A serial number ending in 501 could be the first instrument made at factory #5 that day, or it could be the 501 st instrument of the day. Yamaha serial numbers for electric and bass guitars In 1887, Yamaha (then Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd.) began producing reed organs in Japan The Yamaha Guitar Archive data says these models started in 1974 but so far I've found Tan label serial numbers as late as August 1975, and I haven't found a Black label earlier than June 1975.The remaining characters (RRR) can indicate the order of instruments created that day, as well as which factory the instrument was made in.00027xxx for the 2 nd day of the year of 2007 (January 2, 2007).You should note this serial number in the space provided below and retain this manual as a perma-nent record of your purchase to aid identification in the event of theft. 82176xxx for the 217 th day of the year of 1986 (August 5, 1986) The model number, serial number, power requirements, etc., may be found on or near the name plate, which is at the bottom of the unit.
Gibsons have this pattern stamped onto the back of their headstocks: YDDDYRRR.Gibson serial numbers are even more interesting, because you can find out the specific date that your instrument was completed! Here's how:.Serial number coding for Mexican-made instruments is largely the same, except they will start with an M.The remaining digits are important for product identification, but the first few characters are all you need to determine the instruments age.The second character will usually be a number.For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter.Serial dating is easiest for instruments made in the USA or Mexico, but is also possible for those made in Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. First, narrow it down by the country of origin.
Here's a brief rundown of how to do it, plus resources for more information. Well, good news it's very easy to figure out the age of Fender and Gibson instruments from the last 30 years. Ever wonder exactly when your favorite guitar was made? You sort of remember when you got it, but you want to really know its history, especially if you're not the first owner.