Hello... first post. Greetings and salutations to all. I am learning guitar at a late age and have decided to start collecting, with the economy as it is, there are some deals to be had. As a beginner I have a couple of guitars but when I played an american strat I was amazed at its quality. It just feels nicer and is very forgiving for beginners fingers not placed in the proper place. I have always had an interest in playing but life got in the way. I have no interest in playing in a band but I do enjoy playing along with songs on Youtube. Or creating songs that I have not heard before. I am looking forward to reading and learning on the forum and hopefully will have some input as I learn more.

In my collecting I have a chance to aquire a MIA strat. I am assuming that the serial numbers are in series and the first made in the series would be a N510001 (or something like that). They list on the serial number finder that N5****** was made in 95 or 96. This is important because I had read that some of the 95's were lower quality thus not worth as much. So if they are in series can I tell by the serial number that it is a 95 (cheaper model) or 96 (better quality). Is there a cutoff serial number that distinguishes a 95 or 96 if so does anyone know what it is?

Thanks in advance

Hi and welcome.

They are not in series. They built a bunch of them put them in a big whatever and everytime they need a serial they pulled one, a bit like a lottery.
Good example, the Antigua FSR Telecaster and Stratocaster built in 2012, many of the Telecaster have a 2011 serial. Stratocaster serials are all over the place (some built in July having a lower serial than some built in March etc.).

Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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Wow quick response! Thanks Robinstrat!

Hmmm kinda defeats the whole reference to 'serial' number

Ok so my second question would be... Is there anyway to identify something on the guitar that would show that it is a 95 or 96 other than cutting it in half and seeing the different sections of wood pieces used (which is the quality difference between a 95 and 96)?

Sorry for the in depth questions but the more I learn about these beautiful guitars the more I understand them.

Again thanks for help

there are date stamps on the end of the neck and in the neck pocket usually. obviously means removing the strings and neck to have a look. the pots are also dated, assuming they are original of course. which id assume they usually are, as MIA guitars generally dont come with crappy electronics that need swapping out.

there are usually minor changes year on year as each model comes out, like different pickups, headstock decals etc. but again sometimes some parts, for example a neck, is made in one year, and the body its bolted to is made the next year, which brings the confusion. even so they could only have been made a couple of months apart if that.

OP....First off....Welcome.....

Now what are you talking about
The yearly number of guitars built by Fender is overly large, is not something they keep minute details of, in the sense of every model catalogued and detailed as to which parts were from what year or month of manufacture, assembly etc..etc...

Guitars and their bodies and necks don't work in an orderly fashion...Or in other words, this neck because of it's resonant qualities may be better suited to this body for similar reasons or it just fits/looks better together on an aesthetic plane...It's very much a match this to that from what is available / on hand today....Get the guitar built and ready to go out the door to the retailer.
The higher up the model line, the more on hand and attention to fine details is performed....
Quality differences on one year to the next are very small if at all noticeable..From one decade to another is a different story due to improved tooling and dependent on the companies profitability. That rules wether innovation is implemented in the quest of a better product..or not....

Again this seems to be a plan based on acquiring guitars on their investment potential..
Which for run of the mill production guitars is a nonexistent reality....
Buy your guitars because they have great musical attributes, not financial attributes..
Buy and collect ( which means they'll just sit there unplayed ) instruments because you want to play them, hear their distinctive voices.
You marry or partner with someone because of their person as a whole, not because it's just a pretty face...( might as well rent then )
Instruments because they are made by people are similar in that they have characteristics unique to each instrument....Just play the damn things, enjoy them for what they are, not what they should or wish they were or could be....

Dollar Bills make poor instruments and guitars are poor investment vehicles...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

+1. Also, I don't know of any model changes from 95 to 96. Play them and pick one that you like.

Thanks for not ripping me on this topic...

Yes I plan on collecting for value and playability. As I get new guitars I do play them (albeit not that well.... yet...) I am not doing it to get rich by no means and I will never use the term investment as I will only resell to move up to a better model. As I understand more about the market and different manufactures my crazy questions will dwindle.

I know I shouldn't believe everything I read on the internet so I will just chalk this one up to being misinformed...

Thanks to all the posts. Very good input!