1973 Fender Stratocaster Value By Serial Number
How To Value A Fender Stratocaster
1973 Fender Stratocaster Value By Serial Number
How To Identify A Fender Stratocaster By Serial Number

Although a serial number is useful for roughly determining the age of a guitar, this is often not the exact date. As a result of the overlap between years, Fender serial numbers are also not by definition chronological.
In the past (before 1976) the serial numbers were often randomly assigned. To approximate the correct year of construction for the period before 1976, also look at the date on the heel of the neck and of the potmeters. Usually the production date is stamped or written on the heel of the neck. To approximate the correct year of construction for the period before 1976, also look at the date on the heel of the neck and of the potmeters. To read this it is necessary to unscrew the neck from the body.

May 18, 2010 Fender was sold to CBS in January 1965. Serial numbering didn’t change immediately because instruments continued to be made using existing, tooling, parts and serial number schemes. The chart below details Fender serial number schemes used from 1965 to 1976. Notice that there is quite a bit of overlap in numbers and years. You can use this Fender serial number decoder to date a Fender guitar. The tool works for most Fender electric guitars including the Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Fender bass guitars, Fender Squier models and many custom shop and reissue models (although some cannot be dated by serial number).

1973 Fender Stratocaster Value By Serial Number

Most specifications for a particular Fender guitar have hardly changed, if at all. Although there have been times when major changes have taken place, such as the acquisition of Fender by CBS, and the transition from CBS Fender to the current owner (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation), most models have generally not changed.

At Stratocasters from the early fifties, the serial numbers were stamped on the back of the vibrato cover plate. On some Telecasters at the bridge between the pick-up and the saddles.

Patent numbers
Various patent numbers were added to the models between 1960 and 1977. These were stamped in the headstock under the Fender logo.

Example:
PAT, 2,573,254 2,968,204 3,143,028 2,976,755 DES 187304
2,573,254 for pickup and bridge combination.
2,968,204 for the single coil pickup patent awarded in 1961 under other for Jaguar, Stratocaster, Duosonic.
3,143,028 the patent granted in August 1964 for Fender's adjustable neck construction.
2,976,755 for the split coil pickup design. (Used since 1957 to the Precision Bass)
The DES is the serial number.

How old is my gear? Where did it come from?

Whether you inherited your instrument or bought it at a swap meet, you're probably curious about its provenance. Most gear has a serial number, either printed on a label inside it or stamped into the headstock or neck plate. Use our dating guides below to figure out when your instrument was made and where it came from. If you don't see the brand you're looking for, let us know what you're looking for in the comments at the bottom.

How much is my gear worth?

How To Value A Fender Stratocaster

Fender Stratocaster Value By Serial Number

Check out our free price guide which contains thousands of instruments and pieces of gear. We base our price estimates on real-world transactions and record them in our entries so you can see what your instrument has sold for in the past.

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1973 Fender Stratocaster Value By Serial Number

How To Identify A Fender Stratocaster By Serial Number

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