#66 BANDMASTER SERIAL NUMBER#
#66 BANDMASTER CODE#

If three digits are present, the first digit refers to the year (i.e., a “7” would mean 1967). These numbers always begin with “EIA 606,” and are followed by three or four digits in various combinations.

#66 BANDMASTER CODE#

In the table below, for example, a “JE” date code indicates a production date of May 1960.ĭATING FENDER AMPLIFIERS ( INCLUDING SILVERFACE AND BLACKFACE AMPS) USING TRANSFORMER CODES In general, Fender amps that don’t have rubber-stamped tube sticker date codes have EIA numbers on their transformers that might enable determination of the production date. These stamped letters may appear in various positions on the chart. This sticker is a chart that shows the types of tube types used and the order of their physical location in the amplifier, and may be rubber-stamped with two-letter date codes that denote the year (first letter) and month (second letter) of production. In the table below, for example, a “CE” date code indicates a production date of May 1992.ĭATING 1951-1969 BLACKFACE, BROWNFACE, BROWN TOLEX, WHITE TOLEX OR TWEED AMPLIFIERS USING THE TUBE STICKER On the inside of the cabinets of most Fender amps made after 1950 and before 1970, there might be a “tube location” sticker. 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). This black-and-silver sticker contains several lines for “sign-offs” on completion of sound and electrical testing.

Although the dates derived using the charts below will likely be a good approximation, they should not be considered exact.ĭATING CONTEMPORARY FENDER AMPLIFIERS 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. Please note that it’s quite difficult to precisely determine the production date of early Fender amps. Several different types, in vertical and diagonal weaves, were used. On early amps, this material was varnished to make it a more durable covering. Tweed refers to the two-tone woven fabric that covered many early amplifiers. Tolex is the textured vinyl material that covers the amp offered in many different colors and textures over the years.

#66 BANDMASTER SERIAL NUMBER#

While dating Fender amps made before 1994 by serial number is all but impossible (as records of these numbers were never kept), all hope is not lost-the charts below should prove helpful in dating your Fender amp.įirst, it will be useful to you to understand the following five terms in order to choose the correct chart for dating your amp: Silverface, Blackface and Brownface are slang terms used to identify Fender amplifiers based on the color of the control panel (these terms are often misconstrued to refer to the color of the grille cloth). How can I find out how old my amplifier is?ĭATING EARLY FENDER AMPLIFIERS Dating early Fender amplifiers is sometimes quite challenging.

66 bandmaster