F-Serial used on LP Std'59/'60 models and Tribute/Plus models. Download grammarly for word. This newest serial number system used by Epiphone is not yet completely deciphered. Essential visuals plugin for virtual dj cracker. '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. NOTE – Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005. 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. The Epiphone serial number decoder currently supports 12 serial number formats from 25 factories. Vintage numbers from 1932 to 1970 are supported. Serial numbers from 70' and 80's era Epiphone guitars made in Japan are not supported.
- Epiphone Masterbilt Serial Number Lookup
- Epiphone Serial Number Lookup Japan
- Les Paul Serial Number Lookup
- Vintage Epiphone Guitar Serial Number Lookup
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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
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: 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
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: 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)
Epiphone Masterbilt Serial Number Lookup
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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. Epihone history in short.
Epiphone Serial Number Lookup Japan
Les Paul Serial Number Lookup
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 |