bigbluegrasser - Posted - 10/10/2011:  08:58:45

I just traded for a Fender Artist banjo serial  # 00342. can anyone date it for me?

Ray

The Old Timer - Posted - 10/10/2011:  09:00:57

My understanding from previous discussions is that Fender Artist (and Concertone?) sticker numbers were assigned more or less randomly, not in "serial" form, and can't be used to "date" the instruments. I may be wrong about this, but it's what I seem to remember.

Dating Fenders, if at all, tends to be by other evidence in the building of the instrument (neck thickness?) or original paperwork.

banjoplyr. - Posted - 10/10/2011:  14:22:44

My Artist is a 1968 with Serial no.5000 Bought at a local music store in 1973 by me.but that dosen't mean that your banjo is older,a friend of mine bought and artist new in 1976 with a serial no. 4989. so they did not number them in any order by years made.

beegee - Posted - 10/10/2011:  14:36:03

Yeh, the numbers don't always help. Does yours have the  slim neck or heavier neck? Does it have the checkerboard purfling behind the resonator binding?

pick it - Posted - 10/10/2011:  15:37:42

I bought my artist in 1970 I don't remember its number, its been in the closet out of sight for years.I played it on the road with Sparks and recorded with him

FXHERE - Posted - 10/11/2011:  05:41:28

Some people like Tommy George can look at the parts and tell if it was an early one (Salstrom Parts)..I have about six of the Fenders and the Concertone I have Tommy said was an early one as it was made with Salstrom parts..Also some of the early ones had resonator screws that were just a round slick ball..Very hard to get a gripon them, and impossible if you should ever pick your nose..Scott Z. said the serial number meant nothing and I sure coldnt find any info when I searched...

desert rose - Posted - 10/11/2011:  07:31:48

Finding someone knowlegable about parts characteristics is the only way to estimate the age. Serial numbers are meaningless and even the label means nothing,  the Santa Ana label was used for years after the Fullerton factory was built.

All metal parts for California Fenders were sourced from the same Salstrom parts supplier until the very last Fender was built in late 1979 or early 1980. Flanges, tonerings, tension hoops,  armrests tailpieces all were Salstrom parts until the end. There were of course subtle variations but the source never changed. The exception of course being the banjos with the cheap Waverly tailpiece. Wood rims were made by a local subcontractor. Resonators were made outside as well. Necks, fingerboards inlays etc were made in house.

Inlays were cut on a reduction pantograph

Scott

Edited by - desert rose on 10/11/2011 07:36:39

bigbluegrasser - Posted - 10/11/2011:  07:45:33

Hi, thanks for the quick replies. mine does have the checkerboard binding (top and bottom) behind the white binding and the neck measures .775 at the third fret.
Ray

f5loar - Posted - 10/11/2011:  14:32:58

Purley a guessing game on the serial no. only so you need to look at the specs to determine close age.  I would guess an 0XXXX is a 1970 because I bought a new Artist in 1970 and it was 04545. 

mikehalloran - Posted - 10/12/2011:  09:20:09

>The exception of course being the banjos with the cheap Waverly tailpiece.<

My Allegro x-long neck had that tailpiece. Chrome plated with the embossed backwards "F" - worked well. It had a simple tone hoop but played well and sounded great. I wish I had kept it but I traded it away...

sideways - Posted - 10/12/2011:  09:29:08

I've got an early Allegro serial #02980, 2 color sunburst, chrome hardware, the slick round resonator screws, slim neck, and hand written inside the resonator is G.F. 8-14-68 in yellow chalk or crayon if this helps anyone with their Fender dating.

FXHERE - Posted - 10/13/2011:  06:15:07

I took one of my Artist apart and it had a date penciled on the heal of the neck..Itis not on all of them so I guess someone was just dating his work..I have an Allegro that is all maple with no stain. I have never seen another, but I`m sure there are..