1982 AVRI Strat-No Date on Neck Heel?

[Straycatstrat]

Hello,
I am trying to ID when the neck was built for my 1982 AVRI strat. There is no hand-written date on the neck heel under the finish. Here is the data that have.
1982 AVRI-Fullerton Strat (V001707), Red Bottom Pots (21-28-82), Neck Pocket has Fender white label Serial Number V001707 with name ending in "RADO" stamped in black under the label. On the back of guitar neck is a white label, numbers (1-7) with a round red stamp (FRR with 2 underneath). I learned from fuzzface that the Fender logo on the headstock is correct for 1982-1986 (Batch 1). The border of the decal is mostly straight and does not follow the letters. I can't make heads/tails of his headstock verification. The A curve is pretty short and straight. Does someone know how to determine when the neck was built?

 

[Mr Dunlop]

Without the hand written date it will be impossible to date.
The peg head has the pregnant headstock shape so its a fullerton reissue neck.

 

[WillyDee]

You know it’s the right neck since the ink from the serial # in the pocket seems to have bled onto the neck sticker as a mirror image.

 

[Jimbo99]

This one was 351 guitars in 1982 ahead of your's (V001356 vs V001707). Your's seems to have a hole in the plate, that none of the others has on Reverb.

Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster 1982 - 1984 (Fullerton Plant) | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

 

[Chipss36]

This one was 351 guitars in 1982 ahead of your's (V001356 vs V001707). Your's seems to have a hole in the plate, that none of the others has on Reverb.

Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster 1982 - 1984 (Fullerton Plant) | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

It’s the camera lense, not a hole…lol

 

[stratman323]

Hello,
I am trying to ID when the neck was built for my 1982 AVRI strat. There is no hand-written date on the neck heel under the finish. Here is the data that have.
1982 AVRI-Fullerton Strat (V001707), Red Bottom Pots (21-28-82), Neck Pocket has Fender white label Serial Number V001707 with name ending in "RADO" stamped in black under the label. On the back of guitar neck is a white label, numbers (1-7) with a round red stamp (FRR with 2 underneath). I learned from fuzzface that the Fender logo on the headstock is correct for 1982-1986 (Batch 1). The border of the decal is mostly straight and does not follow the letters. I can't make heads/tails of his headstock verification. The A curve is pretty short and straight. Does someone know how to determine when the neck was built?

I'm not sure if the white label tells us anything at all. I've just checked my pics of 6 1982-88 AVRIs & only 2 of them even had that white label, it seems to have been the exception rather than the rule. They all had neck dates though, which is the only way of dating a Fender neck I know of.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

Is there any reason to think that the neck isn't original to the guitar? From the images I see nothing to suggest that.
If you're after a more precise date (other than 1982), then you're pretty much outta luck.
Pot dates will be the best you can do.

 

[Parksie]

I

Is there any reason to think that the neck isn't original to the guitar? From the images I see nothing to suggest that.
If you're after a more precise date (other than 1982), then you're pretty much outta luck.
Pot dates will be the best you can do.

Its very unusual for this neck not to have a pencil date.

Never seen one before.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

I

Its very unusual for this neck not to have a pencil date.

Never seen one before.

I'm not sure for the 1982s- later ones '86-'88 specifically, lots had missed dates. I have one.
However, as pointed out the neck pocket sticker transfer is suggestive that the neck is original... as is that sticker itself. I don't think they didn't use those very long.
If I were looking to purchase that guitar, the missing date wouldn't necessarily be a red flag.

 

[Parksie]

I'm not sure for the 1982s- later ones '86-'88 specifically, lots had missed dates. I have one.
However, as pointed out the neck pocket sticker transfer is suggestive that the neck is original... as is that sticker itself. I don't think they didn't use those very long.
If I were looking to purchase that guitar, the missing date wouldn't necessarily be a red flag.

I’ve seen plenty of 82’s and that’s a first

 

[John C]

I'm not sure if the white label tells us anything at all. I've just checked my pics of 6 1982-88 AVRIs & only 2 of them even had that white label, it seems to have been the exception rather than the rule. They all had neck dates though, which is the only way of dating a Fender neck I know of.

I think Fender stopped using those white stickers with the serial numbers during 1982. Like you I've only rarely seen them on the AVRIs, usually finding them on their other models.

I’ve seen plenty of 82’s and that’s a first

I still swear by this: For Fender in the late CBS and early FMIC eras the only ironclad rule of thumb is "never say never".

 

[Straycatstrat]

Thanks for all the updated information. I didn't notice the serial number from the neck pocket paper had transferred and reversed onto the back of the guitar neck paper stamped (1-7). They must have been stuck together for a long time for this to happen. I know that in 1981 Fender had some problems with guitars that were missing the hand printed date. I also know in 1982 Fender was a little chaotic trying to get these guitars built and marketed.
I learned some additional info from from the fuzzface site. The Fender paper Serial number decals placed on the body pocket are very rare and not seen very often. My guitar is also the "Vintage White" custom color. Fuzzface stated the fullerton logos with a straight border edge on the headstock were used from (1982-1986) and called batch 1. In batch 2 the outer decal edges tended to follow the Fender lettering with up's and downs. I also learned the early ones had pointed "e's in the fender name. I could not fully understand their description of the differences in the headstock shapes.

 

[Straycatstrat]

Here is the Fuzzface link that I found most of the information regarding Fender AVRI-fullerton strats. Mark

Vintage Reissue Stratocasters in detail

Main features and specs of the "Fullerton" Vintage Stratocasters and early "Corona" reissues.

www.fuzzfaced.net

 

[stratman323]

I think Fender stopped using those white stickers with the serial numbers during 1982. Like you I've only rarely seen them on the AVRIs, usually finding them on their other models.



I still swear by this: For Fender in the late CBS and early FMIC eras the only ironclad rule of thumb is "never say never".

Of the 6 that I have/had, the only two with that white sticker were an 83 & an 88.

 

[John C]

Of the 6 that I have/had, the only two with that white sticker were an 83 & an 88.

We might be talking about 2 different white stickers - I meant the small one with the serial number on it not being used after some point in 1982, not that larger one with the 7 numbered spaces/lines on it. But I still agree with you - while that white sticker with the spaces/lines is on a lot of the other models but not so much on the AVRIs.

 

[Straycatstrat]

Hi,
The white sticker that is rare was placed on the body (pocket) where the neck attaches. It is written in red the Fender logo and says "Serial Number" followed by the serial number V001707. (See Photo). today I managed to photograph a good closeup of the neck back where the information from this decal was superimposed and reversed onto the lower back of the neck (See Photo). I still need any information on the red circle stamp stamped "FRR 2" and how to date the headstock using the fuzzfaced.net information or any other sources. Any help is greatly appreciated. Mark

 

[guitarchaeologist]

My guitar is also the "Vintage White" custom color.

I didn't pay attention to this until you mentioned it. That does make this guitar a relative rarity.
Standard "Vintage Stratocaster" were only sold in sunburst, with five custom colors being available at an additional charge of $75.
So, this is a true custom ordered color. Nice!

If I am not mistaken, the red circle is a quality control that carried over from the 70s guitars which carry this stamps.

 

[Bazz Jass]

If I am not mistaken, the red circle is a quality control that carried over from the 70s guitars which carry this stamps.

Correct, the FRR stands for "Fender, Rogers, Rhodes" with numbers allocated to the quality control guys. The guy checking this was number 3

 

[stratman323]

We might be talking about 2 different white stickers - I meant the small one with the serial number on it not being used after some point in 1982, not that larger one with the 7 numbered spaces/lines on it. But I still agree with you - while that white sticker with the spaces/lines is on a lot of the other models but not so much on the AVRIs.

Correct. I'm not sure I understand which sticker you're referring to.

 

[stratman323]

Hi,
The white sticker that is rare was placed on the body (pocket) where the neck attaches. It is written in red the Fender logo and says "Serial Number" followed by the serial number V001707. (See Photo). today I managed to photograph a good closeup of the neck back where the information from this decal was superimposed and reversed onto the lower back of the neck (See Photo). I still need any information on the red circle stamp stamped "FRR 2" and how to date the headstock using the fuzzfaced.net information or any other sources. Any help is greatly appreciated. Mark

I have never seen that first sticker at all, despite having looked at a helluva lot of AVRIs on here over the years.