HOW TO READ A IBANEZ SERIAL NUMBER

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Author Message   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 6:12 am:    Well gang here it is the ultimate list on serial numbers from today to yesterday. Now I know there are a few yawning out there but think of those who do not know how to read them. I hope this list will be a useful one to all at ICW. OK it goes like this..starting with Japanese built guitars: 1997 to Now F=Fujigen factory, 2nd & 3rd digit=year made(eg 04=2004) next 5 digits =month & build number Jan=5000 Feb=10000 Mar=15000 Apr=20000 May=25000 June=30000 July=35000 Aug=40000 Sept=45000 Oct=50000 Nov=55000 Dec=60000 So an example here is for a recent model with a Serial number F0330210 = Fujigen 2003 June 210th guitar built. 1984 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made 1975 to 1983 Example serial number C800358 C=March So A=Jan M=Dec 80 = 1980 year of build 0358= 358th guitar built for that month. Sung Eum Factory Example serial number E9052345 E=Sung Eum 9=1999 05= May So 01=Jan 12=Dec 2345= 2345th guitar built for that month Korean Built Ibanez Cort Factory Acoustics and Electrics start with C eg C03071234 C=Factory 03=2003 07=July 1234=1234th guitar built for that month Saehan Factory: acoustics start with SQ, electrics start with S Sae-In Factory starts with A These other factories follow the same serial number pattern as the Cort Korean factory. Indonesian Made Ibanez These guitars start with the following I=Cort Indonesia factory K=KWO factory J=Sejung factory The example serial number is K031034335 K=KWO 03=2003 10=Oct. So 01= Jan 12=Dec 34335 it is from the Acoustic range So 00001 to 49999 are Acoustic Guitars, 50000 to 99999 are electric guitars and electric basses All 3 factories use the same serial number system China Production W=World Factory Z=Yeou Chern Factory Example Serial Number WX32149 W=World Factory X=October...but wait it goes like this for the build months 1=Jan 2=Feb 3=Mar 4=Apr 5=May 6=Jun 7=July 8=Aug 9=Sep X=Oct Y=Nov Z=Dec 3=2003 2149= 2149th guitar built for that month. So there it is peeps, this brings you up to date,if there is other stuff I have left out which I'm sure I might have like the Artstar Jazz Boxes with the H starting serial number...Lt Commander Roadster please fill in the missing blanks here If you have anything else please put it here so we can keep a uniform thread to be used by all as good reference guide. I hope this is useful to all our new fellow Ibaneezer's who have joined the collective as of late. Captain Ibanez   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2004 - 9:45 am:    Captain: Thanks VERY much for this info. It's the most concise I've ever seen. In the Japanese built, 1984 to 1996 section, how would you distinquish an '84, '85 or '86 from a '94, '95 or '96 if only the last digit of the year is used. Or does it work that F4 = '84 and F94 = '94. etc.? Can you tell us about the Sung Eum Factory? This is a Japanese plant? Also, what kind of guitars were made there and what years? The example number looks like there would only be valid numbers from E0 (1990) thru E9 (1999). Is that a correct assumption? Thanks once again for the great job you've done.   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 6:19 am:    John, the 84 85 etc models etc where actually still the same system from prior to 1984, I strongly beleive that the newer serial number sytem did not take full effect until 1990 but that between you and me. The Sung Eum story will be revealed a bit later....have to do some home work , but I'm glad you find this info useful as I'm sure all at ICW will. The Artstar factory was the Tendura factory and I was hoping that Lt Commander Roadster was going to join the dots here...but he is probably busy in the engine room fiddling with the warp drive Captain Ibanez   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 12:38 pm:    "1984 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made 1975 to 1983 Example serial number C800358 C=March So A=Jan M=Dec 80 = 1980 year of build 0358= 358th guitar built for that month. " These years should be 1987 to 1996 and 1975 to 1986. I didn't see any reference to a "P" factory prefix. I have seen several of these on Korean built models from 1987. Still don't know what the "P" stands for! Steve   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 12:47 pm:    Interesting diferences between my data and what the Cap'n has presented. These are the factory codes as I got them years ago from JD: Japan F = Fuji Gen Gakki H = Terada I = Iida Korea C = Cort P = ??? S = Samick Maybe we can FINALLY sort out this mess! Steve   Ibnzplyr Username: Ibnzplyr Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Monday, December 06, 2004 - 12:41 am:    P = Pyongyang : ) Scott   Johnm Username: Johnm Registered: 08-2001 Posted on Monday, December 06, 2004 - 7:45 am:    Hello Captain, Here's one I'd like to have your opinion on: I800010 (Artfield AFD-25) 1988 the 10th guitar made? In which month? In Indonesia or Iida?   Shawnnelson Username: Shawnnelson Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:08 am:    Hi guys first post here. I have question for the capt. since i am a little slow..lol This serial is off my destroyer 2 , have no idea what year or anything it was made, can someone help me ? "B814869 made in japan" is what it says on the neck plate.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:23 am:    Shawn: Good to have you with us! Your serial number is an easy one, so I'll jump in and help the Captain. That would be a February 1981 build date.   Shawnnelson Username: Shawnnelson Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 12:22 pm:    Thanks Johns for warm welcome and the help. This looks like a great site with a good group of people.I am looking forward to learning more about my favorite guitars and plan to search this site indepth.   Jim_donahue Username: Jim_donahue Registered: 04-2004 Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 9:24 pm:    Serial numbers Here are the answers to your Questions F7 Means 1987 in 1997 they added F 97 and the CE designation. Sung-Eum is E because S was used by Samick. So S was samick in 1990 to 1995, S is now Sejan, Y is actually yoojin Korean Factory this was made in Korea (RG140,RG240,RG340) They also made the first Korean acoustic's. P Peerless factory in Pusan Korea, Owned and controlled by IIDA Gakki in Japan they made the Nomad series and AE and other acoustics like the Charleston. I is Idda Gakki they made some AR300 models in the mid 1980's after Fuji stopped making set necks. H is the funniest H7 is Terrada a comapy in Nagoya Japan that makes mostly Gretsch guitars, This was a disaster and they made H7 for 3 years on the serial numbers, H must have ment for Hoshino. Acoustics with a 2 like 2940000 are Cort Taejan factory because they did not have a Letter on the stamp, I asked them to do that. The older acoustics were made by a Japanese company Called Kato they made the V300 series and a few other ones. They use the year then month like 8204 (April 1982) W is world this is actually a Korean not Chinsese Company. There is also another Z that was on the Silver Cadet that was Woo-sin, that place burned down and so did the S&N factory. (I went to all of these places man I have stories.) Any other serial number questions, just ask I know them all. Jim   Fg100 Username: Fg100 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 8:43 am:    Hi Jim, what do you mean with the H7 part in our post? Does it mean that a guitar with H7 can't have the year determined prcisely? There was a guy selling an AF200 with H7 serial saying it was a 97, but I thought it would be 87... And what about H80xxxx for an AF200? Is it right to say it is a Hoshino 1988? Thank you very much for all the info.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 1:15 pm:    Jim: Thanks for that ton of information! This is a lot more complicated than I figured. Two questions: 1. I had the same thoughts about the H7 designation. I have an AF200 with the serial number H803325. It matches the description of the '88 AF200, with the narrow Artstar headstock. The '98 catalog doesn't list the AF200 at all, and those Artstars all had the wide, tulip style headstock. 2. Can you talk more about why the Terrada factory was a disaster? Was it stupid administrative/business problems or was the quality of the guitars affected?   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 1:39 pm:    Remember, '97 and later models will have the "CE" (Consultants Europe) logo on them. While not part of the serial number, it is a dead give away as to the decade of manufacture. Steve   Stevo Username: Stevo Registered: 06-2001 Posted on Sunday, January 16, 2005 - 9:55 am:    OK here is another different one JS1-serial# J000036, when was this one made? and where? My assumption is that this is the 36th JS1 made but the rest dosn't match any of the other examples. Sincerely Stefano   Stevo Username: Stevo Registered: 06-2001 Posted on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 - 8:29 pm:    bump Captain are you there? Jim? Anyone? Stefano   Stevo Username: Stevo Registered: 06-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 4:46 pm:    Let's try again ? Maybe I'll be more fortunate. Stefano   Winnie_thomas Username: Winnie_thomas Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2005 - 11:58 pm:    Okay, now that I am thoroughly confused, some one tell me what this means: My Japanese made AS 80 has "Artist" on the truss rod cover and the Artist headstock. The serial number is H701168. Winnie   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 12:32 am:    Winnie: I'd say it was an '87.   Stevo Username: Stevo Registered: 06-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 11:18 am:    Still nobody has a clue on the JS? Stefano   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 12:56 pm:    Stevo: The Captain's first message says: J=Sejung factory I don't know that much about them, but does it sound right that your JS-1 is an Indonesian made guitar from 2000?   Stevo Username: Stevo Registered: 06-2001 Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 3:15 pm:    I don't think any JS1 were ever made in Indonesia, for some kind of twist all Satriani's serial numbers differ from the standard Ibanez , this is why I was asking. Maybe Jim can clear this up a little. Cheers Stefano   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 6:07 am:    Mr Shanley, The Captain can only work on the info I recieve from Nagoya...please be gentle..or else I will set my phasers and proton missles to stun...can't nuke the keeper Captain Ibanez ps for any of the faithfull out there who wish to crittersize. I respect the quality input...cause remember I may not be as alert as I used to be sometimes...I try...only for all and sundry on this website. Now you thought that you had to be kind for the thread for Ibanez ..The Untold Story writers...and yes thats my old mate JD !. Sorry taxdodgers...if I'm out of school for all the wealth of collective knowledge out there,sometimes, give me a break, cause I'm not on the soapbox here, I do what I do for you guys...3 weeks until the Aussie release of the 2005 Ibanez range...then I will get our cleaners to get Spiro's dribble off the glass at the office. lmao So, as I said in a much early thread..about 2 years ago...when are you freaks...coming too Australia for the 1st ever Ibanez forum ? I would love to put you all up at my place by the beach here...but my invalid mum might get the shits ...big time with the greetings...and now your here...where's my cofee and a biscuit...go on I dare ya to say I take care of a 76 year old Parrot Come on ya bastards , get ya rear into gear can we do this next year at Australis Music in 2006, the 30th anniversary of the end of the Law Suite Era? Captain Ibanez   Winnie_thomas Username: Winnie_thomas Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 9:23 pm:    Johns, Thanks, that's what I was assuming but wasn't sure. It's a great guitar, I bought it from Harold (bluesfingers) about 7 years ago. Winnie   Stevo Username: Stevo Registered: 06-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 9:16 am:    Got an answer from Rich harris at Ibanezrules.com, he says that my JS1 is from 1990 and that the J means Japan, od but since he is the major expert on Satriani's on the planet I'll stick with his judgement and we can ad a new line to the already( confusing and)growing topic of Ibanez serial #'s. cheers Stefano   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2005 - 10:23 am:    Stevo: Thanks for sharing this info. I guess this is the price you pay for sourcing guitars from various factories all over the world.   Mbg1002 Username: Mbg1002 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 3:39 am:    Hi I have an Ibanez RG 470 CA, w/ EDGE Pro Trem. It has SN:F0409608. This 2004 ryt? what month? wat are the rest of info?   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 6:15 am:    Mbg1002, F=Fujigen..Japan. 04= 2004 09=September 608= 608th guitar built for that month Captain Ibanez p.s CA=Candy Apple (Red)   Mbg1002 Username: Mbg1002 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 11:22 pm:    Really? but wait...I bought that guitar in the store last June 2004 only. How come?   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 8:00 am:    HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF FORWARD PRODUCTION? CAPPY   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 8:17 am:    jUST JOKING BUT THIS IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN   Rakumaniac Username: Rakumaniac Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - 11:30 pm:    How about W530961 is it a W= Korea 5=2005 3=march and 0961 =the Nine hundred and sixety one built or am I reading these posts wrong?   Spiro Username: Spiro Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 1:34 am:    the above is correct rakumaniac   Partsman Username: Partsman Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 1:18 am:    ok, i've got one here, it's an AS120 Artstar made in korea the serial # is 9129422 no letter prefix, is this a 91? thanks, Mark   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 2:39 am:    Partsman, 91= 1991 2= Feb 9422=9,422th guitar built for that month. This would be total units for that month across the entire range not just one model. Captain Ibanez   Partsman Username: Partsman Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 8:48 am:    cool, thanks Capn' Mark   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2005 - 2:09 pm:    Hi Cap'n, long time reader, first time poster here. I have an AS193, built 2003 according to your charts, and from what I have read here, the Artcore bodies were built in China, then shipped to Japan for necks and finish. This is where I am confused, because my 193 has "Made In Japan" on the back of the head stock, and the sticker inside the body says "Made In Japan", also. As you know, this is the "high rent" Artcore semi-hollow DC. Please enlighten me, if possible.   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 9:03 am:    Dave, a couple of pictures in the daylight would be nice,as well as the serial number, for ya O'l Cappy to give you the truth. Look forward to the pics..etc Captain Ibanez   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 9:05 am:    p.s. Artcore range was never built in Japan. These modern day classic axes wereonly ever built in China Cappy   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 9:10 am:    ooops sorry to say that they use the old school Fujigen building techniques...if there is a fault...destroy it and start again. This is the masters method..don't even begin to ask why.! This is why you have so many classic guitars in your collection these days. For those who wish to ask further...just ask me ! Cappy   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 1:22 pm:    OK, Cap'n, here are a couple pics with the pertinent info. It may come in two posts, though.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 2:07 pm:    The top one is a Fuji built 2003. On the lower one I don't see anything that looks like a serial number. The model number (AS193) is visible. Are these both from the same guitar? Steve   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 2:49 pm:    It looks like the date is stamped underneath Japan Jun96021. But could that be a printing date for the label?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 3:35 pm:    Steve: Earlier in the thread Daveh said that he had an AS193 that had a Japan serial number. Yet, this model was supposed to be Korean. The pictures show that not only does the serial number indicte the Japanese ancestry, but the label inside says so, too.   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 6:02 pm:    Yes, the ser.# and label are from the same axe. One time when I was shopping, I found this guitar on the Ibanez site, in the Artcore catagory. Listed as Japanese origin, with Super '58 pickups in wood rings, Gibralta III bridge, block inlays,etc. I think it listed around 1200USD. It does not say Artcore anywhere on the guitar. \image \image   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 6:08 pm:    Here's the two pics I forgot to post. :}   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 7:17 pm:    Bump, anyone with a little info on the AS193?   Simbob30 Username: Simbob30 Registered: 09-2005 Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 3:14 pm:    Here's one I couldn't find any reference for. I'm trying to determine which model I have but there is no model name on the head stock and only one serial number (that I could find) on the neck plate. The number is 8913872. I assume it was the 3872 guitar produced in Jan 1989. I believe it's an RG series and I think either a 650 or 750. Has D-S-D pickup configuration, a 5 way switch, 1 volume, 1 tone, and a Floyd Rose. Has a Wizard neck. Does not have shark tooth inlay but just a triangle. Anyone know what this might be? It was my first "real" guitar purchase and I love this guitar! I'm the original owner and would like to find another one just like her. I can add photos if needed.   Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 1:39 am:    Daveh, What you have is part of the Artcore United series. Made only in '03. Wood PU surrounds, figured tops, Japanese Super 58s, Beautifully crafted necks. As you noted, the bodies were made in China, then shipped to FujiGen in Japan where the neck was added, and finish applied. I have an AG195, and spent quite a bit of time with the AF195, all part of the United series. They play and sound fantastic. I am very impressed with the quality, and have considered seeking out an AS193. They can definitely hang with the Prestige and Signature models. I'm surprised that even the captain missed that this guitar is an Artcore United. It bears the made in Japan marking because that was the country of final assembly, and therefor the country of origin. Here is an article announcing the United Line: http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Ibanez/PR/Artcore-United.html banez Debuts Artcore United Guitars at NAMM New Full and Semi-Acoustics Combine Artcore With Japanese Ibanez Necks January 15, 2004 Ibanez is taking their Artcore full and semi-acoustic guitars into a new arena. "The new Ibanez Artcore United models 'unite' our resonant Artcore bodies with impeccable Japanese craftsmanship and finishing and the famous playability of Japanese Ibanez necks," said Paul Specht of Ibanez Communications. "The guitars begin as Artcore flamed maple bodies in China and then travel to Japan for fitting with 3pc maple/mahogany Ibanez necks and Super 58 humbuckers and then finished. Then they're shipped to the states where they're inspected and set-up by Ibanez USA quality control in Bensalem, Pennsylvania and Idaho Falls, Idaho. The result is pro playability and tone in the $1300 range, which in full and semi-acoustics is an achievement we are very proud of." Three different Artcore United models will be offered. The traditional-sized AF195 and the slightly smaller AG195 are true full-hollow bodies, which list for $1329.00. The AS193 semi-acoustic lists for $1229. Model AF195 List $1329.99 Available Finish AV Antique Violin Body Material Flame Maple Back Sides, and Top Neck Material 3pc Maple/Mahogany Set-in Neck Scale 24 3/4" No. Frets/Type 22/Medium Fingerboard Bound Rosewood Inlay Artist Block Bridge Rosewood H/W Color Chrome Neck Pickup Super 58 Bridge Pickup Super 58 Controls Two volume, Two Tone Other Special Features '70s-style decorated tailpiece Case AF200C Case List $169.99 Advertisement Model AG195 List $1329.99 Available Finish AV Antique Violin Body Material Flame Maple Back Sides, and Top Neck Material 3pc Maple/Mahogany Set-in Neck Scale 24 3/4" No. Frets/Type 22/Medium Fingerboard Bound Rosewood Inlay Artist Block Bridge Rosewood H/W Color Chrome Neck Pickup Super 58 Bridge Pickup Super 58 Controls Two volume, Two Tone Other Special Features '70s-style decorated tailpiece Case AG100C Case List $169.99 Model AS193 List $1229.99 Available Finish AV Antique Violin Body Material Flame Maple Back Sides, and Top Neck Material 3pc Maple/Mahogany Set-in Neck Scale 24 3/4" No. Frets/Type 22/Medium Fingerboard Bound Rosewood Inlay Artist Block Bridge Rosewood H/W Color Chrome Neck Pickup Super 58 Bridge Pickup Super 58 Controls Two volume, Two Tone Other Special Features Case AS200C Case List $169.99 From the 2004 catalog   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 3:10 pm:    Simbob, You have a 1989 EX Series made in Korea. The serial number format for the early Korean built stuff was different. My '91 EXB404 bass has a similar serial number. Steve   Daveh Username: Daveh Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 10:36 am:    Funkle- Thanks for the info. If you can find one of these, I say grab it, because from what I've seen, they are almost as rare as hen's teeth. I've only seen one come up on the 'bay, earlier this year. It's a great playing and sounding guitar, I get compliments on the sound of it, everywhere I play. The only thing about it is that the ad says flame top/sides/back, but mine is only the top which is flame. Doesn't affect the sound though. :^} Thanks for your effort.   Funkle Username: Funkle Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 12:23 pm:    Dave, there are still some new ones floating around if you search the online dealers. I got my '03 AG195 new this year from a local dealer. -Sven   Theletterq Username: Theletterq Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 12:40 pm:    How many guitars did Ibanez make a month? I have an AW60 with the following serial #: E02072795 If I read the above correctly it would read: E=Sung Eum 0=1980 2=Feb 72,795th built? Thanks for any help!   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 5:06 pm:    Theletterq: I think it would translate as: E=Sung Eum 02=2002 07=July 2795th unit built   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Monday, October 10, 2005 - 11:41 pm:    And Mr Shanley shoots...he scores.Translation correct John. Captain Ibanez   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 12:17 am:    Hey, what do I win? How's Mr. Spiro doing? Ever since his new job, we don't get to see him much.   Theletterq Username: Theletterq Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 11:23 am:    Great, thank you. No wonder it is in such great shape! I haven't done that much research, but I didn't know AW60's were built that recently? Or was this one not available in the US? Thanks again...   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 10:23 pm:    John, he's going ok. We have both been pretty busy. I haven't sat down for a chat and a Jack Daniels with Spiro for nearly 3 weeks We talk petty much everday, he's always got some Ibanez part (s) he is after for his customers.After all he would have the biggest Ibanez display in Sydney in his store.   Mrblanche Username: Mrblanche Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 1:28 pm:    OK, I've gone through this thread, and I'm as puzzled as ever. My new (used) SA160QMAM has the serial # W921470. Up above it seems to indicate that is Chinese-made, but it's very clearly stamped "Made in Korea." Any help?   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 10:40 pm:    Mrblanche, your SA160QMAM was built at the World factory in Korea in Sept.2002 and was the 1,470th guitar built for that month (overall production) not just that model. So for those who want to work out how to read the World factory serial numbers it goes like this and we will use Mrblanche's serial number for this example. W921470 W = WORLD FACTORY 9 = SEPTEMBER 2 = 2002 1470 = PRODUCTION NUMBER Hope this helps all out there in ICW land Captain Ibanez   Dbraman Username: Dbraman Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 2:50 pm:    What does "L" stand for?   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 6:58 pm:    Dbraman: When it comes to serial numbers, context is everything. I assume that the L is the first character? What's the rest of the serial number? What kind of guitar? For instance, if the guitar was from the mid 70s to mid 80s the L would mean December. The next two characters should be digits. They would represent the year. For example, L78 would mean Dec 1978.   Dbraman Username: Dbraman Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, February 02, 2006 - 2:45 pm:    It's a PL177OCM. Serial number: L851053. Made in Japan. Thanks   Daneel Username: Daneel Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 8:42 am:    I have an Artist AR500 L805338, so made in december 1980, you could see some pics here. I would like to know how many AR500 were build per year, how many from this catch de tiger serie, and which is the last catalogue where we can see this model ? Thanks for your help.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 12:03 pm:    Daneel: Welcome and thanks for sharing your beautiful AR500 with us! Your's is the second one to show up on the board this week. You're making us jealous. According to Jim Donahue's site, (http://www.noahjames.com/vintagepage/srtist.html) the AR500 was produced between 1979 and 1982. I can't help with the production numbers. Maybe Jim can? Leave a message for him in the section named: "Jim Donahue Answers Your Questions". He's pretty busy, so don't be surprised if he doesn't get back to you.   Richie1967 Username: Richie1967 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 7:22 pm:    John, You might be able to shed some light on my Bass. I bought it "New" in October of 1989. I believe it is and Ex model, although there are no markings. No active pickups.. It's Electric Yellow and the body style and head stock is similar to a Steve Vai Ibanez Guitar. The serial number is F753519. Doesn't make sense with you earlier postings.....   Hasenobu Username: Hasenobu Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 8:41 pm:    Richie1967, I think John's first posting gives you a correct answer. Considering the year you bought the bass new, its serial number should be read as follows: F=Fujigen (Japan) 7=1987 5=May 3519=3519th production   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 9:45 pm:    Richie: What Hasenobu said! However, there are no EX basses shown in the 1987 catalog (which is really the '88 catalog). They (the EX404 and EX405) first show up in the 1989 catalog, but only in Black and Red, not Yellow. You can see them here: http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1989/ex.jpg   Richie1967 Username: Richie1967 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:43 pm:    oH, YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!!! I HAVE THE EX404...1989....THANKS!!!!! NOW I WHAT I HAVE. ALL THIS TIME IT HAS BEEN DRIVINT ME CRAZY!!!! THNAKS   Walt Username: Walt Registered: 04-2006 Posted on Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 12:38 am:    I'm assuming my Roadstar 2 RB950 Bass was still under the '83 and earlier system. G844379 G=July 84=1984 Production#4379 Seems to make the most sense.   Nounouk Username: Nounouk Registered: 04-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 4:06 pm:    hi, my ATK305 has an unusual FC5100121 serial. I saw in another thread a guitar with a FC prefix too, and a "MIJ" sticker. My bass seems to have had a sticker too, there is a lilbit of glue under the serial. I searched a lot on the web but found no information about this prefix.... Could it be, japan, march 1995 ? Does anybody know about it ? Thanks !   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 12:58 am:    I just picked up an RG321MH with CP04****** serial. It's Korean made, 2004. The double letter prefixes seem to be a new development. Gonna hafta ask the Cap'n ... Respectfully, Lt Cmd Roadstar   Nounouk Username: Nounouk Registered: 04-2006 Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 3:29 am:    I saw 3 "FC" serials in others guitar pics, so C shouldn't stand for March. May be 1995, october, 121st made. no idea for the C....   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 8:16 am:    Cort factory?   Joe_pass_wannabe Username: Joe_pass_wannabe Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 9:44 pm:    Hello, I've been researching Ibanez serial numbers for my website "The guitar Dater Project" and this thread has been the single most useful source I've found so far. I've written up an app based on the info and I would appreciate it if you checked it out and gave me your input. You can check out the beta version of the app here: http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx Below you will see the assumptions I made when writing the code, which are in large part simply restatement of Captain Ibanez's initial post combined with some amendments from subsequent ones. Japanese built guitars: 8 CHARACTERS 1997 to Now F = Fuji Gen Gakki http://www.fujigen.co.jp/ H = Terada http://www.gretschguitars.com/terada/ I = Iida 2nd & 3rd digit=year made(eg 04=2004) next 5 digits =month & build number So an example here is for a recent model with a Serial number F0330210 = Fujigen 2003 June 210th guitar built. 7 CHARACTERS 1987 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made 1975 to 1987 Example serial number C800358 C=March So A=Jan M=Dec 80 = 1980 year of build 0358= 358th guitar built for that month. Korean built guitars: 8 CHARACTERS Sung Eum Factory http://www.crafter.co.kr/main.html Example serial number E9052345 E=Sung Eum 9=1999 05= May So 01=Jan 12=Dec 2345= 2345th guitar built for that month 9 CHARACTERS Cort Factory Acoustics and Electrics start with C eg C03071234 C=Factory 03=2003 07=July 1234=1234th guitar built for that month Saehan Factory: acoustics start with SQ, electrics start with S A = Sae-In http://www.saein.co.kr/ C = Cort http://www.cort.co.kr/ P = Peerless http://peerlessguitar.com/ S = Samick 90 - 95, Sejan 91 - present Y = Yoojin http://www.yoojin.com/index.html These other factories follow the same serial number pattern as the Cort Korean factory. Indonesian built guitars: These guitars start with the following I=Cort Indonesia factory http://www.cort.co.kr/ K=KWO factory I found a site but they only make acoustic guitars http://www.finaguitar.com.tw/index.htm J=Sejung factory 10 CHARACTERS The example serial number is K031034335 K=KWO 03=2003 10=Oct. So 01= Jan 12=Dec 34335 it is from the Acoustic range So 00001 to 49999 are Acoustic Guitars, 50000 to 99999 are electric guitars and electric basses All 3 factories use the same serial number system China built guitars: 7 CHARACTERS W=World Factory Z=Yeou Chern Factory http://www.jandd-guitars.com/index-1.htm Example Serial Number WX32149 W=World Factory X=October...but wait it goes like this for the build months 1=Jan 2=Feb 3=Mar 4=Apr 5=May 6=Jun 7=July 8=Aug 9=Sep X=Oct Y=Nov Z=Dec 3=2003 2149= 2149th guitar built for that month.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 1:48 am:    joe pass, I had some samples from hoshinoUSA a few years ago. One was a bass with the J and D logo another was a Crafter that was Identical to the AEF18 model Ibanez acoustic that are still in production and a few Cort basses that are exactly like the low end soundgear models. It is interesting to see all this compiled together, great job!   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 2:59 am:    What about late 80's early 90's Korean built without a letter prefix? Or 6 and 7 digit Korean with a letter prefix? Or this morphodite... Steve   Joe_pass_wannabe Username: Joe_pass_wannabe Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:48 am:    Thanks Ibanezfreak1960 Mr_roadstar all that I know is contained in that post. Teach me, I'm here to learn.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 2:17 am:    If you read this entire thread carefully the omissions I pointed out are referred to. Do some searching on this site as there are many serial number related posts. Steve   Joe_pass_wannabe Username: Joe_pass_wannabe Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:54 am:    Ok I found two examples of late 80's early 90's Korean built without a letter prefix in this thread 7 Digits First 2 digits represent the year I'm just not clear about whether the third digit represents the month and what happens when its double digit month 8913872 = 1989 9129422 = 1991 I'll search around some more in the other threads for more info.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 9:18 am:    Joe_pass_wannabe: I applaud your ambitious project. Compiling a definitive guide to Ibanez's serial number system was a goal I had for this site. But it has proved to be more problematic because of exceptions and duplications. Contact me via email (click on my username to the left) and I can help you find what's needed to fill in the gaps. JohnS Sysop   Nounouk Username: Nounouk Registered: 04-2006 Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:15 pm:    Nice project... But still no way to found information about FC prefixed serials on the web. All I found: FC serials in ebay "ibanez auctions". Sellers always say "made in japan" in that case. Ex: several FC5090xxx, a FC6010xxx , mine FC5100xxx. They seem to be 1995 & 1996 made...   Telstar Username: Telstar Registered: 04-2006 Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 2:22 am:    Thanks to Joe Pass and all others, trying to shed some light on the serial number dark spots. How about this one: I051218346. According to Joe's listing this would be a dec. 2005 Indonesean built acoustic. Happens to be an electric, though... Guess there will always be some black sheep, serialnumber-wise...   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 8:14 am:    Sorry Cappy, But your "ultimate list" doesn't cover this: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/13/939.html#POST28629 An excerpt: Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 10:43 pm: That one is a nice one though. Also the first burst with a bullet. I'd say $450 on average but I've paid more than I should for guitars just because I "had" to have it. As long as your happy with it, it's worth what you pay. F770064 Black Strat W/O Bullet truss rod F770091 Sunburst Strat W/O Bullet truss rod CG770020 White Strat W/O Bullet truss rod CI770022 White Strat W/O Bullet truss rod CI770074 White Strat W/O Bullet truss rod CK770161 Black Jazz Bass CK770217 Natural Tele W/O Bullet truss rod CL770018 Natural Tele W/O Bullet truss rod CA780043 Natural Strat WITH Bullet CA780076 Sunburst Strat WITH bullet CA780085 Natural Strat WITH Bullet truss rod CA780286 Natural Tele WITH Bullet truss rod Five questions: 1) Does the C stand for Challenger? 2) Do the last 4 digits form the month production number for this particular model only? 3) Is this so four every model? 4) Albert Andrade wrote on October 08, 2004 - 11:07 in the thread Ibanez ES-175 Version "77" Vintage What's it worth"? (about his 2616): "The s/n is K776985." Does this, in your opinion, mean they produced at least 6985 Arist 2616 jazz boxes in October 1977? or is 6985 an overall production number for all models together in October 1977? 5) If the latter is the case, was the overall month production of Ibanez Japan always below 9999? Couldn't formulate this any shorter. But at least it's shorter than my 'thinking aloud' which John understandably removed. I'll do that in my text processor next time, then I won't loose the logical steps for my hypotheses. Greetz, Ginger Ale   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 10:12 am:    Ginger: I didn't remove you message. There were problems with the web hosting company yesterday. Please see the "Technical Difficulties..." thread I left in the Miscellaneous section, for a fuller explanation and apology: http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=17&post=47922#POST47 922   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 3:43 pm:    Oh sorry, I didn't read it, because I was too eager to know Cappy's answer. I had a whole argumentation about why I think the last four digits normally must indicate the overall month production of Ibanez at the moment the guitar gets its stamp (hereunder called HYPOTHESIS 4 ). To go short: Gibson uses only 3 digits to indicate a day's production, so: 000 < max. day production of Gibson </= 999 Ibanez uses 4 digits for the month production at a certain moment, so: 0000 < max. month production of Ibanez </= 9999 That would mean: 0000 < max. yearly production of Ibanez </= (12x9999) or 119,988 (say 120,000 guitars - 12 zeros, assuming they start at 0001 and not 0000). If the annual production of all Ibanez models together was indeed under 120,000 pieces there's no problem. If it was way higher there is!!! That would mean that the 4 last digits would (always or sometimes) indicate the month production for 1 model on the moment of stamping. And I would have a problem with believing that Ibanez produced between 6000 and 9999 units of the model 2616 in both the month of APRIL 1977, (because I have seen a 2616 with s/n D776144), and OCTOBER 1977 (because Albert's 2616 has the s/n K776985. If they did this every month, this would mean at between 72.000 and 119,988 jazz boxes OF 1 TYPE per year. And I don't think there was and will ever be a market for that quantity of the same relatively expensive guitars (caus' we're not talking Strats here). Why am I asking this? Well, because some sellers, referring to the serial number for example A770100, may say: "This is number 0100 made of this model in 1977". But it might have been nr. 1 or let's say 27 of that model, if other models were taken in account too. When I read such a story I want to know, whether the guy is talking bullsh.. or not. For a guitar that is known to be a limited edition it's a different story, like the 2461 Johnny Smith with the stamped fretboard s/n Y7713 we saw last week on ICW. First it starts with a Y, instead of A-M. It seems to stand for YEAR77 Johnny Smith guitar nr 13. So there were max 99 made in that year or from the start of 2461 production. I could live with both of these hypotheses. But then the Artist 2616 with s/n D776144 or s/n K776985 ... How to interpret the last 4 digits??? Hypothesis 1) Up to 9999 of the same Artist jazz guitars in one month? Hypothesis 2) Up to 9999 of the same Artist jazz guitars in one year? Hypothesis 3) Up to 9999 examples of the Artist 2616 jazz guitar since the start of production? Or Hypothesis 4) up to 9999 guitars produced per month taking all models into account? Long story as usual. But an interesting matter, isn't it? Greetz, Ginger Ale   Fg100 Username: Fg100 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 8:12 am:    According to Cap.Ibanez, the last 4 digits indicate the overall production, not of one specific model. Here's his answer. "Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 10:40 pm: ------------------------------- Mrblanche, your SA160QMAM was built at the World factory in Korea in Sept.2002 and was the 1,470th guitar built for that month (overall production) not just that model."   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 7:03 pm:    Allright FG100! Good reading! That's what I call an answer! But... it's about a Korean guitar. Does it go for all Japanese Ibanez guitars too? For most of them (starting with a letter indicating the month [not the factory] and two digits that indicate the year) it probably does. But then there is this period, which started in 1987 and ended in 1996, and in which a letter indicates the factory and the first digit was used for the year digit x in 198x, or the digit y in 199y. (7=/< x </= 9 and 0=/< y </=6). (They had to stop this system before 1997 because if not they would have reused '87 serial numbers. Well, in this period there were 5 digits left for overall production. That means 99999 was the maximum year capacity. That's 20,000 guitar less than in the old system (was 12 x 9999). Wasn't there any danger the numbering system would get too small for the actual year production? And if so... what could be a solution to avoid it? (hypothetically) Did the year production of one factory ever reach 99,999 and was this ever a reason to link the last five digits to one model? If this was never a reason to link the last five digits to one model, they most likely never did it. Then our answer to this question is indeed complete.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 11:21 pm:    Why is this such a big deal with you guys? Who cares about sequentially assigned production numbers? Only the month/factory and year are of any significance. The Bear   Fg100 Username: Fg100 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 2:43 am:    Mr Roadstar... I'm just answering... it's not a biggy for me. Because I answer a question (even if it is an old one) it doesn't mean I'm discussing it nor that it's 'so important' to me. You seem to be in a bad mood. (no offence) Maybe Ginger should read more carefully the threads before spending time "discovering" the wheel. (no offence) Let's be friendly like a tipical ICW member is.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 7:23 pm:    Amazing! You can judge my mood from plain text on an internet discussion board. Who's not being friendly? All I did was ask a couple questions. You can rest assured there is very little chance you're going to offend me. The Bear   Fg100 Username: Fg100 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 6:30 am:    Good.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 3:23 am:    In the following thread: Ibanez Collectors World » Vintage & Custom Electrics » Help identifying a super 70's custom we just discovered a mistake in the above interpretation of 1975-1986 serial numbers: In the Serial Number thread of our "Defender of the Truth" we find: Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2004 - 12:38 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "1984 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made 1975 to 1983 Example serial number C800358 C=March So A=Jan M=Dec 80 = 1980 year of build 0358= 358th guitar built for that month. " These years should be 1987 to 1996 and 1975 to 1986. I didn't see any reference to a "P" factory prefix. I have seen several of these on Korean built models from 1987. Still don't know what the "P" stands for! Steve and: Joe_pass_wannabe Username: Joe_pass_wannabe Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 09:44 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello, I've been researching Ibanez serial numbers for my website "The guitar Dater Project" and this thread has been the single most useful source I've found so far. I've written up an app based on the info and I would appreciate it if you checked it out and gave me your input. You can check out the beta version of the app here: http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx Below you will see the assumptions I made when writing the code, which are in large part simply restatement of Captain Ibanez's initial post combined with some amendments from subsequent ones. Japanese built guitars: 8 CHARACTERS 1997 to Now F = Fuji Gen Gakki http://www.fujigen.co.jp/ H = Terada http://www.gretschguitars.com/terada/ I = Iida 2nd & 3rd digit=year made(eg 04=2004) next 5 digits =month & build number So an example here is for a recent model with a Serial number F0330210 = Fujigen 2003 June 210th guitar built. 7 CHARACTERS 1987 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made 1975 to 1987 Example serial number C800358 C=March So A=Jan M=Dec 80 = 1980 year of build 0358= 358th guitar built for that month. Korean built guitars: 8 CHARACTERS Sung Eum Factory http://www.crafter.co.kr/main.html Example serial number E9052345 E=Sung Eum 9=1999 05= May So 01=Jan 12=Dec 2345= 2345th guitar built for that month 9 CHARACTERS Cort Factory Acoustics and Electrics start with C eg C03071234 C=Factory 03=2003 07=July 1234=1234th guitar built for that month Saehan Factory: acoustics start with SQ, electrics start with S A = Sae-In http://www.saein.co.kr/ C = Cort http://www.cort.co.kr/ P = Peerless http://peerlessguitar.com/ S = Samick 90 - 95, Sejan 91 - present Y = Yoojin http://www.yoojin.com/index.html These other factories follow the same serial number pattern as the Cort Korean factory. Indonesian built guitars: These guitars start with the following I=Cort Indonesia factory http://www.cort.co.kr/ K=KWO factory I found a site but they only make acoustic guitars http://www.finaguitar.com.tw/index.htm J=Sejung factory 10 CHARACTERS The example serial number is K031034335 K=KWO 03=2003 10=Oct. So 01= Jan 12=Dec 34335 it is from the Acoustic range So 00001 to 49999 are Acoustic Guitars, 50000 to 99999 are electric guitars and electric basses All 3 factories use the same serial number system China built guitars: 7 CHARACTERS W=World Factory Z=Yeou Chern Factory http://www.jandd-guitars.com/index-1.htm Example Serial Number WX32149 W=World Factory X=October...but wait it goes like this for the build months 1=Jan 2=Feb 3=Mar 4=Apr 5=May 6=Jun 7=July 8=Aug 9=Sep X=Oct Y=Nov Z=Dec 3=2003 2149= 2149th guitar built for that month. Joe Pass wannabe obviously copied the info of Mr Roadstar, and I copied the info of them both. It's possible that J was used next to I in September. The other possibility is that we're copying each other's mistakes. The best way to check it is a search in our own ICW for 75-86 serial numbers starting with M. If they don't pop up, we're probably copying each other's mistakes. I just did the check on both M75-M86 and L75-M86 The M serial numbers don't pop up and the L serial numbers do, so I guess we've been copying each other's mistakes since December 2004. Perhaps I should have checked it before, instead of trusting the "authority" of others. As a scientist (linguist), I should have known better. So: M SERIAL NUMBERS WERE NOT FOUND AND PROBABLY DON'T EXIST AT ALL IN THE PERIOD 1975-1986. L SERIAL NUMBERS DO EXIST IN THE PERIOD 1975-1986. So: I is September J is October K is November L is December Thanks for checking the serial numbers on your guitars Harry! Sorry Steve, it had to be done.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:33 pm:    Sorry? Yo, Dick Tracy, it was a typo! L is the twelfth letter of the alphabet not M. I either miscounted the alphabet or fat-fingered the M instead of the L. I dunno why you had to go to such lengths to figure it out. The Bear   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:36 pm:    After reviewing the original post, it was The Captain who made to original typo. The Bear   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:42 pm:    You know one thing that amazes me with this thread. What started off a pleasent stroll through a puddle of water...has got so deep it's drowning ! Still, like a manufacturer will put in the disclaimer.... "Information is correct at time of printing. May be subject to change without notice." I rest my case...but always willing to be of service. Captain Ibanez   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:46 pm:    I wasn't pointing fingers. It's too trivial an error to be of any significance anyway! Steady as she goes, Cap'n! The Bear   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:59 pm:    LT., How does one know that Cappy has fat fingers? I would be more incline to blame typo's from back then on the Old No.7 Cappy   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 11:43 pm:    Educated guess.... Ah yes, Mr. Daniels will do that !! The Bear   Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 10:08 am:    dear capt.: PM100 MIJ, blonde, s/n F97143 (old style engraving, no "CE") maybe it's an '97? serial number is lacking one digit according to your chart. please solve this enigma. tx p.   Steinros Username: Steinros Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 - 2:29 pm:    I just got an old Ibanez acoustic. The label inside says V 300 and the sn is 87020526T. The T seems to have been stamped on seperately. Under the sn: JAPAN. No "made in" .This doesn't correspond to anything I've read about Ibanez serial numbers. The top is laminated, and the tuners are cheap. Anybody who knows anything? Thanks   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 1:53 pm:    Steinros: Acoustics have different serial number schemes because of being made at different factories. I'd say your's is an '87 V300. Maybe the Captian has a scan from the '87 acoustic catalog?   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 4:52 pm:    It wouldn't surprise me, if it was the same factory that built the jazz boxes in 1987 and used the H, that was originally meant Hoshino: Terada. What's also possible is that there was another factory starting with T, and that this was the reason they used H for Terada. But who really knows this is of course Jim Donahue. What I have, is the Dutch 1987 pricelist (not a scan, but original): - The name of this series is VINTAGE - The price was ƒ650.- (€295.-) - The V300 was available in 3 colours: NT, BS, TK - The case was the 154w (same case as for the LONESTAR series) with an arched lid, also suitable for ES-175 models and costed ƒ260.-. - The list says nothing about the top. Ginger   Mikeferrara Username: Mikeferrara Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 12:48 pm:    Hi Captain, hi all i bought in late 1997 an Ibanez Destroyer DT Series (formerly second hand but really new) and i can't identify its model, year and so on... I only suspect it was produced around '95-'96 but i am not sure...(i read another Captain's post about it). Unfortunately my serial don't fit any number in any list!! Here the data I only well know: Ibanez DT Series Black - serial F501550 - made in Japan. Please help me if possible. Thanks mike ferrara - Italy http://www.mimserver.com/ibanez2.jpg   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 8:57 pm:    BTW, typo: the DUTCH pricelist I quoted the V300 price from is not 1987 but 1988. Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 9:50 pm:    Hi Mike, Let's see: F501550 (MIJ) That's 7 characters. The first two digits are 50, so it's post-1986. F means Fuji Gen Gakki Factory 5 means 1995 01550 means the 1550th Ibanez guitar built in that particular year in that factory. But if you try to look it up in the 1995 or 1996 catalogue, you won't find it, at least I didn't. The DT series were officially 10 years earlier. This is a difficult one. Sorry, I'm stuck here. Ginger   Mikeferrara Username: Mikeferrara Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 11:48 pm:    Thank you Gemberbier for the answer. Unfortunately, in European countries very often, happen "serial disasters".....this is one. I don't know why. It seems to be like a woman you love who ask you "please love me but forget my past" mike   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 9:35 am:    Hey Captain: What factory would this serial number indicate? CP040958xx It's from a Korean made RG 321 MH.   Tommy_is_here Username: Tommy_is_here Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Friday, November 03, 2006 - 9:21 am:    hello there, So I have an Ibanez AS-80 with no markings on the headstock. ITs Made in Korea (known from tag in the f-hole) and the serial number is 514002. Any idea what year this is for? I'm trying to find out as I'd like to know what kind of tuning machines I can use fro a replacement job. If anyone knows this extra information, that would be most appreciated! Thanks, Tommy   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Friday, November 03, 2006 - 5:48 pm:    Normally the first character of the Korean AS80 serial number is a letter. I guess this is also the case with your guitar. I think it's a 1995. Early Korean '95 AS models have an S for Samick factory, and later Korean '95 AS models have a C for Cort factory. If the horns of your guitar are round like Mickey Mouse Ears, it's another indication that it's a '95. It is important to know in which factory it was built, because Samick used rather microphonic Super 50 pickups and Cort used the better Super 58's. Rick/Hasy(2) solved the pickup problem by wax potting them. He started some "Saturday something..." thread about the job he did. You might need it. Ginger   Tommy_is_here Username: Tommy_is_here Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2006 - 12:40 am:    Wow that is an old AS model. Hmm, I was thinking of swapping the pickups actually...they are ok, but I was wondering if they were really the super 58s I heard so many good things about as they just seem ok. I was gonna swap them out for a pair of SD 59s; this might not be the right thread to ask advice, but if you have any, please let me know. Thanks for the advice and info! Appreciate it! -Tommy   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 01-2004 Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 5:28 pm:    Johns, CP = Cort PT factory.2004 / Sept production. Tommy, 1995,January production. Mike, your DT is Japan , 1995, January production. Steinros, your V300 Vintage series is 1987, February production, Tendura factory. Hope this helps Captain Ibanez   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 10:44 pm:    Thanks, Captain!   Mikeferrara Username: Mikeferrara Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 12:46 am:    Thanks, Captain!   Cpicks Username: Cpicks Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 1:01 pm:    what about this serial # - F02001 - from a PM100 I just purchased, which seems too short? Where and when do we think this instrument was born? Thank you!   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 3:44 pm:    Fugi, for sure. 2000 or 2002. Are there any distinguishing features? I'm not an expert on these but, some of the members are. All I have is my catalogs. The Bear   Cpicks Username: Cpicks Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 4:17 pm:    Thanks for the response, Mr_roadstar. It looks just the guitar here: Ibanez Collectors World » Hollow & Semi-Hollow Body Guitars » PM100 on the premises. And now I notice that that one has the same number of digits as well - so that's consistent - still curious about exactly what it means. cpicks   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006 - 6:28 pm:    Cpicks: It looks like the first one from '02.   Cpicks Username: Cpicks Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006 - 12:05 am:    Thanks Johns. That's one of my theories too, but it's based on almost zero experience with these so your experienced opinon is appreciated. If this is correct, I wonder if it's better or worse to get the first one of the year - probably depends on whether they had a hangover or not. cpicks   Mikeferrara Username: Mikeferrara Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 - 5:40 pm:    Hi All, these are my guitars: www.mimmoferrara.it/guitarz (sorry this sliceofsite is hardly underconstruction!) Well, as anybody can see, i own 3 talmans. For all Talmans the serials number begin with F4....ok it seems they were made in Japan in '94. But i can't classify surely some models. One i ok..is a TC530GFA, but for the other two, i am in doubt. TV750 or TV650 or TV550? The respective colors, knobs, year and so on...don't fit the standard descriptions, so I can't exactly recognize none of them. Maybe for Europe market were produced new styled guitars? CAPTAIN! EXPERTS! Please come on to help me to solve a mistery... Thanks to all to be here... mike   El_decameron Username: El_decameron Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 1:29 pm:    ...and so...when was the H7 Terada era, anyway?   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 5:25 pm:    What we know now is this: What a H7 serial number is communicating is: "I was made by Terada for Hoshino in 1987." According to Jim Donahue, we should interpret it as: "I was made by Terada for Hoshino in 1987, but perhaps I'm actually one or two years younger." Quote: --------------------------------------------- Jim_donahue Username: Jim_donahue Registered: 04-2004 Posted on Friday, January 14, 2005 - 09:24 pm: Serial numbers Here are the answers to your Questions F7 Means 1987 in 1997 they added F 97 and the CE designation. Sung-Eum is E because S was used by Samick. So S was samick in 1990 to 1995, S is now Sejan, Y is actually yoojin Korean Factory this was made in Korea (RG140,RG240,RG340) They also made the first Korean acoustic's. P Peerless factory in Pusan Korea, Owned and controlled by IIDA Gakki in Japan they made the Nomad series and AE and other acoustics like the Charleston. I is Idda Gakki they made some AR300 models in the mid 1980's after Fuji stopped making set necks. H is the funniest H7 is Terrada a comapy in Nagoya Japan that makes mostly Gretsch guitars, This was a disaster and they made H7 for 3 years on the serial numbers, H must have ment for Hoshino. Acoustics with a 2 like 2940000 are Cort Taejan factory because they did not have a Letter on the stamp, I asked them to do that. The older acoustics were made by a Japanese company Called Kato they made the V300 series and a few other ones. They use the year then month like 8204 (April 1982) W is world this is actually a Korean not Chinsese Company. There is also another Z that was on the Silver Cadet that was Woo-sin, that place burned down and so did the S&N factory. (I went to all of these places man I have stories.) Any other serial number questions, just ask I know them all. Jim ------------------------------------------- And another quote: ------------------------------------------- Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 01:15 pm: Jim: Thanks for that ton of information! This is a lot more complicated than I figured. :-) Two questions: 1. I had the same thoughts about the H7 designation. I have an AF200 with the serial number H803325. It matches the description of the '88 AF200, with the narrow Artstar headstock. The '98 catalog doesn't list the AF200 at all, and those Artstars all had the wide, tulip style headstock. 2. Can you talk more about why the Terrada factory was a disaster? Was it stupid administrative/business problems or was the quality of the guitars affected? -------------------------------------------- So, it's obvious: Jim Donahue is talking about 1987, '88, and '89. But our webmaster owns a guitar with H8. And his two logical questions weren't answered... at least not in the open. John? Did you receive an answer by e-mail or something or was there total radio silence since then? Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 6:12 pm:    For now, I interpret H7xxxxx as it was originally meant. What is more often interpreted wrong is: H90xxxx. Look what you find, when you type in the Search field: H9<enter> and dig a bit deeper in these threads. Look what you find, when you type in the Search field: H0<enter> and dig a bit deeper in these threads. (You can do the same with H8 and you find that at least some Terada made Ibanez guitars were numbered according to the system, and there is no hard evidence for the administrative chaos. And another thing: all of the owners of Terada made Ibanez hollow body and semi-hollow body guitars who post here are very enthusiastic about the quality of their guitars.) Ginger   Guidothepimp Username: Guidothepimp Registered: 9-2005 Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 7:08 am:    HEllo All, Captain Ibanez, I quoted your info on serial numbers onthe Ibanez site and referenced your thread on the matter. The lads over there really struggle with serial numbers and i thought it would be helpful. I hope you dont mind. IF its a problem just PM me and i will remove it. Regards   Texasbob Username: Texasbob Registered: 11-2006 Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 10:03 pm:    ok guys my af105f serial number is # S 06042323 all i know is it was made in china. but what factory and year, etc. help please if you can   Emzc Username: Emzc Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:07 am:    06 surely means year 2006, but I'm not sure that 04 means april. Mine is 0503XXXX. I don't know which factory in China.   Emzc Username: Emzc Registered: 9-2004 Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:43 am:    Response here : http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/57 51/1020.html?1174647322   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 4:10 am:    Texasbob, your guitar was built in April 2006   Icedb Username: Icedb Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 8:15 pm:    Hi, Just wondering about a guitar i purchased this week. could you tell me what year it was made etc. the code is : F404266, i'm slightly confused by the fact the second number is a zero.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 10:18 am:    Hi folks, I was just taking issue with the following, as it appears to be slightly incomplete. I believe that a leading zero can also be found in place of the month letter, although I don't know what that means (early production, maybe, or possibly 12-string?)...: 1975 to 1987 Example serial number C800358 C=March So A=Jan M=Dec 80 = 1980 year of build 0358= 358th guitar built for that month. My 1981 Artwood AW-75 acoustic 12-string has "0810098" on the headstock with "AW-75" beneath it branded into the wood. I bought this guitar new, so it's authentic and I know that the headstock hasn't been replaced. This guitar was built in Owari Asahi Japan, by the way, according to the Ibanez signature paper under the soundhole.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 5:04 pm:    Chazmo: The serial number info mentioned above applies to electrics made in the Fujigen factory. Acoustics are a different animal. You'll find that there were several different serial number schemes for those.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007 - 9:48 am:    Ah, sorry. I see. I must've misinterpreted the original post, John! However, after scanning the web for a while, I found no explanation for my "leading 0" serial number on my acoustic. All the sites I found basically agreed with the original claim that the first letter/digit should be the month. (not that it matters! )   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007 - 3:24 pm:    The numbering is FACTORY SPECIFIC. You can see this the very moment the hollow and semi-hollow body production moves from Fuji Gen Gakki (a factory which uses the letters A-L for the months) to Terada . Terada needed a character to show that the product was made for Hoshino (because they also built for other brands), so they used the H. But other manufacturers, who made cheaper models or solid bodies used a letter to say: "Hey, WE made this guitar!" Owari Asahi seems to be such a manufacturer. The O just says: "Hey, Owari Asahi made this guitar" They didn't seem to bother about the month of production. An example that proves that before 1987 letters were NOT used (or at least not used in all factories) to express what month the guitar was built: 83061540H was used for a V-310 from one of our members. It is possible that 06 means June here. Don't know about the H. Could be herringbone. There's lots of evidence that serial numbering is a factory matter. Take Samick for instance. They still use the same system for new Epiphones and Arias. Saw one three weeks ago: S03xxxxxx on an Aria. Ginger   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007 - 7:32 pm:    Gemberbier, I believe Owari Asahi is a region (prefecture) in Japan, but apparently one of Ibanez's manufacturers is/was located there when my guitar was built. I agree with you, and it seems likely that the zero could be a letter O to represent the location of the factory. That seems to make the most sense. That said, we may be barking up the wrong tree. I saw a post on a different forum about someone looking for info on an AW-60 with 0608045 as the serial number... so clearly the 60 isn't the year (even though 81 *is* the year with mine). And this is from the same factory (his post said so)!   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007 - 7:40 pm:    Sorry, I got it wrong... Owari Asahi is a city in the prefecture of Aichi. It turns out that Nagoya, the home of Ibanez is the capital of Aichi. Just wanted to clarify. Wish I could edit my posts!   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007 - 10:44 pm:    I think an AW-60 with 0608045 is from 2006. But the main point is, just as JohnS explained, that the serial numbers of acoustics don't follow the same system as the electrics. Probably because other manufacturers were involved. It is possible that the H in my example was used as a HOSHINO suffix by Terada before 1987, after which they started to use it as a prefix. Who knows? Jim Donahue perhaps? Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 7:18 am:    Now, talking about editing our postings: herringbone in a serial number is of course nonsense. A serial number is not a type number. Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 7:34 am:    Couldn't find the AW-60 in 2006 either. Are you positive that it was an AW-60? Not a 40 or 90? I'll do an ICW search for that serial number. Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 7:47 am:    Oh, I made an effort to solve that problem. I was as stuck then as I'm right now, except for the possibility that the 0 might be an O and the 6 might be an 8 that wasn't properly closed. That would make it an 1980, which is possible. Wish there had been a little more uniformity back then, and that I would have some (GOOD) pics of the back of that headstock and the label. Ginger   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 8:22 am:    Hi Ginger, Thanks for thinking about this with me. In case you're interested, the post I was referring to is here; it was posted last summer so I doubt the originator is still active: http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Forum/19/topic/017200/Number/1/site_id/1 I don't know if the poster's info is valid, but there definitely was an AW-60 that ran for a few years from 1978 probably through 1981/82. Indeed, the "6" in his post could be an "8" and then it would make sense and be consistent with mine. I think that's a good guess, and yeah I wish we had a picture of the headstock. The label on his axe is probably the same as mine, so for the record...   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2007 - 12:27 am:    Ok folks, I got one for you. I read as much as i could stand but found nothing to explain this. Have asked many people and have heard many explanations. Still not satisfied. Serial # on my axe is F907303, on back of headstock and printed with a dot matrix printer onto a label stuck on my original warranty card that came with guitar. The model number is written on the card RG565IJRR .Here's the question. If there is a month number in the serial number...is the 0 in front of my seven acting as a place holder because my guitar was only the 303rd made in June, 1989? Seems like the zero place holder would be in front of the production number, not the month. Secondly, following all the color codes I've found everywhere, mine doesn't make sense... RG565IJRR. What color is IJRR? JR is jewel red (mine could be) RR is ruby red (mine could be). Could the "I" indicate some type of blend of the two colors or what?   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, April 07, 2007 - 5:38 pm:    Your guitar's serial number contains 7 characters. And it's an F (Fuji Gen Gakki) serial number from the 1987-1996 era This was written about it: " 7 CHARACTERS 1987 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made " So, I'm gonna ask some what-if-questions about this hypothetical example. What if this guitar 2104 would have been made in December? Would the serial number have been extended to 8 characters? Or would they have used different characters for the months October, November and December like they did in China? If so, would these characters have been X, Y and Z? What if the month was no part of the serial number at all? Then your guitar would be nr 7303 within the whole year production. But I've never seen examples where Ibanez or it's manufacturers let go of the principle of integrating the production month in the serial number. So, that would mean your guitar is indeed nr. 303 made in JULY btw, NOT June 1989. A limited production of 999 Ibanez guitars per month in 1989 by Fuji Gen Gakki can be explained by the increased production of Japanese Fender stratocasters by Fuji Gen Gakki in that era. (I bought mine in 1988). But I'm still wondering how a serial number for October, November or December would have looked like. Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, April 08, 2007 - 3:20 am:    Ok, sorry, I realized after getting off here last night that the 7th month is July not June...oops. Honestly, I don't think anybody really knows what the numbers mean. Some say there is no month code whatsoever. Others (as above) say that there is a month code. Some say that the first two numbers are the year, others say one. Someone told me my guitar was made in 1990 because first 2 digits are 90. I have also heard the first digit only, therefore 1989. I remember getting that guitar for Xmas 1989, so it couldn't have been 1990, but then the month code couldn't be right. Nobody really knows...do they?   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Sunday, April 08, 2007 - 9:59 am:    Beedeepotter, I agree there's confusion in the serial number, but it does seem likely (as Ginger said) that 07 is July (rather than 7303). Why they would have used the zero is confusing, and why they would've put it in front of the month rather than the number is unknown, and does violate the rule. As for your question about the model name... I looked at the 1991 color chart on jemsite, there is indeed a ruby red (RR), but no jewel red. There was a jewel blue (JB) though. So, even though the catalog year is more recent, I think it likely that "RR" stands for ruby red on your axe. I have no idea what the "IJ" stands for though.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, April 08, 2007 - 7:50 pm:    If they did not use alternative characters for the last 3 months of the year, like the Chinese factories use X, Y and Z, you need two spaces for the months, so you get: 01-09, 10, 11 and 12, that's not so difficult. And if you take the MIJ Fender production at Fuji Gen Gakki + Ibanez production at several other Japanese factories like Iida and Terada for a reasonable explanation, only 999 Fuji Gen Ibanezzes a month (3-4 a day) is a possibility, if they only built high end models at Fuji Gen. (Those higher model numbers were no cheapos.) I have another surprise for you: The Ibanez Color Chart on the back of my pricelist of the 1st July 1989 (Dutch): AB = Atlantic Blue AM = Amber AQ = Aquamarine AV = Antique Violin BC = Black Cherry BG = Bubinga BH = Black Hole BK = Black BP = Black Pearl BS = Brown Sunburst CP = Chrystal Pearl CS = Cherry Sunburst DB = Dark Blue DG = Dark Gray DV = Dark Violin DY = Desert Sun Yellow FA = Five Alarm Red (typo for Fire Alarm Red?) FB = Fountain Blue FP = Flower Pattern GA = Green Apple HP = Heather Pearl JB = Jewel Blue JR = Jewel Red LA = Light Amber LR = Lipstick Red MA = Magma MG = Magenta MO = Midnight Olive MS = Marine Sunburst NB = Night Blue NT = Natural OL = Oil PD = Padouk PR = Pearl Red PW = Polar White QM = Quilted Maple RB = Root Beer SB = Silky Blue SK = Shocking Pink TB = Transparent Blue TK = Transparent Black TR = Transparent Red VP = Violet Pearl WH = White WN = Walnut WR = Wine Red YL = Yellow No four letter combinations in the color chart, but several in the price list, such as: HHDY LTDBK CT5BK HHMG HHJR HHBK SHDY Now, my impression is that sometimes these extra letters were used for pickup options: HH could be Humbucher + Humbucker SH could be Single Coil + Humbucker It is a pity the RG565 is not on the Dutch pricelist. The RG560 is, in WH, BK, LR and VP. It is NOT in the German catalogue, it is NOT in the USA catalogue or pricelist of the years 1988, 1989 and 1990. But in the 1990 catalogue the last letter of the code behind the RG550 and RG560 is either M (Maple fretboard) or R (Rosewood fretboard). So, if the last R is Rosewood fretboard, the color is Jewel Red, which leaves us with the I for... IBZ USA pickups? (instead of 1x S1 and 2x V2) Is that right? Do you have IBZ USA pickups in a RG560 series? (They are normally in the more expensive RG750/760 series). It looks like you have a rather special guitar... Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 6:59 am:    That is the other question that hasn't been answered to my satisfaction yet...how do you determine what kind of pickups are in a guitar? I replaced the single at neck, Bridge hum is still original. I pulled the hum the other day looking for some indicator of what it is...no stamps, marks, etc. I have no idea what it is. It's whatever they put in when it was made. Looks like a regular humbucker to me, flat posts on inside coil, screws closer to the bridge. Got pics posted at Ibanezregistry, listed under 565R...that's what Jerry thought it should be. I thought it should be 565 prototype, cause that's what the Ibanez rep said it was back in 1989, when he brought it to the store. Everything you said makes perfect sense though, sounds like you got the the date/color stuff right. Thanks   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 3:56 pm:    Beedeepotter: Here's what Jim Donahue has to say, after looking at the pictures of your guitar: "This is just an early RG565 model, before it became an actual model. Probably a Spot Production run or just the sample that Japan sent that we looked at before making the final model. This was when we would make a few of some model to see if it would sell. The RG565R would be Rosewood fretboard. Sometimes we would also make models for Summer Namm that did not show up in the catalog, if they did well we would carry them the next year. There are so many of these models out there that never made it to catalog. Some necks had codes so we could order them. The RR was Ruby Red I think."   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 5:56 pm:    If one R is Rosewood fretboard, you are an R short for Ruby Red. I think Jewel Red is more likely. IBZ USA is normally printed in white on the black pickup covers, followed by a type number like F1, F2 for the humbuckers, S1,... for Single coils. I have a few of these pickups in my custom built Hillman Longhorn, made with the saved parts from an expensive but broken RG560 or 570 I believe (I'd have to look that up, because I bought the Hillman second hand and not for 2 grand, because that's what they cost). Master builder Van de Heuvel put the neck pickup in the bridge position and put some cream jazzy humbucker in the neck position. And I think the Single coil is an S1. (I didn't bother to take a look). A very versatile full maple neckthrough superstrat with an ebony fretboard, but it's so heavy that you're glad if you can sit on a stool. (the reason Les Paul and Ted McCarty did not make the entire Les Paul guitar from maple, which was the original plan, but combined mahogany with a maple top). So the IBZ USA pickups should say "IBZ USA F1/F2/S1" or something like that. It is possible that the white print has (partly) disappeared because of wear and tear (or sweat). Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 11:40 pm:    Jim, Johns, Ginger...thanks, now we're getting somewhere. Still got some missing links though. To add to the confusion, I have info coming from all over the world from all kinds of people. It's starting to get jumbled together. I can accept that R could mean rosewood...makes sense. But I would never have said that unless I had taken the neck off. As the picture shows on the back of the neck "RG-565R" but, prior to seeing under neck all I had to go on was the code on my warranty card which was written "RG565IJRR". So the stamp inside neck is probably a 3rd "R"? Follow me? The IJRR is supposed to strictly be a color code, right or not? Is the last R in color code (IJRR) the same R found on back of neck in RG-565R? If it is then the characters after model number on card aren't strictly paint (color) related. In that case the color would be jewel red (JR). If neck R isn't a duplicate of last R in color code, then it could be ruby red (RR). Which would still leave a J and (more importantly) the I unaccounted for. So what someone NEEDS to find out is what the hell the I means. Still up for debate is when it was made. Kosaku has what appears to be an identical guitar to mine. He says the first two digits are the year code and that my guitar (like his) was made in late 1989 but like in automobiles, it is dated for the next year. He seems to think his (and mine) are candy apple (CA) but he doesn't have the original paperwork like I do. We all know mine is either JR or RR, not CA. This is getting really complex! Back to dating. What K told me makes sense because that answers my earlier question about the place holding zero in F907303. So F=Fujigen 90=1990 because after June the roll to next year...? Wait, that doesn't sound so correct anymore. No, that can't be right. Unless the month code doesn't exist at all (which alot of people think) there'd be no reason to move production date to next year. If it rolled to next year, having a month could only cause confusion. So my guitar would be the 7,303rd made in...hold on here. I will collect myself and start this again in another post, I hope you guys don't get frustrated although, I am. Thanks, BDP   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 2:03 am:    ok, ran to store to grab some beer, opened my car door and some young, dumb girl (looking the other way) drove into it. It just gets better and better. Ok. Recap. Issue 1: F907303 1990 date. If 90, no month possible, right? Making my axe the 7,303rd made in model year 1990 but actually manufactured in 89 but rolled to next year? Or F9 for 1989 made in July with zero used to hold place for Oct, Nov, Dec months to add in the "1". Making my guitar the 303rd Made in July 1989. Most plausable to me since making 33 guitars a day for a month is quite a good amount...I would think. 2: "R" stamped under neck (RG-565R). Does the neck R mean rosewood, reverse, or (just thought of this) right-handed. WAAAAAAAAAIT A SECOND! Check this out! They would have HAD to label the a reverse headstocked neck as being for a right-handed guitar. If it got mixed up, somone would end up with a left handed guitar with upsidedown shark's tooth inlays and the small dots on edge of neck would not be visible to the user, they'd be on the bottom edge of the neck, facing away from user. BAM! 3: color code (IJRR). What does the "I" mean? 4: color code. Is it jewel red or ruby red or a combination of them both? Thanks for your interest and patience in reading my long-winded messages. Brian   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 2:25 am:    Ginger, forgot one more thing you speculated on. As I have said, I was at the music store when the Ibanez rep brought this guitar in. I have been the only person to own or play this guitar. It NEVER had anything written on the pickups. They have always been plain black, cheap, simple looking things. Never considered them to be anything special. That is the other issue I forgot to bring up in the last email. Thanks Ginger B   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 4:07 am:    If it's an early one (before it became the actual model) as JD says, the print on the pickup covers was probably NOT used as a marketing instrument YET. Because of course that's what it (partly) IS: technically there is no need for any print on any cover. But using the the abbreviation USA on a Japanese guitar opens up our hearts (and our wallets). Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 4:53 am:    So you still sticking with idea of "I" relating to the pickup type? BDP   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 5:17 am:    I'm NOT writing that possibility off YET, just because there's no print on them. Fact is that you have an "I" on your guitar. And fact is that abbreviations as HH and SH were used in several four character examples above. They are pickup setups. Another possibility: If "IJ" is a two character abreviation and "RR" is the color, what could "IJ" be? > Ibanez JAPAN? (as opposed to Ibanez Korea?) IBANEZ JAPAN RUBY RED is a possibility. An R for the Rosewood fretboard wood would only be necessary if Maple is another possible option. I don't know if that was the plan in 1989/1990. Hmm... "IBANEZ JAPAN RUBY RED"... I guess, you could live with that... Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 7:21 pm:    Hmmm, I might be able to live with that. Think I should tell Jerry to get rid of the 565R category that my pics are in at the registry? I originally put them in an album called 565 prototype but I deleted it last night. Thanks so much BDP   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 10:00 pm:    I would pay close attention to JD's rosewood theory. Here is a pic of why they would use that code. This is the neck rack at HoshinoUSA.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 11:29 pm:    JD's theory? I wrote this on the 8th: "But in the 1990 catalogue the last letter of the code behind the RG550 and RG560 is either M (Maple fretboard) or R (Rosewood fretboard). So, if the last R is Rosewood fretboard, the color is Jewel Red, which leaves us with the I for... IBZ USA pickups? (instead of 1x S1 and 2x V2)" JD is using one R for Rosewood and RR for Ruby Red according to John. It's either this or that, but there are no 3 Rs in the serial number. What if the pickups are NOT IBZ USA (they have no print)? IJ could mean Ibanez Japan. But if JR is jewel red and R is rosewood fretboard, you end up with a single I meaning what? Ibanez? That would be redundant information, not worth mentioning in a serial number. BTW, you tell me the difference between jewel red and ruby red... I wouldn't know the difference. They're all red rocks to me... Ginger   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 7:05 am:    Ginger thats the way I feel about Pearl White and Polar White. They are both PW and I still don't know if they are the same color. I have heard them both reffered to as the same color! I just figure since Ibanez is sold around the globe things get changed around. Just like the idea that frets on my 2003 AF85VLS said small in the USA catalog but in the UK the specs siad they are large.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 8:51 am:    Hi guys, About the colors, it could be a Japanese marketing thing at work here. E.g., I have a Honda that has different color names (for exactly the same color) in different regions around the world -- it's the same factory color code. I can't tell you why Honda does this, but ultimately I think it's up to the corporate execs in the different countries. To add to the confusion, certain colors are only available in certain regions at any time. Just a thought. Oh, and BeeDee, though I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm not sure you'd find many examples of Ibanez serial numbers that represent the "next year" of production. Sure, you run into that kind of stuff with marketing literature and product names, but these guitar serial numbers are a (very crude, IMO) factory thing that aren't even model-specific, and should represent the manufacturing information.   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 3:58 am:    Heard something the other day that struck a memory chord. Someone mentioned the color Fire Alarm, and I remember someone saying that that was what color my guitar was...back in 89 or 90. Easily could've been guessing or just wrong but it came up when I chipped a tiny chip out of the bottome edge of it. I was looking for paint to match it and another employee said "well, where are you going to find Fire Alarm Red?". thought it was worth mentioning. I got posts going on in other areas and other sites...will let you all know what I finally figure out...if anything. Thanks again. BDP   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, April 13, 2007 - 8:04 am:    He was obviously wrong, because it would have carried the serial nr suffix FA. RUBY is a JEWEL and it's RED, but there are other red jewels than ruby. I think car paint specialists can analyse the colour and make it, whatever it is called. On problem: to mix a paint you need quite large amounts to get a good mix. At least 0.5 litre or even a whole litre. So you probably must buy 0.5-1 litre of paint. That's about $45-90. And then you need 2K clearcoat and hardener. So we're talking $60-105 expenses. Perhaps you can find a touch-up pen for a car in a similar colour. For example: if you have a MIJ Squier Hank Marvin in Fiesta Red, go to the Hyundai dealer and get a pen in that colour for the old Excel. Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 5:45 am:    Damn Ginger, You are full of great ideas. What do you do for a living? Where do you live? How old are you? What is your connection with or to Ibanez? How long have you been a fan? Etc, etc, etc. Thanks again. BDP   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 7:15 pm:    Linguist/translator/owner of a translation agency (used to be a high school professor in German language. My first translation assignment was the translation of the best sold Dutch classical guitar method into German for Warner Basart. The author had been my guitar teacher since I was 9 years old and asked me for it after I got my MA degree. I recently did some updates for a new edition with CD. So I could finally clear my name after almost 20 years, because they put a lot of false "corrections" in the first one.) Holland 42 None, except owning a few of their products and quite a lot of catalogues, starting 1988. I became quite fanatic after buying my minty 2355m from 1976. That was Autumn 2003. Before that, I already had a white RB630, a sunburst RT240, an Andorra Recital GA300S, an AS120 and an AM50. The rest of my guitars and other stringed instruments (between 40 and 50 I guess) are different brands. But I don't know what that has to do with having ideas. It's merely a combination of logical analysis, interest in all kinds of professional fields and a good memory for facts like what did a litre of car paint cost when I had the fender of my car repaired (+ I learned to watch and listen in order to learn: I didn't invent the wheel, but I kept my eyes open and saw it was round.) Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 7:31 am:    Ginger, That was a reply I didn't expect but, wow! What does it have to do with having ideas? That was the most perfect response to a series of questions I've ever received...it was what I was sensing might come from someone like you. Of course I'd thought of the car paint stuff...those guys are masters. Yes, just a logical process, sure. It just gives me hope that there are people in the world outside the US perhaps (probably) that are more suited to my way of thinking, living, etc. I know this isn't some hook up chat room or anything of the like but, I'm just really happy to know that there are other people in the world who do things the way that they should be done (in my book). Really can't believe you (or anyone else) shared my idea of the "R" standing for "Right-handed" I thought I really had something there. Oh well. Thanks for the info, perfect response. Be sure to immediately get back to work on researching my guitar...it's your lot in life now. Happy Heineken to you! BDP   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 10:34 am:    "Do the things they should be done"...??? Sorry, I don't pretend to have a prescription for life. And if I would decide to write one in a stuck-up mood, Heineken would NOT be in it... But perhaps some nice Belgian beers would... Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 6:08 am:    It was a joke, obviously there are much better beers from Dutchville than Heineken. Just the most popular here in the US. Like Becks is America's favorite German beer. I can drink it but, there are so many better choices. Gotta go find a message from Dee. He told me someones name at Ibanez that might have some answers for me (guitar not beer) can't remember his name. You know anyone to suggest (while I'm here thinking about it)? And hey, doesn't a company as large as Ibanez keep records about their products? Seems like someone could just open a database somewhere and tell all. BDP   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 7:50 am:    Depends... about what model... There are so many specialisms and specialists, for instance: Custom Agents... ask Dave_G Sixties stuff... ask Hasy with an "s" Seventies replica's... ask Harry and Les Paul, Roadstars... ask Mr. Roadstar aka The Bear, Parts... ask Yogi, etc. etc. etc. And there are several websites you should bookmark, like: http://db.musik-meinl.de/ http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/index.htm http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/price/index.ht m http://www.sixties-ibanez.com/ http://www.ibanez-vintage-page.de/ http://www.noahjames.com/vintagepage/index.html It's all not so difficult. Ginger   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 2:43 am:    Well once again, thank you ginger. But I didn't see anyone listed above that I should be asking about my guitar. So maybe it is that difficult, afterall. I appreciate your wealth of knowledge on this subject but...toss me the bone, don't just dangle it before me. Arf, Arf. Brian   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 12:48 pm:    By the way Ginger I was refering to Johns post on the 9th to what JD had said about the R meaning Rosewood. He worked at HoshinoUSA for a long time about ten feet from here that pic I posted was shot.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 2:29 pm:    Brian, there's a world of knowledge aboard and it is NOT centred in one point/person. There are several specialists and several generalists. I'm more of a generalist. I combine and filter information, and if I'm lucky I can come up with an adequate answer. Perhaps you are right about the most recent years of Ibanez (2000-now can be found on Ibanez.com), but that wrong assumptions are made about older guitars becomes obvious when you read "Ibanez, the untold story". It is NOT without errors. Your guitar is quite special RG560 is in the available catalogues, RG565 is NOT. That's were the problem starts. And it is NOT the only Ibanez guitar that's not in a catalogue. If you have such an instrument, you depend on other people who owned one, ex-Ibanez employees and ICW members who are specialized on that specific model. I am neither. I have one RT-240 sunburst and one RB630, no RG models, just a handbuilt Hillman Longhorn with RG parts on it. I think, dangling the bone before someone is sometimes better than tossing the bone. The process of the search is more important than the result of it. Tossing the bone creates lazy and dependent students. If they asked I've always tried to show my students the way as far as I knew. But I refused to be a taxi driver. For some spoilt kids that sometimes was a problem, because they had to grow up. Your guitar is special, made by Fuji Gen and not in a catalogue. Live with it. Enjoy the guitar. Ginger   Jchester Username: Jchester Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 12:14 am:    Ginger... you're weird, but I gotta love your methodology. Can we let this thread die & start a new one? This one is just too f***ing long! ...almost as long as Bob's. John   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 7:20 am:    Wat I just found and old Ibanez semi on the net with the following serial number acn you help me.. Fu#$%^@ASSWholenote?   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:12 pm:    By the way I didn't direct that at anyone its just my warped sense of humor showing how sick I am of this whole serial number hype.   Beedeepotter Username: Beedeepotter Registered: 4-2007 Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 2:34 am:    Ok, well, thank you Ginger for your candor (never lacking). I have lived with the knowledge that it something special since 1989. Have the time and renewed interest to learn something about it now. Not to mention the fact that I can meet new people and share and learn from/with them. sorry if you (and the others) are exhausted by this topic. Verzeihung.......Bis bald   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 7:47 am:    Cappy started this thread in December 4, 2004 I wouldn't characterize asking for info about a guitar with the help of a serial number as a hype. These numbers do help, if the manufacturer was consistent in his numbering system of systems, and, if there are several systems... that these systems don't overlap. But that is the SERIAL NUMBER. Your second question was NOT about a serial number but about a TYPE NUMBER (with extensions). So that part actually belongs in a TYPE NUMBER THREAD. Personally I think that the frequent use of Cappy's old thread proves that it's a useful one. Starting a part II is IMO useless, because when the info is bundled in one thread, a search can be done with one command within the thread: Ctrl-F (Windows Find Function). For example: I see an AM50 with a Y-serial number > I go to Cappy's thread. I type Ctrl-F, followed by the string "Y =" or "Y=" (without the double quotes) followed by <enter> and I find an answer each time I press the <enter> button. So don't think there's a special connection to Hoshino, the data is already in this thread. You just need to know how to find it. Everyone is free to skip a thread if it doesn't interest him or her. I do that often with a thread about a guitar that is owned by only 5 members or so and is so rare and expensive that I must accept that I will probably never own one. But I feel no need to offend these proud owners by putting gross insults in the thread. Ginger   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:53 pm:    I would call this thread long and very boring and also beat to death. In the Captain's own words and in the copy and paste spirit of the thread resurrecting that turned it this way;;; Posted on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 - 10:42 pm: -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ You know one thing that amazes me with this thread. What started off a pleasent stroll through a puddle of water...has got so deep it's drowning !   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 6:15 pm:    C'mon, folks. Isn't the point here to help Ibanez guitar lovers and collectors to learn about their equipment? Details like interpreting serial numbers and model names is precisely what someone coming here would be looking for. Just my opinion, of course.   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 3:49 am:    If anybody has a question on a serial number etc or anything Ibanez use my column...remember fact from fiction ! I am still always in contact with my very good friends at Hoshino Japan to keep it real for you all. I am glad however to say that this thread has been so well worn. I'm always here these days and always willing to help Captain Ibanez   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 10:55 am:    Hi folks, I came across a good article of the Japanese factories in wikipedia. Thought y'all might be interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen Wonder who wrote it... Good stuff.   Artfield Username: Artfield Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 1:14 pm:    really nice info and when visiting the links you are always in the candy shop.... http://www.j-guitar.com/sp/sea/view_detail/s106501 73.html   Artfield Username: Artfield Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 1:30 pm:    peace....but forget the fingers....look through them http://fujigenshibuya.dreamblog.jp/image/free/chok i.jpg   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 9:15 pm:    I think there is a mistake in the Wikipedia article: "In 1981 FujiGen opted out of acoustic guitar production to mainly concentrate on solid body guitar production." It should say: "In 1981 FujiGen opted out of acoustic guitar production to mainly concentrate on electric guitar production." The production of semi-acoustics stayed at Fuji Gen Gakki until 1987. Ginger   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Saturday, May 19, 2007 - 9:32 pm:    Oooh, good catch, Ginger. You should edit the page (I think you can do that on wikipedia).   Jegbbk Username: Jegbbk Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 9:04 am:    Hi, I have a AR200 made in Korea, C8027123, I think it's a Feb 1998 Cort factory , the 7123th but there is no Logo CE, this logo appears in 1997, no? Thanks   P1r4t3 Username: P1r4t3 Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 8:44 am:    Hi! I've bought an Ibanez RG, serial no. F308978, made in Japan. Can someone tell me if it's a RG570 or RG470? I guess it's not a RG450/550 because there's no pickguard. I've uploaded some pictures of it: http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/5435/dsc00615la 0.jpg http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1683/dsc00100rn 5.jpg   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 11:40 am:    Help, please. I've run across an X Series Destroyer II that has the same serial number format as Mr_roadstar's post from 5-11-2006. I didn't see the response to his query so I'll ask. There's no serial number on the back of the headstock, only the one on the neck plate: K302997 I double checked the s/n 3 times tp make sure it was right. The guitar has the same V shaped strap button and "Made in Japan" stamped into the neck plate as shown in Mr_roadstar's photo. Does this mean Nov 1993, guitar # 02997 for that month? Or, is it from 2003? Or, am I totally lost? Thanks, - Pete   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 6:58 pm:    P1r4t3 & Pete, I will answer your questions for you. P1r4t3:Your guitar is a RG470 BK built in Japan in August 1993 and was the 978th guitar for that month. Pete:Your Destroyer would have been built November 1983 and was the 2997th guitar for that month Hope this eases the stress Captain Ibanez   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 8:32 pm:    Thank you, Captain, very much.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 10:39 am:    What would be the reason that both guitars have as first characters: K302xxx ? It doesn't fit in the Fuji Gen serial number format. Could it be that these guitars were built by KASUGA? (It would explain the K and the omission of the 8). And that 02 is February? - Are there any J30xxxx or L30xxxx serial numbers known on these guitars? I also found a serial number on an X-series starting with K, but WITH and 8: K854818. Just some stuff to think about, Captain. It would solve two questions: Peter's and the question what role Kasuga played in the production of Ibanez guitars. But then again, there's thinking and wishful thinking, so please correct me if I go a bridge too far. Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 11:28 am:    Hmm... until now I found: -K302648 eBay auction December 02, 2006 marine blue DT-155 Lethargytartare received detailed pics. -K302800 Lethargytartare http://www.harrisonfamily.org/bass/photogallery.ph p?gallery=ibanezdestroyer&page=1&picsperpage=40 -K302997 Peterdryan's X-series Destroyer II (type number= DT-???). No J3xxxxx or L3xxxxx serial numbers found on ICW (yet). But I didn't find other K30 or K31 numbers either. So until now there is no real indication that 02 is the month. No K301, and no K303-K312 It's a weird puzzling format. Couldn't find the logic in it (yet). Ginger   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 12:13 pm:    Unfortunately, there aren't any images of this D-II posted online but I did get these from the owner. The neck plate is identical to Mr_roadstar's post from May 11, 2006. If anyone is interested, the listing is posted at: http://www.daddys.com/used/?itemnumber=IBA2997 - Pete   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 12:29 pm:    Unfortunately, there aren't any images of this D-II posted online but I did get a few from the owner. Unfortunately, the image files are too big to be posted to the forum but, if anyone is interested, drop me a line and I will e-mail them to you. The listing is posted at: http://www.daddys.com/used/?itemnumber=IBA2997 - Pete   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 12:31 pm:    Interesting... Apparently, if you get an error while uploading image files your message gets posted just the same.   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 5:57 pm:    Just click on the link in my post of 11:28 am. You'll get 40 thumbnails which you can magnify. Lethargytartare is the owner of that guitar. Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 6:07 pm:    Or should I say was? They had it for sale February 2005. Ginger   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 9:40 pm:    Different model of D-II. The one at Daddy's has only a single humbucker in the bridge position and just 2 control pots.   Marcinwinnetka Username: Marcinwinnetka Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 1:21 am:    Can anyone help with a "Made in Korea" label AS80 Artstar? Has NO serial number on headstock. Only on label inside f-hole. Says "AS80" and "91-07051" OR, more likely, "9507051". It's violin sunburst or darkened regular brown sunburst. Purchased around 1996. Am I OK to purchase this? Any confirmation? Thanks, marcinwinnetka   Killage Username: Killage Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 2:08 am:    this thread is amazing. i looked alllll over the internet, from UG threads to google and even other weird not-really-related-to-guitar threads before i found this goldmine. Anyways i have a question that was so important it got me to join. I bought an Ibanez AE400 about 8 months ago. I love this thing, but I can't find a lot of information about them. Some say they were made in the 80's, some the 70's. I've tried looking at everything on this thread, but i can't figure it out. The Model number is AE400, and the Serial No is: 91010581P . and under that it says Korea. I am guessing the P means it's made in Pyongyang, or that it's made in the peerless factory in Pusan, Korea. but what's most important to me is the year, and i can't figure that out. Thanks to anyone who can decipher it.   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 8:23 am:    Is this acoustic?   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 9:14 am:    Marcinwinnetka, The fact that you have doubts whether it is 9107051 or 9507051 is probably caused by the fact that it is HANDWRITTEN, am I correct? The numbers as you wrote them down don't fit in the system that Samick and Cort used for the Ibanez guitars. The fact that the S is missing points in the direction of Cort. There was a stamp problem in the Cort factory (according to JD), so there was one guy with a TERRIBLE HAND that wrote the numbers on the labels. I personally needed pictures of labels of other Artstars of that era as a Rosetta's stone in order to decipher the label of my AS120. Most likely is that the second and third digit form the month October (10) so a 5 can be eliminated as a possibility. Now the first digit is normally the last digit of the year. But if you bought the guitar around 1996, a 9 would be out of the question, because that would implicate 1999. You'd have needed a time machine to purchase it. So, back to basics: > Has it got a narrow or a wide headstock? > Has it got Mickey Mouse ears or sharper wolf ears? or even better: > Can you upload a picture of the whole guitar and a picture of the label? Killage, Chazmo and I are trying to figure out the exact systematics of the acoustics serial numbers. In the eighties the first two digits were the year, and I see no reason that it would be different in the nineties, so I'd say it's a 1991 guitar. Your "P" is an important contribution to find out if suffixes like "H", "D" and "T" ar indeed factory letters. So, your guitar seems to be from January 1991, it was guitar 581 and was made in the Peerless factory. We will add your guitar's serial# to our list. Our main problem as far as I see it, is the coexistense of "H" and "T". If "H" is Terada, what is "T"? Tokai? If "T" is Terada, what is "H"? Heerby? I think we have to put these questions on JD's plate, because he was involved as a former Hoshino employee. But your "P" is an indication we're on the right track. So there is hope... Ginger   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Thursday, July 05, 2007 - 9:20 am:    Yeah, acoustic electric with a wannabe Fishman preamp. It's on page 7 of the 1991 catalogue: http://www.t3-kundenserver.de/htmlpages/redasys/_c ore/databases/t_meinl-uploads/1991_acoustic_guitar s.pdf Ginger   Marcinwinnetka Username: Marcinwinnetka Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Friday, July 06, 2007 - 2:59 am:    Trying to post pictures of head stock front and back and label of Ibanez AS80 awaiting purchase for serial number check. How do I insert .jpgs into a post like this? I see others have done so. Help. (new member) Marcinwinnetka   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Friday, July 06, 2007 - 8:41 am:    Marcinwinnetka: See the link called "Image Upload FAQ" on the menu to the left.   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Friday, July 06, 2007 - 2:37 pm:    Killage, I agree with Ginger that this is almost certainly a 1991 guitar, and likely the "P" represents the factory -- although I hesitate to say for sure. We're not fully convinced that the suffix letter is actually the factory code. In any case, welcome aboard! Marc, Look forward to your pix so we can have a look.   Killage Username: Killage Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Friday, July 06, 2007 - 4:53 pm:    thanks ! though that's kinda disappointing but oh well. still love the thing. how can i upload a pic?   Amorfus Username: Amorfus Registered: 7-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 4:14 pm:    Hi all Heres a tricky one. I've spotted what this owner claims to be a 1985 RG550 with serial number F104672. I own a 1987 (F73xxxx) so this has me intrigued somewhat. Serial number is the same odd format as Mikeferrara's destroyer. Either way can we be reasonably confident that this is not what the owner claims it to be? It also has a distinctive scratch plate which may be a clue to its origin... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=10 7607446 Any guidance would be much appreciated!   Peterdryan Username: Peterdryan Registered: 6-2007 Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 10:38 pm:    Captain - I have a general question on serial numbers, please. They are made up of component pieces of information concatenated together: factory, year, month, and build number. Is the build number: a) the Nth number of that model made in that factory (if applicable) in the month/year specified? b) the Nth number of that model made in all factories everywhere in the month/year specified? c) the Nth number of *all* guitars made in that factory in the month/year specified? d) or something else altogether? e) or does it depend and, if so, on what? I have always assumed choice (a) but I don't think I have ever heard anyone actually say it. Thanks, - Pete   Chipsotoole Username: Chipsotoole Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 12:53 am:    So if a guitar is say C814567 Does that mean march 81 and the 4567th guitar of that particular model or of all production guitars coming out of the factory? are shipping totals available at all?   Chipsotoole Username: Chipsotoole Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 1:01 am:    Ok so I trailed through the full 217 posts..had to be there somewhere...total production number for that factory right?   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 3:14 am:    Chips, yes it was built in March 1981 and the 4567 number means overall production for that month not just your model. Captain Ibanez   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Friday, August 24, 2007 - 3:18 am:    RIGHT, so NOT just for that particular model. So, those last four digit are of no value TO US. (But it is of importance for Hoshino and its contractor to know how many Ibanez guitars left the factory in one month.) Ginger   Rufex Username: Rufex Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 5:57 pm:    Hey Captain! Maybe you can help me out here. I've got two beautiful Ibanez, both Koreans, one that I've been able to date through this forum, but one that I couldn't. I recently got a RG470 which God only knows where it comes from and whose hands caressed it before mine, but the serial number does not fit any of these formulas. It is korean (judging by the Made in Korea text), but the serial number, that starts with a C (I'm guessing Cort) is followed by only six numbers and the first two are 4 and 3, meaning C431520. So, what does this mean?   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 8:11 am:    I'm guessing that's March of 1994 from Cort. Not sure though. I think if it were 2004, it would be "C04..."   Revenant71 Username: Revenant71 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 8:52 am:    I have been proposed, for a fair price, a JEM555. S.N.: C040535 Aren't serials for these korean guitar supposed to be nine digits, FYYMMSSSS?(factory, year, month, progressive number beginning from 0000). That's C = Cort, 04= 2004, 05= may, but shouldn't serial be 0035? Moreover, if you look at the photograph below, the fonts on the SN look suspiciously different ("C" is bigger and more centered). Is it possible that, while I am pretty sure this guitar is a real jem555, it might have been re-numbered (maybe it was stolen?)? Given the SN should (not sure...) have 9 digits, this one could be a 1990 SN, but the guitar has the edge pro II, and I actually dubt the guit itself was in production in 1990.   Revenant71 Username: Revenant71 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 8:56 am:    Uh, sorry, I just pasted in the message, but forgot to say: "HI! I am new here, could you please help me with this thing? Thank you very much!!!!"   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 11:04 am:    I don't know what year they went with the "C0x" prefix, Revenant. Without knowing that, it's either 1990 or 2000. Might be able to determine that by scanning the catalogs. If someone has one of these (or the Cap'n is online), maybe you'll get a solid answer. Good luck. oh, and I doubt someone dorked with the serial number. It's possible, but I doubt it.   Captainibanez Username: Captainibanez Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:50 pm:    Rufex, your RG470 was built at the Cort factory in Korea,March 1994 and was the 1,520th guitar built ( overall production not just that model ) for that month. Revenant71, your Jem555WH was built at the Cort Factory as well in May 2004 and was the 35th guitar built for that month. Captain Ibanez   Gemberbier Username: Gemberbier Registered: 5-2006 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 6:53 pm:    At the beginning of this thread, the Captain writes: "1984 to 1996 example serial number F232104 F=Fujigen 2=1992 as an example 3=March production So 1=Jan 12=Dec 2104 guitar built for that month 2104th made." The Cort serial numbers AFTER Hoshino kicked Samick out followed the Samick numbering system except for the S, which became a C. And after that, they used serial numbers without a C in 1997 for example. Now THIS particular Cort product was made BEFORE Samick was kicked out. And Cort obviously used the same system for Hoshino as Fuji Gen did. Interesting, we know a little more about the role Cort played before they started making Artstars. So Chazmo, it looks like your guess is right: 1994, March it is. 3 pics from the 1994 catalogue: http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1994/13.jpg http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1994/14.jpg http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1994/02.jpg The COLOUR is quite special for this model: DY = Desert Sun Yellow, which was actually a colour for the JEM777 then. Ginger   Rufex Username: Rufex Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 7:01 pm:    Thanks Captain! I really appreciate it! Awesome site!   Revenant71 Username: Revenant71 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 6:00 am:    Thanks Captain! Gonna get that guitar!   Send2kristina Username: Send2kristina Registered: 11-2007 Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2007 - 10:53 pm:    is it correct to say that all Ibanez guitar follow a secuential number (model and or serial number) that for example guitars from the year 1960 model #'s are around 400-600 and that guitars from the year 1970 model #'s are around 800-1000 and so forth (always increasing and never repeating)(aplicable to the same type of guitar, electric, accoustic, etc)   Chazmo Username: Chazmo Registered: 3-2007 Posted on Sunday, November 04, 2007 - 1:29 pm:    Kristina, model number has nothing to do with serial number. Sorry.   65tbird Username: 65tbird Registered: 12-2007 Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 9:27 am:    If I'm reading this correct then, my new JEM7VWH serial number is F0800306 will be made next year in the zero month of 2008, the 306th guitar ??? I must be reading this wrong.   65tbird Username: 65tbird Registered: 12-2007 Posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 - 9:46 am:    In the above post I should have added... On the tag, the full serial number is (21) 0007F0800306 if that might help shed some light. Cheers