The remaining six digits are the unit identifier, but they are not sequential and do not provide further identification information about the instrument.The numbers for each year typically overlap, as there is always a transitional period between successive years and as necks and complete instruments that were made and serial numbered late in any given year were used on instruments assembled and sold in the early months of the subsequent year.As always, dating by serial number is not an exact science and is seldom definitive. A seven-digit serial number beginning with six, for example, indicates 1996; a seven-digit number beginning with seven denotes 1997; an eight-digit number beginning with 98 denotes 1998, etc.A “KC” prefix was introduced on Korean-made instruments in 1997, designating instrument made in Korea at the Cort factory. The system became more complicated as the serial numbers were assigned a specific sequence for each model in the late 1960s. How can I find out when my American-made instrument was manufactured? As an example, we’ll use a random number: TJ 037 016. The following chart, however, details the best information we have for the approximate last serial numbers produced in each given year before 1960.
Therefore, dating a guitar is quite easy, provided you have a serial number chart. YYMMXXXX format How can I find out how old my amplifier is? Korean Ibanez Serial Numbers The serials below should start with one or two letters to indicate the manufacturer, then follow with one of the several possible number schemes below having somewhere between 6 and 10 digits. The letter prefix is followed by an eight-digit number, the first two digits of which identify year of manufacture, (i.e., 97 for 1997, 98 for 1998, etc.). A seven-digit serial number beginning with six, for example, indicates 1996; a seven-digit number beginning with seven denotes 1997; an eight-digit number beginning with 98 denotes 1998, etc. How can I find out when my Korean-made instrument was manufactured? What can you tell me about the historical patent markings that appear on some of your products. It is accepted that there were serial numbers with and without letter prefixes at that time, but as definitive information is lacking, serial-number dating for Korean instruments made before 1993 is highly uncertain.Digital records beginning in 1993 show some “CN” and “VN” prefixes on the serial numbers of Korean-made instruments (these numbers almost certainly occur before 1993, but there is no documentation of this). C = Cor-Tek (Cort), S = Samick(1990–1995), S/SQ = Saehan(Sunghan), P = Peerless (Iida), Y = Yoojin, A = Sae-In. A “KC” prefix was introduced on Korean-made instruments in 1997, designating instrument made in … How can I find out when my old Fender® banjo was manufactured? These charts are meant only as guides and, due to the absence of thorough and uninterrupted records, hence do not offer complete reliability. How can I find out when my acoustic instrument was manufactured? Although Fender began producing Fender and Squier instruments in Korea in 1988, its digital records only go back to mid-1993, with little if any information available on serial numbering from 1988 through 1992. Serial numbers without letter prefixes have been found dating through 1996; these are six-, seven- and eight-digit serial numbers with the first numeral (or first two numerals in the eight-digit numbers) indicating year of manufacture. However, there were also some Korean Artist Series Strats made around 1995-1996 with no serial numbers, and many Korean-made Japanese Market models had no serial numbers as well. How can I find out when my Japanese-made instrument was manufactured? Unfortunately, the records of Guild serial numbers prior to 1960 are somewhat sketchy, and so we are unable to assure the accuracy of dating before that time. How can I find out how old my instrument is if it uses an odd or non-standard serial numbering scheme. How can I find out when my Mexican-made instrument was manufactured? Guild Guitar Serial # lookup : 10% complete It should be noted that many manufactures don't have complete records themselves so any progress given here are based on what we know we still have to complete for a given manufacturer and may still be missing serial numbers after '100% complete'.