I think I just stumbled upon what is perhaps a big clue in untangling what these codes mean.
I found two guitars that both have pot codes for January 1987 and production codes on the neck and bodies of February (2).
SN 214092
SN 217619
The interesting part is that both have mixed symbols...
The necks have the - symbol and the bodies have the = symbol.
And in one case the second number is different on the two parts.
Different necks!
One is the Fender TST style, the other is the AST!
That argues more for that second number representing different piles, batches or areas rather than from a different time period in my opinion.
The first number is definitely the month in my opinion. So far in all the cases I have seen the pot date precedes the production number. And usually by a consistent 1 or 2 months. The part is obviously made away from the factory, so they have to get the order before they can put it in the guitar. Makes sense.
A little help please.
What Tokai do I have
I found two guitars that both have pot codes for January 1987 and production codes on the neck and bodies of February (2).
SN 214092
SN 217619
The interesting part is that both have mixed symbols...
The necks have the - symbol and the bodies have the = symbol.
And in one case the second number is different on the two parts.
Different necks!
One is the Fender TST style, the other is the AST!
That argues more for that second number representing different piles, batches or areas rather than from a different time period in my opinion.
The first number is definitely the month in my opinion. So far in all the cases I have seen the pot date precedes the production number. And usually by a consistent 1 or 2 months. The part is obviously made away from the factory, so they have to get the order before they can put it in the guitar. Makes sense.
A little help please.
What Tokai do I have
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