Taylor Guitars is an American guitar company founded in 1974. Taylor has used serial numbers on guitars since the early years of production, but the format has changed over time. Older guitars use simple sequential numbers. Later guitars use date-coded serial numbers.
A Taylor serial number helps you find out when the guitar was made.
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Where to Find a Taylor Serial Number
- On most acoustic Taylor guitars, the serial number is visible through the soundhole:
- On 1999 and newer guitars, it is usually printed on the back label inside the body.
- On 1998 and older acoustics, it is stamped on the heel block near the neck joint.
- On T5, T5z, and T3 models, the serial number is usually visible through the bass-side F-hole.
- On SolidBody Taylor guitars, the serial number is usually on the bridge adjustment access panel on the back of the body.
Early Sequential Taylor Serial Number 1975 – 1992
Beginning in 1975, Taylor used simple sequential serial numbers on its guitars. These early numbers do not encode the month or day. They mainly help you place the guitar into a year range. On older acoustic Taylors, the serial number is usually stamped on the heel block inside the body.
Taylor 410 guitars produced in 1991-1992 use a different system, discussed below.
All Taylor guitars were made in El Cajon, California until 2000.
5-Digit Early Taylor Serial Number 1975 – Mid-1977
The earliest Taylor serial numbers are 5 digits long. The earliest records are not perfect, so for guitars made in early 1975 the numbers may not be accurate.
Use the chart below for 1975-1977 Taylor serial numbers:
| Serial Number Range | Year |
|---|---|
| 10109 to 10146 | 1975 |
| 20147 to 20315 | 1976 |
| 30316 to 30450 (not exactly known) | 1977 |
3-Digit Sequential Taylor Serial Number Mid-1977 – 1992
In 1977, Taylor switched from a 5-digit format to a 3-digit format during the year. That means a 1977 guitar can have either an older 5-digit number or a later 3-digit number.
Use this chart for 1977-1992 Taylor serial numbers:
| Serial Number Range | Year |
|---|---|
| 001 (not exactly known) to 450 | 1977 |
| 451 to 900 | 1978 |
| 901 to 1300 | 1979 |
| 1301 to 1400 | 1980 |
| 1401 to 1670 | 1981 |
| 1671 to 1951 | 1982 |
| 1952 to 2445 | 1983 |
| 2446 to 3206 | 1984 |
| 3207 to 3888 | 1985 |
| 3889 to 4778 | 1986 |
| 4779 to 5981 | 1987 |
| 5982 to 7831 | 1988 |
| 7832 to 10070 | 1989 |
| 10071 to 12497 | 1990 |
| 12498 to 15249 | 1991 |
| 15250 to 17947 | 1992 |
Taylor 410 Serial Number 1991 – 1992
The Taylor 410 used its own serial number format in the early 1990s. These numbers do not follow the regular sequential Taylor ranges.
These serial numbers look like 4-xxxx. The first part is number 4 plus dash, and then 4 digits follow.
If your guitar is a 410, use this chart:
| Serial Number Range | Year |
|---|---|
| 4-0001 to 4-1121 | 1991 |
| 4-1122 to 4-3152 | 1992 |
9-Digit Taylor Serial Number 1993 – 1999
Taylor used a 9-digit serial number format from 1993 to 1999.
This format is much easier than the older sequential numbers. It gives you the year, month, and day. It also shows the series code and the guitar’s number in that day’s production run.
On most 1993 to 1998 acoustic Taylors, the serial number is stamped on the heel block inside the body.
On most 1999 Taylors guitars, the serial number is printed on the back label inside the body.
Read the number from left to right:
- The first 2 digits show the year.
- The next 2 digits show the month.
- The next 2 digits show the day.
- The 7th digit shows the series code.
- The last 2 digits show the production number for that day.
For example, serial number 970724218 reads like:
- 97 = 1997.
- 07 = July.
- 24 = 24th day.
- 2 = 200 Series.
- 18 = eighteenth guitar in that production group that day.
11-Digit Taylor Serial Numbers January 2000 – October 2009
Taylor used an 11-digit serial number format from January 2000 to October 2009. It works almost the same way as the older 9-digit system. The main difference is the full 4-digit year at the start.
On most acoustic Taylors from this period, the serial number is usually printed on the back label inside the body.
Read the number from left to right:
- The first 4 digits show the year.
- The next 2 digits show the month.
- The next 2 digits show the day.
- The 9th digit shows the series code.
- The last 2 digits show the production number for that day.
A serial number 20050822714 reads like this:
- 2005 = 2005.
- 08 = August.
- 22 = 22nd day.
- 7 = Nylon Series.
- 14 = fourteenth guitar in that production group that day.
Taylor Series Code 1993 – October 2009
For Taylor guitars made from 1993 to October 2009, the series code is part of the serial number. On 9-digit serial numbers, it is the 7th digit, on 11-digit serial numbers, it is the 9th digit.
| Series Code | Series |
|---|---|
| 0 | 300 or 400 Series |
| 1 | 500 through Presentation Series |
| 2 | 200 Series |
| 3 | Baby or Big Baby through 2002 |
| 4 | Big Baby, 2004 to 2009 |
| 5 | T5 |
| 6 | T3 |
| 7 | Nylon Series |
| 8 | 100 Series |
| 9 | SolidBody Series |
Number 4 often causes confusion. Taylor uses it for Big Baby in the later part of this period. Code 6 appears on T3 guitars in the 11-digit era.
Modern Taylor Serial Number – November Since 2009
Taylor has used a 10-digit serial number format since November 2009. This is the current Taylor system. It tells you the factory, the date, and the guitar’s place in that day’s production run.
On most modern acoustic Taylor guitars the serial number is printed on the back label inside the body.
Read the number from left to right:
- The 1st digit shows the factory.
- The 2nd and 7th digits show the year.
- The 3rd and 4th digits show the month.
- The 5th and 6th digits show the day.
- The last 3 digits show the production number for that day.
| 1st Digit | Factory |
|---|---|
| 1 | El Cajon, California, USA |
| 2 | Tecate, Baja California, Mexico |
A serial number 2115237008 reads like:
- 2 = made in Tecate, Mexico*.
- 1 and 7 = 2017.
- 11 = November.
- 23 = 23rd day.
- 008 = eighth guitar in that production run that day.
*Taylor started guitar production in Mexico in 2000. Some Taylor models made in Mexico include the Baby Taylor, Big Baby, GS Mini, Academy Series, 100 Series, and 200 Series.
How to Date a Taylor Without a Serial Number
If the serial number is missing or illegible, you can try to determine the year of manufacture by other characteristics. The best clues are the model name, the body shape, the pickup system, and the neck design.
Dating Taylor by Model Name
The names of some Taylor guitar models give a clear indication of the earliest year of production.
| Model Name | Year of Model Release |
|---|---|
| Baby Taylor | 1996 |
| Big Baby | 2000 |
| T5 | 2005 |
| Grand Symphony | 2006 |
| SolidBody | 2008 |
| GS Mini | 2010 |
| Grand Orchestra | 2013 |
| Academy | 2017 |
| Grand Pacific | 2019 |
| American Dream | 2020 |
| Gold Label | 2025 |
Taylor Model Number
On standard Taylor acoustics, the third digit shows the body shape in the modern model system:
| Third Digit | Body Shape | Year of Release |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Grand Concert | 1984 |
| 4 | Grand Auditorium | 1994 |
| 6 | Grand Symphony | 2006 |
| 8 | Grand Orchestra | 2013 |
For example, standard Taylor with a 2 body-shape digit cannot be older than 1984. A guitar with a 4 body-shape digit cannot be older than 1994.
Check Pickup System
On steel-string Taylors, three small Allen screws behind the saddle mean the guitar has ES2 electronics. That puts it in 2014 or later. Taylor‘s original Expression System started in 2003.
So a Taylor pickup with older Expression System hardware, but without ES2 saddle screws, points to the 2003 to 2013 period.
Check the Neck Design
Taylor‘s NT neck first appeared in 1999. It then spread through the line over the next year. If a Taylor‘s neck is bolted-on with internal shims, the guitar is late 1999 or newer. If the guitar has the older pre-NT neck design, it is earlier.
Often, one clue is enough to determine the period of production of a guitar, but it is better to use several features together.