Also see Headstock Styles and Logo Styles for help determining when your guitar was made (particularly helpful if there is no serial number).

• Serial Numbers Hack
• You Serial Numbers

Note: Any guitar with a serial number with the prefix 'SI' is Indonesian-made.

Note #2: Guitars with no serial number were produced at many different times. Samick branded models did not start using serials until around 1987. Also, the Indonesian factory did not use serials from it's opening in 1992 until around 2000. However, there were also some Korean Artist Series Strats made around 1995-1996 with no serial numbers, and many Korean-made Japanese Market models had no serial numbers as well.

Electrics

Cort does not have a model of guitar that could be called its “signature,” like the Stratocaster for Fender or the Les Paul for Gibson. Instead, Cort produces an extensive line of guitars to fit different guitarists and genres of music. Cort produces a wide variety of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, acoustic bass guitars, and electric. Sorry to bother you, but did you ever get a reply to your query on this site? I have a Cort guitar with the same serial number and am trying to find an approximate price, but have had no luck so far.

Samick first started using serial numbers on Hondos and other contract brands in 1984 (their home brand models did not use serials until ~1987), using the following format:

YMMPPPP

Y = Year

M = Month

P = Production Number

Example: 8030768 = 768th guitar made in March of 1988

In 1988, occasionally the format was YYMMPPPPP because of high production volume.

Example: 880510504 = 10,504th guitar made in May of 1988

Many guitars made around 1985 have a serial number with the format:

120PPPP or 110PPPP

Example: 1201387

The significance of this format is unknown. It is commonly found on Mastercaster Series models, among others.

These serial numbers are easily recognized as a white sticker with a black border, usually found on the back of the headstock or the heel of the neck. Being a sticker, many are ripped off or wear off over the years. If this is the case, the only other way to date your guitar is by looking for a date ink-stamped on the side of the original box switch.

However, as 1990 approached, the use of one digit for the year presented the issue of repeat serial numbers. Around this time, the serial numbers became a bit unpredictable, as they were figuring out a new system. The 'S' prefix also first appeared at this time.

YYMMPPPP

SYYMMPPPP

Example: 90080084 = 84th guitar made in August of 1990

Another format found around this time (possibly only for international models):

Sl YYPPPPP

Semi-Hollow models (at this time) use a different format, and the serial is found on the label inside the top f-hole.

YYPPPP(P)

Example: 902703 = 2,703rd semi-hollow guitar made in 1990

Bolt-neck models started having the serial number engraved into the neckplate in 1987. They kept the same format, so the decade is determined by the style of neck plate.

(Note: The new design did not appear until May 1990)

1980's:

1990's:

Some lower-end bolt-neck models have blank neckplates with just a serial number engraved, using the format:

YYPPPPP

At the turn of the millennium, bolt-neck models kept the same format and neckplate style, so these guitars must be dated by their logo style and other features.

Around 1992 (although some examples have been found with stickers as late as 1993), all set neck models switched to a silk-screened serial number on the back of the headstock with an 'S' prefix:

SYYPPPPP

Example: S9207374 = 7,374th (set neck?) guitar made in 1992

While contract builds always included the prefix, it wasn't always used on Samick brand guitars.

By the end of 1993, the month (M) returned to the format, and by 1994, the year was shortened to one digit:

SYMMPPPP

Example: S4030482 = 482nd guitar made March 1994

Finally, by at least May 1997, the year returned to two digits:

SYYMMPPPP

Example: S97040076 = 76th guitar made April 1997

SPG

SPG uses the prefix 'KS' (Korea, SPG) on Gretsch models[1], with the format:

KSYYMMPPPP

Example: KS14070456 = 456th guitar made July 2014

On Guild models, the following format is used:

KSGYYPPPPP

Serial Numbers Hack

Current SPG-built D'Angelico models use the prefix 'US' with the same format. Before mid-2013, they used the 'KS' prefix. Very early models still used the 'S' prefix and some also used 'R' or 'R9'.

SPG-built Comins models use the prefix '1ES' and the format:

1ESYYPPPP

You Serial Numbers

Acoustics

Acoustics generally followed the format:

YYPPPPP(P)

or:

YYMMPPPP

Exceptions