I recently purchased a beautiful Stratocaster body markings under neck
show EO.....5 digits electrics pickups date 1980, the neck has stamps which match the body usual FRR 4 bolt tail end adjustment wide fat thick stock head ''F'' plate one piece maple introduced in the 79 anniversary though this guitar is not the anniversary as there are no 25.....serial numbers. The neck marking is stamped on end imbedded in wood by machine 0902X0904 it is also written by hand ontop of end neck as
0902X094 leaving out the extra O between 9 and 4. My understanding is
09 Stratocaster 02 maple neck 09 9th week O 1980 4 Thursday
Firstly what is this X prototype model?
Is this a standard 79/80 Stratocaster . I have never seen a serial number on a Stratocaster with an X in the middle. It has the X1 pickup but is not a strat. The standard Stratocaster was introduced in June 1980 but had the smaller head stock as well as the X1 pickup. I know that an overlap of 1-2 years can occur in production and completion of Fender guitars but im confused about something. Please help the original colour was candy apple red now its satin maple. Vinny Pop aussie musician songwriter has just converted from my Gibson mania to Fender. Also while im here feel free to check out my album on itunes and I am pleased to be a part of this community, Godbless you all.[img] How do I place a pic here?
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Welcome Vinny,
To post a picture here you need to set up an account with an image hosting service like Photo bucket or Image Shack. Once you have your pictures on their site you paste the image code in your message and the picture will magically appear.

As far as the serial no. on that guitar a picture would help greatly. You might try this
http://www.fender.com/support/odd_serial_numbers.php

I didn't see anything but you might catch something I missed. There are many knowledgeable people on this site that can help you.

You might also try

http://www.stratcollector.com

An "X" in a neck code is not unusual.

http://www.late70sstrats.welshviolin.com/

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Thankyou tbdan and orville pleased to meet you, I followed your links and have now worked it out. The neck is now dated First week of March 1980 and I have also now seen another site that shows the X was sometimes placed in the middle or they even used a * or even an A letter. I also now know that the big stock head was used up until the end of 1980. I will now work on the pic ups I did see 80 at end but will keep you posted I need to truly know if it has the X1 in it, I dont care if it hasnt its still a beautiful strat 1980 and will never touch her except I have it in my head as I loved Deep Purple to do the body Black. I though she was a Dan Smith but he came in 1981 so she isnt as the neck is March 1980. These Fenders are more addictive and loaded in history far greater than the Gibsons.

If you have a multimeter (digital or analog) to measure voltages and resistances, you can measure that bridge pickup to tell if it's a X1.

I don't have the actual values in front me, but a "regular" pickup would measure about 5.8K Ohms DC resistance. The X1 pickup would measure quite a bit higher than that.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Thanks for the help guys and yes orville for that info hope to have a pic up as soon as I register on photobucket. Vince