Fender Serial number for '57 reissue

shizoz · #1 08-09-2010, 02:58 PM

Do you have any idea what year this '57 reissue p-bass serial is from?

v015821

Looking at possibly acquiring this guitar, and I know you can remove the neck and it should have the date on there, but I'm not sure how comfortable the owner is with that, so any ideas,?? Perhaps based on guitars you may own in that same range??
Thanks!

Spinal Tapper · #2 08-09-2010, 03:00 PM

if it's MIA, 2001

shizoz · #3 08-09-2010, 03:07 PM

Hmm, I was thinking it was at least an 80's guitar, that sucks if it is that new, I was led to believe it was much older...

Spinal Tapper · #4 08-09-2010, 03:10 PM

Got any pics? Is it American or Japanese?

I used this site for reference, which I believe mirrors Fender's list on their website

http://www.guitarnucleus.com/fenderserial.html

shizoz · #5 08-09-2010, 03:15 PM

I may be able to post some a little later, but the guy claims it is an American made, from 1982. Based off the serial number, I'm not sure how that could be, I believe all the '82 ones would start with v00..., right?

Spinal Tapper · #6 08-09-2010, 03:19 PM

oh yeah. that seems right. found one here on TB

1982 Fender 57 Reissue Fullerton Precision Bass

JimB52 · #7 08-09-2010, 04:36 PM

V015xxx most likely was made in 1983. I think I've seen one V010xxx from 1982, but that's it.
The V015xxx bass is almost certainly a 'Fullerton' bass, which seems to add to the value.

bass-flyer · #8 08-09-2010, 05:07 PM

I found this at one site (http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html) :

V + 4 to 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series) = 1982-1988 (neck date=exact year)
V + 5 to 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series) = 1989-present (model dependant)

The Fender site HAS made mistakes on their date listings.

king_biscuit · #9 08-09-2010, 05:13 PM

I've seen several 82s that started with 015.

Btw my 84 Fullerton ri jazz has a 009 serial number, so you never know. I'll bet the op is looking at an 82 like the seller claims.

PJRL · #10 08-09-2010, 08:19 PM

A V0 # should be mid to late 80s. V00 is early 80s.... Take then neck off and you should find a date on the heal. That will tell you when it was biult for sure...

I have a 97 US-V 62 RI Jazz Bass and it's V133xxx

king_biscuit · #11 08-09-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJRL

A V0 # should be mid to late 80s. V00 is early 80s.... Take then neck off and you should find a date on the heal. That will tell you when it was biult for sure...

I have a 97 US-V 62 RI Jazz Bass and it's V133xxx

That is incorrect. There was a link posted above to D. Bopp's 82 Fullerton with a 015 serial number, and here is an 83 with an 016 serial number: http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Fender-1957...7047?pt=Guitar Here is an 83 with an 015 serial number: FS/FT: 1983 Fender Vintage Series '62 Precision Bass Fullerton Reissue Here is a link where forum member Mr. Packer Guy discusses his 82 with a 015 serial number: Fender Fullerton Reissue club My own 82 57 reissue has an 015 serial number. Fender seemingly grabbed those neck plates at random, and 82 reissues range from 00 to 015 -- I've seen various examples of these. The date can only be verified by pulling the neck checking pot dates, etc.

PJRL · #12 08-09-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

That is incorrect. There was a link posted above to D. Bopp's 82 Fullerton with a 015 serial number, and here is an 83 with an 016 serial number: http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Fender-1957...7047?pt=Guitar Here is an 83 with an 015 serial number: FS/FT: 1983 Fender Vintage Series '62 Precision Bass Fullerton Reissue Here is a link where forum member Ms. Packer Guy discusses his 82 with a 015 serial number: Fender Fullerton Reissue club My own 82 57 reissue has an 015 serial number. Fender seemingly grabbed those neck plates at random, and 82 reissues range from 00 to 015 -- I've seen various examples of these. The date can only be verified by pulling the neck checking pot dates, etc.

I stand corrected, actually, I said it backwords. Still. It looks like I'm wrong. Would it still have a neck date, and yes pots ?That would tell for sure wouldn't it ?

king_biscuit · #13 08-09-2010, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJRL

I stand corrected, actually, I said it backwords. Still. It looks like I'm wrong. Would it still have a neck date, and yes pots ?That would tell for sure wouldn't it ?

Right. The various other markings, neck date, pot dates, body dates/markings, router hump, location of tuners, belly and forum cut, case, etc, can all be used to definitively date the bass.

shizoz · #14 08-10-2010, 08:10 AM

Thanks for all the input, bottom line, I need to check the neck dates and such. So from what it seems, for a guy gassing for a P-bass, if this is an '82 Fullerton RI '57, I can't get much better?? At least and not spend thousands.... right?

king_biscuit · #15 08-10-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shizoz

Thanks for all the input, bottom line, I need to check the neck dates and such. So from what it seems, for a guy gassing for a P-bass, if this is an '82 Fullerton RI '57, I can't get much better?? At least and not spend thousands.... right?

All of the Fullertons I've played have been wonderful instruments. My 82 57 Precision is the best P bass I've ever owned.

Spinal Tapper · #16 08-10-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shizoz

Thanks for all the input, bottom line, I need to check the neck dates and such. So from what it seems, for a guy gassing for a P-bass, if this is an '82 Fullerton RI '57, I can't get much better?? At least and not spend thousands.... right?

how much you snaggin it for?

shizoz · #17 08-10-2010, 12:08 PM

$1500ish, that sound fair?

62Jazzbass · #18 08-10-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shizoz

$1500ish, that sound fair?

If it is a Fullerton era (82-84), yes, that's actually a very good price if it is in good shape.

The pot codes will not be much help - you will find pots from 82 on basses into the 90's.

However - all of these already mentioned items are key:
"The various other markings, neck date, pot dates, body dates/markings, router hump, location of tuners, belly and forearm cut, case, etc, can all be used to definitively date the bass."

Also - the placement of the Fender decal.

If the guy want's to sell it I think he needs to back up what he says. That means letting you inspect the thing by pulling it apart. He should have already done that and snapped photos, frankly.

king_biscuit · #19 08-10-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62Jazzbass

If it is a Fullerton era (82-84), yes, that's actually a very good price if it is in good shape.

The pot codes will not be much help - you will find pots from 82 on basses into the 90's.

While it is common to find 82 dated stack knob Jazz Bass pots in use through the late 80s, this is not the case with P basses. Generally a Fullerton P bass with a pot code from 82 is in fact an 82 bass.

PJRL · #20 08-10-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62Jazzbass

If it is a Fullerton era (82-84), yes, that's actually a very good price if it is in good shape.

The pot codes will not be much help - you will find pots from 82 on basses into the 90's.

However - all of these already mentioned items are key:
"The various other markings, neck date, pot dates, body dates/markings, router hump, location of tuners, belly and forearm cut, case, etc, can all be used to definitively date the bass."

Also - the placement of the Fender decal.

If the guy want's to sell it I think he needs to back up what he says. That means letting you inspect the thing by pulling it apart. He should have already done that and snapped photos, frankly.

+ 1 I totally agree !