Production line Stratocasters reached the market in 1954... However the design patent D186,826 was issued in December 8, 1959 and the utility patent 2,960,900 was issued in November 22, 1960. ??? Information from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Stratocaster
http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html
To determine the age of your Fender Stratocaster with the serial number 656423, you can refer to Fender's serial number database, which indicates that this guitar was likely made in the late 1960s, around 1966. For the Pat 3550496, it appears to be a patent number rather than a serial number, which typically relates to a specific technology or design rather than a manufacturing date. If you have more context about the Pat number, I could help further.
Either take it into a Local music shop or go on Google and look up Fender Squier Strat serial numbers and punch in the number for instance with my 1994 Fender Mexican Stratocaster i would go on Google type in "fender Mexican stratocaster serial numbers" and it would pull up a Fender.com and i would look since mine is MN352234 I would look for "MN3+ 5 digits1993-1994" and i would find out that my guitar is either a 1993 or 1994 Fender Mexican Stratocaster Hope this helps Jesse Craig.
On mine it's in the sound hole just below the strings.
Patent 2,573,254 has a date of Oct 30 1951, and refers to a combination bridge and pickup assembly for string instruments. The patent was filed Jan 13 1950. I have a picture of this patent in a book, the instrument pictured has 6 strings.
The date the patent was granted.
The Fender Frontman series is indeed a good choice for hobby guitar players. Guitars are inexpensive and are made of quality materials which should the hobbyist to develop their playing technique efficiently before requiring a more professional guitar at a later date.
The patent issue date for the keyword was on specific date.
The Plate number is only one of the bits of information you'll need to date your instrument. The maker and model are crucial. If it's a Fender, google 'date fender guitar'. A website with the info is right there. If not, I'm sure you can type in the Maker, model, and serial number and get info pretty readily on the internet.
The patent expiration date for a specific invention is typically calculated 20 years from the filing date of the patent application.
Stratocaster serial numbers typically provide information about the guitar's production date and origin. They are usually found on the neck plate or the back of the headstock. The format can vary depending on the era; for example, pre-1976 numbers often start with a letter followed by digits, while post-1980 models might have a different structure, such as a two-letter prefix indicating the year and a series of numbers. To accurately interpret the serial number, it's best to refer to a Fender serial number guide specific to the model and year.
Roughly 1965 You could also remove the neck, there's a stamp on the heel with the exact date of production
To determine the expiration date of a patent, you can look up the patent number on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website or contact the USPTO directly. Patents typically last for 20 years from the filing date of the application.