Fernandes Guitars Serial Number Dating UPDATED
Fernandes Guitars Serial Number Dating: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are a fan of Fernandes guitars, you might have wondered how to date your instrument by its serial number. Fernandes guitars are known for their high quality and craftsmanship, especially their vintage models that are highly sought after by collectors and players alike. But how can you tell when your Fernandes guitar was made?
Fernandes Guitars Serial Number Dating
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question, as Fernandes never kept a consistent record of their serial numbers. Unlike some other guitar brands, such as Fender or Gibson, Fernandes did not use a standard format or system for their serial numbers. Instead, they used different methods and locations for their serial numbers over the years, depending on the model, the factory, and the market.
This makes it very difficult to date a Fernandes guitar by its serial number alone. However, there are some clues and tips that can help you narrow down the possible date range of your Fernandes guitar. In this article, we will explore some of these clues and tips, based on the information available from various sources on the internet.
The History and Evolution of Fernandes Guitars Serial Numbers
Fernandes guitars were founded in Japan in 1969 by Saito Fernandes, a guitar repairman who started making his own guitars and parts. He initially focused on making copies of popular American guitars, such as Fender and Gibson, under the brand name Burny. These copies were very accurate and well-made, and soon gained a reputation among Japanese guitarists.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fernandes expanded its production and distribution to other markets, such as Europe and America. To avoid legal issues with Fender and Gibson, Fernandes changed its brand name to Fernandes and modified its headstock shape and logo. However, some models still retained the Burny name or had a "by Burny" inscription on the headstock.
During this period, Fernandes also introduced some original models, such as The Revival series, The Function series, The Stone series, The Ravelle series, and The Vertigo series. These models featured innovative designs and features that distinguished them from the copy models.
Over the years, Fernandes has produced guitars in various factories in Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. Some of these factories were owned by Fernandes, while others were contracted by Fernandes. This also affected the serial number system used by Fernandes.
How to Date Your Fernandes Guitar by Serial Number
As mentioned earlier, there is no universal or official way to date your Fernandes guitar by its serial number. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you estimate the date range of your guitar based on its serial number location, format, and style.
Here are some of these guidelines:
The older Fernandes guitars (from the late 1960s to the early 1980s) usually have serial numbers on the neck plates of the Stratocasters and Telecasters of the Revival series or on the back of the headstock of other models. These serial numbers are usually four to six digits long and do not have any letters or prefixes.
The newer Fernandes guitars (from the mid 1980s onwards) usually have serial numbers on stickers on the back of the headstock or on labels inside the body cavity or neck pocket. These serial numbers are usually six to eight digits long and may have letters or prefixes indicating the factory code or model code.
The export models (for Europe and America) usually have different serial numbers than the domestic models (for Japan). The export models tend to have longer serial numbers with letters or prefixes indicating the factory code or model code. The domestic models tend to have shorter serial numbers without letters or prefixes.
The factory code or model code can sometimes indicate the year or decade of manufacture. For example, some export models have a prefix "L" followed by six digits. The "L" stands for "Lawsuit", which refers to the legal dispute between Fender and Fernandes over their headstock shape in 1985. Therefore, these models were made around 1985 or later.
The headstock shape and logo can also indicate the approximate date range of your guitar. For example, some models have a hooked headstock shape that resembles a Fender headstock. These models were made from 1979 to 1986. Some models have a straight headstock shape that differs from a Fender headstock. These models were made from 1986 onwards.
Of course, these guidelines are not foolproof or accurate for every single guitar. There may be exceptions or variations depending on the specific model or factory. Therefore, it is always advisable to check other features of your guitar as well, such as the hardware, electronics, pickups, body shape, neck shape, etc., to confirm or cross-reference your findings.
Conclusion
Fernandes guitars are great instruments that deserve more recognition and appreciation among guitar enthusiasts. They have a rich history and a wide variety of models that cater to different tastes and styles.
If you own a Fernandes guitar or are interested in buying one, you might want to know more about its origin and age. However, dating a Fernandes guitar by its serial number can be challenging due to the lack of consistency and documentation from Fernandes.
Therefore, we hope that this article has provided you with some useful information and tips on how to date your Fernandes guitar by its serial number using various clues and sources available online.
Remember that these tips are not definitive or exact for every guitar. They are only meant to give you an estimate or a range of possible dates based on common patterns and trends observed among Fernandes guitars.
The best way to date your Fernandes guitar is to combine these tips with your own research and observation of your guitar's features and characteristics.
We hope you enjoy playing your Fernandes guitar and discovering more about its history and value!
Conclusion
Fernandes guitars are great instruments that deserve more recognition and appreciation among guitar enthusiasts. They have a rich history and a wide variety of models that cater to different tastes and styles.
If you own a Fernandes guitar or are interested in buying one, you might want to know more about its origin and age. However, dating a Fernandes guitar by its serial number can be challenging due to the lack of consistency and documentation from Fernandes.
Therefore, we hope that this article has provided you with some useful information and tips on how to date your Fernandes guitar by its serial number using various clues and sources available online.
Remember that these tips are not definitive or exact for every guitar. They are only meant to give you an estimate or a range of possible dates based on common patterns and trends observed among Fernandes guitars.
The best way to date your Fernandes guitar is to combine these tips with your own research and observation of your guitar's features and characteristics.
We hope you enjoy playing your Fernandes guitar and discovering more about its history and value! 6c859133af