Serial Number Question

Saffs · August 5th, 2008, 05:12 PM

Hi,
New poster here!
I was wondering if anyone might know of a Strat serial number that goes 0006XX on a supposed 1980s Strat I've seen for sale. It's a four bolt, serial number is on the neckplate, no 'F' though. I know F and S Strat serials well, just curious about this one.
It does look a 0 zero, and not the letter 'O' - would be Japan?. Has three knobs, not a 'Smith' circa '81 two knob model. No serial on headstock and neck decal not available.
Thanks if you can help!
Anthony

Strat-Talk · August 5th, 2008, 06:11 PM

Welcome.. So it's an 80's Strat without a head stock serial number?

Something wrong there. Fender went to Head Stock serical numbers in 1976. There are '80s Strats without Head Stock serials... but they are special models with a Letter in front of the number. And not just any letter but:

V = Vintage Reissue
CA, CC, GO = Collectors Series
S = Signature Series
HLE, DE1 or DE2 for really limited models.

So, I don't know about what you've got there. Lots of funny things happen to Strats that people are selling on Ebay. Numbered stamped plates are a dime a dozen. And, Squier's and other guitars (without serial numbers) many times gain Fender decals and some new neck plate to try to become something they are not.

In many cases the guy that bought the guitar was told a story long ago and he's always believed it and when you tell him "it can't be" he'll argue that he's positive it's what he says it is.

1983 and 1984 MIJ's can have a letter "O" and 6 digits... but you say it's not an O and there aren't enough digits anyway.

Saffs · August 5th, 2008, 06:49 PM

Thank you so much for your help. Not something I've bought, thankfully. Something I saw for sale. My thoughts were that it might be a 'partsocaster', sounds like it is. I'm much more knowledgeable with Gibsons, so thanks for your help. Headstock logo is mostly missing (as in someone removed it) but you can still see Stratocaster and made in the USA on it.

Strat-Talk · August 5th, 2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saffs

Headstock logo is mostly missing (as in someone removed it) but you can still see Stratocaster and made in the USA on it.

There is no good reason for anyone to scratch off a Fender decal... and who knows if the MIA etc is real.

dan P · August 5th, 2008, 09:22 PM

you can buy a neckplate with anything you want on it, fender decal's are around, so be carefull on that, very easy to fake it, way tooo easy. !

bobshobby · September 9th, 2008, 06:38 PM

now youre all making me nervous... I bought a EJ strat that has no serial on the neck. Its only on the neck plate.
Is this normal ?

johnreardon · September 10th, 2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobshobby

now youre all making me nervous... I bought a EJ strat that has no serial on the neck. Its only on the neck plate.
Is this normal ?

Yes. The number should be of the form EJXXXXX.

There may be other numbers under the pickguard or on the end of the neck

bobshobby · September 10th, 2008, 03:14 PM

thanks...I was concerned after reading above about on the neck since... yes mine in on the plate only. My concern stems from the fact the EJ's have a soft V neck and mine feels so much like a C that I often wondered if some unscrupulous dealer might order plates and mount them on various guitars... paranoia on my part I presume because I just love this guitar.

Thanks again