#FENDER BASS GUITAR SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP SERIAL NUMBERS#
#FENDER BASS GUITAR SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP CODE#

After CBS boughtДЇender in January 1965, there were still plenty of control panels for various models that were in stock. The biggest tip off would be the control panels which brings us to interesting factoid #2. Still, I wouldn't be too quick to just glance at that tube chart and accept an 'OA' as a January 1965 amp. If anyone has an amp with a 'PA' stamp, please let us know. Now, we obviously haven't looked at every amp made in January 1966 so this isn't set in stone.

#FENDER BASS GUITAR SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP CODE#

The factory realized its mistake in February because these amps have a 'PB' date code in black ink. Therefore, amps from January 1966 have the date code 'OA' (A denotes January) in green ink. These 1965 codes begin with the letter 'O.' The code for the year 1966 is 'P.' However, someone in the factory apparently forgot to switch the stamper from 'O' to 'P' in January 1966. In the fall of 1965, Fender switched from stamping these numbers in black ink, to dark green ink. What we need is the following: 1) Model name 2) Model number on the tube chart 3) Date code letters on the tube chart 4) Speaker codes (if speaker is original) 5) Transformer codes (if the amp doesn't have date codes on the tube chart) 6) Cosmetic features (flat/raised logo, tweed/tolex, blackface/silverface, rough/ smooth blond tolex, white/skirted knobs, TV-front/wide-panel, etc.) One very interesting and very important factoid has surfaced regarding the date code letters on the tube chart.

We need your Fender amp data! Everything is confidential, we don't make record of who owns what amp in the database. We combined all of our information into a computerized database for this project and for the past 18 months have been slowly (sadly, very slowly) gathering information that we collect ourselves as well as from other people. Additionally, Greg and Devin also had data that they had been collecting from Fender amps for years. Greg and Devin's experience meshed well with mine since I'm essentially the blackface/silverface amp guy (amps made between 19) in the group. Devin runs Doc's Music in Springfield, Missouri and his interest lies in the woodie and tweed Fender amps made from 1946 through 1960. His particular area of expertise is in Fender amps made from about 1960 through 1967. Greg is a long time Fender collector who is very knowledgeable not only in the details, but in the circuitry as well. I turned to the Internet to do some more networking which resulted in a major turn of events as I met two individuals who have become instrumental partners in this project: Greg Huntington and Devin Riebe. I contacted several Fenders collectors and dealers who were kind enough to supply me with data.

#FENDER BASS GUITAR SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP SERIAL NUMBERS#

After reading Teagle and Sprung's excellent Fender amp book, I took them up on their challenge that maybe someday someone will compile enough serial numbers so that Fender amps can be dated that way.

Boy, that title got your attention didn't it? Well, we'll get to good parts, but first a little background information is in order.

Fender bass guitar serial number lookup