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Post subject: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 4:06 am
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I'm trying to find some info on my '62 Reissue Strat but there seems to be a lot of conflicting information on the net. I got it about 10 years ago when (sadly) I traded down from a '62 pre-CBS hardtail Strat that I'd owned for about 30 years.. Never mind - the reissue's a good replacement!!
But here's the thing. Serial number is V003XXX, it's Fiesta Red which seems original but from what I've read, they never came out in this color.
Also, I thought it was about '82/'83, but I thought that would mean it was made at Fullerton, but online serial number decoder says it was made at Corona - date unknown.
Anyone know when/where it was made and if the finish is the original color? Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:25 am
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Hi,

SN V003XXX suggests an early Fullerton reissue, probably '82. An original Fiesta Red is definitely possible I guess. Looks like a very early one... How are the pu's bottom ? Black, red or gray ? You may have a very valuable guitar if 100% original...


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:34 am
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Hi abstrat,

Probably the best info that you can get is from Fender. Just contact them with your serial number for specifics on your Strat. I prefer to call, it's much faster and a phone-call won't get filtered out as spam, but you can also try email.

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/contact-consumer-relations

Now, you owe us at least one picture. :)

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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 8:39 am
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You really can't tell much from the serial number on these; about the only way you're going to get any verification of the year is by taking it apart and checking the dates written on the neck and the body. Also the serial numbered neck plates weren't used sequentially (they weren't in Leo's day and they still aren't today) - the assemblers just grabbed stacks of them from a parts bin and threw them back in when they didn't need them (or want them on their workbench), so that number could have easily been used at any time. Normally I would say "contact Fender" but I don't believe that their database has any details on guitars from before their acquisition of the company (and it used to be they couldn't go back any earlier than 1993; I don't know if they ever uploaded the 1985-1993 data into their system).

Regarding whether that serial number could have been a CBS-era made in Fullerton (circa 1982-1984) or a later FMIC-era made in Corona (starting in late 1985 - present) I'm just not sure. I don't know if part of the assets FMIC purchased included a bin of serialized neck plates for reissue guitars or if FMIC re-started the serial numbers once they got their new factory on-line in late 1985. If FMIC re-started the numbering then the numbers could have been recycled pretty quickly.

Fiesta red - I know FMIC wound up using that color on the American Vintage series from say 1998 (first of the revised ones) unitl the early 2000s - about the same lenght of time they used Sherwood Green on the AV '62s (and I still miss my old 1999 Sherwood Green AV '62) and they may have used Fiesta Red earlier.

I kind of remember there being Dakota Red reissues back in the day, and Candy Apple Red. I just don't remember if there were Fiesta Red reissues in the Fullerton days.

Here is a fairly decent website on the early (both Fullerton and early Corona) reissues:

http://www.fenderreissue.com/


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 9:49 am
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... also check out the CTS pots inside. They have a numeric code that indicates year/week of manufacturing. You can't be 100% sure that pot codes indicates a year which is that of the guitar. But if it is consistent with the SN it is good sign.


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:20 pm
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Wow.. from a new forum user, there's a lot of valuable information and knowledgable people here.
I guess I'll spend the weekend pulling it apart to check. I'll try to get some photos up too.
Thanks to you all!


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 4:42 pm
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Im pretty sure Fiesta Red was used back then.


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 6:59 pm
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tbazzone wrote:
Im pretty sure Fiesta Red was used back then.


You are correct. I should have looked through that http://www.fenderreissue.com/ site I linked to more carefully - Fiesta Red was one of the original reissue colors. I mistakently thought that Dakota Red was one of the original colors.


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 2:20 am
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OK, pulled it apart and found neck date 11-1-82 written and G. Garcia stamped on neck.
Tone pots are numbered R1378226 and R1378238. Unfortunately the volume pot has been replaced at some time and has solder over the number.
Pickup bottoms are black.
Any further info welcome please...
Pics to follow.


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 8:04 am
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abstrat wrote:
OK, pulled it apart and found neck date 11-1-82 written and G. Garcia stamped on neck.
Tone pots are numbered R1378226 and R1378238. Unfortunately the volume pot has been replaced at some time and has solder over the number.
Pickup bottoms are black.
Any further info welcome please...
Pics to follow.


Okay - if I'm reading the pot codes right they are also from 1982 - the "R137" part means they are CTS pots, the "82" means "1982"; one was from the 26th week of 1982 and the other from the 38th week of 1982. Both pot dates are earlier than the neck date of 11-1-82. I got the info from this site:

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

I would say that the latest date that your Strat is most likely a 1982 - the only exception would be if you turn up an early 1983 date on the body. Since you didn't post a date from the body I'm assuming it doesn't have one so you might as well call it a 1982.

From what I've seen the specific year for those 1982-1984 CBS/Fullerton-era reissues doesn't really impact the current value; they all carry about the same price depending on the condition.

Very cool guitar; I kind of doubt that there is more info available on them.


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 11:42 pm
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Thanks John C. I guess I'll have to pull it apart again to look for a stamp on the body, although I'm fairly satisfied that it seems to be late '82.

I guess G. Garcia is the guy who assembled it?

Here are a couple of pics.

Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 5:58 am
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Such a cool guitar indeed. And looks mint. Great stuff you have.
How does it sound ?


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 2:05 am
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I wouldn's say it's mint, but it's nice and original. The paint is worn a bit thin near the top corner of the body where your right arm rubs against it and there's a bit of wear on the back, plus a bit of wear on the rosewood fretboard - all just from being played.
Typical Strat sounding - bright and clear on the back pickup and warm and bluesy on the front pickup. I don't really like Strats on the middle pickup as the sound it a bit bland for my liking. I had a 5 way switch on my old Pre-CBS Strat, which appealed to me but the purists thought this detracted from it come sale time, so I've been reluctant to modify this one in any way.
Can someone explain the black bottom pickups (I thought they were all the same?) but how do they differ from the various other colors?
Also, I presume the G. Garcia marking the assembler? Is there any relation to Garcia Guitars?


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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 1:25 pm
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+1 everything John C said.
John, we never got around to uploading the serial tracking before 93 because there isnt anything TO upload. :O( Consequently...not the greatest serial number tracking before 93 or so.
Just for the record, I remember building plenty of Fiesta Reds both in the 82-84 era as well as after 85.

Signatures/initials/stamps- in the body I believe they are usually the buff and polish folks and body inspection folks who signed or stamped. I believe that the same is true for the necks upon completion of final buff and polish the necks were signed and dated.
Hang tags usually contain the final set-up name and/or the final inspectors stamp/name.
Thats my recollection......someone else could argue that i spose.

PS...i like that Fenderreissue.com thing......actually found some guitars with my name in the neck pocket and/or hang tag . Gives me a fuzzy feeling.:O)



Cheers,
rob

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Post subject: Re: 62 Reissue serial number
Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 10:03 pm
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Thanks Rob. Between what you and John (and others) have said, I've got a much better understanding.
I pulled it apart again (last time!) and found the little round stickers in the neck and middle pickup apertures. The one in the middle pickup has been painted over, (which looking on the fenderreicssue site, looks like is commonplace as on most of the guitars, there's a circular piece of paint missing), but the one in the neck pickup has MN 11/24. Is this what you were calling the hang tag?
Again (like the G Garcia thing), I assume MN is a guy's innitials.
From what you say Rob, it seems that record-keeping was not high on the agenda! Would you have any idea what the 11/24 means?


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