• Fender Amplifier Date Serial Number

In 1973, Fender removed the 'Tail' from the logo. A push-pull pot was added to some amps in 1974. Therefore, if you have a push-pull pot, your amp is 1974 or newer. 1970-1989 -Most amps do not have a date code stamped on the tube location chart. These codes are for amps with the serial number beginning with a letter. Most gear has a serial number. How to Date a Fender. Fender Pricing Info. Rickenbacker Pricing Info. Marshall Amps. How to Date a Marshall Amp.

Fender Amplifier Date Serial Number

I just bought me a black knob The Twin. Fender made The Twin available as either red or black knob during 1990-1994 (Wikipedia). First of all, mine is all black. I've seen many photos of The Twin black knob owners, where the grill cloth is Fender silver, and the metal parts are chrome.

I've seen/found no photos or info about this 'all black' -version. In my Twin, the cloth and the metal parts are black as well. I studied the paint in the metal parts, they are factory made, ie.

Nobody hasn't painted them afterwards. It's also missing the Fender nameplate. The seller had bought this as it is. The serial number begins with letters LO xxxxxxx.

I tried to date this amp back, but I found no records for this letter combination. In some records at fender.com, the L refers to December, but the year is a mystery. The amp itself is in VERY good condition and sounds as it should, it's the real deal, but I'd like to know what's this all black thing is about. I would like to know when this amp is made. Is this some kind of 'third' version made available by Fender itself or what? If you have any facts, I'd be thrilled to know. Thanks, K more detailed photos on request.

Hi koopop, I believe that the letter codes are not referring to the serial number, but are referring to a two letter code that is on the inspection sticker on the back of the amp chassis, or somewhere inside the cabinet. From the Fender website: 'All Fender amplifiers manufactured from 1990 to the present include a date code, printed on the quality assurance (QA) sticker on the back of the amp chassis. This black-and-silver sticker contains several lines for 'sign-offs' on completion of sound and electrical testing. The final line contains a date code of two printed or handwritten letters denoting the amplifier's production date by year (the first letter) and month (the second letter).

In the table below, for example, a 'CE' date code indicates a production date of May 1992.' Koopop, I can dig on the way your amp looks all black like that.I suspect that somebody most likely replaced the grill cloth with black and just didn't put the Fender nameplate back on and painted the chrome black. I am a painting contrator by trade and I could make that look like it came from the factory no problem.I suppose there is a chance it was shipped out that way but I have never seen one like yours.I got mine from the Fender facility in Brea California brand new way back than.I grew up right near it and knew someone that worked there.I don't recall ever seeing one like yours come out of that place.Definitely one of a kind. Heres a pic of mine. Yes, it makes sense that somebody has painted the grill cloth black and left the logo out.

In the red knob photo you can see a triangle shaped piece of wood supporting the nameplate (where to screw the plate), and that's missing in mine. That indicates that somebody has taken the front cloth and the frame off. I can't tell if the canvas itself was painted, but it makes sense now.

I earlier assumed that the metal parts were originally black, because I stratched the surface to see the metal and it didn't look like paint-over. A friend of mine said that that was factory painted. But now that you say, you're right, it's easy to make the paint look like original if you know what you're doing. Brush the chrome (sand blow?) away and repaint with professional tools. I wish that this was a special amp.

Now it's just ruined Just kidding, the amp itself is like new and in super mint condition. Hasn't been gigged and smells like new. There was on eBay a red knob cabinet for sale for 100$ (in Oklahoma), but I couldn't bid on it because I'm in Europe. I would like to collect the original parts (cloth and the logo) back. That would give me a higher resale value, if I'm ever gonna sell this. At least I could have another cabinet for different set of speakers. Or maybe I could separate the amp and the cabinet, so I don't have to break my back trying to get this thing to move down the stairs.

Thank you, Kai.