Trying to get accurate date on Fender Deluxe 8

[Marc Stone]

My Fender Deluxe 8 (I think that's the model - S8, 2 Stringmaster p/us, 22 1/4" scale) has been refinished so I can't see if there are any date marks inside. The pots look like they have never been touched, All appear to be Stackpole with the code 304645, 250k for volume and blend, 1 meg for tone, kind of cuts the volume out if it's open less than 10%.
I guess that would be late 56, but can't ascertain the decade from the date code. The peghead is marked Fender Pat. Pending.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[John Dahms]

Late 1956 is the date indicated by the pots. In the 60s another digit would be present, for example, 3046215 would be 15th week of '62.

[Jackiso]

Gruhn's Guide says:
"Patent pending notice on tuner assembly: pre-1963"
So it looks like '56 or a bit later.
What is the number stamped on the control plate behind the blend pot? It doesn't tell exact year but will give a ball park year.
My record shows:
Number--- MM/YY
0042----- 11/55
0266----- 07/56
1388----- 03/62
2348----- 63?
2399----- mid 60s
2469----- 03/67
2568----- 01or07/68
5725----- late 60s?
6239----- late 60s?
9184----- late 70s?
Jack Isomura
Yokohama, Japan

[Marc Stone]

Hi John and Jackiso,

The s/n is 0402 (don't know why I forgot to include that in my orig post), so everything seems to point to late 56 or early 57. Thanks for the info! Now, back to practicing....

[Doug Beaumier]

Regarding Fender steel guitar serial numbers... as far as I know, each model has it's own series of numbers... unlike Fender's regular electric guitars which have a more consistent numbering scheme that applies to all of their electric guitars. So, for example, a Fender Champ with a high number may be older than a Studio Deluxe with a lower number. There is no overall pattern of numbers like Valco Co. had or like Fender had for their standard guitars.

[Jackiso]

Doug, You are right. Fender Stringmasters seem not to have a consistent S/N system. We try to date it by putting together various information such as production date scribbled in the tuner cavity, pot code,pat pend or pat number stamped on the tuner pan, s/n on the control plate, shape of the knobs,tolex of the case, weight of the neck etc. For a multineck steel, a type of neck selecter switch will be another factor.
The list in my previous posting is of Deluxe 8 I purchased in the last ten or so years. As you see,
a neck production date in the tuner cavity had started missing since mid 60'.
Jack Isomura
Yokohama, Japan