Epiphone Serial Numbers

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The Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan serial numbers from 1998 onwards are in a YMMPPP format. Y = Year of manufacture MM = Month of manufacture PPP = Production number. The serial number letters used by the Terada and Fuji-Gen guitar factories are: J = Terada T = Terada, F = Fuji-Gen No Letter = Fuji-Gen Example: J902123 = Terada / 1999 / February. Continued to use the 6 digit serial numbers through 1978 and 1979. So double check the serial numbers on those 1970s L-5s, Super 400s, and Super 5 BJBs! Gibson's F O N System In addition to the above serial number information, Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers (F O N) to track batches of instruments being produced at the time.

It's not a high-dollar treasure, but this 1993 Epiphone PR7E made in Korea has value as a well-built beginner's guitar.

Hey Zach,

I acquired this Epiphone from a friend in the mid 2000s (serial number S93050042), when I thought I was going to become a rock star, but it has sat in my spare bedroom for well over a decade now, mostly collecting dust. My 4-year-old son is showing some interest in it and I'm wondering if I could let him mess around on it or if it is worth enough to keep it from getting beat up too bad. What is this worth today and do you think it is a good beginner guitar for my son?

Thanks,
Jerry in Battle Lake, MN

Hey Jerry,

There is that old proverb 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks,' but don't let that stop you from finding your inner rock star again and learning to play yourself! Your Epiphone is a PR7E and comes from their long-running Presentation series of acoustic instruments—first introduced in the late 1970s. Let's talk some Epiphone history.

In 1957, Chicago Musical Instrument Co. (CMI), who, at the time, owned Gibson, bought Epiphone and merged operations with Gibson at their Kalamazoo factory. Both Gibson and Epiphone produced U.S.-built instruments throughout the rest of the 1950s and 1960s—some very similar and some unique to each brand.

As instrument manufacturers overseas became more prevalent, Gibson and Epiphone's then-new owner ECL (later renamed Norlin) decided to outsource production of Epiphone instruments to Japan in the 1970s. This drew a distinct line in the sand for the two brands, between beginner/intermediate (Epiphone) and advanced/professional (Gibson).

Norlin then began moving production from Japan to Korea in the late 1970s, and by the mid-1980s, all Epiphones were built in Korea. (Today, instruments from Japan and Korea are generally regarded as some of the higher-quality imports, but that wasn't necessarily the case back in the 1970s.) Beginning in 1997, Epiphone moved all its production to China and Indonesia. While some special Epiphone runs have been produced in the U.S., most of their instruments are still either budget variations of their Gibson cousins or beginner/intermediate guitars that Gibson doesn't produce.

Epiphone's line of guitars varied greatly through the '70s, but the Presentation series of acoustics quickly became established in their catalog. Early PR models (PR 725, PR 735, PR 745, etc.) featured traditional-dreadnought body shapes with varying levels of wood and trim.

After the acoustic-electric trend gained momentum in the '80s, thinner-bodied acoustics designed to be amplified flourished.

As acoustic-electric guitars became more popular in the 1980s, several manufacturers, such as Washburn and Epiphone, began producing thinner acoustics that were specifically designed to be amplified. The PR7E (along with its cousin, the PR-5E) falls into this camp. It's a thin-body acoustic with onboard electronics and a sharp Venetian cutaway for upper-fretboard access. Introduced in the early 1990s, it featured a bird's-eye-maple body, a mahogany neck, a 20-fret rosewood fretboard with diamond-shaped inlays, a rosewood bridge, gold hardware, a piezo bridge pickup, and an onboard 3-band EQ with mid sweep. It was available in natural, transparent black, orange sunburst, or heritage cherry sunburst, which is what your guitar is finished in. The PR-5E was very similar, but it had a mahogany back and sides, and a less elaborate, figured-maple top. The PR7E was produced through 2002 and the PR-5E is still offered today with a street price of $350.

There are quite a few of these guitars floating around in the used marketplace today, and a PR7E in excellent condition is worth between $275 and $325. The serial number tells us your guitar was built in 1993, which tells us it was built in Korea and helps with the value.

You can certainly buy a beginner guitar for much less than that today, but the important thing to consider is that this guitar has a full 25 1/2' scale, so your son likely wouldn't be able to wrap his arms around it. For now, I'd suggest you find him a 3/4- or even a 1/2-sized guitar to play around with, and when it's time for him to graduate to a bigger/better model, your PR7E will fit the bill perfectly. This isn't a treasure in terms of monetary value, but it's a well-built beginner guitar and we all have to start somewhere. Who knows? Maybe you could give it another shot and learn to play while your son does!

Identifiers

YYMMFFRRRRR

In 2008 models begin to appear without a factory i.d. letter prefix.

• YY = Year of manufacture
• MM = Month of manufature
• FF = Factory I.D.
• RRRRR = Ranking number

Example: 08121520333 = 2008 / December / factory 15 / unit 20333

NOTE: Pre 1994 productions also frequently omitted factory letter codes and appeared as all numbers. e.g. 3042779

FYYMMRRRR

• F/FF = Factory code (No factory designator for some 1993 and earlier models)
• Y/YY = Year of manufacture (Single digit for some 1997 and earlier models)
• MM = Month of manufacture
• RRRR = Ranking number (may be more or less digits)

Example: 3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234
Example: S3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234
Example: S93021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234
Example: SI01021234 = Samick Indonesia / 2001 / February / unit 1234
Example: SI010212345 = Samick Indonesia / 2001 / February / unit 12345

FYYMRRRR

• F = Factory code
• YY = Year of manufacture
• M = Letter code to corresponding month (A = January, B = February, etc.)
• RRRR = Ranking number

Example: R01B0123 = Peerless Korea / 2001 / February / unit 0123.

FYYSSSS

Epiphone Elite/Elitist models

• F = Factory code (F = Fuji-gen, T = Terada)
• Y = Single digit year of manufacture (2002-2009)
• YY = Double digit year of manufacture (2010-Current)
• SSSS = Sequential ranking number

Example: F21234 = Fuji-gen Japan / 2002 / unit 1234
Example: T101234 = Terada Japan / 2010 / unit 1234

Factory Codes

FACTORY LETTER CODES

For Epiphone serial numbers that begin with a letter(s), this list identifies the factory & country where produced:

• B - Bohêmia Musico-Delicia (Czech Republic)
• BW - ____?____ (China)
• C - Cort
• CI - Cort (Indonesia)
• DW - DaeWon (China)
• EA - QingDao (China) = Epiphone Acoustic
• ED - Dongbei (China) = Chinese Dongbei means North-east.
• EE - QingDao (China) = Epiphone Electric
• F - Fuji-gen (Japan) = Elite/Elitist models (See: Epiphone Japan Serial Numbers)
• F - Qingdao (China) = Les Paul Standard '59 / '60 / Tribute Models (See: F-Serial used on LP Std'59/'60 models and Tribute/Plus models)
• F/FN - Fine Guitars (Korea) = non-Japanese models
• FC - ____?____ (China 2000's) Possibly 'Global Fine Supply Ltd.'
• FC - Fuji-Gen (Japan 1990's)
• H - _______ (China?) Found on a 1995 El Nino
• G/GG - Identified as early modern Masterbilt acoustics (Epiphone says they have no record of G serials)
• GR - Grand Reward (Farida, Guang Dong) China, Seen on some early Masterbilt acoustics
• GP - ____?____ (Korea) found on a BB King Lucille from 2001 (verified by Epiphone Customer Service)
• I - Saein (Korea)
• J - Terada Gakki Seisakusyo (Japan)
• J - Unknown. Possibly Jakarta, Indonesia - Found on a 1997 S-310
• JC - Unknown. Possibly Indonesia - Found on a 1998 Mini V
• JK - ??? Korea or Indonesia - Found on a 1999 G-310 Junior
• K - Korea Ins. (Korea)
• L - Leader Musical Instrument Co Ltd (Korea)
• MC - Muse (China)
• MR - Mirr factory, China
• N - See: FN
• O - Choice (Korea)
• P/R - Peerless (Korea)
• QG - Qingdao Gibson (China) - Interim designation used prior to 'EA' & 'EE'
• S - Samick (Korea)
• SI - Samick (Bogor, Indonesia)
• SJ - SaeJun (China)
• SK - ???
• SM - Samil (Korea)
• SN - ____?____ (Indonesia)
• T - Terada Gakki Seisakusyo (Japan)
• U - Unsung (Korea)
• UC - Unsung China (China)
• WF - ____?____ (China) found on an Accu Bass Junior from 2001
• X - ____ (China) - Early to mid 1990's serial number label - Verified by Epiphone Customer Service. Seen on 'Epi' brand guitars.
• Y - Korea (seen on a PR775CE)
• Z - Zaozhuang Saehan (China)

FACTORY NUMBER CODES

For some models starting in 2008, if serial begins with 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 500
• 12 = DeaWon or Unsung (China -- uncertainty remains as to which factory)
• 13 = China - factory unknown
• 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 = Samick factory Indonesia
• I = Indonesia (this letter has appeared as the 5th digit on two authentic new models made in Indonesia)

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.

• Beginning with F300000 in late 2009 used on LP Std'59/Std'60/Tribute models
• Continued around F310650~F311050 in spring 2012 on Tribute-Plus models
• Continued around F305000 in 2011
• Continued around F310000 in 2012
• Continued around F317000 in 2013
• Continued around F324000 in 2014
• Continued around F330000 in 2015

Epiphone Japan Serial Numbers

Epiphone Serial Numbers Guide

1998-Current

The Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan serial numbers from 1998 onwards are in a YMMPPP format.

Y = Year of manufacture
MM = Month of manufacture
PPP = Production number

The serial number letters used by the Terada and Fuji-Gen guitar factories are:

• J = Terada
• T = Terada,
• F = Fuji-Gen
• No Letter = Fuji-Gen

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

Epiphone Serial Number Sticker

1987-1997

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 manufacture
C = Model code
PPP = Production number

Model Codes (C)

• 1 = NVJ
• 2 = EMPEROR
• 3 = RIVIERA
• 4 = SHERATON
• 5 = CASINO
• 6 = Limited Edition
• 7 = EB-2
• 8 = ES-930J
• 9 = EMPEROR-J

Example: 34123 = 1993 / SHERATON / unit 123
Example: 38123 = 1993 / ES-930J / unit 123

1971-1987

Epiphone Serial Numbers Les Paul

Epiphone Serial Numbers Les Paul

Refurbished Models

Serial numbers starting with '311xxxx' on a golden sticker are 'refurbished' guitars sold by MIRC (Musical Instrument Reclamation Center)

• There is no way to tell the year or the month it was made in the MIRC serial
• Original serial numbers are usually defaced
• Original warranty void
• Sometimes the word '2nd' is stamped on back of headstock
• MIRC specs can often be different from stock specs

This serial number system doesn't exactly tell the year - and doesn't tell the month at all.

• Beginning with F300000 in late 2009 used on LP Std'59/Std'60/Tribute models
• Continued around F310650~F311050 in spring 2012 on Tribute-Plus models
• Continued around F305000 in 2011
• Continued around F310000 in 2012
• Continued around F317000 in 2013
• Continued around F324000 in 2014
• Continued around F330000 in 2015

Epiphone Japan Serial Numbers

Epiphone Serial Numbers Guide

1998-Current

The Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan serial numbers from 1998 onwards are in a YMMPPP format.

Y = Year of manufacture
MM = Month of manufacture
PPP = Production number

The serial number letters used by the Terada and Fuji-Gen guitar factories are:

• J = Terada
• T = Terada,
• F = Fuji-Gen
• No Letter = Fuji-Gen

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

Epiphone Serial Number Sticker

1987-1997

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 manufacture
C = Model code
PPP = Production number

Model Codes (C)

• 1 = NVJ
• 2 = EMPEROR
• 3 = RIVIERA
• 4 = SHERATON
• 5 = CASINO
• 6 = Limited Edition
• 7 = EB-2
• 8 = ES-930J
• 9 = EMPEROR-J

Example: 34123 = 1993 / SHERATON / unit 123
Example: 38123 = 1993 / ES-930J / unit 123

1971-1987

Epiphone Serial Numbers Les Paul

Epiphone Serial Numbers Les Paul

Refurbished Models

Serial numbers starting with '311xxxx' on a golden sticker are 'refurbished' guitars sold by MIRC (Musical Instrument Reclamation Center)

• There is no way to tell the year or the month it was made in the MIRC serial
• Original serial numbers are usually defaced
• Original warranty void
• Sometimes the word '2nd' is stamped on back of headstock
• MIRC specs can often be different from stock specs

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