Hi,

This is the first time I've posted, although I read the forum from time to time.

I've been away from work this week, so decided I'd attempt to set-up my Strat. When I removed the neck to determine the angle at which to pitch it, I found something curious:

Neck Pocket Neck

The problem with the body is that I bought the guitar new in May '88 and the neck looks as though it could be dated April '88 — though possibly '89. It's difficult to really ascertain as part of the last number has rubbed away. What's more, it has an E46 serial, which suggests early to mid '88, even given the body/potential neck date of '89; and it came with the Split Wilkinson, which I believe was only on the first run from '87 to around Jan '88. I've been the only owner.

Just wondering if anybody knows anything, or has encountered this before?

The Split nut had to be replaced in '91 after it began to rattle and one of the rollers somehow came out. Incidentally, if anybody knows where I can source one from or if they're still produced, I'd be very grateful. Jeff Beck obviously has a stash of them, but I find it highly unlikely he'd be willing to part with one, even for a fellow Englishman. There was a thread on here about them — it amounted to lots of to-ing and fro-ing between Mike Eldred and a poster — to which there was no answer.

Best Regards,
Dr Socks

Hi Dr Socks,

Finding different dates is the norm. It is actually more rare for all the dates to match up. I've even seen some that seem to be dated with a future date. FYI, "E4" is supposed to denote '84, not '88. But, that serial number prefix was used for several years (up to '89?), and that's why you have to check the dates in the neck pocket and heel, as you did, to get a more precise time period for the manufacture of the guitar.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Remember these are factory made instruments from parts that are produced in mass quantities and from all over the factory. They grab whatever they need when they need it.

My '87 Strat Plus had 2nd gen tuning keys, but it was still made in '87.

My Clapton Strat, which I ordered brand new from the factory was made specifically for me. When I ordered the guitar I had to wait a month because they didn't have any Candy Green EC Strats. So the guitar I odered in January '01 was put together and arrived at the store in February '01, but the neck and body have dates for Oct and Nov '00. The S/N has it as a '00, but it was actaully built in '01.

My '04 50th Anniversary Am. Series Strat has an '03 S/N, nut it was built and sold in '04.

My Strat with a '79 S/N has a neck from Feb '80.

I wouldn't get wrapped around the axel about it and go with whatever the S/N on the neck says. That's how most people would date the guitar.

_________________
1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

Very true - actually "E4" numbers were never used in 1984 (for the most part - I have seen just one 1983/84-era CBS Fender with an "E4" serial number) and were used for the first American Standards & Strat Pluses that were made from late 1986 (earliest neck dates - they may not have even been sold until they were officially released in January 1987) all the way through mid-1988. There were even a few "E3" decals that CBS/Fender didn't use that made it on to these early FMIC guitars (mostly Teles, but a few Strats also). Then they make the jump from "E4" to "E8" numbers.

Same deal with the "S9" serial numbers - they were used from 1979 through 1981 and even on some of the last big headtock Strats that made it out in 1982. I have never seen a Strat with an "E0" or an "E1"; they typically go from "S9" to "E2".

Of course I'm talking about USA Fenders; for the MIJ guitars with "E" prefixes the first number doesn't have any meaning regarding the date of manufacture.

Thanks for your responses.

I don't know quite what the set-up is with regards to production on that scale; whether the necks and bodies are inspected and dated immediately after they've been cut, or at the time somebody reaches for them to be paired? My guess would be the former, though I could be wrong. Assuming it's actually 1989 on the neck, then it and the body would seem to have been made/inspected within two days of each other.

Regardless: why or how could it be dated a year after I bought it? Would they be dated a year or so in advance with the intent of using them at that time and for various reasons used early? Or could the stamp have been incorrectly set? Afterall, hand stamps are used in dating, arent they?

I'm not concerned about the provenance or authenticity of the instrument — just very, very curious about the apparent anomalous dating. More so, because it adds a new element to something that I've owned for 24 years.

The E4 serial thing was explained to me by my tech circa. 1990. My understanding, as John C confirmed, is that E4 Serials/Decals were used until the first third/half of 1988 — this would therefore correlate with the year I purchased it, which was May '88. I didn't read the inspection tag too closely; however, I recall it being dated around 16-19th April '88. Sadly after several house moves, I've lost the documentation that came with it, so can't check the tag.

Regards,
Dr Socks