It debuted in early 1951 as an innovative new kind of instrument from a small upstart Southern California maker that served the region's Western swing and dance band guitarists. In its first decade, the Telecaster had established and proven itself.
These instruments have a “V”-prefix serial and the only way to definitively date these is, like with the earliest serial numbered guitars, by removing the neck and checking the butt of the neck for a production date, which may be stamped or written there.Īll Fender amplifiers manufactured from 1990 – present include a date code printed on the quality assurance (QA) sticker on the back of the amp chassis, and are dated the by the first letter as the year and the second letter as the month. How do I know if my Fender Telecaster is vintage? This puts them in high demand for the precision of modern music styles. The tight attack and quick response these guitars are known for can hew the rough edges off a sloppy technique in short order. Maybe that's because the Telecaster has a reputation for attracting players of technical renown. Between the pick-up and the saddles (some Telecasters) Where is the serial number on a Fender Telecaster?Īt the end of the heel of the neck.
Luckily, Fender Player Telecasters are made in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, close to the US border south of California, and are much more affordable, yet just as awesome as the American made guitars. In the period roughly between 19, several craftsmen and companies experimented with solid-body electric guitars, but none had made a significant impact on the market.
Guitars with serial numbers from 0001 to 0999 were released from 1950 to 1952, while those with serial numbers from 1000 to 5300 were built from 1952 to 1954.ġ950 The Fender Telecaster was developed by Leo Fender in Fullerton, California, in 1950. Fender Telecaster guitars made in the years from 1950 to 1954 had a serial number stamped on the bridgeplate of the guitar. This is the California series.Ĭheck the bridge area of the guitar. These guitars are actually American and Mexican. Chart 4, if your serial number has two letters or more in front of it. If your guitar serial number shows you that there is a possibility for more than one year, refer to our fender research guides section to get a more accurate timespan. If your Telecaster has a serial number starting with an "L," this normally dates the Telecaster to the years 1963 through 1965. Grab your guitar and set your timer, because we’re going to figure out what year your guitar was made in just 60 seconds. Looking for an answer to the question: How do i find out what year my telecaster is? On this page, we have gathered for you the most accurate and comprehensive information that will fully answer the question: How do i find out what year my telecaster is?ĭating a guitar by Serial Number is easy, as long as you know which serial numbers match which years for each guitar model. How do i find out what year my telecaster is?