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Guitar serial numbers decoded — across 18 makers and a century of manufacturing. Runs in your browser. Nothing leaves your device.
Eighteen makers.
One click for the guide, conventions, and sources.
Gibson
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8/9-digit + CS + artist runs Gibson Custom Shop
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CS, historic reissues, R-series Fender
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US/MX/JD + decade prefixes PRS
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Core, CE, S2, CTI Indonesia Heritage
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Single/double letter + HC Sire
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Gen 1 & Gen 2 Ibanez
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Fujigen F, letter-month, Korea/Indonesia Gretsch
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Modern JT/KS factory codes, 1966-72 date-coded era Rickenbacker
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Letter-month + year-digit (1987+) Jackson
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ICJ/CYJ modern imports, MIJ Professional Charvel
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JC Japan modern, San Dimas USA 1981-86 Epiphone
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Factory + YY + MM + seq (1993-2008); all-numeric since 2008 Squier
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ICS/ISS/CGS/CN/CY factory prefixes + Fender-shared formats G&L
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CLF YY MM (1998+), legacy G/B prefixes, Placentia China Schecter
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First two digits of YY + optional factory prefix Martin
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Sequential since 1898; official year-end chart lookup ESP / LTD
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E/U/I/L/W/IS/IR/IW/IX factory letter prefixes Ernie Ball Music Man
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B-prefix, 5-digit 8xxx/9xxx; database lookup for dating
Built from sources
Every format rule traces back to at least two authoritative references — manufacturers where possible, then audited community references. See the methodology.
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