Korean Epiphone Serial Numbers

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paruwi

Kraut-Rocker
Epiphone les paul korea serial number i03042775

Had another Epi that surfaced nearby that intresting: Owner is the 2nd owner, says he's not intrested in it anymore. Serial number indicates it was bult in may of 1998 in Korea.

Epiphone Serial Number Identification

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From the 1980s, Epiphones were manufactured mainly in Korea and Japan by contractors licensed by Gibson. One of these contractors was Samick, which also built instruments under license for other brands and in its own name. The brand was primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models. The Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan serial numbers from 1998 onwards are in a YMMPPP format. 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. Epiphone in korea In the early '80s with the rising cost of Japanese production, Epiphone relocated to Korea in 1983 in a collaboration with the Samick Company. In 1986, three Harvard MBAs; Henry Juszkiewicz, David Berryman and Gary Zebrowski, bought Gibson/Epiphone from ECL/Norlin. The serial number is 880509595 and it's located on a stick-on strip on the back of the headstock. The front of the headstock has 'Epiphone by Gibson' at the top and the Epiphone logo at the bottom.

YYMMFFRRRRR
In 2008 models begin to appear without a factory i.d. letter prefix.
  • YY = Year of manufacture
  • MM = Month of manufature
  • FF = Factory I.D.
  • RRRRR = Ranking number
Example: 08121520333 = 2008 / December / factory 15 / unit 20333
NOTE: Pre 1994 productions also frequently omitted factory letter codes and appeared as all numbers. e.g. 3042779
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FYYMMRRRR

    • F/FF = Factory code (No factory designator for some 1993 and earlier models)
    • Y/YY = Year of manufacture (Single digit for some 1997 and earlier models)
    • MM = Month of manufacture
    • RRRR = Ranking number (may be more or less digits)
Example: 3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234
Example: S3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234
Example: S93021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234
Example: SI01021234 = Samick Indonesia / 2001 / February / unit 1234
Example: SI010212345 = Samick Indonesia / 2001 / February / unit 12345
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FYYMRRRR


    • F = Factory code
    • YY = Year of manufacture
    • M = Letter code to corresponding month (A = January, B = February, etc.)
    • RRRR = Ranking number
Example: R01B0123 = Peerless Korea / 2001 / February / unit 0123.
mostly used on Peerless made Epiphones
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FYYSSSS
Epiphone Elite/Elitist models


    • F = Factory code (F = Fuji-gen, T = Terada)
    • Y = Single digit year of manufacture (2002-2009)
    • YY = Double digit year of manufacture (2010-Current)
    • SSSS = Sequential ranking number
Example: F21234 = Fuji-gen Japan / 2002 / unit 1234
Example: T101234 = Terada Japan / 2010 / unit 1234
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FACTORY LETTER CODES
For Epiphone serial numbers that begin with a letter(s), this list identifies the factory & country where produced:


    • B - Bohêmia Musico-Delicia (Czech Republic)
    • BW - ____?____ (China)
    • CI - Cort (Indonesia)
    • DW - DaeWon (China)
    • EA - QingDao (China) = Epiphone Acoustic
    • ED - Dongbei (China) = Chinese Dongbei means North-east.
    • EE - QingDao (China) = Epiphone Electric
    • F - Fuji-gen (Japan) = Elite/Elitist models (See: Epiphone Japan Serial Numbers)
    • F - Qingdao (China) = Les Paul Standard '59 / '60 / Tribute Models (See: F-Serial used on LP Std'59/'60 models and Tribute/Plus models)
    • F/FN - Fine Guitars (Korea) = non-Japanese models
    • FC - ____?____ (China 2000's) Possibly 'Global Fine Supply Ltd.'
    • FC - Fuji-Gen (Japan 1990's)
    • H - _______ (Korea) Found on a 1995 El Nino and a 1996 PR-200
    • G/GG - Identified as early modern Masterbilt acoustics (Epiphone says they have no record of G serials)
    • GR - Grand Reward (Farida, Guang Dong) China, Seen on some early Masterbilt acoustics
    • GP - ____?____ (Korea) found on a BB King Lucille from 2001 (verified by Epiphone Customer Service)
    • I - Saein (Korea)
    • J - Terada Gakki Seisakusyo (Japan)
    • J - Unknown. Possibly Jakarta, Indonesia - Found on a 1997 S-310
    • JK - ??? Korea or Indonesia - Found on a 1999 G-310 Junior
    • K - Korea Ins. (Korea)
    • L - Leader Musical Instrument Co Ltd (Korea)
    • MC - Muse (China)
    • MR - Mirr factory, China
    • N - See: FN
    • O - Choice (Korea)
    • P/R - Peerless (Korea)
    • QG - Qingdao Gibson (China) - Interim designation used prior to 'EA' & 'EE'
    • S - Samick (Korea)
    • SI - Samick (Bogor, Indonesia)
    • SJ - SaeJun (China)
    • SK - ???
    • SM - Samil (Korea)
    • SN - ____?____ (Indonesia)
    • T - Terada Gakki Seisakusyo (Japan)
    • U - Unsung (Korea)
    • UC - Unsung China (China)
    • WF - ____?____ (China) found on an Accu Bass Junior from 2001
    • X - ____ (China) - Early to mid 1990's serial number label - Verified by Epiphone Customer Service. Seen on 'Epi' brand guitars.
    • Y - Korea (seen on a PR775CE)
    • Z - Zaozhuang Saehan (China)
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FACTORY NUMBER CODES
For some models starting in 2008, if serial begins with numbers.
NOTE: The factories identified by these codes are based on patterns which forum members have observed. The numbers appear as the 5th and sixth digits in the serial number.


    • 11 = MIC sticker on a '08 Masterbuilt 500
    • 12 = DeaWon or Unsung (China -- uncertainty remains as to which factory)
    • 13 = China - factory unknown
    • 15 = Qingdao (China) -- electric
    • 16 = Qingdao (China) -- acoustic
    • 17 = China - factory unknown MIC sticker on a J160E
    • 18 = China - factory unknown found on one 2009 model bass
    • 20 = DaeWon or Unsung (China -- uncertainty remains as to which factory)
    • 21 = Unsung, Korea
    • 22 = Korea (factory still unknown)
    • 23 = Samick factory Indonesia
    • I = Indonesia (this letter has appeared as the 5th digit on two authentic new models made in Indonesia)

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Important note from the guitar-un-dater site:
Disclaimer

The Guitardater Project cannot verify the authenticity of ANY Guitar, this site is simply meant as a tool to satisfy the curiosity of guitar enthusiasts. This website possesses NO DATABASE of guitars made by manufactures, instead simple serial code patterns that are available on this site and in the wider guitar community are used. It follows that potential scammers can use this knowledge to try to trick unsuspecting buyers. If you have any doubts as to a guitars’ authenticity please contact the guitar manufacturer before your purchase.

The easiest way to find the year of manufacture of a particular Gibson guitar is to reference the instrument’s serial number of factory order number.

In the 1970s, Gibson standardized the serial number system that is still in use today. The typically eight-digit serial numbers on Gibson guitars are stamped on the backside of the headstock. The first and the fifth number combined show the year that the instrument was made. The second, third, and fourth numbers show on which day of that year the instrument was made. The sixth number represents the location where the instrument was made, and the last two digits show the “production run” number.

From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock, this should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows:

  • 99 = 1975
  • 00= 1976
  • 06 = 1977

In 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that we primarily use to this day at Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, and the Gibson Custom facility in Memphis, TN.

The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with “MADE IN USA” below.

The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.
Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989.

Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.

Sony sound forge download. Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.

Korean Epiphone Guitars Serial Numbers

82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.

NOTE – Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005.
/how-to-install-vance-and-hines-slip-ons.html. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch indicator.

There are always exceptions to these rules, the two listed below are worth noting:

Les Paul Classic: This model features an ink stamped serial number with no “MADE IN USA” (just as we used on the original 1952-1960 Les Pauls). Most will be 5 to 6 digits in length, but the earliest examples feature 4 digit serial numbers. There should be a space after the 1st digit with the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers, and no space with the 6 digit numbers.

The 1st digit indicates the year of manufacture for the 4 & 5 digit serial numbers, these were used from 1989-1999. The 1st and 2nd indicate the year of manufacture for the 6 digit serial numbers which we’ve been using since 2000.

Examples –
9 xxx = 1989 (4 digit number beginning with “9” used only in 1989)
0 xxxx = 1990
9 xxxx = 1999
00xxxx = 2000
05xxxx = 2005

Those beginning with “94”:
In 1994, Gibson’s Centennial year, many instruments have a serial number that begins with “94” for the year, with the remaining 6 digits indicating the ranking number.

Korean Made Epiphone Serial Numbers

EPIPHONE GUITARS SERIAL INFORMATION

Most regular production models since ca. 1993. Many ’80s and early ’90s serial numbers may follow a similar scheme, but may not include a factory ID code.
FYYMMRRRR
F= Factory code (this can be 2 letters as well)
YY= year of manufacture (this can also be just 1 digit for ’90s models)
MM= month of manufacture
R= ranking number (may be more or less digits, not necessarily indicative of total units produced)
Example – S02021234 was issued in Feb. 2002.

Another code used on some current Epiphone models
FYYMRRRR
F= Factory code
YY=Year of manufacture
M= This will be a letter code corresponding to the month (A=January, B=February, etc…)
RRRR= ranking number
Example – R03D0263 was issued in April 2003.

Epiphone Serial Number Decoding

Korean Epiphone Serial Numbers

Epiphone Elite/Elitist models
FYSSSS
F= Factory Code (this code will be an “F” or “T”)
Y= Year of manufacture (2 = 2002, 3 = 2003, etc.)
SSSS= Sequential Serial Number
Example – T41234 is a 2004 Elitist model