Example: P315821
Letter = factory in Korea the guitar was manufactured
A = Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon
Y = Yoojin Industrial Co. Ltd. in Yangju
C = Cort Guitars in Incheon (1987 – 2007) or Daejeon (1991–2007)
P = Peerless Korea Co. Ltd. in Pusan (1987 – 1988)
First Digit = last digit of the year (7 = 1987 through 5 = 1995)
Last Digits = consecutive production number for that year
Serial number P315821 is the 15821st guitar built in 1993, by Peerless Korea Co. Ltd. in Pusan
Example: E1020456
Letter E = guitar is produced by Sung-Eum Music Co. Ltd. in Yangju
First Digit = last digit of the year (7=1987 through 5=1995)
Next 2 Digits = the month (01=January...12=December)
Last Digits = consecutive production number for that month (0456)
Serial number E1023456 is the 456th guitar built in February 1991, by Sung-Eum Music Co. Ltd. in Yangju.
Example: S4111076
Letter E = guitar produced by Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon
First Digit = last digit of the year (0 = 1990 through 5 = 1995)
Next 2 Digits = month (01 = January....12 = December)
Last Digits = consecutive production number for that month (1076)
Serial number S4111076 is the 1076th guitar built in November 1994, by Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon.
Example: SQ6051234
Letters = Factory
A = Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon
C = Cort Guitars in Incheon in Incheon or Daejeon
S = Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon
SQ = Saehan Guitar Technology
Y = Yoojin Industrial Co. Ltd. in Yangju
First Digit = last digit of the year. (5 = 1995)
Next 2 Digits = month (01 = January.....12 = December)
Last 4 Digits = consecutive production number for that month (1234)
Serial number SQ6051234 is the 1234th guitar built in may 1996, by Saehan Guitar Technology.
From 1997 - 2008 some Korean Ibanez serial numbers only consisted of 7, 8 or 10 digits. |
These guitars were produced mostly at the Cort factory in Incheon. |
There were no date stamps at the start of production and early Artstar models were hand written. |
These handwritten serial numbers are difficult to read and decipher. |
* In 2003 the production of these Artstar models was discontinued. |
Example: 8071234
First Digit = last digit of the year (7 = 1997 / 8 = 2008)
* In the case of a 7 or an 8, the year can be either 1997/1998 or 2007/2008.
Next 2 Digits = Month (01 = January.....12 = December)
Last 4 Digits = consecutive production number for that month. (1234)
Serial number 8071234 is the 1234th gitaar of 1998 or 2008, built in July. Made by Cort Guitars in Incheon or Daejeon.
Example: 99004321
First 2 Digits = last digits of the year (99 = 1999)
Next 6 Digits = consecutive production number of that year (004321)
Serial number 99004321 is the 4321th guitar of 1999, (probably) built by Cort Guitars in Incheon.
Example: 0112004524
First 2 Digits = last digits of the year (01 = 2001)
Next 2 Digits indicate the month (01 = January.....12 = December)
Next 6 Digits = consecutive production number of that month (004524)
Serial number 0112004524 is the 4524e guitar of 2001, built in December. Made (probably) by Cort Guitars in Incheon.
Example: W962827
W = produced by World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon
2nd Digit or Letter = production month (see chart)
3rd Digit = last digit of production year (9 = 1999 through 8 = 2008)
Last 4 Digits = consecutive production number for that month (2827)
PRODUCTION MONTHS | |||
1 = January | 2 = Febuary | 3 = March | |
4 = April | 5 = May | 6 = June | |
7 = July | 8 = August | 9 = September | |
X = October | Y = November | Z = December |
Serial number W962827 is the 2827th guitar of September 2006, built by World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon.
Example: A01042941
Letters = factory the guitar was manufactured
A = Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon
C = Cort Guitars in Incheon in Incheon of Daejeon
S or SQ = Saehan Guitar Technology
Y = Yoojin Industrial Co. Ltd. in Yangju
CP = unknown (* Speculation is that CP stands for Cort Plant or perhaps a joint venture Cort/Peerless.)
First 2 Digits = last digits of the year (01 = 2001)
Next 2 Digits = month (01 = January.....12 = December)
Last 4 Digits = production number for that month (2941)
Serial number A01042941 is the 2941th guitar of April 2001, built by Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd., Incheon, Korea.
Example: KR050612345
* It is not known where the letters KR stand for and by whom this instrument is made
First 2 Digits = last digits of the year (05 = 2005)
Next 2 digits = month (01 = January.....12 = December)
Last 5 Digits = production number
Serial number KR050612345 is the 12345th guitar of 2005, built in June. Unknown where it was made.
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