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1. Fender Squier Bullet Serial Number Lookup
2. Fender Bullet Serial Number
3. Fender Squier Bullet Serial Numbers

The Fender Bullet was an electric guitar originally designed by John Page^[1] and manufactured and marketed by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. It was first introduced as a line of 'student' guitars to replace the outgoing Mustang and Musicmaster models.^[2]

Hi i bought a bullet strat last year cheap for £60 and its a crafted in china one the serial number is COS 10001819, can anybody tell me what year it was made Im guessing 2001? But not sure they were making them in that year any help would be appreciated, the guitar plays beautiful and dare I say sounds as good as my original Fender Strat.

USA Version 1 (1981)[edit]

1. Fender JV models had the serial numbers engraved into either the neck plate or bridge. Many also have penciled neck dates ( 6-14-82 ) you can only see when the neck is removed from the body of the guitar.
2. 1983 Fender Bullet Bass - Squier MIJ Fender Japan Squier Bullet Bass. Full 34' scale.These are getting impossible to find.Bass looks all original.These basses are very high quality. SQ serial number makes it an early model.Mustang style split pickup. No case included with this sale.This bass is i.
3. TALK TO A FENDER SPECIALIST! CALL 1-844-202-0924 MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-11PM EST Submit a request. How can we help? Support for Fender instruments, amplifiers, audio, and accessories. Fender Product Support. Product Specifications. Instrument Service Diagrams.

Fender marketed two models, initially manufacture was set up offshore in Korea, but due to technical issues, such as unacceptable high actions, the guitars were recalled to the U.S.A for manufacture at the Fullerton plant.

Two models were available - The 'Bullet' ( known as The standard Bullet ) & the 'Bullet Deluxe', retailers & dealers in the USA often called the guitars 'The Bullet One' but this was never a marketing name used by Fender . These two models had a single cutaway body style similar to that of the Fender Telecaster but much closer in size to the Mustang and Duo-Sonic that the Bullet replaced, the guitar had a 21 fret rosewood neck and Telecaster-style headstock and Kluson Deluxe tuners. Similarly to preceding student models like the Mustang, Bronco and Musicmaster, cost savings were made by using less wood for the body, both guitar bodies were 1- 5/8 inches thick as opposed to the 1- 3/4 inch thickness of other Fender guitars, parts were quick to assemble and labor saving, both models had the same hardware & electrics as other Fender guitars from the same era. The standard model originally retailed at $199.00 or $249 including the vacuum formed case, cord, strap, polishing cloth & bridge adjustment wrenches. The Bullet Deluxe had a plastic pickguard with a separate, traditional hardtail bridge while the standard model featured a steel pickguard-bridge-tailpiece combo, powder coated white or black, with separate saddles for each string. Both models had 2 single coil pickups with a three-way selector switch. The pickups had the same closed pickup covers as used on the Mustang & were initially left over Mustang stock. Color options were red or ivory, with a white or black pick guards on both models. At release in 1981, the only neck option was maple with a rosewood fretboard; a maple neck with a walnut skunk stripe was introduced as an option in 1982.

USA Version 2 (1982 - 1983)[edit]

In 1982, Fender introduced a revised version of the Bullet, including two bass models. This series featured a double cutaway body similar to the Fender Stratocaster without body contouring and therefore almost the same shape as the Mustang and Duo-Sonic that the Bullet replaced. Maple was the only neck option and the headstock retained the version one telecaster profile. Due to Kluson going out of business in 1981, Fender introduced the 70's style F tuners on the 1982 Bullet range and also used the Fender logo sealed tuners on the series, both made by Schaller in W. Germany. Five models were marketed - the Bullet (standard), the Bullet One H-1, the Bullet One S-2, S-3, and H-2—in addition to the two new bass models (a regular scale 'B-34' and short scale 'B-30'). The Bullet (standard) had the patented alloy pickguard-bridge-tailpiece combo with two single coil pickups and a 3 way switch. The H-1 sported the same alloy pickguard-bridge-tailpiece combo with one humbucker pickup; it also had a coil tap button to split the humbucker to single coil. The S-2, S-3 & H-2 were marketed as Deluxe versions & had a white plastic 3-ply pickguard with a separate hardtail bridge, in 1983 a single ply pickguard was introduced with the model number S-2, S-3 or H-2 embossed on the lower horn. The S-2 had two single coil pickups & a 3-way switch, the S-3 had 3 single coil pickups & a 5-way switch, the H-2 had two humbucker pickups each with their own coil tapping button & a 3-way switch. The humbucker pickups were really two single coil pickups with alnico rod magnets side-by-side. The basses each had plastic guards and traditional bridges. They had the old Mustang bass style pickups. They differed only in scale. The popular second version Bullets were available in color options of red, ivory, brown sunburst, or walnut; black was also available but never marketed as a color option. The S-2 was notably featured in the music video for Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Gonna Take It,' used by the son of Mark Metcalf's character to blow him out of the window when the song begins. Fender ceased production of Bullet guitars at the end of 1983 and was never produced again in the USA. Production of the Bullet range moved to Japan, under the Squier name.

Squier Bullet[edit]

1983–2007[edit]

Late 1983 to 1984 the Bullet manufacture was moved to Japan (SQ serial number pre-fix), these guitars were also known as 'Bullet One' in the USA by dealers & retailers, but never marketed as such. The guitars had solid wood bodies, good quality pick-ups and hardware but no longer had string through bodies. A hard tail bridge and later a six screw vintage style trem bridge was offered. The guitars featured 3 Single coils or 2 Humbucking pickups like the original USA-made 'Bullet' guitars, but steel rods were used as pole pieces with a ceramic bar magnet; the humbucker version consisted of the same paired single coil configuration as the American-made models. In 1985, 86 and 87 production was again moved, this time to Korea to reduce costs (E serial number pre-fix stamped on the neck plate). These guitars were marketed as the Squier Bullet and used plywood bodies. The neck was a rosewood board on maple and had a Strat headstock with a Telecaster style heel, three single coil pickup pattern like the Stratocaster, as well as a low cost two point tremolo. These were available in Red or Black.

In 1984/85 there was a Squier Bullet guitar model manufactured in Japan that featured a full sized Strat-style body made of solid wood. This particular Squier Bullet model is also distinguished by the fact that it featured a two pickup configuration (neck and bridge) instead of the usual three pickup, a Stratocaster style headstock with Telecaster style heel shape, jack socket located on the pickguard, 2 knobs (one volume, one tone), and a top-load hard tail or two point trem. It was offered in two colors, ivory and black.

In 1986 Squier released the contemporary HST ( Hybrid Start/Tele ) Bullet, E prefix serial on the neck plate, the guitar had a more pointy shaped telecaster style body with 3 pickups HSS configuration (Humbucker, single coil, single coil), a rosewood board on maple neck with a strat shaped headstock, no pickguard & a two pivot tremolo, this was a budget guitar aimed at the Heavy Metal market & was available in ivory or Black. This guitar had no country of origin mark, it is not known whether the guitar was made in Japan or Korea, the overall build quality is reasonably good, as the serial is an E prefix it maybe Korean as most Japanese models had the SQ prefix.

In 1989 Squier introduced a revamped version of the contemporary HST Bullet, this guitar did feature 'Made in Korea' on the headstock with an E prefix serial & is exactly the same as the guitar above but it had a strat shaped body, also available in ivory or black.

2005–present[edit]

Squier introduced a new, Chinese-made Bullet Strat in 2005, sporting a built-in tremolo arm, rosewood fingerboard, and one of six body finishes (Pink, Arctic White, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Brown Sunburst, or Black) with a single-ply white pickguard.

By 2015, Fender was using Squier Bullet as a line name for their lowest-priced guitars at the $150 price point. The guitars used inexpensive basswood for their bodies and reduced paint steps to the absolute minimum to keep costs under control. However, they used the same pickups and tuners as their slightly more expensive Affinity series cousins, and generally were acknowledged as good starter instruments. In 2018, Fender had done away with the vibrato bridge on the Bullet line and made its mainline Bullet guitars top-loading hardtail instruments (vibrato bridges could still be found on special production runs for stores such as Guitar Center). The Stratocaster headstocks say 'Bullet® Strat®,' while the Mustang headstocks simply have an all-black version of the Squier Mustang logo used on the more-expensive Vintage Modified instruments.

As of Summer NAMM 2018, Fender's Squier Bullet line consisted of:

• Squier Mini Strat (SSS, 22.75' short-scale)
• Squier Bullet Stratocaster (SSS, 25.5' scale)
• Squier Bullet Stratocaster (HSS, 25.5' scale)
• Squier Bullet Mustang (HH, 24' short-scale)

The Squier Bullet Special[edit]

From around 1999 to 2005, Fender produced a single pickup Squier Bullet Special guitar. It had a fixed, hardtail bridge, a dual-coil (humbucker) bridge pickup, one volume control, and a 21 fret rosewood fingerboard bolt on neck. The body was made out of plywood and it was made in six colors: Black, Ice Blue Metallic, Red Metallic, Cobalt Blue Metallic, Orange, and Satin Silver. The Red and Orange bodies were made with black hardware; all other colors had chrome hardware. All Bullet Specials had a 1 ply black pickguard. Most of the Squier Bullet Specials made in 2002 came with a special 20th Anniversary engraved neck plate. The logo on the headstock reads 'Squier Bullet' with no mention of 'Special'. Some 2002 versions of the black and Frost Red Metallic Squier Bullet Special are known to have the Affinity brand on the headstock as well.^[3]

All Squier Bullet Special guitars were made in Indonesia at the Cort factory. The serial numbers start with IC followed by two digits that designate the year the guitar was made. The remaining digits indicate month of production, color, and sequence. IC02xxxxxxx indicates a guitar made in 2002.^[4]

Bullet Strings[edit]

Fender also markets guitar strings under the Bullet brand. Introduced in the early 1970s, these strings differ by having cylindrical bullet-shaped ends instead of the 'ball ends' common to other manufacturers. Fender states the bullet ends create a tighter fit in the tremolo block on Stratocaster guitars, leading to greater tuning stability when the tremolo is used. ^[5] In the early 1990s Fender switched from using zinc-plated steel for the bullet ends to brass, improving sustain. Today nickel is also used. Stainless steel strings with bullet ends are also offered since the late '90s.

Further reading[edit]

• Fjestad, Zachary R. (Editor), The Blue Book of Electric Guitars; (9th Edition), 2005
• Peter Bertges: The Fender Reference; Bomots, Saarbrücken 2007, ISBN978-3-939316-38-1
• Bullet® Special, Squires Guitars

References[edit]

1. ^Chevne, Steven and Fjestad, Zachary R. (Editor), The Blue Book of Electric Guitars, (5th Edition), 1998
2. ^The Original USA Fender Bullet Appreciation Page
3. ^Bacon, Tony Squier Electrics: 30 Years of Fenders Budget Guitar Brand; Backbeat,1st Edition, January 1, 2012, ISBN978-1-61713-022-9
4. ^'How to date Japanese, Mexican, USA, Korean, Chinese, Indonesian and Indian Squiers'. Fender Discussion Page (forum). June 12, 2007.
5. ^'Fender Bullet Strings'. Fender engineers of the early 1970s were aware that the standard ball-end string design that had prevailed until then presented very specific tuning problems, especially on tremolo-equipped guitars.

Since the vintage craze of the last twoor three decades began, we certainlyhaven’t heard the highest of praise aboutthe instruments Fender produced fromlate 1965 to 1985, when it was owned bythe Columbia Broadcasting System conglomerate.Stratocasters, Telecasters, andJazz and Precision basses from the ’50s andearly ’60s sell for far more than CBS-eraguitars—sometimes fetching as much as anexotic sports car or a comfortable middle-classhome.

Fender Squier Bullet Serial Number Lookup

Perceived design flaws introduced tomodels during the CBS years include Stratsand Teles that went from 4- to 3-bolt neckconstruction, and a larger headstock withan exposed “bullet” truss rod. Later in the’70s, cost-saving measures, such as using ashrather than alder for bodies, and finishingnecks in polyester, were seen as missteps.And cosmetic, finishing, and/or consistencyissues such as misaligned fret markers struckmany as a sign that Leo Fender’s innovativeoutfit had lost its way.

However, plenty of everyday players—both now and then—think collectors’derision of CBS-era Fenders is justnitpicking. For instance, in 1973, DavidGilmour took his late ’71 bullet Strat’spickguard assembly—including the middleand neck pickups—and put it in hisprized black Stratocaster. U2’s the Edgeused a black ’70s Strat on early hits like “IWill Follow” and “Where the Streets HaveNo Name,” and R&B session and touringguitarist Josh Sklair jammed on the ’71Strat pictured here with legendary musicianslike Etta James, Roy Orbison, andBo Diddley.

“I grew up on my ’61 SG/Les Paul, a’70s Les Paul Custom, and an ES-175, butI was always a stone-cold Jimi Hendrixdisciple,” says Sklair. “Living in Hollywoodin the ’80s, I decided it was time to get aStratocaster. So I bought one out of theRecycler for $300.” His ’71 Strat had a naturalfinish, Schaller tuners, and the bullettruss rod. Sklair wasted little time customizingthe axe to make it his own.

First, he took it out to his backyard andlet loose with a can of white spray paint.Then he enlisted the expertise of guitarguru John Carruthers (Carruthers Guitars,Fender Custom Shop, Yamaha, G&L), whore-fretted the guitar’s neck, installed a midboostfeature, converted the neck joint toa 4-bolt array, and added copper foil andshielding paint to minimize hum from thepickups and controls. Carruthers also addeda new 5-way switch and reversed the polarityof the middle pickup to make the secondand fourth positions dead quiet.

Fender Bullet Serial Number

“I took it on tour with Dick Clark’sGood Ol’ Rock ’n’ Roll Show,” Sklair recalls.“It was my go-to guitar when I joined upwith the amazing Etta James in ’85, andwas used all the way until she retired in’09. I even used it on the recording of RoyOrbison’s ‘Careless Heart’ in 1988.”

Even though Sklair revamped severalaspects of his Strat, he never dreamt ofaltering one thing. “What brings me backto this little Strat is its neck. By industrystandards, it’s not a great neck—becauseit’s fat and not very wide. But it has beenreally comfortable for my average-sizedhands, and I believe the big headstockadds an almost Gibson-like mellowness toits tone.”

While Sklair’s beloved ’71 Recycler findis special to him because of how it playsand sounds, as well as the countless memorableperformances and sessions he’s playedwith it, it’s also special because on theback it bears the signatures of five rock ’n’roll greats—Roy Orbison, Dick Clark, BoDiddley, Chuck Berry, and Del Shannon.

Fender Squier Bullet Serial Numbers

“I’m not much of a signature guybecause I don’t want to be creepy,” Sklairlaughs. “I never asked Etta for hers becauseit just didn’t feel right, but I did get a fewrock ’n’ roll heroes to sign it. It reminds meof where this guitar and I have been.”