Other Metal Parts
Fender metal parts cover a wide range of parts. They include neck plates , screws, covers, arms, bushings,plates, knobs,strap buttons and many other misc. parts. We will briefly cover a few but is by no means all inclusive.
Fender neckplates are found on all fender guitar . There is one or two exceptions but lets say 99% have neck plates. The original Fender neckplates had nothing stamped on them. The serial numbers at that time were on the bridge plates. usually the early plates had a more matted finish back but it is really something one needs to see it is hard to describe.
In 1954 Fender moved the serial numbers to the back plates and this would be the trend for the rest of their era until 1976 . In around 1958 you can find double sided stamped serial number plates this is a factory thing but lasted only about a year to a year and ah half.
Screws in the 1950’s on Fender guitar had a large collar on the screw. This means the threads did not go all the way to the head of the screws. Originally they were slot head screws and by around 1953 they Fender started to use Philips head screws. By 1960 the screws had threads all the way to the head of the screw and remain that way until today.
Fender knobs varied. The early Fender Telecaster, Fender Broadcaster and Fender esquire knobs were very heavy and had a heavy knurled to them. They had a small flat spot on top of dome. These would be the same for about 4 years in 1955 the knobs remained heavy but has a rounded dome top with no flat spot.
In 1956 the telecaster knobs became lighter i believe the metal changed and they were aluminum rather than steel. they had a flatter top and a less of a knurled . The next area is very hard to explain . The top edges of the knobs in 1956 -1960 were more rounded by 1961 they featured the flat top but with a sharper top edge . these would not change until the 1970’s.
Fender tuner bushings basically remained the same since their production. They are shallower than Gibson bushings a Gibson bushing will not fit in a fender headstock but a Fender will fit in a Gibson they are the same diameter.
Another important part is the Fender Telecaster control plates. The original 1950’s ones had a rough cast on bottom side and are not shinny. The ones from 1960 on have a more polished look to the back and do not have a rough cast.
Finally the Fender Shielding plates for Fender Stratocasters. The ones in the 1950’s were a small odd shaped that fit directly under the guard around the pot area. By 1959 Fender incorporated a full size shield plate. this was the same size as the pickguard and was used until 1968 . After 1968 Fender used simple a metal shielding stick on tape that adhered to the bottom of the pickguard in the pot area.
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