Dating a Fender bass guitar to figure out when it was made is not always as easy as it sounds. This is especially true with a vintage bass. Ever since Fender started making basses in 1951, they dated certain parts and components to provide a general idea of when the instrument was produced. The problem is that a neck might be made and dated and then sit in the factory for a while until finally being bolted to a body produced and dated months later. Even using official Fender bass serial numbers isn’t as straightforward as you might think.
There are pickup and potentiometer date codes that you can try to identify. There are even bridge stamps and pickguard codes in some cases. So how do you properly determine the year of production for your Fender bass?
The challenge with dating a Fender bass
Back in the 1950s and ’60s, no one at Fender had any clue that one day these instruments would be highly sought after collector’s items or coveted vintage tone machines and that people would be highly concerned about when any particular bass was made. They just grabbed whatever part or component was ready and put the instrument together to fill an order as fast as possible.
The general rule of thumb is that a bass guitar is as old as its newest part. Or, at least its most recently dated part. So, if you have a Fender with a neck date of 1964 and the pots are dated 1965, then you have a 1965 Fender bass guitar. Some years, in particular, can get really tricky.
Some 1959 Precision Basses have no Fender neck dating stamp at all. Several Fender basses from 1969 to 1980 have neck stamp codes that are difficult to decipher and sometimes impossible to read. After 1981, most Fender neck dates are easy to read and understand; however, I’ve still seen a few Fender basses from the 1990s with no neck stamp at all.
Who previously owned your Fender bass?
This may seem obvious, but remember that with older bass guitars it’s very difficult to say with absolute certainty who owned it and what they did to it.
It’s very common for people these days to get a new bass and immediately swap something out. Maybe they like the feel of a different neck, or maybe they want different electronics to work with. Now, think about a bass that was made in the 70s. That’s a half century ago! What do you think could have happened to that instrument over the decades?
It’s pretty impossible to tell with 100% accuracy what a Fender bass has gone through over that amount of time. Even relying on Fender bass serial numbers can get dicey in those situations.
This isn’t to say that you should just give up and stop researching your beloved Fender Jazz bass that you’re sure is from the late 60s and is worth the price of a small car today. It may be. We just need to be very careful when doing this research. We need to use as many different clues as possible, yes like Fender serial numbers, to give us a clear picture of when these instruments were made.
What does Fender date?
Fender used body stamp dates from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s. After that, they stopped until the 1980s when they started again sporadically to this day. Sometimes you see them and sometimes you don’t.
Potentiometer codes are pretty reliable for dating, usually indicating the year, and even the week it was made. One exception is that most Fender pots from 1966 to 1969 are dated to 1966. Not always super helpful there.
Pickups were only date stamped from 1964 to about 1979. However, they can be really useful in helping pin down the year of an older Fender bass guitar.
Fender bass serial numbers
Even relying on official Fender serial numbers can be tricky when trying to get an accurate build date. I once had a Japanese Fender ’75 reissue Jazz Bass that I bought used. According to the Fender serial number I looked up, it was made around 1985.
I was suspicious. I didn’t think they made the ’75 reissue that early on. So, I popped the neck off, and it had a date stamp of 1998. It turned out that this was a case of overlapping serial numbers used by Fender Japan on different models. The lesson here is that until you see the date stamp on either the neck or the body, the Fender bass serial number is only a guess.
Locations and codes of Fender serial numbers
The earliest Fender serial numbers were stamped on the bridge, moving to the neck plate in 1954. From 1951 to 1963, the Fender bass serial numbers were pretty straightforward, using sequential numbers, although there are exceptions.
Sometime in 1963, Fender added an “L” prefix with 5 digits to all their serial numbers. That lasted until mid-1965. Fender then dropped the “L” and started using a large stamped “F” with 6 digits on the plate. They used this pattern until 1976.
Later in 1976, Fender moved the serial number to the headstock just below the logo. After that, Fender serial numbers began with a letter for the decade they represented. For instance, serial numbers on Fender basses in the 1970s began with an “S” for, well, “seventies.” Then later, they used an “E” for “eighties”, an “N” for “nineties”, and a “Z” for 2000s and on.
In 1995, Fender moved the serial number to the back of the headstock for all U.S. models. The vintage reissue line, which began in 1982 and continues to this day, uses a separate serial number system, as do the Fender Custom Shop models. You can usually find those numbers on the neck plate.
Ask Fender what they think
You can also send your Fender bass serial number to Fender themselves. They’ll give you a pretty accurate date for when your bass was made. But again, it won’t be exact. You can also start with Fender’s product dating page to see if that will help.
If you’re still committed to properly dating a Fender bass guitar, you’ll have to take all these factors into consideration and do your best with the info at hand. Then, just keep in mind that it’s still mostly an approximation.
Taking a Fender serial number and doing some detective work on your bass can be a lot of fun actually. Just be methodical about how you do your research. Understand how dating methods have changed over the years, and enjoy the sleuthing trail!
Hi
I don’t have a serial number on my Fender Precision bass, just 4 sets of patent numbers under Fender Precision Bass on the headstock
I know it was purchased in the 70’s sometime. Is it American or Japanese?
Kind Regards
Can you please tell me what year my Fender Precision is? The serial number is; 47861
I believe that puts in 1960. That said, it has no neck stamp, and I understand that occurred in 1959. Is it possible to provide not only the year, but month as well? Thanks! Thank
I would like to try and date my fender precision bass, Serial number is 546686, thank you
I own what I was told is a 1959 Fender Precision Bass. Based on the above info, it should have a serial number on the neck plate but there are no marks on either side of the neckplate. There is no “stamp” on the neck, only a handwritten ’10-58′ near the truss rod head. I’m at a loss and from what I read above, “Some 1959 Precision Basses have no neck date stamp at all…” Will this always be a question?
My fender jazz bass serial number is: V160364
I ask the year when it was made, and where it is made?
Thanks!
1996/97 japan
I have a USA made Fender Jazz longhorn bass with the serial Number E 95848
I cannot find that on any web site can you let me know what year it was made
Serial number on headstock below logo C 004387 made in Japan a precision bass lyte
My precision neck has two offset stamps in red and black that say SPECIAL????? Any thoughts?
my fender jazz bass serial nr, is 258161
I have a Fender precision Bass which I purchased around 1970. Number 518562 is on a plate on the back of the instrument. Can you tell me the date of manufacture please.
Hey Melvin,
Based on that number alone (assuming it’s the correct serial number), it looks like it might be from about 1973.
If you really want to drill down into the specific time and place, you might need to check the potentiometer number as well. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint a year and location based off of just that one number. Good luck!
that is a 1974 P bass. Lots of Precision basses in the 70’s only had numbers on the back of the neck plate.
Greetings,
I’m having a hard time identifying year and manufacture location on a precision bass with serial number V008611. Note the serial number is stamped on a chrome plate where the neck is attached to the body.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
Hey Denny,
Unfortunately, instruments with a “V” serial number are somewhat notoriously hard to date accurately. This is especially true if it was made in the US. If it was made in Japan, chances are it’s from around 1996-1997.
The only way to more accurately determine when it was made is to check the end of the neck after removing it. It should show a date there. You can also check the dates on the pots if they are original.
Good luck!
Hi I have what looks to be a 70’s Pbass with the numbers
F-4725 on the plate. Any clue what year this may be?
Thanks
Brad
Hey Brad,
Not sure about that number. It doesn’t appear to be a normal P bass serial. Any chance a number or two got left off?
It has to be 1974 or later. My Fender Telecaster is from 1972 and the serial number is 352750 on the backplate. They stopped this numbering in mid 1976, so im assuming yours is from 1974-75ish?
Hello
I am looking at a Fender Jazz bass
The serial number is directly below the logo it is E31070
I searched the number, basically said it doesn’t exist
Hoping you can help
Thanks
Hey Dean,
So, this one too looks like it’s missing a digit if that’s in fact the correct SN. Japanese guitars that start with an E would be followed by 6 digits. And, other Fender instruments would be E3+5 more digits.
You could always try to date it by checking for a stamp on the neck (you’d have to know how to safely remove your neck to do that though), or by checking the date on the pots.
If you find another number to check…happy to help out if possible.
I have a Fender Precision base made in USA. Serial no. S753108. Is the year a 1976-1977?
Hi Alisa,
If it’s for sure made in the USA, then the serial shows that it’s probably made either in 1977 or early 1978.
Hope that helps!
Hey, i have an Fender Studio Bass Amp made in USA with the serial number F055815!
Can you tell me the date of manufacture please.
Thanks!!
Hey Stephan,
My best guess is that its manufacture date is about 1980. Does that sound about right? I’m not as good with amps, and they are notoriously harder to date as they get older. But, according to the SN, it could be around 1980.
Hope that helps.
Hello,
I have a Fender Precision base made in USA. Serial no. S8752735. Any idea of what this may be and when it was made?
Thanks,
Jack
Hey Jack,
Is it possible that there’s an extra number in there? Usually, you’ll see an “S” followed by six numbers on a Fender bass SN. S can mean that it’s from the “Seventies” (that’s what the S is for sometimes), or it could also be a later model Japanese bass.
Hey! I have Fender precision bass Japan Р046659. who can tell what it’s year?
So, I THINK this could either be early 90s (93-94) or late 90s to early 2000s. With Fender guitars, the earlier ones say “Made in Japan” while the later ones say “Crafted in Japan”. I’m not 100% on this, but I know they did switch the decal in the 90s on their Japanese made guitars.
I have a black and white Fender precision bass I purchased used in December 1976. Recently took it to a guitar shop and they couldn’t find any info on date. He guessed 1974 or 1975. The serial number on the plate is 504572. Would you know production date?
Hi Patricia,
Yep, my best guess would also be 74. With a P Bass that old though, you really need to check all the parts to make sure it’s all original. But, if you bought it used only a couple of years after it was likely made…chances are good it’s complete. Nice buy! Hope you’re enjoying that one.
I have a bass P bass but it has the Fender “Stratocaster” with synchronized tremolo printed on the headstock. It has a rosewood fretboard and has a 3 color sunburst finish. The pick guard was white and has faded to cream with lighter streaks where the strings are. The pots are not original and no date codes on them. I took the neck off and there are no numbers on the neck or body. Pickguard screws and and bridge have rust and appear to be original. any info would be helpful.
Well, I’m just not sure. It’s possible that it’s been Frankensteined somehow, but I’m not sure how it got a “Stratocaster” decal on the headstock. Maybe another reader has some info. I’m interested to find out.
Sorry I couldn’t help more.
Hi Robert,
I have a Fender Musicmaster bass with the serial located on the neck below the logo S842081.
Thanks!
Hey Toby,
Here’s my best guess without seeing it…
If it DOESN’T say Squier, and it does say Musicmaster Bass (probably in italics?) and you can see the SN under that on the headstock it’s probably a late 70’s model. Probably 77 or 78. Also, check for “Made in USA” on the headstock as well.
Another clue would be the tuners. If they are identical to a P or Jazz bass, that would be evidence that it’s late 70s.
That leading “S” in your SN is another clue that it could have been made in the seventies.
Hope that helps!
Hi Robert––
this was a great article, very helpful!
I have a Fender P Bass, and under the Fender logo on the head stock it has the
serial number starting with Letter S:
S883374
thank you for any info you can give me!
Hey Julian,
If you know it’s an older P Bass, my best guess would be a 78. The “S” in the number often stands for “seventies”, and then the number following that letter could be the other year. So, S8 at the beginning of the number could very well stand for 78. They moved the serial numbers to the headstock a couple of years before that, so it would be consistent with what Fender was doing then too.
This isn’t a hard and fast rule with Fender, so take that with a grain of salt.
Hope that helps a bit.