1981 Fender Copy Serial Numbers

[Sigmania]

Gathering 1981 serial numbers to see if patterns emerge, if they extend into January of 1982, and to get ideas about overall production.


1012668 (spag logo, PB60)
1013537 (April stamp, 4=1, my ST80MRR)
1013626 (spag logo, JB45YSR)
1014043 (May stamp, J5=8, spag logo, JB80YSR)
1015108 (spag logo, JB55LBR)
1016444 (spag logo, PB50 LB)
1016768 (spag logo, SS70S)
1016910 (spag logo, ST65LB)
1017002 (spag lgo, PB60MR)
1017031 (spag logo, SS70SLBR)
1017962 (Aug stamp, 8=5, SS70S MRR)
1018069 (spag logo, ST80GSR)
1018156 (spag logo, ST80R)
1018243 (Oct stamp, 10=2A, ST80MRR)
1018495 (spag logo, ST80GS)
1018531 (spag logo, TE55N)
1018458 (spag logo, SS70S OW)
1019235 (Oct stamp, 10=10, TE120, mine)
1020020 (spag logo, ST60YS)
1020828 (Oct stamp, spag logo, ST55 matching head)
1021094 (spag logo, ST55 matchinh head)
1021223 (Oct stamp, 10=6 MG, ST55MGR 1981 ST55 MGR
1021285 (spag logo, ST60GS)
1021488 (Oct stamp 10=6 ST55MB)
1021689 (spag logo, ST80R)
1022057 (spag logo, matching head ST60SO)
1022531 (spag logo, TE50BB)
1022688 (Nov. 11=2 body, spag logo, ST65 SO)
1023102 (spag logo, ST50YS)
1023106 (December body & neck, ST50MR)
1023373 (Jan code, color error, TE)
1023807 (spag logo, PB70 MRR)
1023859 (Nov neck, Dec body, spag, ST55LB) Lake Placid Blue Gallery
1023811 (spag logo, PB75)
1023840 (spag logo, ST55LBR)
1023859 (December body, November neck, ST55LB)
1024134 (spag logo, matching head, ST55BBR)
1024158 (December body, Jan neck, ST55N)
1024238 (spag logo, ST70FO)
1024320 (spag logo, ST70)
1024448 (Dec stamp, 12=9, ST75R, spag logo, MG)
1024464 (Dec body, Nov neck, ST55 LB)
1024845 (Dec stamp, 12=6) SS60. SS60 Gallery (4 Bolt Version)
1024941 (Jan stamp, 1=1, block logo, MG)
1026820 (spag logo, ST70YS)

 

[ATO]

1023372 1=9 code - block logo, odd colour stamp

https://www.tokaiforum.com/threads/1982-83-block-logo-gallery.26253/post-198370

 

[Sigmania]

Yeah, that one I puzzled over when I posted it and figured it is a partscaster.

Will toss it in the weird 1981 serial number thread.

Seven Digit Serial Number Starting With 10xxxxx Not 1981

 

[ATO]

It's odd but it looks like a Jan stamp which is very close to where it should be given the serial. Don't think it's a 7.

 

[Sigmania]

That one is so weird. Also notice the color code is wrong...

 

[Sigmania]

One thing I am noticing is that at least one of the new/special order colors that were introduced in the Spring 1982 catalog like lake placid blue shows up early in 1981 it seems.

 

[Sigmania]

Cliff's ST55 LBR

SN 1023859 ?

Looks to me like the neck code is November and the body is possibly December. Both sharing the second number, 5, for the same lot or order or whatever that number is.

Lake Placid Blue Gallery

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

1024464 ST55 (BST:12=5 LB Z NST:11=5) Another late '81 guitar in the new LB color option (ink opens YT video)

 

[ATO]

These are the ones I've seen for Dec 81

12=4N 12=5B ST50 MR 1023106
12=5B 11=5N ST55 LB 1023859
12=5B 1=3N ST55 N 1024158 (Jan 82 neck?)
12=5B 11=5N ST55 LB 1024464

 

[Sigmania]

Sure looks like 1024941 was made in January 1982, confirming some of these were marked as 1981 guitars before the turnover to the new system.

The added kicker is that it was re-badged as a block logo apparently.

The stories that one guitar could tell.

 

[Sigmania]

And there were apparently a bunch of SS60 and ST70 guitars clustered around this end of the year period?

Note they both have atypical necks/fretboards and are "Rare Models". New and short lived models as well.


1981 ST70 OW S/N 1024145 (Peter Mac provided)
1981 ST70R YS S/N 1024205 (Peter Mac provided)
1981 ST70 FO S/N 1024238 (leadguitar_323)
1981 SS65R N SN 1024382
1981 ST75R MG S/N 1024448 (sigmania)
1981 SS60OWR SN 1024845 (12=6)

ST70 "Rare Model"
SS60 Gallery (4 Bolt Version)

 

[ATO]

1981 ST75R MG S/N 1024448 (sigmania)
1981 SS60OWR SN 1024845 (12=6)

Is your ST75 12=9?
1024205 is and I bet all those 70s are.

 

[Sigmania]

Oh man. So glad you asked. I had been thinking it didn’t have a code because the body info is handwritten. Seems to be a demo or something. But you triggered my memory. There’s a faint code on the neck…. 12=9.

 

[Sigmania]

Super clean 1981 ST65R SO

SN 1022668

Body: 11=2 SO X

1981 Tokai Springy Sound Sonic Blue MIJ

 

[Sigmania]

1981 ST55 MB body with a Greco neck.

SN 1021488

Body: 10=6

Greco ST-500 Neck / Tokai SS-50 Body Metalic Blue Made in Japan Hand Clafted