Pre-CBS refers to the era of Fender Musical Instruments before the company was purchased by CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) in January 1965.įactory production of the Fender Stratocaster began officially in October of 1954. That practice continued throughout the rest of the Fender Pre-CBS era of guitars. That started to take place around April 1954 as best as we can tell from documented original guitars. They mention it at the first but by looking at documented serial numbers there is no true way to know.Īfter the first hundred or so pre-production Stratocaster guitars the serial number was stamped into the metal neck plate. Here is a video documenting serial number 0100 which is one of those very early 1954 Fender Stratocaster. Possibly The First Semi Production 1954 Fender Stratocaster As you can see from that list the numbers are seemingly all over the place fitting no real pattern. The first documented Strats with the serial number on the neck plate are: 0240 (June 1954), 0246 (April 1954), 0287 (May 1954), and 0333 (July 1954). These guitars included a blank metal neck plate.įender started then stamping the serial numbers onto the neck plates since they found that players were changing strings and leaving off the back plate with the serial number on it. Those guitars started with the serial number 0035 going up through serial number 0213 are documented. These models had a serial number stamped into the back tremolo cover.

Estimates say that occurred from January – March 1954. The first 100 guitars or so were basically handmade prototypes that were made early in 1954.

The salesman would usually sell the guitars off as they wrapped up their trips. They were usually taken around with a traveling salesman and would be used to show off the new guitar. In very early 1954 there were models of the Stratocaster being released. So, those early prototypes were likely disassembled and the parts used on other guitars. Leo Fender, the founder of Fender Musical Instruments, was known to re-use parts wherever he could. There is one known 1953 Stratocaster prototype and there were others built that are no longer known to exist. The Stratocaster was originally designed in 1953. Originally released in the mid 50s the 1954 Fender Stratocaster is very likely the most popular solid body guitar ever built.

Fender bass guitar identification