Also California Series serials (1997-1998) use an AMXN prefix followed by 6 digits, and were jointly made by Fender USAMexico.

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First two numbers in the sequence are the last two digits of the production year.

Deans more affordable line made outside the US may require looking at features and hardware and some knowledge of the line.

An example given was the serial US12040364 (dont let the US make you think its a USA model).

Happy hunting YYMMFFRRRRR YY year of manufacture MM month of manufature FF factory ID RRRRR ranking number Example: 08121520333 2008 December factory 15 unit 20333 Note: Models from 2008 and onwards omit the factory ID letter prefix.

A single digit month of manufacture may occur for some 1997 and earlier models.

Yamaha Database Code For Year

The system uses running model numbers rather than a dedicated code for year, month, and place of manufacture.

Y Year of manufacture MM Month of manufacture PPP Production number The serial number letters used by the Terada and Fuji-Gen guitar factories are: J Terada T Terada, F Fuji-Gen No Letter Fuji-Gen Example: J902123 Terada 1999 February unit 123 Example: T902123 Terada 1999 February unit 123 Example: F902123 Fuji-Gen 1999 February unit 123 Example: 902123 Fuji-Gen 1999 February unit 123 1987 - 1997 For Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan semi acoustic models from 1987 to approximately 1997, the serial numbers are in a YCPPP format.

They were made by Terada and usually have an Orange Epiphone label.

Y Year of manufacture C Model code PPP Production number Model Codes (C) 1 NVJ 2 EMPEROR 3 RIVIERA 4 SHERATON 5 CASINO 6 Limited Edition 7 EB-2 8 ES-930J 9 EMPEROR-J Example: 34123 1993 SHERATON unit 123 Example: 38123 1993 ES-930J unit 123 1971 - 1987 The Aria Epiphone Japan models that were made by Matsumoku from the early 1970s and ending before 1987 do not have a reliable serial numbering system but can be approximately dated using their Epiphone label colors.

Blue label - Early models say Union Made 1976-1979 - Tan or white Lincolnwood label with Norlin logo 1980-1987 - Brown Label with splotched pattern.

For example day 02 could be 2, and thus the serial would be only 7 digits long.

You can check the neck, neck pocket, or even pickup cavity for a written serial.

Serial numbers found under a pickup may conform to an MMYNN scheme where MM month, Y last digit of year, and NN production number.

Bolt-on guitars may have a 5-digit code stamped on the neck plate but because of materials being used inconsistently at the ESP factories these numbers cannot be trusted.

This is partially due to their production methods, which often involved using parts throughout different models and years, so that tracing the year of one part may not accurately indicate the production year of the instrument.

If youre not averse to removing the neck on a guitar, Fender often wrote a date on the heel of the neck, as well as a date in the neck pocket.

This method can often clear up a situation where the serial number is inconclusive.

Pot codes may also point you to a general date range, but dont expect them to always be accurate.

In general, an initial letter indicates the decade, with S 70s, E 80s, N 90s, Z 2000s.

A number, usually 5 to 7 digits long, follows the letter and helps to further identify the year.

There is known overlap between years, and looking at the date on the neck heel should be more accurate.

Yamaha Database Series Starting In

Note: US Vintage series starting in 1982 onward begins with a V.

Other signatures, such as Ritchie Blackmore and Duff McKagan used MSZ, while still others retained the MX designation.

Yamaha Serial Number Database