Fender guitar appraisal. Have the serial number - Answered by a verified Musical Instrument Appraiser We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. ESP Guitars & Serial Number Identification By Jonathan Lister; Updated September 15, 2017 ESP guitars rose to prominence in the 1980s on the strengths of flamboyant paint schemes and lead style sonic hardware. It is a Ibanez (Epiphone) guitar with no model or serial numbers on it. On the very top is printed RAVEN and the V in the middle is bigger with a picture of a raven or eagle or hawk? In the middle of the V. To read the serial numbers on Epiphone guitars, you must follow and understand the 'YDDDYRRR' pattern that they use. In these eight-digit numbers, 'Y' represents the production year, 'D' represents the day of the year, and 'R' represents the factory ranking or plant designation number.
Gretsch used several different serial number schemes through the years. Each of them can be used to accurately pinpoint the age of a guitar, if you have the correct information.
Unfortunately, correct information can be very difficult to come by.
Most online guides (and quite a few print guides) are based on Jay Scott's groundbreaking book 'Gretsch: the guitars of the Fred Gretsch Company,' which is a fine book, but is nearly two decades old. Subsequent research has unearthed quite a few inaccuracies in Scott's numbers, so any serial number guides cribbing from Scott are also incorrect.
How to download game clips from xbox app to pc. The Gretsch-GEAR database exists to get it right: to document the actual serial numbers, to determine once and for all what was built and when, and to harness the collective knowledge of thousands of Gretsch fans to put the pieces together.
If you'd like to learn more about Gretsch serial numbers, we highly recommend Ed Ball's 'Gretsch 6120: The History of a Legendary Guitar.' Ball is one of the key researchers who have determined the actual dates, years and features Gretsch serial numbers correspond to.
From the beginning of the Synchromatic era until 1966, Gretsch guitars were sequentially numbered and can be used to reliably date the guitar. However, it is important to note several key points:
Gretsch began numbering guitars sequentially, probably in 1939 but possibly earlier.
The numbers, by model year:
Gretsch began date-coding serial numbers in August 1966. Date-coded serial numbers are typically found stamped on the back or top of the headstock, and 'Made in USA' is stamped next to the number starting in June 1967.
The first digit or first 2 digits = month (1-12).
The next digit = last digit of the year (1966 to 1972: 6,7,8,9,0,1,2). The remaining digits = number of individual instrument, probably.
For example, 27136 should be February (2), 1967 (7) and the 136th instrument made that month.
A hyphenated number was embossed on the back of headstock.
The digits before hyphen = month (1-12).
The first digit after hyphen = last digit of year. (i.e., 1974 would be 4) Last 3 digits = number of the instrument.
For example, 3-8094 would be March (3), 1978 (8) and the 94th guitar made that month.
Serial numbers have six numbers, with a three digit suffix.
The first two digits are the year of manufacture.
The next digit is the month. The next three digits are the model number, without the 6 at the beginning. The final numbers are the sequential order of the model made during the lifespan of the model (not that year).
For example, 946119-976 would be a June 1994 Tennessee Rose, the 976th made.
Lower numbers will always appear on earlier guitars, higher numbers on later guitars. Remember that 2000 and 2001 guitars will, of course, not begin with a 9. Also, on guitars built in October, November or December, the third AND fourth digits denote the month.
A special note on pre-Fender MIK models (Electromatics, Synchromatics and Historics
Serial numbers on Korean made guitars in this era were printed on a sticker affixed to the back of the headstock. This sticker, along with the 'Made in Korea' sticker, went missing almost immediately — sometimes before the guitar even left the store.
In addition, these guitars followed no known numbering scheme. As of July 2011, the current thinking is that the first digit probably denotes the year, while the following numbers remain a mystery.
This only pertains the pre-Fender Korean-made guitars. The Fender-era 51xx guitars follow the normal Fender numbering scheme.
When Fender took over production in January 2003 the serial number scheme changed again, and Fender-era serial numbers have a two-character originating factory code, followed by year and month, and finally a sequential ordering number.
For example, serial number JT03074463 would break down as:
The two-letter factory code prefixes include: Download game tts untuk laptop.
Of those, JT is by far the most common on the pro-line instruments. However, other Japanese facilities have been used, so it's not particularly unusual to see JD and JF prefixes.
Most Electromatic hollowbodies carry a KS designation, although KP was fairly common prior to about 2007.
CY is usually seen on Electromatic solidbodies such as the Corvette/CVT.
The last four numbers are sequential for the given year (all models combined) and are broken into two categories as follows:
So, JT05070014 would be made at the Terada factory in July 2005 and would be the 14th of something special that year (all special models combined).
Unlike the pre-Fender codes, specific models are no longer designated within the serial number.
Thanks to Mike Lewis of Fender for detailing the current numbering system.
In the beginning, Gretsch simply wrote serial numbers inside the guitar in pencil. These pencilled-in numbers often fade and become illegible, or even disappear.
After World War II, some guitars had a serial number embossed on the head, but reliable numbers didn't really appear until the advent of the first labels, around 1949.
Early labelled Gretsches will usually have a printed serial number and a handwritten model number. On hollowbodies, the label is usually visible through the f-hole. On other models such as solidbodies, it should be inside a control cavity.
From about 1949 to 1957 watch for a white rectangular label that reads:
The serial number will probably be printed in red, and the model number written in blue or black. The label has a fairly ornate border around it, but the 'Gretsch' is usually printed in a plain font. However, some have 'Gretsch' printed as the familiar logo.
Beginning in about 1957 a new label was introduced, which lasted until about 1965. On this one, 'The Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co.' was printed in black on an orange shape that vaguely resembles a musical note. This was superimposed on a gray over white label.
On the white part, the serial number is printed, and the model number should be handwritten. This label should be on all guitars after number 25000.
This would be a good time to note that some models, particularly 1962 -'65 models, had the serial number embossed on the headstock in lieu of a label.
Beginning in 1965, the model number was printed either on top or on the back of the headstock or engraved in the metal model plate on the headstock, and no label was fitted.
In the late '60s the labels returned on most models. For a brief period rarely found labels were used that look like the second-generation labels, except 'That Great Gretsch Sound' is printed across the bottom.
Finally, sometime around 1972 a plain black and white label was introduced. With 'Gretsch Guitars' in a logo-type font across the top. These labels list model and serial numbers and along the bottom reads 'Made in U.S.A.'
On modern Gretsches, the serial number is usually readily visible on the back of the headstock.
more.. Gear • Gear Blog • Guitars • Solidbody • Humbucker-equipped • Trash or Treasure • LP-Style • Solidbody • January 2011 • GibsonHey Zach,I have a Gibson Les Paul I’m trying to identify. The serial numberis 676323, and “Made in USA” is stamped below that. I was toldto check the potentiometer date codes, which all have “1377142”impressed into them. I read on a Gibson forum that, on seven-digitpot codes, the fourth and fifth numbers represent the date. Can youtell me what model this is and how much it is worth today? DatingGibson guitars is not easy—thank you!--Brian Page
There’s no question that datingGibson guitars is challenging—andsometimes downright impossible.There are two basic componentsto your Les Paul question: datingit and identifying it. I’ll start withtrying to date the instrument, butkeep in mind that dating and identifyingGibson guitars typically gohand in hand. I get several questions aboutGibson serial numbers every day,and my initial answer is alwaysto not expect or rely on the serialnumber alone to determine the yearof manufacture. For many Gibsonowners, it’s hard to believe thatan individual serial number won’tautomatically indicate the year andmodel of the guitar in question. Infact, without any other informationabout the guitar, the serial number isessentially worthless. This was mainlycaused by Gibson trying to keepup with production while attemptingto serialize everything accurately,as well. Unfortunately, duringextremely busy times, productionsimply trumped serialization. Gibson has used numerousserialization systems over its100-plus-year history, and a majorityof these numbers were usedhaphazardly—and rarely in consecutiveorder—until the systemwas standardized in 1977. Up untilthe early 1960s, serial numberswere fairly consistent, but for mostof the 1960s and 1970s, six-digitnumbers were used pretty muchat random. Based on the chartsoriginally compiled from Gibson’sshipping ledgers by author A.R.Duchossoir, the serial number youprovided could have been used onGibson guitars produced in 1970,1971, 1972, 1974, or 1975. Themost important dating featureon guitars with six-digit serialnumbers is that, starting in 1970,Gibson began stamping “Made InUSA” near the serial number onthe back of the headstock. Sincethe value of a Gibson Les Pauldiffers widely between 1970 and1975, it is very important to pinpointthe year. As for dating pots, you are correctthat the fourth and fifth numbers ofthe potentiometer date code indicatethe last two digits of the year (thatis, the “71” in your serial numberstands for 1971). Checking the datecodes on pots is usually the secondstep (after approximating the date ofthe serial number) in determining theguitar’s year. This only works if thepots are original. And because manymanufacturers purchased pots in largequantities, the pots could sit on theshelves for weeks—if not months—before they were installed. Basically,dating the pots only confirms the earliesttime the guitar could have beenproduced. Since your guitar has potsdating from 1971 and they appear tobe original, we know it was producedin 1971 or later. Now comes the identifying part.Your guitar has cosmetic features andspecifications similar to a Les PaulStandard. However, the Les PaulStandard model was not producedbetween 1970 and 1975 (it wasofficially reintroduced in 1976). TheGibson Les Paul Deluxe, which wasnearly identical to the Standard withthe exception of mini-humbuckerpickups, was produced during thistime. Further, beginning in 1972,Gibson began offering the Les PaulDeluxe with a special order of full-sizehumbuckers. Many of theseDeluxes have “Standard” stamped ontheir truss-rod cover. I believe your guitar is a circa-1972 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe withoptional full-size humbuckers.While the serial number could applyto 1974 and 1975 as well, it is widelyreported that the pots were usedin a timely manner from this era atGibson. Guitar production wasn’tnearly as fast paced during thatperiod as it was in the 1960s, whichmeant Gibson ordered fewer partsat that time. Also note that, in mid-1972, the “Les Paul” signature and“Model” inscription were changedfrom a silkscreen to a decal. Gibson Guitar Value By Serial NumberTo recap: Inconsistent serializationand the fact that many Gibsonguitars do not have the exact modelmarked on the instrument, datingand identifying older Gibsons isn’teasy. It usually takes more thanjust a serial number to accuratelyidentify and date them, and thereare numerous other dating systemsand tools that I haven’t mentionedhere. Some serialization systemsonly apply to certain guitars, and insome cases the same serial numberhas been used on multiple guitars!For more information on Gibsonor potentiometer serialization andmodel identification, please refer toour website (bluebookinc.com) orvisit gibson.com. Guitar Values By Serial NumberZachary R. FjestadGuitar Worth By Serial Numberis author ofValue Of My GuitarBlue Bookof Acoustic Guitars, BlueBook of Electric Guitars,andComments are closed.
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