The Fender Bullet guitar was designed in 1981 as a low cost student instrument to take the place of the Duo Sonic and Music Master.
Fender designer
John Page put the original instrument together. The first models were made in Asia and shipped un-assembeld to the US.
However Fender did not think the work was up to par and produced the original 1981 guitars in the US putting to use left over parts from other guitars.
The original bodies were designed to resemble a smaller and thinner version of the Telecaster. The necks were Telecaster necks. The dual pickups were Mustang pickups which were positioned like the Duo Sonic.
That is the neck pickup was angled on the treble side and the bridge pickup was parallel to the bridge. The switch was a three position Stratocaster Switchcraft version. The two potentiometer knobs for volume and tone were black or white Stratocaster knobs.
These guitars came in two colors and two versions. The color was either red or
cream. Pickguards were either white or black.
The Bullet Standard S-1 had an anodized steel pickguard with the distal lip behind the bridge raised at a 90% angle to anchor the strings. Attached to the lip were six adjustable saddles. The strings were attached to the back of the lip.
The Bullet Deluxe had a plastic pickguard with a separate chrome bridge that held six adjustable pole pieces. The strings on this model went through the body.
The Bullet Deluxe had a plastic pickguard and the strings went through the body. The bridge assembly was a barrel type and was adjusted by a screw for intonation and an allen wrench for height. The headstock decal had a 5 point star with a number 1 in the center.
I've seen them with both rosewood and maple necks.
In 1982-83 the guitar was redesigned to look like a slightly smaller version of the Stratocaster. The guitar came in several versions. The S-3 had 3 Mustang type pickups with white covers positioned in the normal Strat fashion and a five way blade switch.
The H-2 had 2 Fender humbucker (that were actually Mustang pickups side to side. Alongside the 3 way blade switch were two pushbutton switches that enable coil tapping. The H-1 was similar, but only had one pickup near the bridge.
A Bullet bass was also produced. It was a smaller bodied version of a Precision bass with a Mustang bass split pickup.
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| 1982 Fender Bullet S-3 |
These guitars came in black, white, red or cream. The controls were volume and tone. The input was on the top where the second tone control would be found on a Stratocaster. These were hard tail instruments.
The price for the instruments was $199 which included a molded Fender case. During this time there was also a set sold with a Fender Bullet and your choice of a Fender Champ tube amp or a Fender solid state amp.
In 1984 Fender Bullets were produced in Japan under the Squier Bullet label. These came in several versions including a style similar to the 1981 and another that more closely resembled a Stratocaster that had a Strat style tremolo.
Although they are student instrument, in my opinion they are still great players and bargains. Particularly the 1981's which have Tele neck and Kluson tuners.
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| Junior Brown with Guit Steel |
Junior Brown had his original Guit-Steel made from Fender Bullet neck and pickups.
The price for the instruments was $199 which included a molded Fender case. During this time there was also a set sold with a Fender Bullet and your choice of a Fender Champ tube amp or a Fender solid state amp.
Hey! Great Post on Bullets, i love mine to death! check out our post about bullets here http://woolovereyesband.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI have a 1982 H-2 that my Father bought for me new from Gruhn guitars. I still have it and I love it!
ReplyDeleteI have a 1981 Bullet with a Serial Number of E 10024. I cannot find the answer but is this possibly the 1st or one of the first bullets ever made.
ReplyDeleteDon’t know how goofed on the SN but it is E100024 wish I could attach a photo
DeleteIf you're still connected to this blog Jim read my recent post and give me a shout, maybe we can find out more about our gear?
DeleteRory
I have just found 1981 bullit deluxe cream with maple neck up here in Alberta. Serial no E103494. Not a mark on it wwill try out for a few days before i spend 500 canadian. Comes witt fender hard case. Excited.
ReplyDeleteI am only now being informed that my cheap little Fender that I have used for years to lay down electric tracks might actually be a collector's item. Heh, the Joke is on me for considering CBS Fenders as something less than par. It was purchased in 1981 with the moulded case which is still in excellent condition despite my daughter's attempts to "indie" it out with stickers of heretofore unknown bands. It was also packaged with a smallish Fender Harvard amp, I might guess around twenty watts input, solid state, spring reverb. It's actually was...and remains... a pretty good small-venue amplifier.
ReplyDeleteI valued the guitar for it's "fat" sound, very Kinks/Troggs sounding, reminiscent of the early sixties Mersey Beat sound. Moreover, despite taking it all over the deep south, the "package" remains almost new looking, and thoroughly functional...something my - er- Yamahas did not share.
It's probably a very early model, I think it was purchased spring or summer of 1981, I'll have to find the sales receipt...we may still have it. Serial is E-106397, and has black pick-up covers....the only pre-squire Tele-Bullet I've ever seen that had these right off the sales floor. Black volume, tone and pick-up selector switch, too. The descriptions on line call it "cream", we call it "Hendrix Banana"...and it's nickname is "the Banana".
Oh, it came with a fender shoulder strap too. It's still in the case, but I play her sitting down.
Owner's manual and original coiled cord is still with the case. All have stood the test of time and use with flying colours.
I may show pictures of her....if it is something folks might like to see ( I am still amazed...she was just a cheap date!) - on my blog, at www.q5letterpress.blogspot.com
Thanks for the info and the head's up that my little Banana actually has a pedigree!
-gary
My Bullet is an even earlier serial number, E1051xx, cream body, rosewood fretboard, black pickup covers, molded plastic "Fender Made in USA" case, excellent condition. I've had it for 25 years, where it has just sat in the case while I played my other guitars!
ReplyDeleteFollow up comment: In reading this blog more carefully, examining the photos, and examining my Bullet, I have tentatively reached the following conclusion. Concrete pronouncements cannot be made as to the first models, in that I think they just put together these guitars without thought of consistency. My reasons for this conclusion follow. Tell me why if I am wrong.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in my previous comment, my Bullet has a cream colored Tele shaped body with a white steel pickguard with built in bridge. It has black colored knobs and pickups, with the bridge pickup being covered and the neck pickup having holes. It has a rosewood fretboard, BUT the headstock has the star with the "1". As mentioned, I've had this guitar since about 1991 and it appears unmolested.
So, according to your narrative above, it's a standard model because of the steel pickguard/bridge, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, it's a Deluxe model because of the star "1".
I don't think there were enough of these around for someone to have later put a Deluxe neck on a standard body (and why do it anyway?) during its first ten years of life unless it was done at the factory.
What say you Bullet folks that know more about these gems than I do?
1981 is the only year they made tele bodies. The deluxe had thru body strings with plastic pick guard. Rosewood necks were made overseas and when they ran out attached vintage tele maple neck made in californnia. That year most had plywood bobies made overeas overseas but some had 3 piece solid bodies which you can see looking closley.i believe these were also made in californnia. These are the true american made tele bullit solid body and maple neck.
ReplyDeleteSo if I have a black on red, 81 S2 Standard Bullet Tele with a Rosewood board, plywood body, a made in USA case and made in USA decal,with a no "E" prefix serial number 100035 and pot dates of 12th week of 81 what the hell do I have??? The Fender body sticker in the neck pocket has the same hand written serial number... with I could post pics here.
Delete1981 is the only year they made tele bodies. The deluxe had thru body strings with plastic pick guard. Rosewood necks were made overseas and when they ran out attached vintage tele maple neck made in californnia. That year most had plywood bobies made overeas overseas but some had 3 piece solid bodies which you can see looking closley.i believe these were also made in californnia. These are the true american made tele bullit solid body and maple neck.
ReplyDeleteI think that the early'er statement that they where put together without thought, or consistency is spot on. Case in point. My 82 s-2 bullet deluxe.
ReplyDeleteFirst off the serial number begins E 1, witch should mean it was made in 81. BUT it has the double cut away body like a mini strat. The pick guard is white plastic with S-2 engraved on the bottom horn opposite the controls and jack. It has a five position selector with a tone and a volume knob. With a string through hard tail bridge. Now this is where it gets REALLY WEIRD. It has two single coil pick ups on the neck and center. But on the bridge A TRUE humbucker. I have never heard of or seen a combo like this. It is truely one of a kind and priceless.
I have a black with rosewood ssd pickups love it picked up second hand for a hundo. My friend has a HH honey that has the best neck I HAVE ever played.
DeleteAnyone have OBL pups on theirs ? It has 2 OBL's and they sort of resemble 2 blade Peavey Ferrites. Mine is the standard model with the steel pick guard and white knobs. Yes, it is a mixed up mess too with the maple neck and star with the number 1 on the headstock. I just got it and it is mint (and very cool). Oh and it still has the little cute patent pending sticker on the pick guard. E 111 5** serial number. Very interesting information and I have enjoyed reading the posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone on the Bullet comments. Very imformative and usefull. i have wondered for years about upgrading it so i am glad i left it alone. everything is exactly how it was when i bought it in 1982. thank you all for the info.
ReplyDeleteLove this thread. Thank you for all the info. I have 2 bullets - both red tele style with maple neck and metal pickguard. One of these is near mint condition and the other is in such a bad state I nearly put it on the fire... I won't now! But.... does anyone know where I can buy the guys to restore this old guitar. Currently it's just a body and neck so I need pretty much everything!?
ReplyDeleteI have a Bullet, which again is different to anything I've seen online. It is No E1099**, with a red single cut Tele style body in red, white pickguard, looks like a solid body, with the jack socket on the lower edge, being 4 screw chrome type, like a Les Paul. It has three white strat type pups, single tone and volume, with a five way switch. The rosewood Tele style neck has the five pointed star, with a 1 in it. The bridge seems to be a Schaller, chrome hardtail unit, with individual adjustment, the strings seated on roller type string gap adjusters. It has Schaller strap locks, together with its black/yellow/greeny strap, together with a moulded Fender case. I've looked at the history sites and can't find anything to match it? I know it is as the factory made it, as friends know the previous owners, including the guy who originally bought it in Guildford, England. I live about 100 miles West of there. It is a really super guitar to play and hear. Hope this is interesting.
ReplyDeletewill the bullet fit in a standard strat/tele case?
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be so much controversy about these BULLETS. i tried to get all the info.possible. some people think they are Crap while others say they are great. Mine is double cutaway 1982 model in red with white pick guard. Maple neck and string through body. It is in excellent cond. Fender USA hard case. One of these sold recently on USA auction site for £690 and the experts reckon between £600 and £900. Depending on condion. Any views?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMine is an earlier 1981 standard model and has a chromed pick guard. Looks like it came that way so I tend to think they're cobbled together from "parts." I have yet to see another with a chromed pick guard. The body is plywood but it's still got a unique tone that has it's own place. I don't think all of them were plywood from the first runs so that's probably just bad luck. The pickups are surprisingly good with alinco poles, black covers and wound at ~5.7k ohms so they're much like the higher end models that did not use ceramic magnets. The neck feels good, like a standard tele and the tuners are high quality so for a plywood guitar it's not bad, not bad at all.
ReplyDeleteGreat primer on Bullets!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of paint, the color is not Cream or Olympic White or Vintage White, it is IVORY, Fender color number 549.
In 1981 and 1982 the color was only available on Bullets, but by 1983 Fender pared options way down and Ivory became a standard color on models such as the Standard Stratocaster (the love-it-or-hate-it 2 knob Strat). By 1985 it was all over for CBS. The color is pretty rare in the grand scheme of Fender’s almost 70 years and has some very unique characteristics. If it is urethane it certainly doesn’t act like what you’ve been told about urethane, over time turning from creamy, to yellow to caramel. Just look at any disassembled body: the paint in the neck pocket is cream, the paint in the pickup cavity is yellow and the body exposed is butterscotch or caramel. If the color layer is not lacquer then maybe they did put a clear nitro coat over the top resulting in such drastic color changes over time.
At the time of writing this post, Fender has available and archived on its website in pdf format its dealer pricing catalogs confirming Ivory (549j.
Feel free to contact me via Facebook (Rory Fascione) if you find this interesting and have some input or questions..
ReplyDeleteJim Bainer posted to this blog that he thought he had one of the first 1981 Fender S2 Bullets but the serial number began in E. I suppose this could be however two days ago I ended my search for an original 1981 Bullet and I kid you not. This serial number does NOT begin with E and is as follows..... 100035 and has a matching Fender body sticker with the ame number hand written instead of being printed. Both Pot codes are 1378112, the guitar it's a 2 owner, 100% original in excellent condition with perfect patina and Molded 81 OHSC. If you do your homework you'll see quite a few "non-E" serial number 81's what does this mean? I have photographed and documented this guitar very well but could definitely use help in finding answers to these questions? Anybody know?
Hola tengo una Fender bullet deluxe americana del 83... con el tiempo se ha borrado parte de la marca de la pala de la guitarra y me gustaria ponersela nueva..... alguien sabe donde puedo comprarlo?
ReplyDeleteGracias
Valencia España
I have a red H2, E 115627. I believe that makes it an '82. It may have been marketed as a student model but it is the real deal. Look up the Guitar Media review on YouTube. The post is titled, "The best guitar for the money." I've had many other "real" guitars over my gigging life and I always come back to little red. It's all I play now.
ReplyDeleteHi Cuscus here from the TDPRI Bullet owners club, lots of info on these guitars here http://www.tdpri.com/threads/fender-bullet-owners-club.166850/
ReplyDeleteEveryone referring to serials & dates, not all USA made Fender Bullets have an E1 serial, some have no letter prefix & the serial numbers just follow from another batch of serial numbers. Fender bought the serial decals in bulk from a company called Meyercord & simply used up until they were gone. The E in the prefix stood for Eighties, the 1 was probably meant to mean 1981 but it was used through to 1984 on all of the Fender range, not just specific to the Bullet. Rory Fascione / Jim Bainer or anyone else with questions about these great guitars, please contact me through the TDPRI site.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI have a Bullet, which again is different to anything I've seen online. It is No E1099**, with a red single cut Tele style body in red, white pickguard, looks like a solid body, with the jack socket on the lower edge, being 4 screw chrome type, like a Les Paul. It has three white strat type pups, single tone and volume, with a five way switch. The rosewood Tele style neck has the five pointed star, with a 1 in it. The bridge seems to be a Schaller, chrome hardtail unit, with individual adjustment, the strings seated on roller type string gap adjusters. It has Schaller strap locks, together with its black/yellow/greeny strap, together with a moulded Fender case. I've looked at the history sites and can't find anything to match it? I know it is as the factory made it, as friends know the previous owners, including the guy who originally bought it in Guildford, England. I live about 100 miles West of there. It is a really super guitar to play and hear. Hope this is interesting.
I copy & pasted the above post & from reading some of the other posts, there seems to be some misinformation circulating about The USA Fender Bullet - So in reply, the guitar mentioned above would never have been a factory original, the guitar has been heavily modded despite what people may be telling you. The original tele shaped bullet designed by John Page was introduced in June 1981, the range comprised of "The Bullet" which had the alloy pickguard/stop tailpiece in black or white powder coat & "The Bullet Deluxe" which had a string thru body & a plastic pickguard with a hard tail bridge, available in red or ivory & initially only available with a rosewood fretboard on a maple neck, the option of a maple neck with walnut skunk stripe was made available sometime in 1982. Myth has it that vintage telecaster necks were used on these guitars, that is incorrect, but the necks are exactly the same as telecaster necks & made on the same jigs, the omission of the 21st fret marker on the rosewood board type should be a dead giveaway that the necks are not left over vintage 60's necks, this was probably Fender's way of distinguishing the Bullet from its more expensive guitars, plus a small cost saving. Some bodies on these guitars were lauan mahogany ply, but some were solid alder or poplar, initially manufacture was completed in Korea but bad quality control saw the Bullet come straight back to the USA for manufacture at the Fender Fullerton Plant. The mention of early serial numbers & pot dates is another area for discussion, the serial dates I mentioned in the post above, same applies to the pot dates, pots were purchased by Fender from various manufacturers & bought in bulk & used til they ran out & reordered more, so a pot date of 81 09 (March 81) is not unusual on these guitars, I have Bullets with those pot dates in my collection. Another misconception is that the Bullet had cheap parts, in fact it had the same hardware & electrics as every other Fender from that era, initial cost savings were made by using a cheaper offshore workforce & smaller thinner body wood & the alloy drop in guard, so assembly was quick. By the time manufacture returned to the USA, I doubt if Fender were breaking even on the Bullet, especially when the 2nd version strat shaped Bullet was introduced in 1982 with 5 models in the range.
If anyone is still around from this blog, please come over to the "Bullet Owners Club" at TDPRI, there is a vast amount of info on these guitars & the 80's Squier Bullets. I personally have done a lot of research, talked to many people all over the world, including the guitars designer John Page, some of the early info was very sketchy & some remains sketchy, but we have corrected things we have found to be wrong over the years, so please come over & make yourself known to us.
Sounds like someone's modded an original Bullet Deluxe. Check out the Bullet owners manuals under the "other" section at
Deletehttps://support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005949546-Fender-Guitar-Owner-s-Manuals
I think the manual for yours is (was) the "Bullet Deluxe Guitar (1982)"
I have a sunburst Bullet S-3 serial number E112*** serial number. I purchased it in 1989 from Chambers Guitar and Golf in Roseville, GA. I was told a lady played it regularly in church, but that’s doubtful. It has a tiny bit of the finish knocked off on the lower bout, but otherwise unmolested and stock. The Tele maple neck is super thin and frets are original and still in great shape. The mini Strat body is 3 piece (if you look closely) with a single ply white pick guard, 3 PU, volume and tone. Sound wise, totally different than any Strats I have...more bottom end, even when unplugged. I paid $350 back then, stupid at the time, but I’ve never regretted it.
ReplyDeleteHi all! I have a red Fender bullet E115...serial No. so I'm told that makes it an 83'? It has a 2 coil 'humbucker' pickup towards the bridge and a single coil towards the neck. Any literature I've read on Bullets doesn't mention this configuration. It has a white metal pickguard that fits the pickup profile perfectly so don't imagine it's been tampered with over the years. I've had it around 15 years and paid little for it and it plays beautifully,I love it! Just wanted to delve a little deeper into the history of the bullet. Anyone have any thoughts or seen one with this pickup configuration? Shame i can't post a picture.Thanks for your time!
ReplyDeleteHello all,
ReplyDeleteI've had several bullets,the 1st one I purchased new in 1981 for you guessed it $199.00 at a small mom/pop music store in Cleveland. It was a Tele body S-2 Red with white guard. It was stolen a year later. Good times! Well after I got over the bitterness I decided to look gor another,and another, and another. Anyway my most amazing find is my serial# 100035 without the "E" prefix. I was told by John Paige that it's DEFINITELY one of the first run guitars. The pots actually predate the release of the guitar. It even has a hand written serial number Fender sticker in the neck pocket that matches the headstock. I love the novelty of the early metal pickguards which doubled as the tailpiece. Not the most rugged thing in the world but a great lightweight practice guitar and the necks are as good as any Strat or Tele. I see too many being parted out which is a real shame unless many are being restored. If anyone has production numbers I'd be very interested in knowing more.
RFascione, Check out the TDPRI Bullet group for any specific production queries of that kind, Cuscus there is a mine of information and very helpful. You also get to see pics of his massive collection of Fender rarities, not just Bullets!
ReplyDeleteIt's been nearly 4-1/2 years since my last post, but here goes. Okay, I understand what I am considering is sacrilege to many if not most here, but here are some questions:
ReplyDelete1. Will Fender Gen 4 Noiseless Telecaster Pickups fit my 81 Tele shaped Bullet?
2. Will a Fender 4-Way Telecaster Pickup Selector Mod Switch fit my Bullet?
While I have no plans to sell it, the newer pickups are much hotter than the original weak pups and would undoubtedly sound better. Of course I would retain the original parts, but on its face, would these improvements slash the value of the guitar? Thanks.
Hi FenderGuy, the pickups & 4 way switch would fit the Bullet, assuming that the switch is the same dimensions as the standard 3 way. Check the depth of the pickups, as that would be the only problem, as noiseless single coil pickups tend to be stacked humbuckers & the body of the Bullet is thinner than the standard Fender models. The pickups in the bullet are the same output as vintage strat & tele pickups, they are not weak, maybe you just don't like that sound. Personally I would not consider them improvements, the mods will definitely affect the value, the guitar is better kept original in my opinion. Maybe you could source another guitar to mod, probably not what you wanted to hear, but would be my advice.
ReplyDeleteI am Cuscus @ TDPRI ome & say hello here at The Fender Bullet Owners Club https://www.tdpri.com/threads/fender-bullet-owners-club.166850/
I recently picked up a Squier bullet serial number E6 oo7 XX that number is on the neck plate the machine heads our logo. Fender but have a squiggle of some sort underneath them it's black in the pickup configuration the neck is all maple in the truss rod adjustment is at the heel of the neck the logo says squire bullet with a star and a 1 is this a korean-made guitar or is this made in Japan the body is it Telecaster Style the neck has a Stratocaster headstock I hope somebody can help me determine the origin and any other information they could give me thank you
ReplyDeleteI have a 1981 Fender Bullet standard without the ‘E’ starting in the serial number.. The guitar was originally coloured Ivory, but is now a beautiful golden yellow from the years gone by.. its sports a Black steel face plate bridge combo , with barrelled saddles . The neck socket has a Fender sticker with the same serial number as the decal on the head stock. The body appears to be layered plywood , very dense and heavy feeling. The pickups are also black plastic covered overstock from the old Mustangs .. Pots also date to 1981.. The guitar sounds amazing through my original 1969 Princeton currently ,, setup for 10-52 strings.. This is still my number one goto guitar when gigging .. Cheers
ReplyDeleteAn some one tell me what is the correct style tuner on a 1081 fender USA bullet ?
ReplyDeleteI have seen 3 different ones