Since there doesn't seem to be a comprehensive list, maybe we could extrapolate some serial numbers. I just got an early Artist with the ball-top resonator screws # 01617. Bill of sale dated 06-03-70 Philadelphia PA
11 Comments |
 | islandgirl says:
8/20/2013 6:46:53 PM
Congrats on your banjo purchase, beegee. I think the Fender Artists are among the most under-valued banjos out there. My Artist is from 1972, I believe, and it's the banjo I keep at our ski cabin, so I'll have to wait until next time I go to the cabin to check the serial no. It also has the ball-top reso screws. It's always a pleasure to play, and I've had it for about 35 years.
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 | beegee says:
10/11/2013 6:55:42 PM
I just noticed my Artist has a Santa Ana, CA label, not Fullerton. We really need to start a database of numbers and features.
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 | Pat Oloughlin says:
1/19/2015 2:05:59 PM
Thanks Beegee for your help on my collectors forum posting. For those that didn't see it, my recent buy was an Artist with an archtop tonering, ball-top reso screws, Concertone inlays, Santa Anna CA label and #01123
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| beegee says:
11/12/2015 11:15:10 AM
# 1910 for sale in classifieds 11/12/2015 $1500 thought to be late 60's. I'd say 1970
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 | hywayman says:
11/25/2015 6:04:52 AM
Hi beegee,
I just joined the Owners Group. # 1910 is my banjo. I bought it in an auction a few years ago. Since Fender "serial numbers" are meaningless, I had to guess at the mfg date. I went with "late sixties" because of the slim neck and ball-top reso screws. I bought a new artist in 1973 that also had the slim neck, but it had the knurled screws. Just wondering, how did you arrive at 1970 as the date for my banjo?
BTW, these banjos are real sleepers because I believe many people, especially younger pickers, who hear the name Fender lump the CA made models in with the Asian models. My Artist is set up so well, that I'm sure it will hold its own, and in most cases, blow away the completion for tone and volume. Set up is critical on these and head tension is one of the main factors. I had put this Artist up for sale earlier on BHO, but didn't get any serious offers. So then I started working on the setup and it really came to life. The only reason I have it listed again is because I have a chance to buy a prewar, and need the funds.
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| hywayman says:
11/25/2015 8:24:05 AM
i meant "blow away the competition". Once posted, there's no chance to edit.
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| beegee says:
11/26/2015 6:23:17 AM
I have the bill of sale for mine dated june 1970. So mine had to be made in late 69 or early 70 While there seems to be no code built into the serial numbers, they do seem to be sequential. Yours would be subsequent to mine, so I'd say 1970- early 71, not 60's.
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| hywayman says:
11/26/2015 3:22:53 PM
From what I've heard from Scott Zimmerman, the labels were pulled randomly from a box with the numbers all mixed together and then applied. Hence there was no sequential order. If there had been, it would be possible to find a low number, match it to a Bill of Sale (if an owner has one) and use it as a baseline for others. But, based on Scott's experience from having worked at Fender during the manufacture of the Allegro, Artist and Conceert Tone, the numbers have absolutely no relevance to date of manufacture. You are lucky to have your original Bill of Sale. That is the closest thing you'll get to determining approximately when it was manufactured.
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 | elkhunter6 says:
5/22/2017 6:20:23 AM
I just picked up an Artist on E bay near mint for $1350. The rim has the Santa Ana label with a number of 01125. Next to the number is an ink stamp 1970 GATHYO. I assume that is the production year and the name of the builder? Thin neck, Scruggs Keith tuners on 2/3. Any thoughts?
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| elkhunter6 says:
5/22/2017 6:21:23 AM
I just picked up an Artist on E bay near mint for $1350. The rim has the Santa Ana label with a number of 01125. Next to the number is an ink stamp 1970 GATHYO. I assume that is the production year and the name of the builder? Thin neck, Scruggs Keith tuners on 2/3. Any thoughts?
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| beegee says:
6/19/2017 10:52:39 PM
Does it have ball-top or knurled flat-top resonator screws?
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