23/09/2021
Deciphering '60s Fender Neck Heel Stamps
Starting in mid '62, running into the early '70s, Fender switched to a stamped code on the end of the neck heel to identify model, date of manufacture, and neck profile.
Reading left to right, the number is often mistaken as the day of the month, but it actually indicates the model the neck will be going on!
• 1 = Jaguar 1962-1965
• 2 = Stratocaster 1962-1965
• 3 = Telecaster
• 4 = Jazzmaster 1962-1965
• 5 = Precision Bass
• 6 = Bass VI
• 7 = Jazz Bass
• 8 = Musicmaster II, Mustang, Duo-Sonic II 1964-1965 22 fret 24" scale model
• 9 = Musicmaster II, Mustang, Duo-Sonic II 1964-1966 21 fret 22 1/4" scale Model.
• 10 = Coronado 1 and 2, and the occasional 1966 Jazzmaster and Stratocaster neck
• 11 = Bass V
• 12 = Electric 12 and Maverick/Custom model
• 13 = Stratocaster 1966-1968, also 1966 Jazzmasters
• 14 = Coronado 12
• 15 = Jaguar 1966-1972
• 16 = Musicmaster II, Mustang, Duo sonic II, and Bronco
• 17 = Mustang Bass and MusicMaster Bass
• 18 = Coronado Bass
• 19 = Jazzmaster and Coronado 2
• 22 = Stratocaster 1968-1972
• 23 = Telecaster Bass
• 27 = Villager 12
• 28 = Shenandoah 12
This number is followed by the first three letters of the month and the last two digits of the year made.
The last is a letter, which will be an A, B, or C, that indicates the neck profile. With "A" being the most-narrow, "B" being what Fender considered as standard, and "C" being the widest. A and C profile necks were usually special factory orders.
In the photo here, we're looking at a neck with a heel stamp that reads 23SEP68C. The info we have indicates that this neck was made for a Telecaster Bass in September of 1968. The "C" tells us it has a wide profile.
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