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Where to Find an Ibanez Serial Number
You can find the Ibanez serial number on the back of the headstock, either on a sticker or stamped directly into the wood. It may also be stamped on the metal neck plate between the neck and body.
On acoustic guitars, the serial number may be printed or written on a label inside the body, or stamped on the neck block.
Ibanez Serial Number Decoder
This Ibanez serial number lookup tool can help you find the production date and factory of your guitar.
There are two decoders below: one for Japanese serial numbers and another for Korean, Indonesian, and Chinese serial numbers.
Enter the serial number and click the Check button. The decoder will show when your Ibanez was made and, when available, the country and factory it came from.
Japanese Serial Number Decoder
Korean, Indonesian, Chinese Serial Number Decoder
Ibanez Serial Number Japan
Ibanez began using serial numbers on its guitars in September 1975, although some instruments from 1974 also have serial numbers that cannot be linked to a specific production period.
Ibanez has used several serial number formats over the years. Its guitars have been made by different factories in several countries, and each factory may use a different numbering system.
Most Ibanez serial numbers use a combination of letters and digits, although some contain only numbers.
1 Letter (A-L) + 6 Digits, From 1975 to 1986
Let’s use G770544 as an example.
The letter shows the production month (G = July).
The first 2 digits represent the year (77 = 1977).
The final 4 digits are the consecutive production number for that month (0544).
The serial G770544 is therefore the 544th Ibanez built in July 1977.
Most Ibanez models with this serial format are made by FujiGen Gakki and Terada. Exceptions are the Blazer models, made by Dyna Gakki, and the Axstar models (AX40, AX45, AX48, AXB50, AXB60, AXB65, AX70 and AX75), made by Chushin Gakki.
1 Letter + 6 Digits, From 1987 to 1996
Example: F529157.
The first letter shows the factory where the guitar was made:
- F = FujiGen Gakki, Nagano
- I = Iida Gakki, Nagoya
- H or T = Terada Musical Instrument Co. Ltd., Nagoya. The H is said to come from the first name of the company’s director at the time, Haruo Terada.
The first digit shows the last digit of the production year (7 = 1987 through 6 = 1996).
The last five digits are the production number. The numbering increased by about 5,000 each month, starting with 00001 in January.
So, serial number F529157 is the 29,157th instrument from 1995, made by FujiGen Gakki.
The production month can be estimated from the chart below.
Ibanez production month 1987-2004 chart
| Serial Number | Production Month |
|---|---|
| 00001-05000 | January |
| 05001-10000 | February |
| 10001-10000 | March |
| 15001-20000 | April |
| 20001-25000 | May |
| 25001-30000 | June |
| 30001-35000 | July |
| 35001-40000 | August |
| 40001-45000 | September |
| 45001-50000 | October |
| 45001-50000 | November |
| 55001-60000 | December |
Ibanez used this number sequence to help determine production dates for warranty claims. But, it is not clear whether the system was followed strictly or whether the monthly ranges are exact.
F7 Prefix, FujiGen Serial Number From 1987
There is some confusion around FujiGen serial numbers from this period. Some Ibanez guitars made as late as 1988 have serial numbers beginning with F7, even though the 7 would normally point to 1987.
It appears that FujiGen or Ibanez had a supply of F7 serial number stickers and continued using them into 1988.
The last five digits can help estimate whether an instrument was made in 1987 or 1988.
Serial numbers above 45000 are generally thought to be from 1988. Very few Ibanez guitars with F8 serial numbers have been found.
1 Letter + 7 Digits, From 1997 to October 2004
Example: F0414210.
The F shows that the guitar was made by FujiGen Gakki in Nagano.
The first two digits show the year (04 = 2004).
The last five digits are the production number (14210).
The production month can be found using the Ibanez production month chart above. Number 14210 falls in the 10001-15000 range, which points to March 2004.
It is not clear whether this numbering system was always followed strictly.
1 Letter + 6 Digits, From 1998 to 2022
Example: T990544.
The letter T indicates that the Ibanez was produced by Terada Musical Instrument in Nagoya.
The initial 2 digits are the year (99 = 1999).
The last 4 digits are the consecutive serial numbers for that year (0544).
Serial number T990544 is the 544th instrument made by Terada in 1999.
1 Letter + 7 Digits, From November 2004 to 2025
Example: F1627642.
The letter F shows that the guitar was made by FujiGen Gakki in Nagano.
The first two digits show the year (16 = 2016).
The last five digits are the production number. The sequence increases by about 3,000 each month, starting with 00001 in November.
The production month can be found using the chart below. Number 27642 falls in the 27000-29999 range, which points to August 2016.
Ibanez production month 2004-2025 chart
| Serial Number | Production Month |
|---|---|
| 00001-02999 | November |
| 03000-05999 | December |
| 06000-08999 | January |
| 09000-11999 | February |
| 09000-11999 | March |
| 15000-17999 | April |
| 18000-20999 | May |
| 21000-23999 | June |
| 24000-26999 | July |
| 27000-29999 | August |
| 30000-32999 | September |
| 33000- ++++ | October |
From November 2004, the year in the serial number refers to the model year, not necessarily the exact year the guitar was made. It is not clear whether this numbering system was always followed strictly.
1 Letter + 5 Digits, From 2005 to 2022
Example: C06256.
The first letter represents the month of manufacture (C = March).
The first 2 digits are the year (06 = 2006).
The third digit indicates the model: 2 = PGMFRM1, 5 = UV77RE. With other digits, it is not clear which model it is.
The final two digits are the sequential serial number for that month (56).
So, Ibanez serial C06256 is the 56th instrument of the model PGMFRM1, built in March 2006.
There is some confusion with some of the other schemes mentioned here in connection with the initial letters F and I, but this format is the only one with only 6 characters.
Models with this serial number format are believed to have been made by Sugi Musical Instruments Ltd.
2 Letters + 6 Digits, From 2016 to 2022
These serial numbers are handwritten on the back of the headstock.
Example: IG161156.
IG indicates that the guitar was made at the Ibanez Guitar Development Center (IGDC). It’s a facility that carries out research and development for Ibanez guitars.
The first 2 digits represent the year (16 = 2016).
The next two digits are for the month (11 = November).
The last two digits are the consecutive serial number for that year (37).
So, serial number IG161137 is the 56th instrument built in November 2016 at the Ibanez Guitar Development Center.
Ibanez Serial Number Korea
Ibanez guitars were made in Korea from 1987 to 2008. Some Korean guitars from this period have serial numbers with only 7, 8, or 10 digits and no factory letter.
Some of these guitars were made by Cort in Incheon, although the factory is not always certain for eight and ten-digit serial numbers.
Early Artstar models did not have stamped date codes, so their serial numbers were written by hand. These handwritten numbers can sometimes be difficult to read. Production of these Artstar models ended in 2003.
1 Letter + 6 Digits, From 1987 to 1995
As an illustration let’s look up the Ibanez serial number: P315821.
The first letter indicates in which factory in Korea the guitar was manufactured.
- A = Saein Musical Instrument Co. Ltd. in Incheon.
- Y = Yoojin Industrial Co. Ltd. in Yangju, (acoustic) or Guangju (electric).
- C = Cort Guitars in Incheon (1987-2007) or Daejeon (1991-2007).
- P = Peerless Korea Co. Ltd. in Pusan (1987-1988).
The first digit shows the last digit of the year (7 = 1987 through 5 = 1995).
The final digits are the serial numbers for that year.
So, serial number P315821 is the 15,821st guitar made in 1993 by Peerless in Pusan.
1 Letter + 7 Digits, From 1987 to 1995
Example: E1020456.
The letter E indicates that the Ibanez is produced by Sung-Eum Music Co. Ltd. in Yangju.
The first digit shows the last digit of the year (7=1987 through 5=1995).
The next 2 digits show the month (11=February).
The last four digits are the production number for that month (0456).
So, Ibanez serial number E1023456 is the 456th instrument built in February 1991, by Sung-Eum Music in Yangju.
1 Letter + 7 Digits, From 1990 to 1995
Example: S4110076.
The letter S indicates that the Ibanez is produced by Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. in Incheon.
The first digit shows the last digit of the year (0 = 1990 through 5 = 1995).
The next 2 digits correspond to the month (10 = November).
The final digits are the sequential serial for that month (0076).
So, Ibanez serial S4110076 is the 76th instrument built in November 1994, by Samick Musical Instruments in Incheon.
1 or 2 Letters + 7 Digits, From 1995 to 1999
Example: SQ6050234.
The letters indicates in which factory the Ibanez was manufactured.
- A = Saein in Incheon.
- C = Cort Guitars in Incheon or Daejeon.
- S = Samick in Incheon.
- SQ = Saehan Guitar Technology.
- Y = Yoojin Industrial in Yangju, (acoustic) or Guangju (electric).
The first digit shows the latest digit of the year (6 = 1996).
The next 2 digits correspond to the month (05 = May).
The final 4 digits are the sequential numbers for that month (0234).
So, the serial number SQ6050234 is the 234th guitar built in May 1996, by Saehan Guitar Technology.
7-Digit Serial Number, From 1997 to 2008
Example: 8071234.
The first digit shows the last digit of the year. If it is 7 or 8, the guitar could be from either 1997/1998 or 2007/2008, so you will need other details to narrow down the date.
The next two digits show the month (07 = July)
The last four digits are the production number for that month (1234).
So, serial number 8071234 is the 1,234th guitar made in July 1998 or July 2008, probably by Cort.
8-Digit Serial Number, From 1997 to 2008
Example: 99004321.
The first 2 digits represent the last two digits of the year (99 = 1999).
The next 6 digits are the production number for that year (004321).
The serial number 99004321 is the 4321st Ibanez of 1999, probably built by Cort Guitars in Incheon.
10-Digit Serial Number, From 1997 to 2008
Example: 0112004524.
The first 2 digits represent the last two digits of the year (01 = 2001).
The next 2 digits indicate the month (12 = December).
The last 6 digits are the production number for that year (004524).
So, the serial 0112004524 is the 4524th Ibanez of 2001, built in December. Made by Cort Guitars in Incheon.
W Prefix + 6 Digits or WX, WY, WZ Prefix + 5 Digits, From 1999 to 2008
Example: W962827.
The letter W stands for produced by World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon.
The 2nd character corresponds to the production month (1 = January…9 = September, X = October, Y = November, and Z = December).
The third digit indicates the last digit of the manufacturing year (9 = 1999 through 8 = 2008).
The final 4 digits are the production number for that month (2827).
So, Ibanez serial number W962827 is the 2827th guitar of September 2006, built in Incheon.
1 or 2 Letters + 8 Digits
Example: A01042941.
The character(s) indicates in which factory the Ibanez was manufactured.
A = Saein Musical Instrument in Incheon.
C = Cort Guitars in Incheon or Daejeon.
S or SQ = Saehan Guitar Technology.
Y = Yoojin Industrial in Yangju, (acoustic) or Guangju (electric).
The meaning of the CP prefix is unclear. It may stand for “Cort Plant” or possibly refer to production involving Cort and Peerless. Another theory links the prefix to Cort’s Indonesian factory, but this seems unlikely because these guitars are marked “Made in Korea.”
The first 2 digits represent last 2 digits of the year (01 = 2001).
The next 2 digits point out the month (04 = April).
The latest 4 digits are the manufacturing number for that month (2941).
So, Ibanez serial A01042941 is the 2941st guitar of April 2001, built by Saein, Incheon, Korea.
KR Prefix + 9 Digits, From 1999 to 2008
Example: KR050602345.
It is not known what the KR prefix stands for or which factory made this Ibanez.
The first 2 digits represent the latest numbers of the year (05 = 2005).
The next 2 digits show the month (06 = June).
The last 5 digits are the manufacturing number for that month or year (02345).
The serial number KR050602345 is the 2345th instrument of 2005, built in June.
Ibanez Serial Number Indonesia
1 Letter + 9 Digits, From 2001 to 2022
Example: K160600221.
The first letter shows the factory where the guitar was made:
- I = Cort Guitars (Cor-Tek factory in Indonesia)
- K = Kwo Hsiao Co., Ltd.
- J = Sejung
The first 2 digits show the year (16 = 2016).
The next two digits show the month (07 = June).
The last five digits are the production number for that month (00221).
So, serial number K160600221 is the 221st guitar made in June 2016 by Kwo Hsiao.
2 Letters + 9 Digits, From 2004 to 2007
Example: PR051112345
It is not clear what the PR and PW prefixes stand for or which Indonesian factory used them.
The first two digits show the year (05 = 2005).
The next 2 digits show the month (11 = November).
The last five digits are the production number for that year (12345).
So, serial number PR051112345 is the 12,345th instrument from 2005, made in November.
1 Letter + 7 Digits, From 2007 to 2009
Example: I7100262.
The prefix I indicates that the guitar was made by Cort Guitars (Cor-Tek) in Indonesia.
The first digit shows the last digit of the year (7 = 2007).
The next two digits show the month (10 = October).
The last four digits are the production number for that month (0262).
So, serial number I7100262 is the 262nd Ibanez made in October 2007 by Cor-Tek in Indonesia.
5 Digits + Letter, From 2010 to 2011
The Premium line is a higher-spec line of Ibanez electric guitars made in Indonesia, with more attention to detail than standard models. It was introduced in 2011, produced by Hoshino Gakki, and sold under the Ibanez brand.
This serial number format was used from November 2010 to December 2011. The production month cannot be determined from the serial number.
Example: 10701B.
The first five digits are the production number for that year (10701).
The final letter shows the year (A = 2010, B = 2011).
So, serial number 10701B is the 10,701st Ibanez from 2011, from the Premium line. The factory is unknown.
1 Letter + 4 Digits + Letter, From November 2011 to 2015
Example: J0321D.
The first letter shows the production month (A = January … L = December).
The next four digits are the production number for that month (0321).
The final letter shows the year (B = 2011 … F = 2015).
So, serial number J0321D is the 321st instrument made in October 2013, from the Premium line. The factory is unknown.
Ibanez Serial Number China
Z Prefix + 6 Digits or ZX, ZY, ZZ Prefix + 5 Digits, From 1999 to 2006
Example: Z190234.
The Z indicates that the guitar was made by Yeou Chern Enterprises Instrument Co. Ltd. in Guangdong.
The second character shows the production month (1 = January … 9 = September, X = October, Y = November, Z = December).
The third digit shows the last digit of the production year (9 = 1999 through 8 = 2008).
The last four digits are the production number for that month (0234).
So, serial number Z190234 is the 234th guitar made in January 1999 by Yeou Chern in Guangdong.
S Prefix + 8 Digits, From 2002 to 2022
Example: S05030941.
The meaning of the S prefix is unclear, and the factory is unknown.
The first two digits show the year (05 = 2005).
The next 2 digits show the month.
The last four digits are the production number for that month (0941).
So, serial number S05030941 is the 941st instrument made in March 2005. The factory and location in China are unknown.
J Prefix + 9 Digits, From 2004 to 2012
Example: J111214321.
The J prefix is believed to indicate production by Sejung Musical Instrument Manufacturing in Qingdao.
The first two digits show the year (11 = 2011).
The next 2 digits show the month (12 = December).
The last five digits are the production number for that year (14321).
So, serial number J111214321 is guitar number 14,321 from December 2011, probably made by Sejung Musical Instrument Manufacturing in Qingdao.
A Prefix + 8 Digits, From 2005 to 2022
Example: A15060177.
The meaning of the A prefix is unclear, and the factory is unknown.
The first two digits show the year (15 = 2015).
The next 2 digits show the month (06 = June).
The last 4 digits are the production number for that month (0177).
So, serial number A15060177 is the 177th Ibanez made in June 2015. The factory and location in China are unknown.
GS Prefix + 9 Digits, From 2007 to 2022
Example: GS090301145.
It is not clear what the GS prefix stands for. Some believe it may indicate a guitar from the GIO series.
The first two digits show the year (09 = 2009).
The next two digits show the month (03 = March).
The last five digits are the production number for that year (01145).
So, serial number GS090301145 is the 1,145th instrument from 2009, made in March. The factory and location in China are unknown.
SS Prefix + 8 Digits, From 2010 to 2022
Example: SS11020221.
The meaning of the SS prefix is unclear, and the factory is unknown.
The first two digits show the year (11 = 2011).
The next two digits show the month (02 = February).
The last four digits are the production number for that month (0221).
So, serial number SS11020221 is the 221st Ibanez made in February 2011. The factory and location in China are unknown.
4L Prefix + 9 Digits, 2000s
It is not clear exactly when this serial number format was used or what the 4L prefix means.
Example: 4L080500889.
The first two digits after 4L show the year (08 = 2008).
The next 2 digits show the production month (05 = May).
The last five digits are the production number for that year or month (00889).
So, serial number 4L080500889 may be the 889th Ibanez made in May 2008. The factory and location in China are unknown.
From around 2005, some Chinese Ibanez guitars also have nine-digit serial numbers with no letter prefix. It is not clear which supplier or factory made these guitars.
The production date and location cannot be determined from these serial numbers alone.
Information about serial numbers has been obtained from various sources, including the Ibanez Wiki – Fandom.