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Hello, everyone. I know it’s been covered here, but my search turned up nothing. What year is Hank’s original Stratocaster 34346? is it technically a 1958? Is there a major difference between the 1957 and 1958 Stratocaster?

Many thanks in advance. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here. I hope all are well.

Best, Andres

Hi Andy

I always thought that 34346 was a '59 and this would seem to be confirmed by this site:

https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-fender_eng.php

However, the site refers to the 'production year' of 1959 so I suppose technically it could have been a 1958 if the ''production year' didn't coincide precisely with the calendar year - rather like car 'model years'. Nevertheless, Hank didn't get the guitar until later in 1959 which would tend to confirm it was made that year.

Cheers.

Tony

Well I went on to that link where you are asked to enter a serial number to find the date of production.
I entered the serial number of my US 57 Re-Issue purchased in 1990 and it told me the guitar was made in Japan in 1996/7!

Tab wrote:Well I went on to that link where you are asked to enter a serial number to find the date of production.
I entered the serial number of my US 57 Re-Issue purchased in 1990 and it told me the guitar was made in Japan in 1996/7!

Tried it with my Strat and it said "late '78 to '81". I bought it end of '78. It did offer later dates if in was manufactured in Japan (it wasn't).

Thank you, Tony. I was thinking it was a ‘58 in specification but produced in 1959, just before Fender changed to the rosewood board.

Best,

Andy

abstamaria wrote:Thank you, Tony. I was thinking it was a ‘58 in specification but produced in 1959, just before Fender changed to the rosewood board.

Best,

Andy

That's pretty much correct, Andy.

I believe (though my memory is more faulty now than ever before) that the Strat arrived in the UK in May 1959.

Several sites that date on serial no come up with year 1959 for date of manufacture . The range of serial nos for 1959 is given as 30000 - 40000.

34346 is well into that range, getting on for nearly halfway , so it seems more likely 1959 rather than 1958.

Many thanks, Justin.

Best,

Andy