Серийный номер гитар эпифон

Epiphone Serial Number Decoding

Contents

Identifiers

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

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

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.

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

Factory Codes

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)
• C — Cort
• 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 — _______ (China?) Found on a 1995 El Nino
• 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
• JC — Unknown. Possibly Indonesia — Found on a 1998 Mini V
• 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)

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)

F-Serial used on LP Std’59/’60 models and Tribute/Plus models

This newest serial number system used by Epiphone is not yet completely deciphered.

‘F’ doesn’t refer to ‘Fine, Korea’ — nor to ‘Fuji-gen, Japan’ — New «F» models are made in China.

This serial number system doesn’t exactly tell the year — and doesn’t tell the month at all.

• Beginning with F300000 in late 2009 used on LP Std’59/Std’60/Tribute models
• Continued around F310650

F311050 in spring 2012 on Tribute-Plus models

Continued around F305000 in 2011

Continued around F310000 in 2012

Continued around F317000 in 2013

Continued around F324000 in 2014

Continued around F330000 in 2015

Epiphone Japan Serial Numbers

1998-Current

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:

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

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 colours.

• 1971-1975 — Blue label — Early models say «Union Made»
• 1976-1979 — Tan or white «Lincolnwood» label with Norlin logo
• 1980-1987 — Brown Label with splotched pattern

The early Japanese blue labels were left over from production at the Kalamazoo factory and were used on Japanese-made instruments until supplies ran out (approximately 1970-1971). These labels say «Union Made» in the lower left corner and are sometimes hand-stamped with «Made in Japan» at the bottom. Some of the interim blue lables had neither the «Union Made» nor «Made in Japan» markings on them. When supplies ran out, these labels were replaced with a new batch that were printed «Made in Japan» in the lower right corner. Pre-1970 «Union Made» labels are distinguishable from labels used on Japanese intruments by the printed model name of the intrument only.

The Lincolnwood label was also used for the Tawainese «Epi» series acoustic guitars from 1979-1980. These labels say «Made in Tawain» in the bottom right corner.

Refurbished Models

Serial numbers starting with ‘311xxxx’ on a golden sticker are ‘refurbished’ guitars sold by MIRC (Musical Instrument Reclamation Center)

• There is no way to tell the year or the month it was made in the MIRC serial
• Original serial numbers are usually defaced
• Original warranty void
• Sometimes the word «2nd» is stamped on back of headstock
• MIRC specs can often be different from stock specs

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Серийный номер гитар эпифон

DATING EPIPHONE GUITARS AND MANDOLINS
BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

Epiphone guitars come from a number of different factories in different countries.
For this reason, it is not that easy to recognize where each guitar came from or when it was made. Epiphone stamps a serial number on each guitar, which after decryption can tell you where and when it was built.

Where to find the serial number
Locate the serial number on the headstock of the guitar.
With Semi-Hollow models on the label inside the top f-hole and with acoustic guitars on the label inside the sound hole.

It consists of a number of digits, often also in advance of one or two letters.

If you want to know the production year of your Epiphone guitar/mandolin, you can decipher it with the serial number decoder, or find it in explanation about the dating system below.

Epihone history in short.

Anastasios Stathopoulos born in 1863, was a Greek luthier who started a mandolin and violin company in 1873 in Pellana, Greece. In 1903 he emigrated with his wife to New York. As luthier he started a year later a company that mainly produced mandolins. The company ran well, and therefore he took the Italian professional Henry cappielo employed. After the death of Anastasios in 1915, his son Epaminondas (Epi) take control over the company. Under his management the company grows to one of the biggest of its kind. A few years later, Epaminondas opens a factory where mainly banjos were made. In 1924 he registered the brand name Epiphone, a combination of his own name (Epi) with the Greek word for sound (phone). Shortly thereafter, Epi buys the banjo company Favoran and introduces the banjo Epiphone Recording line. Because of their quality and elegant design, it will be a great success. Due to the success of the banjo Recording line, a Recording line for guitars was also established in 1928 and a full line of f-hole archtop guitars was introduced in 1931. There are 12 models, including the top models: Broadway, Triumph and DeLuxe. Epiphone has been competing with Gibson for some time and with the introduction of the Epiphone Emperor in 1935, dealt a serious blow. Epiphone introduced the Electar series in 1937, an electric guitar with an adjustable pickup. Epaminondas dies in 1943 and the business is continued by his two sons Orpheus (Orphie) and Frixo. The cooperation between the two brothers is going badly and the company is going through hard times in the post-war years. By the mid-1950s, Epiphone is still making very few instruments.

In 1957, Epiphone is sold to CMI, Gibson’s parent company, for $20,000.00. A full line of newly designed acoustic and electric guitars is launched in 1958. In 1960, Epiphone’s production moved to the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the beginning of 1970 the production under license from Gibson moved from the USA to Japan. From 1983 there is also produced in Korea and then in 1995 also in Indonesia. In 2004, Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao, China for the production of Epiphone guitars. Although the vast production of Epiphone guitars takes place in these countries, some more exclusive models are still being made in the USA. Epaminondas Stathopoulos

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The stamped serial number can consist of a series of numbers, or letter(s) and numbers.

Only numbers
For an eleven digit serial number, the encoding is as follows:
Example: 11051500160
The first two digits are the last 2 digits of the year. (11)
The next two digits represent the month. (05)
The 5th and 6th digit represent the factory code.. (15)
(See list numbered factory codes)
The last 5 digits form the series sequence number.
Serial number 11 05 15 00160 is the 160 th guitar built in May 2011
at the factory of Qingdao in China .
(Since 2004 Epiphone guitars have been produced in China)

Five digit serial numbers.
Five digits with a space after the first digit and custom shop on the back of the headstock, applied from 1990 to 1999.
The first digit is the last digit of the production year, the following four digits are the serial number.
Five digits no space after the first digit were used from 1951 to 1956 and from 1961 to 1967 for both acoustic and electric models.
Six digit serial numbers
From 1961 to early 1970, Epiphone used 6-digit serial numbers in the Gibson serial number line. However, many serial numbers were duplicated during this period, making the exact production year difficult to trace. It is certain that the models with a 6 digit serial number starting with 0 were produced in 1967.
Seven digit serial numbers do not have a factory code.
Here is the first digit the last year of the decade. The 2nd and 3rd numbers represent the month.
These were manufactured in Korea by Samick between 1984 and 1995.
Eight and nine digit serial numbers without a factory code.
These were used respectively from 1990 and 1988 and also manufactured by Samick in Korea.

Letter(s) and numbers
One letter five digits
This combination was applied to the Elite/Elitist models.
The letter indicates the factory code and the first digit is the last digit of the year (since 2002).
The factory code can be an F or a T here.
(See list Factory code letter)
Example: Serial number T 3 2222 is the 2222 th guitar of 2003
built in the factory of Terada Gakki Seisakusyo, Japan .

One letter six digits
The letter indicates the factory code and the first and second digit are the last two digits of the year.
Example: Serial number Z051234 is the 1234th guitar built in 2005 at the Zaozhuang Saehan factory in China.
(Between 2001 and 2010 only 1 digit was used for the production year)

Two letters five digits
The letters indicate the factory code and the first digit is the last digit of the year.
Example: Serial number CI21234 is the 1234th guitar built in 2002 at the Cort, Indonesia factory.

One letter seven digits
The letter indicates the factory code and the first digit is the last digit of the year.
The 3rd and 4th digits represent the month.
The last 4 digits form the series sequence number.
Because the year is only represented by 1 digit, guitars with this coding from the 80s, 90s or a decade of 2000. (depending on the factory code)
Example: Serial number S6031234 is the 1234th guitar built in 1986, 1996 or 2006 at the Samick factory in Korea.

Two letters six digits
The letter indicates the factory code and the next two digits are
the last two digits of the year.
The second letter (fourth character) stands for the month.
(A = January, B = February, etc.)
The last 4 digits form the series sequence number
Example: Serial number R 04 G 0123 is the 123 th guitar of July 2004 , built in the Peerless, Korea factory.

One letter eight digits
The letter indicates the factory code, the next two digits are the last two digits of the year.
The 3rd and 4th digits represent the month.
The last 4 digits form the series sequence number.
Example: C99040233 is the 233rd guitar of April 1999, built in the Cort factory, Korea.
(This coding method was used until 2010)

Two letters seven digits
The letter indicates the factory code, the next two digits are the last two digits of the year.

The second letter (fourth character) stands for the month. (A = January, B = February, etc.)
The last 5 digits form the series sequence number.
Example: S07C00122 is the 122th guitar of March 2004, built at
the Samick factory in Korea.
(This coding method was used until 2010)

Two letters eight digits
The 2 letters indicate the factory code, the next two digits are the last two digits of the year.
The 5th and 6th digits represent the month.
The last 4 digits form the series sequence number.
Example: SI02060234 is the 234th guitar of June 2002, built at the Samick factory in Cileungsi near Bogor, Indonesia.

Two letter nine digits
This coding is the same as the coding of two letter eight digits
with the difference that here is 5 digits for it sequence number
are used.

Acoustic guitars
Japan
The acoustic guitars from Epiphone, which were manufactured by Matsumoku in Japan from 1970 to 1987, are not reliable serial numbering system, but can be approximately dated by color and inscription from the Epiphone label.
Blue label 1970-1975
The first blue labels that were used were leftover labels from the Kalamazoo factory.
In the bottom left corner of these labels is printed «Union Made» and stamped, «Made in Japan».
Until supplies ran out, they were used from 1970 until the beginning of 1971. Some of these first labels do not include Made in Japan or Union Made.
After supplies ran out, new blue labels were used where in the lower right corner «Made in Japan» is printed.
Brown or white «Lincolnwood» label 1976-1979
The Lincolnwood label was also used for the acoustic guitars of
the Taiwanese «Ep» series from 1979-1980.
These labels in the bottom right corner say, ‘Made in Taiwan’.
From 1980 to 1987 a mottled label was used.

China
In 2004 Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao, China, which produces Epiphone guitars.
No labels have been used here, but stickers with «Made in China» are glued to the neck of the guitars.

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