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Fender USA

Fender USA 1950 - 1964

SERIAL NUMBERSPRODUCTION DATES
Up to 60001950 to 1954
Up to 10,0001954 to 1956
10,000s1955 to 1956
10,000s to 20,000s1957
20,000s to 30,000s1958
30,000s to 40,000s1959
40,000s to 50,000s1960
50,000s to 70,000s1961
60,000s to 90,000s1962
80,000s to 90,000s1963
90,000s up to L10,000s1963
L10,000s up to L20,000s1963
L20,000s up to L50,000s1964

Fender USA 1965 - 1976

SERIAL NUMBERSPRODUCTION DATES
L50,000s up to L90,000s1965
100,000s1965
100,000s to 200,000s1966 to 1967
200,000s1968
200,000s to 300,000s1969 to 1970
300,000s1971 to 1972
300,000s to 500,000s1973
400,000s to 500,000s1974 to 1975
500,000s to 700,000s1976

Fender USA 1976 - Present

SERIAL NUMBERSPRODUCTION DATES
76 + 5 DIGITS
S6 + 5 DIGITS 
1976
S7 + 5 DIGITS
S8 + 5 DIGITS 
1977
S7 + 5 DIGITS
S8 + 5 DIGITS
S9 + 5 DIGITS 
1978
S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS 
1979
S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS
E1 + 5 DIGITS 
1980
S9 + 5 DIGITS
E0 + 5 DIGITS
E1 + 5 DIGITS 
1981

Fender US Vintage Series 1982 - Present

SERIAL NUMBERSPRODUCTION DATES
EI + 5 DIGITS
E2 + 5 DIGITS
E3 + 5 DIGITS
V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 
1982

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

E2 + 5 DIGITS

E3 + 5 DIGITS

V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1983

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

E3 + 5 DIGITS

E4 + 5 DIGITS

V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1984

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

Fender USA 1985 +

SERIAL NUMBERSPRODUCTION DATES
E3 + 5 DIGITS

E4 + 5 DIGITS

V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1985

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 1986

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

 E4 + 5 DIGITS

V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1987

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

E4 + 5 DIGITS

E8 + 5 DIGITS

V + 4, 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1988

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

E8 + 5 DIGITS

E9 + 5 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1989

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

Fender USA 1990's

SERIAL NUMBERSPRODUCTION DATES
E9 + 5 DIGITS

N9 + 5 DIGITS

N0 + 5 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1990

(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year) 

N0 + 5 DIGITS

N1 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1991
N1 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1992
N2 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1993
N3 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1994
N4 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1995
N5 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N6 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1996
N6 + 6 or 6 DIGITS

N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1997
N7 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1998
N8 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

N9 + 5 or 6 DIGITS

V + 5 or 6 DIGITS (U.S. Vintage Series) 

1999

Fender USA Odd Serial Numbers

NUMBERDESCRIPTION
AMXN + 6 DIGITS California Series electric guitars and basses, '97 and'98
DN + 6 DIGITS American Deluxe series instruments, '98 and '99
NC(XXXXXX)Squier Strat Bullets (dating unclear)
FN(XXXXXX) US made guitars and basses destined for the export market.Some may have stayed in the U.S or found their way back (Made to StandardStrat specs, dating unclear)
I(XXXXXXX) A limited number of these "I" series guitars were madein '89 and '90. They were made for the export market and have Made in USAstamped on the heel of the neck.
LE(XXXXXX) Blonde Jazzmasters and Jaguars with Gold hardware madein 1994. Sold as a promotional 3 piece set with a Blonde Deluxe ReverbAmp
CN(XXXXXX)

VN(XXXXXX) 

Korean made Fender/Squier guitars (dating unclear)
CA(XXXXX)Gold Strat 1981, 82 and 83
CB(XXXXX) Precision Bass Special from 1981, CB(XXXXX) Gold Jazz Bassfrom 1982
CC(XXXXX)Walnut Strat 1981-82-83
CE(XXXXX) Precision Bass Special from 1981, Black and Gold Tele from1981-82
CD(XXXXX)

CO(XXXXX) 

Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982
GO(XXXXX) Precision Bass Special (Walnut) from 1982, Gold Strat 1982-83
D(XXXXXX)Jazz Bass from 1982
SE(XXXXXX)

SN(XXXXXX) 

Signature Edition Strats

SE8(XXXXX)-'88, SE9(XXXXX)-'89

SN0(XXXXX)-'90, SN1(XXXXX)-'90, SN2(XXXXX)-'92, SN3(XXXXX)-'93 

3 DIGITS OF 500 35TH Anniversary Strat from 1989-1990
G(XXXXXX) "STRAT" from about 1980, (Gold hardware, 2 position rotarytone switch)
4 DIGITS STAMPED ON BRIDGE PLATE U.S. '52 Vintage Telecaster 1982-1988 (Check neck datefor specific year)
5 DIGITS STAMPED ON BRIDGE PLATE U.S. '52 Vintage Telecaster 1988-present (Check neck datefor specific year)

Fender Japan

SERIAL NUMBERSCIRCA
JV+ 5 DIGITS1982-1984
SQ+ 5 DIGITS1983-1984
E+ 6 DIGITS1984-1987
A+ 6 DIGITS1985-1986
B+ 6 DIGITS1985-1986
C+ 6 DIGITS1985-1986
F+ 6 DIGITS1986-1987
G+ 6 DIGITS1987-1988
H+ 6 DIGITS1988-1989
I+ 6 DIGITS1989-1990
J+ 6 DIGITS1989-1990
K+ 6 DIGITS1990-1991
L+ 6 DIGITS1991-1992
M+ 6 DIGITS1992-1993
N+ 6 DIGITS1993-1994
O+ 6 DIGITS1993-1994
P+ 6 DIGITS1993-1994
Q+ 6 DIGITS1993-1994
S+ 6 DIGITS1994-1995
T+ 6 DIGITS1994-1995
U+ 6 DIGITS1995-1996
V+ 6 DIGITS1996-1997
Crafted in Japan
A + 6 DIGITS
1997-1998
Crafted in Japan
B+ 6 DIGITS
1998-1999

Gibson

Gibson 1953 -1961

Serial number consists of 5 - 6 digits where the 1st digit is the year for the years.

Gibson 1961-1969

APPROXIMATE YEARSERIAL RANGE
1961100-42440
196242441-61180
196361450-64220
196464240-70500
196271180-96600
196396601-99999
1967000001-008010
1967010000-042900
1967044000-044100
1967050000-054400
1967055000-063999
1967064000-066010
1967067000-070910
1967090000-099999
1963, 1967100000-106099
1963106100-108900
1963, 1967109000-109999
1963110000-111549
1963, 1967111550-115799
1963115800-118299
1963, 1967118300-120999
1963121000-139999
1963, 1967140000-140100
1963140101-144304
1964144305-144380
1963144381-145000
1963147009-149864
1964149865-149891
1963149892-152989
1964152990-174222
1964, 1965174223-176643
1964176644-199999
1964200000-250335
1965250336-291000
1965301755-302100
1965302754-305983
1965, 1967306000-306100
1965, 1967307000-307985
1965, 1967309848-310999
1965311000-320149
1967320150-320699
1965 320700-321100
1965 322000-326600
1965 328000-328500
1965 328700-329179
1965, 1967 329180-330199
1965, 1967, 1968 330200-332240
1965 332241-347090
1965 348000-348092
1966 348093-349100
1965 349121-368638
1966 368640-369890
1967 370000-370999
1966 380000-385309
1967 390000-390998
1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 400001-400999
1966 401000-407985
1966 408000-408690
1966 408800-409250
1966 420000-426090
1966 427000-429180
1966 430005-438530
1966 438800-438925
1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 500000-500999
1965 501010-501600
1968 501601-501702
1965, 1968 501703-502706
1968 503010-503110
1965, 1968 503405-520955
1968 520956-530056
1966, 1968, 1969 530061-530850
1968, 1969 530851-530993
1969 530994-539999
1966, 1969 540000-540795
1969 540796-545009
1966 550000-556910
1969 558012-567400
1966 570099-570755
1969 580000-580999
1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 600000-600999
1969 601000-601090
1969 605901-606090

Gibson 1970 - 1975

Year(s) Approximate Series Manufacture
1970, 1971, and 1972 100000s, 600000s, 700000s, 900000s
1973 000001s, 100000s, 200000s, 800000s and a few "A" + 6 digit numbers
1974 and 1975 100000s, 200000s, 300000s, 400000s,500000s, 600000s,800000s and a fewA-B-C-D-E-F + 6 digit numbers

During the period from 1975-1977 Gibson used a transfer that had eight digit numbers, the first two indicate the year, 99=1975, 00=1976 and 06=1977, the following six digits are in the 100000 to 200000. MADE IN USA were also included on the transfer and some models had LIMITED EDITION also applied. A few bolt on neck instruments had a date ink stamped onthe heel area.

In 1977, Gibson first introduced the serialization methodthat is in practice today. This updated system utilizes an impressed eightdigit numbering scheme that covers both serializing and dating functions. The pattern is as follows: YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.

The numbers 001-499 show Kalamazoo production, 500-999show Nashville production. The Kalamazoo numbers were discontinued in 1984.

Epiphones

NumberYear
100 - 41199 1961
41200 - 61180 1962
61450 - 64222 1963
64240 - 70501 1964
71180 - 95846 1962* *(Numerical sequence may not coincide to year sequence)
95849 - 99999 1963*
000001 - 099999 1967*
100000 - 106099 1963 or 1967*
106100 - 108999 1963
109000 - 109999 1963 or 1967*
110000 - 111549 1963
111550 - 115799 1963 or 1967*
115800 - 118299 1963
118300 - 120999 1963 or 1967*
121000 - 139999 1963
140000 - 140100 1963 or 1967*
140101 - 144304 1963
144305 - 144380 1963 or 1964
144381 - 145000 1963
147001 - 149891 1963 or 1964
149892 - 152989 1963
152990 - 174222 1964
174223 - 179098 1964 or 1965
179099 - 199999 1964>
200000 - 250199 1964
250540 - 290998 1965
300000 - 305999 1965
306000 - 306099 1965 or 1967*
307000 - 307984 1965
309653 - 310999 1965 or 1967*
311000 - 320149 1965
320150 - 320699 1967*
320700 - 325999 1967*
325000 - 326999 1965 or 1966
327000 - 329999 1965
330000 - 330999 1965 or 1967 or 1968*
331000 - 346119 1965
346120 - 347099 1965 or 1966
348000 - 349100 1966
349101 - 368639 1965
368640 - 369890 1966
370000 - 370999 1967
380000 - 380999 1966 to 1968*
381000 - 385309 1966
390000 - 390998 1967
400001 - 4009991965 to 1968*
401000 - 408699 1966
408800 - 409250 1966 or 1967
420000 - 438922 1966
500000 - 500999 1965 to 1966,or 1968 to 1969*
501009 - 501600 1965
501601 - 501702 1968
501703 - 502706 1965 or 1968*
503010 - 503109 1968
503405 - 520955 1965 or 1968*
520956 - 530056 1968
530061 - 530850 1966 or 1968 or 1969*
530851 - 530993 1968 or 1969
530994 - 539999 1969
540000 - 540795 1966 or 1969*
540796 - 545009 1969
555000 - 556909 1966*
558012 - 567400 1969
570099 - 570755 1966*
580000 - 580999 1969
600000 - 600999 1966 to 1969*
601000 - 606090 1969
700000 - 700799 1966 or 1967*
750000 - 750999 1968 or 1969
800000 - 800999 1966 to 1969*
801000 - 812838 1966 or 1969*
812900 - 819999 1969
820000 - 820087 1966 or 1969*
820088 - 823830 1966*
824000 - 824999 1969
828002 - 847488 1966 or 1969*
847499 - 858999 1966 or 1969*
859001 - 895038 1967*
895039 - 896999 1968*
897000 - 898999 1967 or 1969*
899000 - 972864 1968*

During the early 1980s production moved to Korea, and again the serial numbers are not an exact science as a dating mechanism. In 1993, a structure was developed where the number (or pair of numbers) following the initialletter indicates the year of production (i.e. "3" indicates 1993, or a"93" would indicate the same). Some top of the line Epiphones were producedin the U.S. at either Gibson's Nashville or Montana facilities in the 1990s. These instruments are the only ones that correspond to the standard post-1977 Gibson serialization. Like Gibson numbers, there are 8 digits in the completenumber, and follows the code of YDDDYNNN. The YY (first and fifth) indicate the year built. DDD indicates the day of the year (so DDD can't be above 365), and the NNN indicates the instrument's production ranking for that day (NNN = 021 = 21st guitar built). The Nashville facility begins eachday at number 501, and the Montana workshop begins at number 101. However, in 1994, the Nashville-produced Epiphones were configured as YYNNNNNN:YY = 94 (the year) and NNNNNN is the ranking for the entire year.

Kramer Guitars

If the serial number of your Kramer starts with the following serial numbers, it is NOT a USA Made or "American" series Kramer:

1) Two letters followed by a serial number (e.g. AA1234, AC1234, FA1234,FC1234,
SA1234)
2) One letter followed by five letters (e.g. b12345) The only exceptionto this would be some of the "E" and "F" series neckplates did have one letter followed by fiveletters (e.g. e12345).
3) Five numbers, no letters (e.g. 12345)
4) Model numbers preceding serial number (e.g. XL-1234)
5) A chrome or black neck plate with nothing on it but a Kramer headstockand a serial number stamped on them.  These neck plates are smooth flat neck plateswith no "Neptune, N.J." stamped on them.

Keep in mind that just because the neckplate is imprinted with "Kramer,Neptune, NJ" does NOT mean that the guitar was Made in the USA or an "American" series. Kramer was very careful to not stamp "Made In USA" anywhere on its neckplates starting in about 1985/1986.

Starting in late 1985, virtually all Kramer guitars were being made by ESP Guitars in Japan.  Although the "American" Series guitars were made by ESPin Japan, they were assembled in the US.  In general, the following is a goodway to determine if your Kramer is USA made or an "American" series:

  • If your Kramer has a Strat or Classic headstockand has a Kramer logo with a capital "K" followed by a lower caser "ramer", the guitar is an early 1981-1984 USA made Kramer guitar.
  • If your guitar has a banana headstock and ablock style Kramer logo in all caps "KRAMER", it is a 1984-1986 USA Made/AmericanSeries Kramer Guitar.
  • If your guitar has a pointy headstock anda block style Kramer logo in the same sized lettering in all caps, it is a 1986/1987 AmericanSeries Kramer Guitar.
  • If your guitar has a pointy headstock and adiminishing sized Kramer logo with the letters diminishing in size from the K to the R and,there is a script "American" decal after the "KRAMER" logo, it is a 1987-1994 American Series Kramer Guitar.
  • If your guitar has a pointy headstock and adiminishing sized Kramer logo but does not have "American" in script after the logo, it is NOT an American series guitar.

The following wood neck guitar models were the ONLY Made in USA or "American" Series guitars:

  • Baretta Series
  • Pacer Series
  • Stagemaster Series
  • Vanguard Series
  • Voyager Series
  • Classic Series
  • ProAx Series
  • NightSwan Series
  • Ripley Series
  • Spector Series
  • Paul Dean Series
  • Richie Sambora Series
  • TriAx
  • Enterprize
  • Elliot Easton Series
  • Sustainer Series
  • Liberty Series
  • Condor Series

The following wood neck guitar models were NOT Made in USA or "American" Series guitars. These guitars were made either in Korea, Indonesia,or Japan.

Striker Series, Focus Series, Hundred Series(e.g. 410, 610), Thousand Series, XL Series, ZX Series, Aerostar Series, ShowsterSeries, and Ferrington Series. Furthermore, the Gorky Park special editionmodel is also an overseas made guitar.

Another good way to tell if your Kramer is an overseas made model isif it is made out of plywood or composite wood.  Also, if your Kramer has "non-name"pickups or "Designed by Seymour Duncan" pickups, it is an overseas model.  Finally, ifyour Kramer came with a Floyd Rose II, Floyd Rose with no fine tuners, or a Floyd Rose unit that does not require the ball ends of the strings to be cut off, it is an overseas model.

Ibanez Guitars

Pre 1987 models Ibanez guitars serial number system is easy if the guitar was made before 1987 you can use the following:
The first letter is for the Month. A is January,B is Feb, C is March etc.  The next two numbers are the Year 76 is1976, 78 would be 1978. The next 4 numbers are the productionnumber that month they only produced 9999 pcs each month. EXAMPLE C760276 this is March 1976 the 276pc made that month

Post 1987 models the letter is now the Factory designation. The first Numberis the year the next 5 numbers are the production number of the piece forthe year. EXAMPLE F700001 - This guitar was made in 1987 and is the first one made that year.

Hamer Guitars

Hamer uses 2 serial numbering systems.

Hamer Numbering System # 1

1976 to 1981
#0001 to #0680 - A Total of 680 guitars all Custom Shop guitars or custom made for someone special etc etc.
All of these instruments have a stamped into the wood 4 digit serial number

Hamer Numbering System # 2

1977 to Present Day
This system would have at least a 5 digit number with a space between the first and second digit example 2 2047 This would be a 1982 guitar the 2,047th guitar ever built not including the 680 custom guitars that used the original serial number system.

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