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Post subject: Is It Possible?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:34 pm
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Hello all,

I have an issue that I've been trying to get to the bottom for quite some time now. I've tried all avenues that I know of to nail this thing down. I know pics are big here and it helps that I have them, but I'm asking for your for expertise here until I get those pics everyone would like to see.

I'm a bit old school (I'm still using smoke signals...sorry), but not adverse to new technology.

Ok, here goes. I know anything is possible, but what are the chances of a 60's era neck being stored or not used until the late 90's? My issue is this, I have a late 90's MIM (outstanding git) that has a 5 digit number on the neck heel. According to this number my neck was created in the Fullerton plant between 1960-1961. I ran the number thru guitar dater as the serial #. I've only been under the hood once, that was the day I bought it, and recorded what was in the neck pocket (I didn't take pics), other than the qc sticker, a green ball marker, a Circle A, and the number that appeared to be either ARXXX or VRXXX (the a/v appears to be smeared, but readable).

I guess the reason I'm asking is because I'm not sure if the neckplate/headstock/heel date all jive on vintage instruments. I've contacted Fender and received the information based on the MN8 number that was on the headstock, but they did not have any information pertaining to that 5 digit stamped heel date. Thanks in advance to those that took the time to reply. Excellent site!

Cazz
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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:41 pm
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Hi Cazz. 'Fraid, we not only need the pics, we specifically need to see that neck heel to stand a chance of making any sense of it.

Meantime, it sounds bionically unlikely to me that a '60s neck would end up getting used on a '90s Mexican guitar. But stranger things have happened at sea. Perhaps.

Let's see the pics...

Cheers - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:48 pm
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Ceri wrote:
Hi Cazz. 'Fraid, we not only need the pics, we specifically need to see that neck heel to stand a chance of making any sense of it.

Meantime, it sounds bionically unlikely to me that a '60s neck would end up getting used on a '90s Mexican guitar. But stranger things have happened at sea. Perhaps.

Let's see the pics...

Cheers - C


I concur with Ceri, possible, but not probable. :?:

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:49 pm
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Yes in deed we would like to see the pictures. You can do a search on posting pictures and find plenty of info on the steps. If an old F--T like me can do it you can. Good luck!


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Post subject: IIP
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:50 pm
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Thanks Ceri, your opinion is definately valued here. I have a phone that simply does not take pics. My kid has all the things I'm sure I need (camera's and the lot), but she's producing in NYC. I knew it would be a long shot without pics. I took the neck off once, and it felt as if it was vacuum packed.....nice and tight.

Ok, maybe I'll make some calls, and this means I'll have to take her apart again. Again, thanks for the reply!


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Post subject: IIP
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:53 pm
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Thanks to all......

Cazz


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:37 pm
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I have a Fender Fat Strat MIM #MN6XXXXX from 1996-97 that has a similar end of neck stamp that reads 70226. It is obviously not a date stamp as Fender in known to do. I am surprised that a Fender customer service rep can't tell you what the number means. They put it on the neck for a reason, so what is it???Image


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Post subject: PF
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:48 pm
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Paisley, we've been down this road some time ago. We're both in the same boat. Have you tried running that number through guitar dater? I did for yours, same as mine, Fullerton Plant 60-61. The journey continues..


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:31 pm
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The funny thing is that the neck on my 1996 Fat Strat is a vintage style neck, with period correct finish, headstock and tuners. I do know that my guitar is a mystery model, and I have never been able to find out what it is. The only thing I know is it is NOT a run-of-the-mill 1996 Fat Strat. I think it may have been one of thoses guitars where the parts were made in Corona, and shipped to Ensenada for assembly. I have a MIM Strat Standard from 2001-02, and my 1996 model is far superior in every way(neck feel and thickness, fretwork, pickups etc.) This is not to say that my 2001 Standard is no good, it is a nice playing and sounding guitar. It is just that my 1996 Strat just has that "nicer" feel and tone.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:34 pm
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paisley strat wrote:
The funny thing is that the neck on my 1996 Fat Strat is a vintage style neck, with period correct finish, headstock and tuners. I do know that my guitar is a mystery model, and I have never been able to find out what it is. The only thing I know is it is NOT a run-of-the-mill 1996 Fat Strat. I think it may have been one of thoses guitars where the parts were made in Corona, and shipped to Ensenada for assembly. I have a MIM Strat Standard from 2001-02, and my 1996 model is far superior in every way(neck feel and thickness, fretwork, pickups etc.) This is not to say that my 2001 Standard is no good, it is a nice playing and sounding guitar. It is just that my 1996 Strat just has that "nicer" feel and tone.


We want pics :)


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:17 pm
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From Vintage Guitars
Mid-1959 to March 1962: Penciled by hand below the truss rod adjustment at the butt end of the neck in M-YY format.
March 1962 to 1965: Ink stamp in dark blue or red ink below the truss rod adjustment at the butt end of the neck in "XX MMM-YY W" format. The "XX" is not the day of stamping. Instead it is a code for the type of neck (for example, "02"=Stratocaster, "3/4"=3/4 scale Musicmaster). The "W" is the neck width where "A" is the narrowest, "B" is normal, and "C" is the widest.

They say they are penciled onto the necks until 1962 :shock:
Your 1960-61 is it penciled onto the neck :?:

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:21 pm
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cvilleira wrote:
From Vintage Guitars
Mid-1959 to March 1962: Penciled by hand below the truss rod adjustment at the butt end of the neck in M-YY format.
March 1962 to 1965: Ink stamp in dark blue or red ink below the truss rod adjustment at the butt end of the neck in "XX MMM-YY W" format. The "XX" is not the day of stamping. Instead it is a code for the type of neck (for example, "02"=Stratocaster, "3/4"=3/4 scale Musicmaster). The "W" is the neck width where "A" is the narrowest, "B" is normal, and "C" is the widest.

They say they are penciled onto the necks until 1962 :shock:
Your 1960-61 is it penciled onto the neck :?:


Not penciled on the neck, but stamped in Red. Same as PaisleyStrat, but in red. I understand the "code" format, but I'm still trying to figure out how it applies to just the five digits. For instance his first digits are 70, mine are 60. Thanks for the Vintage info, helps a great deal.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:07 pm
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One of the key things cvilliera wrote was that the truss rod adjustment is at the butt end of the neck for "vintage" necks (ie, those made in the early '60s).

Where is the truss rod adjustment on your neck?

Serial numbers were never placed on the heel end of the neck, so you can't just grab any old set of digits you find on the parts and plug them into a serial number guitar dater program! Sorry!

If you are interested in what vintage Fender parts look like, please check out this web site:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:15 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
One of the key things cvilliera wrote was that the truss rod adjustment is at the butt end of the neck for "vintage" necks (ie, those made in the early '60s).

Where is the truss rod adjustment on your neck?

Serial numbers were never placed on the heel end of the neck, so you can't just grab any old set of digits you find on the parts and plug them into a serial number guitar dater program! Sorry!

If you are interested in what vintage Fender parts look like, please check out this web site:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html


Believe me, that thought did cross my mind. Even if that was the case, I'm not really disappointed. It could be a "partscaster", and if they're this nice, I hope I can find more just like this one. My thoughts are is that the instrument was slated to be a HR (based on the neck pocket markings) and somehow became a standard. I also think that there is a connection with Ensenada and Japan on this one, but I'll never know. And like Paisley indicated, the craftmanship on this instrument is top notch. Heck, maybe I just got lucky!

I'll let it rest until I upload pics and maybe we can get better clarification.

Again, thanks to everyone that added input!

Cazz


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:36 am
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The end of a vintage Fender neck looks like this:

Image

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