| Serial Prefix | Decade | How to Read the Year | Example | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 1970s | First digit after L = last digit of year | L001234 = 1970. L812345 = 1978. | | M | 1970s | First digit after M = last digit of year | M212345 = 1972. M912345 = 1979. | | K | 1980s (Early) | First digit after K = last digit of year | K212345 = 1982. | | J | 1980s (Late) | First digit after J = last digit of year | J812345 = 1988. | | S | 1980s (Taiwan transition) | Various – often late 80s Taiwan | Cross-reference with label. |
Some acoustics have a separate "ink stamp" on the inside of the body (e.g., 55.3.20). This follows the Japanese Showa calendar. (Add 1925 to the first number to get the year: 55 + 1925 = 1980). If you'd like more specific info, tell me: The exact serial number you found The model name (e.g., FG-180, Pacifica, Revstar)
| Prefix Letters | Country / Factory | Decoding System | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | or JTE | Japan (Hamamatsu) | First digit after J = last digit of year (e.g., J2xxxxx = 2002 or 2012? Look at label features.) | | Q | China (Hangzhou) | Q03xxxx = 2003. Q15xxxx = 2015. | | U | China (Other) | Similar to Q. U03xxxx = 2003. | | P | Indonesia (Jakarta) | P07xxxx = 2007. P19xxxx = 2019. | | T | Indonesia (Later) | T10xxxx = 2010. | | V | Vietnam (Recent) | V13xxxx = 2013. Used for some TransAcoustic models. | | I | Indonesia (Alternate) | I18xxxx = 2018. | yamaha guitar serial number search
: This is vital because different factories (Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia) used the same formats at different times. Repeating Cycles
Post a clear photo of the serial number and the guitar’s label on the Yamaha Vintage FG Group on Facebook . There are former Yamaha factory employees in those groups. | Serial Prefix | Decade | How to
Unlocking the history of your Yamaha guitar is like being a detective for a day. Whether it's a thrift store find or a family heirloom, those stamped characters tell a specific story of time and place. Step 1: Finding the Clues
Find your serial number. It is usually located in one of three places: M912345 = 1979
When was it made? Where was it made? Is it a rare model?