By popular demand I have
included this guide to dating your Ibanez guitar. This along with 'how much is
it worth' is the most asked question I get.
You will need your serial number.
Basically there are three distinct areas.
This is by no means going to work for every Ibanez guitar, but the majority
should be covered with these methods.
For instance, if yours is a fairly recent model with a C as the prefix then its
most likely a Korean Model.
Acoustic and Korean models do not appear to follow a dating sequence.
Guitars prior to 1975 had no serial number
1975-1987
Serial numbers built between 1975 and 1987 have the month prefix letter, then the year
code and then the production number.
Our example shows the serial number for the first guitar made in July 1976.
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Example serial number G760001 |
||
|
The month prefix
G760001 |
The year code G760001 |
Monthly production number G760001 |
|
A=Jan B=Feb C=Mar D=Apr E=May F=June G=July H=Aug I=Sep J=Oct K=Nov L=Dec |
19** in this case 1976 |
0001-9999 In other words this is the first one of the month. |
1987-1996
Serial number built between 1987 and 1996 had a factory prefix followed by
the year code then the production number
Our example shows the serial number for the 10034th guitar made in 1989 at the Fugijen factory in Japan.
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Example serial number F910034 |
||
|
The Factory prefix
F910034 |
The year code F910034 |
Yearly production number F910034 |
| See below | In this case 1989 |
00001-99999 In other words this is the 10034th of the year. |
Additionally on some Korean models with a seven digit number
the first two numbers represent the year of manufacture.
i.e. Serial number 9012345 is a 1990 model and number 12345 built that
year in Korea.
(This is a guide and does not relate to all guitars of this era)
1997-Date
Serial numbers built after 1996 have a factory prefix followed by a two
digit year code and then the production number.
Our example show the serial number for the 136th guitar built in 2003 at the Fugijen factory in Japan.
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Example serial number F0300136 |
||
|
The Factory prefix
F0300136 |
The year code F0300136 |
Yearly production number F0300136 |
| See Below | In this case 2003 |
00001-99999 In other words this is the 136th of the year. |
Ibanez
Factories
Japan
F - Fujigen (Fuji Gen Gakki)
H - Terada
I - Iida
Korea
C - Cort
P - Unknown
S - Samick
W-World Factory (new 2005)
Other Prefixes
J (Used on JS range)
LA (used on LA Custom Shop)
PRT (prototype usually followed by date code, 91--1991)
{So there you go clear as mud. Ed!}