8 (1988 - 1989)
numbers available into the fall of ‘89

E9 (1989 -1990)
numbers began in the fall of 1989

N9 (1989 -1990)
*reintroduced serial no. series in 1999; but, because decals were produced in advance, some N9 decals meant for ‘99, stories say, were mistakenly or intentionally put on in 1990. One of Fender’s great mysteries.

N0 (1990 - 1991)

N1(1991)

Also, “original contour body” is not AFAIK on the ‘90 headstock. Neither is the Spaghetti logo.

It appears that two trees are common; but, I have seen the trees missing. Perhaps, someone can add what would be correct or if they varied from none to one to two, Heavier strings in the early days may have seen the tree gone, however, I’m not sure if this was common in ’89-‘90 original models.

FSB

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