What year is my Fender 400?

Brandin · From: Newport Beach CA. USA

It's serial # is; 00290. It is white with the
polished aluminum frame, and the jassmaster
style pick-up.

Thanks for your help.

GB

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Hi Gary. I have a #00593 Fender 400 and I was told in this thread that it was about a 1960 model, so your is probably older.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/010115.html
The frame on mine is black and I have the same pickup as you. There are no roller nuts and the bridge is stationary.

Hope this helps-Dave Z

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

The 400 was introduced spring of 1958...I would imagine your guitar was made in the first year of production.. maybe early 59 at the latest... bob

Brandin · From: Newport Beach CA. USA

I've had this guitar for over twenty years,
and have always wondered what year it was made. So, thank you Dave and Bob!

GB

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

From the description the Steel in question was the first run of 400 and 1000 guitars and that is more likely than not a 55 model.

I have had a few of them as samples and they were great guitars in spite of the 24/1/2 scale.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

Jody.. I trust your knowledge completely,,but am confused... Gruhn lists the Fender 400 Pedal steel guitar as being introduced early 1958. He is usually reliable.. How could he be off by 3 years??.. Was it in some sort of limited production perhaps, and not in the catalog until later?.. Its no biggie, but I am curious! bob

Garry Vanderlinde · From: CA

Gary, are the pots original so you can trace the codes? How about the tuner pan... any dates penciled in underneath? Come on dude, we need some hard evidence so get the screwdriver out!

[This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 16 May 2005 at 08:39 PM.]

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

As always, Jody is our authority, here. I do know that both Speedy and Alvino had their 1000's in 1957. I never saw them in any Fender literature, nor did I see them in stores until 1958. (I didn't start playing pedal steel until the '60s, so I wasn't paying that much attention.) I have heard, though, that they were designed in 1956 and early '57, and that Red Rhodes was involved in building the prototype, which was done in Leo's garage. It would be interesting to get some solid info on the "birth" of this instrument, as well as some production figures, while those that were closely involved are still around.

Brandin · From: Newport Beach CA. USA

Garry V., the pots had been removed sometime
before I got the guitar. Also, I've takin'
the tuning pan off, and there was nothing
underneath.

Thanks Jody, you are the "Authority", and I appreciate your input.

Donny, I would also like to know some more of the history of these early Fender pedal steel guitars. They work well, and sound like no other guitar I know of.

GB

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Donny
Red Rhodes wasn't involved in the design of the Fender 400/1000 because he didn't get out to California until 1960.

You might be thinking of Al Petty. I do know that Al Petty wrote the manual and the tuning charts for the guitar, or had some similar input in the creation of the instrument. He did work for Fender at that time, as did a lot of pickers in So. Cal. in those days (e.g. Danny Michaels, Gene Fields, Fred Tavares, et. al.).

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Willis Vanderberg · From: Petoskey Mi

I have my original Fender 1000 purchased new . The serial # is 0135 and the date under the front neck pan is 1957.

Old Bud

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

To whom it may concern. I receieved my first
1000 back in 1955. Yes thats right 1955. I played it for a year and returned it to the factory. I was actually a proto type and it can be seen on Rick Alexanders web site. My guitar had "no"serial" number. I received my 2nd in 56 and it was fine. That is the one that is shown on the cover of the Hot Club LP.

Hi Herb

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

Brandin,

If yours is a blonde with the polished aluminum and has a tweed case then it is a 1958.

I have one that dates to '58 (the pots and tape under tuning pan) it is serial # 00277.

The ones in '59 came with a brown tolex case and sometime during that year they went to a black frame.

Here is #00277

Brandin · From: Newport Beach CA. USA

Thanks Alvin! After lookin' at yours, I'm thinkin' I really need to clean mine.

I used this guitar on the CD that came with
Keith Rosier's book "The Lost Art of Country
Bass". He wanted that Mooney style.

GB

ebb · From: nj

so the 57 serial # > the the 58 or am i missing something

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Thanks Jody. I didn't mean to get you upset, but we hear so many "stories" in the steel world, it's hard to come up with the straight scoop on some things. It seems everywhere we look, we get different information, and it's never my intention to proffer inaccuracies. I have deemed you our "authority" on things Fender, but quotes like this one (from Bud Carter) sometimes add to our confusion...

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