The earliest Green label serial number I have found is an FG-180 with 525808 & 41.9.5. The latest Green label serial number I have is an FG-180 with 599088 (no date code).
Ever wondered what you’re Yamaha guitar serial numbers tell you about your guitar? Or maybe you’re just curious about the year that your guitar was built?
Here’s the system that Yamaha uses for their acoustic guitar serial numbers and what those numbers can tell you about your guitar.
Where to Find the Serial Number
If you don’t already have your serial number, you’ll need to locate it and in some cases you’ll need to find out where your guitar was made as well – this information will usually be found next the serial number and will say “made in..” and then the country that the guitar was built in (either Japan, Taiwan or Indonesia).
This information is usually found inside the sound hole of your guitar.
How to Decode your Serial Number
Yamaha’s serial number system is one of the more complicated ones I have come across – so it’s a little bit involved.
But the complexity of decoding the number isn’t the most frustrating part of this particular serial number system – it’s the fact that the serial numbers actually repeat every decade – so you actually have to know what decade your guitar was built in to begin with.
Anyway, let’s start with how the main system works – if you don’t have a serial number that looks one of the ones in the next section, then carry on to the following sections for the less common serial numbers.
Most Common Yamaha Serial Number System
The most common Yamaha serial numbers follow a system that uses 2 letters, followed by 5 numbers.
Let’s look at an example of what this might look like – MM12022
From this we can tell that this is the 22nd guitar built on June 12 of either 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 or 2006.
O.K. so how does this work?
The First Letter
The first letter represents the year that the guitar was built.
The letters H to Q each represent the number that the year the guitar was built in ends in.
H = 1
I = 2
J = 3
K = 4
L = 5
M = 6
N = 7
O = 8
P = 9
Q = 0
But it gives no clue as to the decade so for each letter it could represent the following years.
First Letter Years
H 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001
I 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002
J 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003
K 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004
L 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005
M 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006
N 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997, 2007
O 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998
P 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999
Q 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000
I can only assume that this has been continued beyond 2010 because I haven’t been able to find any information for a different system but I can’t confirm this. If anyone knows please feel free to leave a comment in the comments section at the end of this post.
So, in our example we have an “M” – so it could have been built in 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 or 2006 (and maybe 2016?).
- MM12022
The Second Letter
The second letter represents the month that the guitar was built. A similar number system is used but includes 3 extra letters (X, Y & Z) to represent 10 (October), 11 (November) and 12 (December).
Second Letter Month
H January
I February
J March
K April
L May
M June
N July
O August
P September
X October
Y November
Z December
In our example, M = June.
- MM12022
The First 2 Numbers
The first 2 numbers represent the day of the month so this is pretty straight forward.
In our example 12 = the 12th day of the month.
- MM12022
The final 3 Numbers
The last 3 numbers represent the unit number that was built that day.
So, in our example 022 means that this guitar was the 22nd guitar built on that day.
- MM12022
If your serial number follows this format and you want a faster way of deciphering it check out the serial number wizard at the link below:
Note: The Serial number wizard at the link above only works for serial numbers that follow the format above. If yours doesn’t you’ll need to keep reading to decipher it.
What if My Yamaha Serial Number Doesn’t Follow This Format?
If your serial number looks nothing like this 2 letter, 5 number format, check out the other systems used below, your guitar might fit with one of these.
For these ones you will also need to know where your guitar was built – which you should be able to be found next to the serial number of your guitar and will say “made in..” and then the country it was built in (either Japan, Taiwan or Indonesia).
Note: The following only applies to acoustic, acoustic-electric and classical guitars. There is a different system for electric guitars and bases.
Made in Japan Custom Shop 1966 – 1985
These were just sequential serial numbers from 001 up to 1042.
To work out the year you’ll have to take a rough guess. The closer to 001 it is the closer to 1966 and the closer to 1042, the closer to 1985.
Made in Japan Custom Shop 1986 – 1990
These serial numbers have 1 letter followed by 4 numbers.
The letter represents the month and follows the same system for months as the most common system above.
The first number represents the year.
The last 3 numbers represent the unit number.
For example: J7012
This would be a guitar built in March of 1987 and it was the 12th Unit made that day in the Japan custom shop.
The J is March as per the main system above and the year has to be 1987 since this system was only used between 1986 and 1990.
Made in Japan Custom Shop 1991 – 1996
This was a 2 letter, 3 number, then 1 letter system.
The first letter is the year and follows the same code as the main system above.
The second letter is the month and also follows the same system as the main system above.
The 3 numbers represent the unit number – but in this case the unit numbers started at 700 for some reason – so the first unit of the day wasn’t 001 but rather 701.
The final letter is an unknown internal code.
For example: IP703J
The example serial number above belongs to a guitar that was the 3rd guitar built in September of 1992.
Made in Japan Custom Shop 1997 – 2003
This is the same as for 1991 to 1996 with the following differences:
- There is no internal code at the end
- The unit numbers start at 001 instead of 701
For example: PP045
The example serial number here represents the 45th guitar built in September of 1999.
Made in Japan Custom Shop 2004-
This uses a 3 letter, 3 number, 1 letter system.
The first 2 letters represent the year in this case. So you do get the decade here.
The third letter represents the month as per the main system.
The 3 numbers represent the unit number.
The final letter is an internal code.
For example: QNK026C
This guitar in the example serial number was the 26th guitar built in April of 2007.
The Q represents an 0 and the N is a 7, meaning 07 for 2007.
Made in Japan Tenryu/Wada Factory 1946 – 1968
This is a 5 digit sequential system. There is no indication of year of production in this system.
Made in Japan Tenryu/Wada Factory 1969 – 1984
This is a nice and simple 6 digit system.
The first two numbers represent the year.
The Second two numbers represent the month.
The last 2 numbers represent the unit number.
For example: 790507
This is simply the 7th guitar built in May (05) in 1979 (79).
Made in Japan Tenryu/Wada Factory 1985 – 1986
For this short period there is also a 6 digit serial number but doesn’t show the month.
The first 2 numbers are the year.
The last 4 numbers are the unit number.
For example: 860102
This represents the 102nd (0102) guitar built in 1986 (86).
Made in Japan Yamaha Music Craft 1997 – 1999
This is the same system as used for “Made in Japan Custom Shop 1991 – 1996” except that the unit number started at 501 except for 701.
Made in Japan Yamaha Music Craft 1999 –
The first letter is the year.
The second letter in the month.
The 3 numbers are the unit number.
The unit number starts at 200.
For example: PL225
This guitar was the 25th guitar built in May of 1999.
Made in Japan Yamaha Music Craft 2001 –
This is a 3 letter, 3 number, 1 letter system as follows.
The first 2 letters represent the year following the same coding system.
The 3rd letter represents the month following the same coding system.
The 3 numbers are the unit number.
The last letter is an internal code.
For example: QJK033A
This would be the 33rd (033) guitar built in April (K) in 2003 (Q = 0, J = 3)
Made in Taiwan Kaohsiung Factory 1971-2001
This is an eight number system.
The first number represents the year.
The second and third numbers represent the month.
The fourth and fifth numbers represent the day of the month.
The Final three numbers represent the unit number.
Because there is only 1 number representing the year, there are possible duplicates using this system.
For example: 30914023
This example serial number was the 23rd guitar built on the 14th day of September in either 1973, 1983 or 1993.
Made in Taiwan Kaohsiung Factory 2001-
In 2001 the Kaohsiung Factory system changed to a 3 letter, 6 number system as follows:
The first 2 letters represent the year.
The 3rd letter represents the month.
The first 2 numbers are the day of the month.
The last 4 numbers are the unit number.
For example: QLY180122
The example serial number represents the 122nd guitar built on the 18th of November 2005 (Q = 0, L = 5).
Made in Indonesia YMMI (Yamaha Music Manufacturing Indonesia) 1990-1996
For this period in this factory they used an 8 digit serial number.
The first number is the year.
The 2nd and 3rd numbers are the month.
The 4th and 5th numbers are the day of the month.
The final 3 numbers are the unit number.
For example: 30814023
The example serial number represents the 23rd guitar built on the 14th of August in 1993.
Made in Indonesia YMMI 1997-1999
This is the same as for 1990 to 1996 except there are 9 numbers. The last 4 (instead of 3) represent the unit number, the rest are the same.
Made in Indonesia YMMI 2000-
This is the same as for 1997-1999 except there are 10 numbers. The first 2 numbers represent the year (instead of just 1 previously).
Made in Indonesia YMMI 2001-
The YMMI changed to a 3 letter, 6 number system in 2001 as follows:
The first 2 letters represent the year.
The 3rd letter represents the month.
The first 2 numbers represent the day of the month.
The last 4 numbers represent the unit number.
For example: QKZ160062
The example serial number above represents the 62nd guitar built on the 16th of December 2004 (Q =0, K=4).
Is this Everything?
Apparently, some could even fall outside of this range. If you’re serial number doesn’t seem to match any of the above, you’ll need to contact Yamaha to see if they can tell you about your serial number.
Hopefully this will help most people to find the information for the serial number of their Yamaha guitar.
Photo Credit
By mt 23 from New York, USA (Land Locked Blues.) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
I've had my Yamaha acoustic guitar so long, I don't even remember where or when I bought it. Mine was built on July 23, 1975. I bought it new in my hometown of Watertown, New York. My best guess is that I got it late in the summer or fall of '75 from Schmidt Music, a music store there at that time.This guitar has served me well. It has seen many a campfire and years of fun with friends. For several years I said that I was keeping it around in case one of my children or grandchildren ever decides to learn how to play. One of my daughters actually had it for several months but her schedule didn't allow for the time needed to learn.
Now, it is in my office along with several other guitars . I usually grab it when I want to learn a new song. I have replaced the strings with a set of lighter gauge Martins and I have sanded down the bridge saddle slightly. It seems that this guitar plays better than ever and still has very nice tone. On December 22, 2016, I was contacted by a man on Long Island, New York. He owns several guitars and his brother passed away a few years ago and left his guitars to him. One was an FG-360. He was reaching out to me because he decided to sell some guitars, including the Yamaha. The guitar was special because it had been his brother's and he offered it to me because he wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Between his schedule and mine, it took a while for us to put this together. I received it on Friday, March 17, 2017, St. Patrick's Day. Whereas my first FG-360 is a Taiwanese model, this one is a 1973 Japanese built. Although both have original cases which are different, the guitars are pretty much identical. I installed light-weight Martin strings. Other than that this guitar is in great shape. There are very few blemishes on it. You wouldn't know it is over 43 years old. | My 1975 Yamaha FG-360 |
The FG-360 was a special, limited edition run of hand-built guitars. I received an e-mail from a Yamaha official when I inquired a few years ago and more recently, I actually spoke with another official there. I sent an inquiry in on February 8, 2013. That afternoon, Ed Blackmore from Yamaha called me! I had posed several questions and he thought a call would be more effective than an e-mail. We had a nice chat and I have edited some of my previous conjectures to reflect our conversation. |
My 1973 Yamaha FG-360 | According to Ed, around 2008, Yamaha saw an upturn in questions and interest in some of these vintage guitars, including the FG-360, and started compiling information then. Before that, their records were limited. According to Yamaha, record keeping was not done well back in those days. As Ed Blackmore said, 'no one knows for sure' what some of the numbers mean. 'Nobody paid attention to what was going on' when it came to serial numbers. Here is what we do know. There were actually two different FG-360 guitar models made. They were two completely different guitars. The FG-360 was made between 1973 and 1975. The original model run had a spruce top, coral rosewood back and sides, African Mahogany neck and Indian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. These were made in Japan between January and April 1973. There was never an MSRP listed because it was never distributed in the US. Having said that, it may have been sold here. In addition to used units that people may have brought in on there own, it was not uncommon back then for European dealers to make deals with US dealers for units like this that they couldn't get. He called it a 'gray market'. |