Most will be 5 to 6 digits in length, but the earliest examples feature 4 digit serial numbers. There should be a space after the 1st digit with the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers, and no space with the 6 digit numbers. The 1st digit indicates the year of manufacture for the 4 & 5 digit serial numbers, these were used from 1989-1999. If the serial number were to end with the digits '5473,' it means the guitar was the 5,473rd guitar of that model manufactured. Tip Putting all of the information together, an example of a Epiphone serial number could be F0508384.
New Serial Numbers, without letters
They no longer put letters on the serial number. This is how you 'read' the information of your Epiphone Serial Number.
NOTE: Please!!! READ the information carefully. You can figure it out by yourself (when and where your guitars were made). Try it, is not that hard! Anyway, I'll be glad to help those who can't 'read' their serial numbers properly, but it might take time to reply. Ok? (Cari, Epiphone Les Paul Custom Facebook Group administrator. August 10th, 2012).
Thank you!!!
YYMMFF12345
YY year
MM month
FF factory-code
12345 production#
FACTORY NUMBER CODES -- for some models starting in 2008, if serial # begins w/numbers
[NOTE: The factories identified by these codes are based on patterns which forum members have observed. The numbers appear as the 5th and sixth digits in the serial number.]
11 = MIC sticker on a '08 Masterbuilt
12 = DeaWon or Unsung (China -- uncertainty remains as to which factory)
15 = Qingdao (China) -- electric
16 = Qingdao (China) -- acoustic
17 = China - factory unknown MIC sticker on a J160E
18 = China - factory unknown found on one 2009 model bass
20 = DaeWon or Unsung (China -- uncertainty remains as to which factory)
21 = Unsung, Korea
22 = ??? Korea (factory still unknown)
23 = ??? Indonesia (factory still unknown, probably Samick,)
I = Indonesia (this letter has appeared as the 5th digit on two authentic new models made in Indonesia
July, 2012 EDIT:
ANOTHER CODES:
FYYMRRRR
F = factory code (See 'Factory number code' above)
YY = year of manufacture
M = This will be a letter code corresponding to the month (A=January, B=February, etc...).
RRRR = production number
More Letters Information!!!
CZECH REPUBLIC:
B= Bohêmia Musico-Delicia
KOREA:
I= Saein,
U=Unsung,
S=Samick,
P or R=Peerless
CHINA:
DW=DeaWon,
EA=Gibson/QingDao (Acoustic guitar),
EE=Gibson/QingDao (Electric guitar),
MC=Muse,
SJ=SaeJung,
Z=ZaozhuangSaehan,
BW=China
UC=Unsung China
MR = Mirr factory
JAPAN:
No letter or
F=FujiGen,
J or T=Terada
INDONESIA:
SI=Samick (Bogor factory)
March, 2015 EDIT:
F-Serial used on LP Std'59/'60 models and Tribute/Plus models
This newest serial number system used by Epiphone is not yet completely deciphered.
'F' doesn't refer to 'Fine, Korea' - nor to 'Fuji-gen, Japan' - New 'F' models are made in China.
This serial number system doesn't exactly tell the year - and doesn't tell the month at all.
1998-Current
The Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan serial numbers from 1998 onwards are in a YMMPPP format.
Y = Year of manufactureMM = Month of manufacturePPP = Production number
The serial number letters used by the Terada and Fuji-Gen guitar factories are:
Example: J902123 = Terada / 1999 / February / unit 123
Example: T902123 = Terada / 1999 / February / unit 123
Example: F902123 = Fuji-Gen / 1999 / February / unit 123
Example: 902123 = Fuji-Gen / 1999 / February / unit 123
1987-1997 SEMI ACOUSTIC MODELS
For Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan semi acoustic models from 1987 to approximately 1997, the serial numbers are in a YCPPP format.They were made by Terada and usually have an Orange Epiphone label.
Y = Year of manufactureC = Model codePPP = Production number
Model Codes (C)
Example: 34123 = 1993 / SHERATON / unit 123
Example: 38123 = 1993 / ES-930J / unit 123
REFURBISHED Models
MIRC Refurb Label
Serial numbers starting with '311xxxx' on a golden sticker are 'refurbished' guitars sold by MIRC (Musical Instrument Reclamation Center)
EDIT: MAY, 2016
Let's take a look at this...
FACTORY LETTER CODES
For Epiphone serial numbers that begin with a letter(s), this list identifies the factory & country where produced: