how to teel what year your ibanez was made

Ibanez history in short

In 1908 Matsujiro Hoshino started a bookstore that sold books and canvas music as well musical instruments. From 1921, instruments from Europe and the United states were also imported, including classical guitars from the Castilian luthier Salvador Ibanez. In 1929 he was succeeded by his son Yoshitaro Hoshino. More and more instruments were imported such as mandolins from Italia and pulsate kits from Ludwig from Deutschland. Because the request of guitars could no longer be met, Yoshitaro decided to build guitars themselve. Meanwhile, his four sons were also part of the venture and the company Hoshino Gakki was founded. A manufacturing plant was built near their headquarters for production of their ain guitar line that could adapt around thirty employees. From now on the "Salvador Ibanez" guitar was called "Ibanez". The company exported many guitars to other Asian countries and in 1937 information technology had an output of more than thou guitars a month. Afterwards the World War Ii, during which the mill was completely destroyed, the import of musical instruments was resumed slowly around 1950. Just in 1962 was Jumpei Hoshino decided to build his own guitars over again. A new manufactory was built where now too amplifiers and electric guitars were fabricated. The company was named "Tama Seisakusho" equally a tribute to the married woman of Yoshitaro Hoshino. Jumpei Hoshino Ibanez was now the main brand of Hoshino, but they also produced guitars for other western companies. Drum kits were besides made with the brand name "Tama". From 1966 however, it was decided no more than build guitars for other companies. This was adopted by other manufacturers, as Fujigen Gakki or Teisco. In 1967 the first Ibanez guitars were imported by Elger Company, United states. These were guitars with many buttons and switches and had no logo. In the late 1960s, the guitars were provided with in "spaghetti-style" metal logo on the caput stock.

In 1970 they focus more than on producing cheaper but comparable models of the cracking USA brands similar Gibson, Fender and Rickenbacker. This was called the "Pre-Lawsuit era". Despite their cheaper product, the replicas of Ibanez take a high quality and are therefore a strong competitor for the Usa brands. In the 1980s own designs were introduced such as the, Performer, Musician and Iceman Models. This period is also called "Golden Years of Ibanez". Many of the guitars from that period are popular objects for collectors. For over l years the guitar building company Fujigen has been a partner of Hoshino, they built the Ibanez electrical guitars. Ibanez guitars have also been produced in S Korea since the early 1990s. The EX serial produced in that location appeared in 1991. EX = "Experimental". Because the quality of the Korean guitars is just as skilful as the Japanese, they fabricated since 1994 also other Ibanez models here. These days Ibanez guitars also fabricated in China. Just like 100 years ago, Hoshino Gakki still has its headquarters in Nagoya. The enquiry and evolution department is besides located here. From the first successful copies of their ain models from the 1970s and 1980s to today, Ibanez has been a solid and indispensable big proper noun in the music manufacture. Headquarter Hoshino, Nagoya

The Ibanez series numbers ordinarily consist a combination of numbers
and letters, but in some cases they are only numeric.
Unfortunately, Ibanez does non employ a uniform format for their serial numbers. The guitar product is outsourced to different companies in various countries where the numbering schemes are different in each manufactory.

You usually find the series number on the back of the headstock on a sticker or stamped on the headstock itself, or on the metallic cover plate between the neck and the body. At acoustic guitars you will detect the
serial number stamped or written on the label in the hollow body, or stamped on the neck block inside the guitar.
The data about the Ibanez serial numbers has been obtained on the footing of data from among other Ibanez Ibanez Guitar Wiki.

(The series numbers used here as examples are fictional)

Manufacture Japan
1975�1986 Letter (A�50) + 6 digits
Example: G770544
The letter represent the month of industry (A=Jan B=February... L=December)
The commencement two digits represent the year (77=1977)
The last 4 digits are the sequent production number for that month. (0544)
Serial number G 77 0544 is therefore the 544 th guitar congenital in July 1977 .

Most Ibanez models with this serial number format are made by FujiGen Gakki and Terada. Exceptions are the Ibanez Blazer models, made by
Dyna Gakki and the Axstar Ibanez models (AX40, AX45, AX48, AXB50, AXB60, AXB65, AX70 and AX75), made by Chushin Gakki.

factory FujiGen Gakki, Nagano

1987�1996 Letter + half-dozen digits
Example: F529157
The letter indicates in which manufactory in Japan the guitar was manufactured. During this menstruation, 3 different companies were produced.
F = FujiGen Gakki in Nagano (1987�1996).
I = Iida Gakki in Nagoya (1988�1992).
H or T = Terada Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Nagoya (1988�1996).
It is claimed that the H is the initial of the get-go proper name of the at that time director of the visitor, Haruo Terada.
The first digit shows the last digit of the year. (7=1987 to vi=1996)
The last five digits is the production number which is increased by 5000 each month. Starting in January with 00001.
Series number F 5 29157 is here the 29157 th guitar of 199v , fabricated in
June past FujiGen Gakki .

The production month can be derived from the table below.

Number	Product Calendar month
00001�05000	January
05001-10000	February
10001-15000	March
15001-20000	April
20001-25000	May
25001-30000	June
30001-35000	July
35001-40000	August
40001-45000	September
45001-50000	Oct
50001-55000	November
55001-60000	Dec

Ibanez used this number sequence to determine the manufacturing
date for warranty claims. Information technology is not entirely articulate whether this numbering method was also strictly enforced and whether the prescribed numbers for each month are correct or merely an estimate.

In that location is some confusion nigh FujiGen serial numbers from 1987.
Models produced up to and including 1988 accept serial numbers starting with "F7", which normally have to indicate production in 1987. It seems that FujiGen or Ibanez had a surplus of these "F7" number stickers, but they just continued to employ it until 1988.
You might make a reasonable estimate of whether a model with an F7 serial number was actually produced in 1987 or 1988 based on the production sequence (the terminal five digits of the serial number).
For each production series higher up 45000 information technology can be assumed that they are models from 1988.
Few series numbers beginning with F8 accept been observed.

1997-October 2004 Letter + 7 digits
Example: F0414210 The letter F indicates that the guitar was produced past FujiGen Gakki in Nagano.
The start 2 digits stand for the yr (04=2004)
The last 5 digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (14210)
The production calendar month can exist determined from the table (see 1987-1996 higher up). Production number 14210 is in the range of 10001-15000 and would then exist month March of 2004, congenital by FujiGen Gakki.
It is also not entirely clear for this period whether this numbering method was strictly enforced.

1998�2022 Letter + 6 cijfers
Instance: T990544
The letter T indicates that the guitar was produced by Terada Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Nagoya.
The showtime 2 digits represent the year (99=1999)
The last 4 digits are the consecutive production number for that year. (0544)
Serial number T990544 here is the 544th guitar built by Terada Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in 1999.

November 2004�2022 Letter + 7 digits
Instance: F1627642
The letter F indicates that the guitar was produced by FujiGen Gakki in Nagano.
The first 2 digits represent the year (16=2016)
The terminal 5 digits is the product number which is increased by 3000 each calendar month. Starting in November with 00001.
Here, too, the product month can be determined according to the table below.
Production number 27642 is in the range of 27000-29999 and would then be month August of 2016, built by FujiGen Gakki.

Number	Production MONTH
00001�02999	November
03000-05999	Dec
06000-08999	Jan
09000-11999	Feb
12000-14999	March
15000-17999	Apr
18000-20999	May
21000-23999	June
24000-26999	July
27000-29999	August
30000-32999	September
33000- ++++	Oct

From Nov 2004, the serial number does not stand for the year in which the instrument was produced, merely rather the model year of which the instrument is role.
Once more, information technology is not entirely articulate whether this method of numbering is also strictly enforced.

2005�2022 Letter of the alphabet + 5 digits
Case: C06256
The letter represent the month of industry (A=January B=Feb... L=December)
The first 2 digits correspond the twelvemonth (06=2006)
The third digit indicates the model: two=PGMFRM1, 5=UV77RE.
With other ditgits it is not clear which model it is or are unknown.
The last 2 digits are the sequent production number for
that month. (56)

Serial number C 06 2 56 is the 56 th guitar of the model PGMFRM1 ,
built in March 2006 .

There is some defoliation with some of the other schemes mentioned here in connection with the initial letters F and I, only this format is
the merely one with only six characters.
It is causeless that all models manufactured in Nippon with this serial number format are manufactured by Sugi Musical Instruments Ltd.

2016�2022 2 letters + 6 digits
Example: IG161156
IG = indicates, produced in the Ibanez Guitar Evolution Center
Ibanez Guitar Development Center (IGDC) is a facility that carries out enquiry and development for Ibanez guitars.
The first 2 digits represent the yr (16=2016)
The side by side 2 digits are for the month (eleven=November)
The final 2 digits are the consecutive product number for that year. (56)
These serial numbers are handwritten on the back of the headstock.
Serial number IG161156 is the 56th guitar built in November 2016
at the Ibanez Guitar Development Centre.

Manufacture Korea
From 1987 through 2008, Ibanez manufactured guitars in Korea.

1987�1995 Letter + half-dozen digits
Example: P315821
The letter of the alphabet indicates in which factory in Korea the guitar was manufactured.
A = Saein Musical Musical instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon.
Y = Yoojin Industrial Co. Ltd. in Yangju, (acoestic) or Guangju (elektric).
C = Cort Guitars in Incheon (1987�2007) or Daejeon (1991�2007).
P = Peerless Korea Co. Ltd. in Pusan (1987�1988).
The showtime digit shows the last digit of the year. (7=1987 through five=1995)
The last digits are the consecutive production number for that year.
Series number P315821 is the 15821st guitar congenital in 1993, by Peerless Korea Co. Ltd. in Pusan.

1987�1995 Letter + 7 digits
Instance: E1020456
The letter Eastward indicates that the guitar is produced past Sung-Eum Music Co. Ltd. in Yangju.
The get-go digit shows the terminal digit of the year. (7=1987 through 5=1995)
The next 2 digits indicate the month (01=January...12=December)
The concluding digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (0456)
Series number E1023456 is the 456th guitar built in February 1991,
by Sung-Eum Music Co. Ltd. in Yangju.

1990�1995 Letter of the alphabet + seven digits
Example: S4110076
The letter of the alphabet E indicates that the guitar is produced by Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon.
The first digit shows the concluding digit of the year. (0=1990 through 5=1995)
The next two digits indicate the month (01=Jan...12=December)
The last digits are the sequent production number for that month. (0076)
Serial number S4110076 is the 76th guitar built in Nov 1994,
by Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon.

1995�1999 1 or ii messages + 8 digits
Example: SQ6050234
The letter of the alphabet(s) indicates in which factory the guitar was manufactured.
A = Saein Musical Musical instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon.
C = Cort Guitars in Incheon in Incheon or Daejeon.
Southward = Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon
SQ = Saehan Guitar Technology.
Y = Yoojin Industrial Co. Ltd. in Yangju, (acoestic) or Guangju (elektric).
The outset digit shows the last digit of the yr. (5=1996)
The next two digits betoken the month (01=January...12=December)
The last four digits are the consecutive production number for that calendar month. (0234)
Series number SQ6050234 is the 234th guitar built in may 1996, by Saehan Guitar Technology.

Manufacture Korea (continuation)
1997�2008
Some Korean Ibanez serial numbers only consist of vii, 8 or 10 digits.
These guitars were produced at the Cort factory in Incheon.
(for an 8 or 10 digit serial number this is not entirely certain)

Because they had no date stamps at the starting time of the production,
the series numbers of the 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.

1997�2008 vii digits
Case: 8071234
The start digit shows the last digit of the yr.
(7=1997 en met 8=2008)
In the case of a seven or an eight, y'all must have a general timetable for
the correct year can determine, because this tin can be either 1997/1998 or 2007/2008.
The next two digits indicate the month (01=Jan...12=December)
The last 4 digits are the consecutive product number for that month. (1234)
Serial number 8071234 is the 1234th gitaar of 1998 or 2008, built
in July. Fabricated past Cort Guitars in Incheon or Daejeon.

1997�2008 8 digits
Example: 99004321
The first 2 digits represent the latest digits of the year. (99=1999)
The next 6 digits are the consecutive production number of that
year. (004321)
Serial number 99004321 is the 4321th guitar of 1999, (probably) built by Cort Guitars in Incheon.

1997�2008 10 digits
Example: 0112004524
The first 2 digits stand for the latest digits of the twelvemonth. (01=2001)
The next 2 digits bespeak the month (01=January...12=December)
The next six digits are the consecutive production number of that month. (004524)
Serial number 0112004524 is the 4524e guitar of 2001, built in December. Fabricated (probably) by Cort Guitars in Incheon.

1999�2008 Letter(W) + 6 digits or Letter of the alphabet(Westward) + alphabetic character + 5 digits
Case: W962827
The letter W stands for produced by World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon.
The 2nd digit or letter indicates the production month. (one=January...9=September, X=October, Y=November and Z=December)
The tertiary digit indicates the last digit the production year. (9=1999 through eight=2008)
The last four digits are the consecutive production number for that calendar month. (2827)
Series number W962827 is the 2827th guitar of September 2006, built past World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon.

2000�2008 Letter + eight digits or Letter + letter + eight digits
Example: A01042941
The alphabetic character(s) indicates in which factory the guitar was manufactured.
A = Saein 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, (acoestic) or Guangju (elektric).

CP is unclear where the guitar is built.
It is speculated that CP stands for Cort Plant or an indication that these models are made by a joint venture between Cort and Peerless, or possibly product indicates in Cort's Indonesian factory known
every bit Cort PT. Tis terminal seems very unlikely since the instruments are marked equally "Made in Korea".
The showtime ii digits represent the latest digits of the yr. (01=2001)
The next 2 digits indicate the month (01=January...12=December)
The last 4 digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (2941)
Series number A01042941 is the 2941th guitar of April 2001, congenital
by Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd., Incheon, Korea.

1999�2008 Letters(KR) + 9 digits
Example: KR050602345
Information technology is not known where the letters KR stand for and by whom this instrument is fabricated.
The first 2 digits stand for the latest digits of the year. (05=2005)
The adjacent 2 digits signal the calendar month (01=Jan...12=December)
The last 5 digits are the consecutive production number for that month (or year?).. (02345)
Series number KR050602345 is the 2345th guitar of 2005, built in June. Unknown where it was made.

Manufacture Indonesia

factory Cor-Tek, Republic of indonesia

2001�2022 Letter + 9 digits
Case: K160600221
The letter indicates in which mill the guitar was manufactured.
I = Cort Guitars (known as Cor-Tek factory in Indonesia)
K = Kwo Hsiao Co., Ltd.
J = Sejung
The showtime 2 digits represent the latest digits of the yr. (16=2016)
The next 2 digits bespeak the month (01=January...12=December)
The last five digits are the consecutive production number for that calendar month. (00221)
Serial number K160600221 is the 221th gitaar of June 2016, built
by Kwo Hsiao Co., Ltd.

(2004�2007) Letter of the alphabet + Letter of the alphabet + 9 digits
Case: PR051112345
With prefix PR The first 2 digits represent the latest digits of the twelvemonth. (05=2005)
The adjacent 2 digits betoken the month (01=Jan...12=December)
The last 5 digits are the consecutive product number for that year. (12345)
Serial number PR051112345 is the 12345th guitar of 2005, built in Nov. Unknown where it was made.
(The letter prefixes PR and PW are unclear past whom and where it
was produced in Indonesia)

(2007�2009) Letter + seven digits
Example: I7100262
The alphabetic character I stands for produced by Cort Guitars (known as Cor-Tek manufactory in Republic of indonesia)
The showtime digit represent the latest digit of the year. (seven=2007) The adjacent 2 digits bespeak the calendar month (01=January...12=December)
The concluding four digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (00262)
Serial number I7100262 is the 262th guitar of Oct 2007, built by Cor-Tek, Indonesia.

(2010/November-2011) v digits + Letter
The Premium Line is a quality label that Ibanez uses for electric guitars made in Indonesia, with more than attention to detail than the standard models.
They were introduced in 2011, produced by Hoshino Gakki and
sold under the Ibanez make.
Production with this serial number runs from November 2010 to December 2011.
The production calendar month can non be derived from this sequence.
Case: 10701B
The starting time 5 digits is the sequent production number for the production of the yr. (10701)
The letter stands for the yr. (A=2010 B=2011)
Serial number 10701B is the 10701th guitar of 2011, from the Premium Line. Unknown where it was manufactured.

(Nov/2011-2015) Letter + iv digits + Letter
Instance: J0321D
The commencement letter of the alphabet represents the month of production. (A=JanuarY...L=December)
The 4 following digits are the successive product number for
the production that month. (0321)
The last letter represents the year. (B=2011...F=2015)
Serial number J0321D is the 321th guitar of October 2013, from
the Premium Line. Unknown where it was manufactured.

Manufacture China
(1999-2006) Letter Z + half-dozen digits or Letter Z + Letter of the alphabet + v digits
Example: Z190234
The letter Z stands for produced by Yeou Chern Enterprises Musical instrument Co. Ltd. in Guangdong.
The second digit or letter indicates the production month. (one=Jan... 9=September, X=October, Y=November and Z=December)
The third digit indicates the last digit the production year. (ix=1999 through 8=2008)
The last 4 digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (0234)
Serial number Z190234 is the 234th guitar of January 1999, built by Yeou Chern Enterprises Instrument Co. Ltd. in Guangdong.

2002�2022 Letter South + 8 digits
Case: S05030941
The letter Due south stands for produced by ??? [not known]
The first 2 digits represent the latest digits of the year. (05=2005)
The next 2 digits point the month (01=Jan...12=Dec)
The last 4 digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (0941)
Serial number S05030941 is the 941th guitar of March 2005.
The factory and location in China is unclear here.

2004�2012 Letter J + 9 digits
Case: J111214321
The letter Due south stands for produced by ??? [Peradventure by Sejung Instrument Manufacturing in Qingdao]
The first 2 digits correspond the latest digits of the year. (11=2011)
The side by side ii digits indicate the month (01=January...12=December)
The final v digits are the sequent production number for that year. (14321)
Serial number J111214321 is the 14321e guitar of 2011.
Probably made by Sejung Musical Instrument Manufacturing in Qingdao.

2005�2022 Letter A + eight digits
Instance: A15060177
The letter A stands for produced by ??? [not known]
The first ii digits represent the latest digits of the twelvemonth. (fifteen=2015)
The next 2 digits indicate the month (01=January...12=December)
The last four digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (0177)
Serial number A15060177 is the 177th guitar of June 2015.
The manufacturing plant and location in China is unclear here.

2007�2022 Messages GS + 9 digits
Example: GS090301145
Information technology is not entirely clear where the messages GS correspond.
Some speculate that it is only indicates that it concerns guitars from the GIO serial.
The kickoff two digits represent the latest digits of the yr. (09=2009)
The next ii digits bespeak the calendar month (01=January...12=December)
The last 5 digits are the consecutive product number for that year. (01145)
Serial number GS090301145 is the 1145th guitar of 2009, built in March.
The manufacturing plant and location in China is unclear here.

2010�2022 Letters SS + 8 ditgits
Example: SS11020221
The alphabetic character SS stands for produced by ??? [not known]
The outset 2 digits represent the latest digits of the twelvemonth. (15=2015)
The adjacent 2 digits indicate the month (01=January...12=December)
The last iv digits are the consecutive production number for that month. (0221)
Serial number SS11020221 is the 221th guitar of February 2011.
The manufactory and location in Cathay is unclear hither.

twenty??�20?? Ditgit 4 Letter L + 9 digits
Information technology is unclear in which menstruum exactly this serial number dating was used.
It is likewise not entirely clear where the number with the letter of the alphabet 4L stands for.
Example: 4L080500889
The first ii digits after 4L correspond the concluding digits of the year. (08=2008)
The next 2 digits betoken the production calendar month (01=Jan... 12=December)
The last 5 digits are the consecutive production number for that year or for the month. (00889)
Serial number 4L080500889 could be the 889th guitar of May 2008. The mill and location in Cathay is not known.

From approx 2005 to 2022, some Chinese Ibanez guitars only
take a ix digit series number. It is unclear which supplier or mill has manufactured these models.
From this consecutive production number no date of construction and location tin can be derived either.

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Source: https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-ibanez_eng.php

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