#Dating samick guitar by serial serial numbers
#Dating samick guitar by serial serial number
#Dating samick guitar by serial series

#Dating samick guitar by serial serial number

The prefix вЂNвЂ™ at the beginning of a serial number stands for the nineties.

#Dating samick guitar by serial series

Vintage Series (launched in 1982) uses вЂVвЂ™ as a prefix for the serial number

The prefix вЂEвЂ™ stands for the decade of the eighties.

The prefix вЂSвЂ™ at the beginning of a serial number stands for the decade of the seventies.

The prefix вЂLвЂ™ at the beginning of a serial number indicates a guitar from the early вЂ™60s.

The naming convention is a bit haphazard (itвЂ™s no different with Gibson serial numbers), but here are some general rules that should ring true 99% of the time вЂ“ but beware, there are plenty of exceptions:

Between the pick-up and the saddles (some Telecasters).

On the back of the vibrato cover plate (on early вЂ™50s Stratocasters).On the cover plate of the vibrato (on Stratocasters).On the front or at the back of the headstock.The location of the serial number has annoyingly changed from model to model over the years. Very early models still used the 'S' prefix and some also used 'R' or 'R9'.Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Fender Guitar? Before mid-2013, they used the 'KS' prefix. On Guild models, the following format is used:Д¬urrent SPG-built D'Angelico models use the prefix 'US' with the same format. SPG uses the prefix 'KS' (Korea, SPG) on Gretsch models, with the format:Д®xample: KS14070456 = 456th guitar made July 2014 See below for the serial formats used by SPG. The Korean factory was bought by a group of workers and now continues to this day under the name SPG, making guitars for Gretsch, Guild and D'Angelico, among others. New models now follow the same serial number format, but with a prefix of SI (Samick Indonesia). In 2006, Korean production of Samick models ended, and all production was moved to the Indonesian factory. While contract builds always included the prefix, it wasn't always used on Samick brand guitars.Д«y the end of 1993, the month (M) returned to the format, and by 1994, the year was shortened to one digit:Д®xample: S4030482 = 482nd guitar made March 1994ДЇinally, by at least May 1997, the year returned to two digits:Д®xample: S97040076 = 76th guitar made April 1997 (Note: The new design did not appear until May 1990, so any early 1990 year models retain the '80s style plate)ДЄt the turn of the millennium, bolt-neck models kept the same format and neckplate style, so these guitars must be dated by their logo style, headstock style and other features.ДЄround 1992 (although some examples have been found with stickers as late as 1993), all set neck models switched to a silk-screened serial number on the back of the headstock with an 'S' prefix:Д®xample: S9207374 = 7,374th (set neck?) guitar made in 1992 They kept the same format, so the decade is determined by the style of neck plate. Semi-Hollow models (at this time) use a different format with no month, and the serial is found on the label inside the top f-hole.Д®xample: 902703 = 2,703rd semi-hollow guitar made in 1990 Bolt-On ModelsД«olt-neck models started having the serial number engraved into the neckplate in 1987. The 'S' prefix also first appeared at this time.Д®xample: 90080084 = 84th guitar made in August of 1990ДЄnother format found around this time (possibly only for international models):

#Dating samick guitar by serial serial numbers

Around this time, the serial numbers became a bit unpredictable, as they were figuring out a new system. The format for these dates is ( YY/MM/DD).ДЄnother neat way to know your Hondo was built prior to 1984, is that if it has the original Grover Rotomatic tuners, the posts that the buttons are screwed onto will be larger in diameter than Rotomatics made from 1984-on.ДЄs 1990 approached, the use of one digit for the year presented the issue of repeat serial numbers. If your guitar was built prior to 1984, or has lost its serial number sticker, the only other way to date your guitar is by looking for a date ink-stamped on the side of the original box switch. Being a sticker, many are ripped off or wear off over the years. These serial numbers are easily recognized as a white sticker with a black border, usually found on the back of the headstock or the heel of the neck. It is commonly found on Mastercaster Series models, among others. The significance of this format is unknown. Many guitars made around 1985 have a serial number with the format: In 1988, occasionally the format was YYMMPPPPP because of high production volume.Д®xample: 880510504 = 10,504th guitar made in May of 1988 Samick first started using serial numbers on Hondos and other contract brands in 1984 (their home brand models did not use serials until ~1987), using the following format:Д®xample: 8030768 = 768th guitar made in March of 1988 Earliest known serial number, June 1984 (production number faded away).