Dec 03, 2010 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. How to date Fender amps by serial number! Custom Mios Installer Rev 03. ! Okay, I know you're all just dying to skip ahead to the serial number tables but try to contain your excitement and read through the article first. I promise the tables will still be there after you finish reading. Besides, no article in the Dating Fender Amps by Serial Number series. Dating Fender amps and speakers. Our Buyer's guide to vintage Fender amps explains in detail how you can date your amp by looking at serial numbers, tube charts, transformer codes, speaker codes, Fender logo, etc. Lots of different speakers were used in the blackface and silverface era Fender amps. In a BF Vibrolux. 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.

The Fender Bassman Amplifier has gained a reputation for being the go-to amp for both electric guitar and bass players. The warm tube sound was introduced in 1952 when the first Bassman model was designed for Fender Precision Bass guitars. Shortly thereafter, the Bassman would become the most sought after amplifier for country and rock guitar and bass players. Bassmans that were manufactured in the 50s and 60s are known to resell in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. The ability to date a Fender Bassman will often mean the difference between thousands of dollars when shopping for a vintage Bassman.

Since the Leo Fender and Co. Manufactured the first Bassman in the early 50s, it has been replicated many times, making it hard to tell them apart. The only sure-fire way to date a Fender Bassman is by matching serial schemes. Find the tube chart located in the back of your amplifier. The tube chart is a diagram detailing what kind of tubes are installed in your amplifier. It will usually be printed on a 4- by 4-inch sticker placed near the tubes in your amp.