Epiphone Serial Numbers

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Epiphone Serial Numbers

Epiphone Serial Numbers Masterbilt

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Epiphone Serial Numbers

History in short.
Epiphone was an independent brand from 1924 to 1957.
Since May 10, 1957, Epiphone is part of Gibson and is going to make more and more Gibson models.
At the beginning of 1970 the production under license from Gibson moved from the US 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 US.
Serial numbers
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: 11051502060
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 11051502060 is the 2060th guitar built in May 2011 at the Qingdao factory 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 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
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 T32222 is the 2222th 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.
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 (third character) stands for the month. (A = January, B = February, etc.)
The last 4 digits form the series sequence number
Example: Serial number R04E0123 is the 123st guitar of May 2004, built in the Peerless factory, Korea.
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 (third 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 May 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 figures 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.

Numbered factory codes
NUMBERFACTORYCOUNTRY
12DeaWon or Unsung China
13unknown China
15Qingdao (electric) China
16Qingdao (acoustic) China
17unknown China
18unknown China
20DeaWon or Unsung China
21Unsung Korea
22unknown Korea
23Samick Indonesia

Factory code letter
LETTERFACTORYCOUNTRY
BBohêmia Musico-Delicia Czech Republic
CCort Korea
CICort Indonesia
DWDaeWon China
EAQingDao (acoustic) China
EDDongbei China
EEQingDao (electric) China
FFuji-gen (Elite/Elitist models) Japan
FFine Guitars Korea
FCFuji-gen ('90) Japan
GRFarida, Guang Dong China
ISaein Korea
ISSamick, Bogor Indonesia
JTerada Gakki Seisakusyo Japan
KKorea Ins. Korea
LLeader Musical Instrument Co Ltd. Korea
MCMuse China
MRMirr factory China
OChoice Korea
PPeerless Korea
RPeerless Korea
QGQingdao Gibson China
SSamick Korea
SISamick, Bogor Indonesia
SJSaeJun China
SMSamil Korea
TTerada Gakki Seisakusyo Japan
UUnsung Korea
UCUnsung China China
ZZaozhuang Saehan China

Unclear Letter factory codes
LETTERFACTORYNOTE
BW ?? Probably China
H?? Probably China
GG?? Probably China or Korea
GP?? Probably Korea
JK?? Probably Korea or Indonesia
SK?? --
SN?? Probably Indonesia
WF?? Probably China
X?? Probably China

Labels acoustic guitars
Country/eraLabel
Japan
Blue label
1970-1975
Japan
Brown 'Lincolnwood' label 1976-1979
Japan
Mottled pattern label 1980-1987
China
2004-2019

Epiphone Serial Numbers Look Up

Serial number as used from 1961 to 1969. This is a 1962 Epiphone Coronet. Gibson-made Serial Number, 1961 to 1969, all instruments (non 'A' series). Beginning in 1961, Epiphone serial numbers follow Gibson's serial number series. All models, stamped in back top of peghead. No 'MADE IN USA' stamp below serial number! Note many serial numbers are duplicated from 1963-1969. Serial numbers are addressed elsewhere on the web site but can be found also on Gibson’s website and George Gruhn & Walter Carter’s book: Gruhn’s Guide to Vintage Guitars. Factory numbers (when the exist) appear in pencil inside on the block where the neck meets the body. The Epiphone serial number decoder currently supports 12 serial number formats from 25 factories. Vintage numbers from 1932 to 1970 are supported. Download save game devil may cry 4 special edition pc. Serial numbers from 70' and 80's era Epiphone guitars made in Japan are not supported.