New Strat dating

[Ripper]

To make a long story short...I can do that ya know!
My new SRV strat arrived and all is well. Great guitar!
As I have stated I love Stevie, but im not too fussy about the SRV on the pickguard...so I changed it.
Heres a heads up...
The serial number states the guitar was made late 2006.
The chap at the music store said, "no, no, the guitar is new, they just keep using the numbers untill that years series have run out"
Hmmmm..I thought?
Sure enough, while changing the pickguard, the date of manufacture is 03 27 2007.
It makes using a serial number for dating a guitar a little fuzzy does it not?

[sumgai]

deep,

It makes using a serial number for dating a guitar a little fuzzy does it not?

Your sales chappie is almost correct.......

In point of fact, necks and bodies are made at different times, and stored until needed for assembly. It's entirely possible that your neck was made last year, and sat around for awhile until it "got the call".

Factories like Fender order labels ahead of time, and the get the best price for that. But at year's end, any left over serial number decals go out with the trash (presumably as ashes, to prevent dumpster diving for "genuine" Fender parts/decals/etc.).

For practical purposes, it makes no sense to take apart a guitar in order to date it when there's a perfectly acceptable serial number decal on the outside. The chances of having a mismatch by more than 6 months is pretty bleeping small, so we just don't worry about it.

HTH


sumgai