Anybody know how to date a jimmie vaughan strat?

[okieactor]

I couldn't find the serial number on the fender page. It starts MNS------ . MNS, followed by 6 numerals.

[Vintagebrit]

If you cut through the neck and count the rings..........
sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm overdue my medicine.

[Will Hesch]

okie, go here: Mexican Instruments and match your numbers/letters

[Boris Bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Vintagebrit

If you cut through the neck and count the rings..........
sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm overdue my medicine.

Originally Posted by Will Hesch

okie, go here: Mexican Instruments and match your numbers/letters

Usually this works, Will, but not on MSN guitars and especially not on Jimmie Vaughans.

If you have the original pickguard, there should be a date stamped on the underside of it. I've got one Jimmie where that stamp is obscured, but that's in fact the only UNIVERSAL good way to date a Jimmie. Some years are easier. All 2009s seem to be "MSZ9". All 2006s have a tiny "60th" button on the back of the headstock. The first few hundred or so have a wicked semi-hard Vee neck that is wonderful and sought after. The rest of them are MSN5, MSN6 and MSN7 but these 5s, 6s and 7s DO NOT necessarily mean 1996, 1997, 2006 or 2007 and in fact generally DO NOT match. Use the pickguard for any genuine accuracy.

Nothing in the neck pocket on any one I've seen, nothing stamped into the body.

Best I can do.


++

I think someone at Fender ordered a MASSIVE number of MSN6 and MSN7 decals and it was decided not to waste them. When those were gone, Mexico finally resumed a rational "Artist" number scheme in 2009.