Changes: Ibanez serial numbers

Revision as of 23:59, 10 January 2017

Examples of Ibanez serial numbers on back of headstock

Ibanez serial numbers are unique identifiers placed on instruments sold under the Ibanez brand. Ibanez guitars have used serial numbers since September 1975. The numbers are generally a character string containing letters and numbers, although some are purely numeric. Serial numbers can be useful in determining the age of a guitar as well as where it is made.

Unfortunately there is no single unified format used for Ibanez serial numbers. Ibanez guitar production is outsourced to several companies and facilities through the world and the numbering schemes are different in each region and/or factory. The information on this page is culled from several sources both on-line and off-line and represents a distillation of the available information. It applies primarily to electric guitars, but some information may also be applicable to acoustics.

Serial numbers on Ibanez guitars can generally be found in one of three locations:

On the back of the headstock,
On the neck plate (the small metal plate at the joint between the neck and the body), or
On the label inside a hollow body guitar.

The first step in deciphering the serial number is determining the country or facility in which the guitar was produced. In most cases the country of origin is provided in the same location as the serial number. In cases where you have a serial number but not a country of origin, the origin can sometimes be deduced from the serial number, although in this case it's very helpful if you have at least a rough idea of the date of manufacture.

Serial numbers by country of origin

Japan

1997–present, FujiGen, "F" + 7 digits

Eight characters
F	YY	#####
single letter (F)	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example: F1418872 (June 2014)

F = manufactured by FujiGen Gakki in Nagano
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 08=2008)
##### = consecutive production number for the year

Number also indicates month of manufacture, with the sequence incrementing to the next multiple of 3,600 each month, as follows:

00001–03600 = January
03601–07200 = February
07201–10800 = March
10801–14400 = April
14401–18000 = May
18001–21600 = June
21601–25200 = July
25201–28800 = August
28801–32400 = September
32401–36000 = October
36001–39600 = November
39601–43200 = December

Six characters
M	YY	###
single letter (A–L)	2-digit number	3-digit number
Example:

M = letter indicating month of manufacture: A=January...L=December
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 07=2009)
### = consecutive production number for the month

Note that there is opportunity for confusion with some of the other schemes listed here with regards to the initial letters F and I, however, this format is the only one which has just six characters. All Japanese-made models with this serial number format were made by FujiGen Gakki.

1998–present, Terada; "T" + 6 digits

Seven characters
T	YY	####
single letter (T)	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example:

T = manufactured by Terada Musical Instrument Co., Ltd. near Nagano
Y = last two digits of year (e.g. 01=2001)
#### = consecutive production number for the year

1990–present, Ida Gakki; "I" + 6 digits

Seven characters
I	YY	####
single letter (I)	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example:

I = manufactured by Ida Gakki (Iida) in Nagoya
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 91=1991)
#### = consecutive production number for the year

1987–1996; Letter (e.g. "F") + 6 digits

Seven characters
F, H, I, or T	Y	#####
single letter (F, H, I, or T)	single number	5-digit number
Example: F204157 (April 1992)

First character is the factory code:

F = manufactured by FujiGen Gakki in Nagano (1987–1996)
H or T = manufactured by Terada Musical Instrument Co., Ltd. near Nagano (1988–1996), presumably the "H" designation meant that the instruments were made for Hoshino
I = manufactured by Ida Gakki (Iida) in Nagoya (1988–1989)

Y = last digit of year: 7=1987 through 6=1996
##### = consecutive production number for the year

For FujiGen models (at least), numbering indicates month of manufacture, with the sequence incrementing to the next multiple of 3,600 each month, as follows:

00001–03600 = January
03601–07200 = February
07201–10800 = March
10801–14400 = April
14401–18000 = May
18001–21600 = June
21601–25200 = July
25201–28800 = August
28801–32400 = September
32401–36000 = October
36001–39600 = November
39601–43200 = December

Confusion around 1987 FujiGen serial numbers

Models produced through 1988 (and perhaps into 1989) have serial numbers starting with "F7" which would normally indicate production in 1987. It seems that FujiGen or Ibanez produced an overstock of these "F7" serial number stickers and so just continued to use them through 1988.

One can perhaps make a reasonable guess as to whether a model with an F7 serial number was actually produced in 1987 or 1988 based on the production sequence (the last five digits of the serial number). Any production sequences above maybe 45000 may be assumed to be 1988 models, although this rule of thumb doesn't appear to always hold true.

In some cases a determination as to whether a guitar was actually produced as an 1987 or 1988 model can be inferred based on the finish (color) of the guitar, as some finishes are limited to certain years.

Very few serial numbers starting with "F8" have ever been spotted.

1975–1986; Letter (A–L) + 6 digits

Seven characters
M	YY	####
single letter (A–L)	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example: B840230 (February 1980)

M = letter indicating month of manufacture: A=January...L=December
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 85=1985)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

Most Ibanez models with this serial number format were made by FujiGen Gakki. Exceptions are the Ibanez Blazer models which were made by Dyna Gakki and the Axstar by Ibanez models AX40, AX45, AX48, AXB50, AXB60, AXB65, AX70, AX75 which were made by Chushin Gakki (the Axstar AXB1000 model was made by FujiGen Gakki).

Korea

Ibanez sourced guitars from Korea from 1987 through 2008.

2000–2008; 9 or 10 characters

Nine or ten characters
X or XX	YY	MM	####
1 or 2 letters (see values below)	2-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Examples: C02074108 (July 2002, Cort); CP03129418 (December 2003, CP)

First one or two alphabetic characters are the manufacturer/factory code, as follows:

C = manufactured by Cort Guitars in Incheon (1987–2007) or Daejon (1991–2007)
S (post-1995) = manufactured by Saehan Guitar Technology, a subdivision of Zaozhuang Saehan Music Co., Ltd. (of China), now known as Sunghan Music; electrics only
SQ = manufactured by Saehan Guitar Technology, a subdivision of Zaozhuang Saehan Music Co., Ltd. (of China), now known as Sunghan Music; acoustics only
Y = manufactured by Yoojin Industrial Co., Ltd. at either Yangju factory (acoustics) or Guangju factory (electrics)
A = manufactured by Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon
CP = manufactured by ???; some speculation is that CP stands for Cort Plant or that models with this designation were made by a partnership of Cort and Peerless or perhaps even that it indicates production at Cort's Indonesian plant which is known as Cort PT, although this seems unlikely since the instruments are marked as "Made in Korea" (2003–2008)

YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 85=1985)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

1995–1999; 8 or 9 characters

Eight or nine characters
X or XX	Y	MM	####
1 or 2 letters (see values below)	1-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example: C8094519 (September 1998, Cort)

First one or two alphabetic characters are the manufacturer/factory code, as follows:

C = manufactured by Cort Guitars in Incheon (1987–2007) or Daejon (1991–2007)
S (1990–1995; see year code) = manufactured by Samick Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
S (post-1995) = manufactured by Saehan Guitar Technology, a subdivision of Zaozhuang Saehan Music Co., Ltd. (of China), now known as Sunghan Music; electrics only
SQ = manufactured by Saehan Guitar Technology, a subdivision of Zaozhuang Saehan Music Co., Ltd. (of China), now known as Sunghan Music; acoustics only
Y = manufactured by Yoojin Industrial Co., Ltd. at either Yangju factory (acoustics) or Guangju factory (electrics)
A = manufactured by Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon

Y = final digits of year: 6=1996 through 9=1999
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

1987–1995; 7 characters

Seven or eight characters
X	Y	#####
1 letter (see values below)	1-digit number	5-digit number
Examples: P713503 (1987, Peerless); C422807 (1994, Cort)

First one or two alphabetic characters are the manufacturer/factory code, as follows:

C = manufactured by Cort Guitars in Incheon (1987–2007) or Daejon (1991–2007)
S (1990–1995; see year code) = manufactured by Samick Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
P = manufactured by Peerless Korea Co., Ltd. (owned by Ida Gakki of Japan) in Pusan (1987–1988)
Y = manufactured by Yoojin Industrial Co., Ltd. at either Yangju factory (acoustics) or Guangju factory (electrics)
A = manufactured by Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon

Y = final digits of year: 7=1987 through 5=1995
##### = consecutive production number for the month

Sung-Eum Co. production; "E" + 7 digits

Eight characters
E	Y	MM	####
1 letter (E)	1-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example:

E = manufactured by Sung-Eum Music Co., Ltd. in Yangju
Y = final digit of year (e.g. 9=1999)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

World Co. production; "W" + 6 digits (1999–2008)

Seven characters
W	M	Y	####
1 letter (W)	1 alphanumeric character	1-digit number	4-digit number
Examples: W842827 (August 2004) WZ01928 (December 2000)

W = manufactured by the World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon
M = alphanumeric representing the month (1=January...9=September, X=October, Y=November, Z=December)
Y = final digit of the year (9=1999 through 8=2008)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

Samick production; "S" + 6 digits (1990–1995)

Seven characters
S	Y	#####
1 letter (S)	1-digit number	5-digit number
Example:

S = manufactured by Samick Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
Y = final digits of year: 0=1990 through 5=1995
##### = consecutive production number for the year
No known identifier for the month

"KR" + 9 digits (2004–2006)

Eleven characters
KR	YY	MM	#####
2 letters (KR)	2-digit number	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example:

KR = manufactured by ???
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 05=2005)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
##### = consecutive production number for the year (or month?)

7-digit numeric (1998–2008)

Some Korean Ibanez serial numbers are purely numeric with no alphabetic characters. It's unclear which supplier or factory manufactured these models.

Seven numeric digits
Y	######
1-digit number	6-digit number
Example:

Y = final digit of the year (9=1999 through 7=2007; in the case of an 8, you must know general timeframe to determine the precise year as it could mean either 1998 or 2008)
###### = consecutive production number for the year
No known identifier for the month

8-digit numeric (1998–2008)

Some Korean Ibanez serial numbers are purely numeric with no alphabetic characters. It's unclear which supplier or factory manufactured these models.

Eight numeric digits
YY	######
2-digit number	6-digit number
Example:

YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 02=2002)
###### = consecutive production number for the year
No known identifier for the month

10-digit numeric

Some Korean Ibanez serial numbers are purely numeric with no alphabetic characters. It's unclear which supplier or factory manufactured these models. These 10-digit serial numbers likely apply to acoustic models.

Ten numeric digits
YY	MM	######
2-digit number	2-digit number	6-digit number
Example:

YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 92=1992)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
###### = consecutive production number for the year

Indonesia

Production of Ibanez guitars in Indonesia began in 2001.

2001–present, ten characters

Ten characters
X	YY	MM	#####
1 letter (I, K or J)	2-digit number	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example: I120426682 (April 2012)

First character is the factory code:

I = manufactured by Cort Guitars' (a.k.a. Cor-Tek) Indonesian plant
K = manufactured by Kwo Hsaio Co., Ltd.
J = manufactured by Sejung

YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 85=1985)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
##### = consecutive production number for the year

Acoustics start at 00001 and go up to 50000

Electrics (guitars and basses) start at 50001 and go up to 99999

Cort production (2007–2009); I + 7 digits

Eight characters
I	Y	MM	####
1 letter (I)	1-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example:

I = manufactured by Cort Guitars' (a.k.a. Cor-Tek) Indonesian plant

Y = final digits of year (7=2007 through 9=2009)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

"PR" prefix (2004–2007); PR + 9 digits

Eleven characters
PR	Y	MM	####
2 letters (PR)	2-digit number	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example:

First character is the factory code:

PR = manufactured by ???

YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 85=1985)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
##### = consecutive production number for the year

Premium factory (11/2011–present); six characters

Six characters
M	####	Y
single letter	4-digit number	single letter
Example: H0089E (August 2015)

M = letter indicating month of manufacture: A=January...L=December (2012 forward; for guitars produced in 2010–2011 the first character has no known significance)
#### = consecutive production number for the month
Y = letter indicating year of manufacture: A=2010, B=2011...,F=2015, etc.)

Premium factory (2010–11/2011); six characters

Six characters
#####	Y
5-digit number	single letter
Example: 03701B (2011)

##### = consecutive production number for the year
Y = letter indicating year of manufacture: A=2010, B=2011...,F=2015, etc.)

China

Production of Ibanez guitars in China began in 1999.

J + 9-digits (2004–2012)

Ten characters
J	YY	MM	#####
1 letter (J)	2-digit number	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example: J081150322 (November 2008)

J = manufactured by ???; possibly Sejung Musical Instrument Manufacturing in Qingdao (acquired by Parson's Music in 2012)
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 05=2005)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
##### = consecutive production number for the year

S + 8-digits (2002–present)

Nine characters
S	YY	MM	####
1 letter (S)	2-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example: S13120602 (December 2013)

S = manufactured by ???
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 05=2005)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

GS + 9-digits (2007–present)

Eleven characters
GS	YY	MM	#####
2 letters (GS)	2-digit number	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example: GS140406094 (April 2014)

GS = manufactured by ???; some speculation is that GS merely stands for GIO Series
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 05=2005)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
##### = consecutive production number for the year

SS + 8-digits (c. 2010–present)

Ten characters
SS	YY	MM	####
2 letters (SS)	2-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example:

SS = manufactured by ???
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 05=2005)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

A + 8-digits (c. 2005–present)

Nine characters
A	YY	MM	####
1 letter (A)	2-digit number	2-digit number	4-digit number
Example:

A = manufactured by ???
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 05=2005)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

4L + 9-digits (20??–20??)

Eleven characters
4L	YY	MM	#####
2 characters (4L)	2-digit number	2-digit number	5-digit number
Example: 4L141000813 (October 2014)

4L = manufacturer/ facility code (unknown)
YY = last two digits of year (e.g. 14=2014)
MM = month represented as two digits (01=January...12=December)
##### = consecutive production number for the year (or month?)

Z + six characters (1999–2006) Yeou Chern

Seven characters
Z	M	Y	####
1 letter (Z)	1-digit number	1 alphanumeric character	4-digit number
Example:

Z = manufactured by Yeou Chern Enterprises Instrument Co. Ltd. in Guangdong
M = alphanumeric representing the month (1=January...9=September, X=October, Y=November, Z=December)
Y = final digit of the year (9=1999 through 8=2008)
#### = consecutive production number for the month

9-digit numeric (2005–present)

Some Chinese Ibanez serial numbers are purely numeric with no alphabetic characters. It's unclear which supplier or factory manufactured these models.

Nine numeric digits
#########
9-digit number
Example:

######### = consecutive production number with no known dating significance

Sources

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this article is a distillation of information from a variety of disparate sources, some of which are unverified. Some of the information is speculative and this is marked as such in the text.

Bacon, Tony (2013). The Ibanez Electric Guitar Book : a complete history of Ibanez electric guitars (1st ed. ed.). Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. pp. 153–155. ISBN 978-1-61713-453-1.
Berthold, Cameron (a.k.a. "Captain Ibanez"). How to Read an Ibanez Serial Number (post on Ibanez Collector's World forum) [registration required]; December 4, 2004.
Donahue, Jim. Dating Ibanez Models on IbanezVintage.com (archived).

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+|style="text-align:center"|YY
-| style="text-align:center" |12
+|style="text-align:center"|MM
-| style="text-align:center" |01490
+|style="text-align:center"|#####
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