MIM Q's

[CKP]

I just picked up an MIM P-Bass. How can I tell what year it was built? Also, I've noticed some MIMs have the Fender name in all black on the headstock but others have the silver with the black outline. Does that mean they were made in different years?
Any help w/b appreciated.

 

[spaz21387]

the all black outline was to look like the 70s fenders and was started in like 09. The silver is the more common fender logo. And you can tell the date by punching the serial number into fenders website. Or you could pull the neck screws and check the date on the neck.

 

[Aspidites]

This should help.
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[Chuck King]

All black vs. other forms may mean different years, but also may mean different series within the same year. During the mid-90s Fender had like three different series of MIM instruments, and the lower two had solid-black logos.

Dating a MIM instrument should be very easy. What are the first few characters in the serial number? It should be M [some other letter] [some number] [more numbers]. The M means Mexico, the next letter indicates the decade it was made, and the first number is the year within that decade. In other words, MN2_ _ _ _ _ would be a ninety (N) two MIM instrument.

 

[CKP]

Brilliant! Thanks, y'all.