Howdy, I'm just curious how true my fathers words were... First, I debugged that one of his strats is made in 1984, instead of 1959. It's a Japanese one, and the earliest one was made in like 1982.

But the other one I have is a complete mystery. Anyway. I can't find the serial # on this strat. All I have to go by is my dads word that it was made in 1963, which I doubt due to the Japanese strat fluke.

All I have to go on is that it's "Made in USA" (on the back) and in front it has "PAT. #,###, ###, #/#" under the Fender logo. (All on the headstock)

There's nothing on the rod plate on the headstock, nothing on the neck/body plate and no serial anywhere else. No idea how I can find it. Reading the guide on how to date US made guitars it could be at the butt end of the neck, but it would require me to unscrew it, which I wouldn't do, at least now.

Anyway else, perhaps?

A 1963 Strat would have the serial on its neckplate unless it was replaced. I which case you'd have to either remove the neck and check the date stamp on the heel or post detailed pictures of the guitar.

Either way, I am interested in seeing it.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

It's not a 1963. Fender didn't put "Made in USA" on their guitars until much later. See:

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

"Theres nothing on the rod plate on the headstock????? That right there says 'FAKE". Fender never put a truss rod cover on Strats, but import copies did. I also know that Fender always put a serial number on their guitars. One way to remove a serial # is to change the neck plate, which may have had the # on it.
Remove the neck, and see what you see. it may give you the info you need.