These are marked with EIA code “831” and are most prevalent during the 1966-68 time period. Well, this universal “truth” was debunked when we found a bunch of amps with transformers made by the Better Coil and Transformers company. These are marked with EIA code “606” which is the company number for Schumacher. Non-Schumacher transformers – It’s been universally accepted that Fender only used Schumacher transformers on amps made in the 1960s and 1970s.

It’s unknown if the tweed covering was a mistake (“Oops, I thought this was a 4x10 Bassman cabinet that I was covering”) or intentional, perhaps as a special order. The 5G12 Concert is the earliest version from very late 1959 and early 1960 so the existence of a tweed example, while extremely rare, is certainly plausible since Fender was making lots of tweed amps during the same time period. We also received a report of a tweed 5G12 Concert. Clearly Fender wasn’t afraid to use incorrect parts when they were in a bind. A 1957 tweed Vibrolux was reported with a tube chart printed with circuit “5E3” (tweed Deluxe) instead of the correct 5F11 (see photo). Oddlings – Yet another printing error has surfaced, this time from the FEI (pre-CBS) days. Besides, no article in the Dating Fender Amps by Serial Number series would be complete without some interesting information, n’est ce pas?

I promise the tables will still be there after you finish reading. Okay, I know you’re all just dying to skip ahead to the serial number tables but try to contain your excitement and read through the article first. How to date Fender amps by serial number!! Buy Vintage Guitars, Used Guitars, Martin and more - Welcome to Rock N Roll Vintage, America's favorite vintage guitar shop featuring new, used and vintage guit.ĭATING FENDER AMPS BY SERIAL NUMBER, PART VĬopyright 2002, 20th Century Guitar Magazineįinally, what everyone has been waiting for… Please note that fender serial numbers tend to overlap by at least a year, and thereby the date of your guitar can only be approximated.

The Fender serial number decoder currently supports all documented MIA, MIJ, MIM, MIK and MII formats with the exception of Custom Shop, Relic and Reissue instruments.

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