DATING GUITARS AND MANDOLINS
BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp.
But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear.
With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and location
of the largest well-known brands.

Gretsch serials
Jackson serials
Squier serials

Potentiometer codes

With no (or unreadable) serial numbers, the electronic parts of an electric guitar also give an indication. For example, the production code of the potentiometers can give an indication about the year of manufacture of the guitar..

Dating a guitar or amplifier(Fender) is based on the format of the serial number of that brand.
Each brand has its own coding method that has changed regularly over the years. As a result, certain brands have the same serial numbers, but with a different coding method, which creates overlaps.
There are also brands that repeat a serial number every decade.
Then the external characteristics of the guitar are important to place the dating in the correct decade. Connoisseurs and specialists, who can be found in the various guitar forums, can be of service in such a case.

Dean Guitars Made In Korea

Hamer Guitars Made In Korea

Decode your serial number. Most serial numbers on Danelectro guitars have either three or four digits. The first two digits represent the week of the year it was made. For instance, a '12' means it was made in the twelfth week of the year. In a three-digit serial number, the third digit represents the last digit of the year. World Musical Instruments Korea are a large single facility manufacturer of a huge variety of guitar models for internationally known brands such as PRS, Chapman and LTD. WMIC (as they are often styled) are based out of Incheon, South Korea and have a gigantic facility that is considered one of the “last standing” Korean guitar manufacturers.

DATING GUITARS AND MANDOLINS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

Dean Guitars Made In Korea

Hamer Guitars Made In Korea

DATING GUITARS AND MANDOLINS
BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

Korean Dean Guitars Serial Numbers