ACOUSTIC GUITARS
This website possesses NO DATABASE of guitars made by manufactures, instead simple serial code patterns that are available on this site and in the wider guitar community are used. It follows that potential scammers can use this knowledge to try to trick unsuspecting buyers.
Epiphone used a serialnumber system for their acoustic guitars. Two or three digits were ink stamped on the neck block or blind stamped on the interior back of the Recording models, three digits (or four ?) blind stamped on the interior back of the Seville models.
Some even feature trademarked headstocks and logos, but upon close inspection the guitars don’t feel or sound like a true Gibson, the serial numbers aren’t registered with Gibson, and most are not of good standard of quality overall. Pricing can also be one of the easiest giveaways for a phony guitar. Epiphone stamps a serial number on each guitar, which after decryption can tell you where and when it was built. Where to find the serial number Locate the serial number on the headstock of the guitar. With Semi-Hollow models on the label inside the top f-hole and with acoustic guitars on the label inside the sound hole. The serial number can be found in the sound hole of the acoustic or on the back of the headstock on electrics. In most cases., the first two numbers of the serial number are the year of manufacture. For example, if your guitar’s serial number is 94000000, your guitar was made in 1994. You can look up the 1994 page, and locate your model number. NOTE – Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch.
Recording E s/n 94 ink stamped on the neck block
Recording C s/n 275 blind stamped on the interior back below the soundhole
NOTE: Fisch & Fred mention a four-digit Seville 4 Special (called Model 4 Special s/n 5417) on page 235 .
The Masterbilt serialnumber system did not start with the number 1000 but with the number 5000. The reason for this is unknown. The serial numbers were blind stamped on the interior back under the bass f-hole, generally below but sometimes on the (oval) label, maybe even without a label like the earlier Recording and Seville models.
Broadway s/n 5053 blind stamped without a label
De Luxe s/n 5369 blind stamped below the label
De Luxe s/n 6677 blind stamped on the label
De Luxe s/n 5369 blind stamped below the label
De Luxe s/n 6677 blind stamped on the label
From about 1934 forward, the serial numbers were ink typed directly on the label (Long Island label) or letter pressed on the label (rectangular Masterbilt label, Green label and Blue label). see pictures
![Number Number](/uploads/1/1/9/6/119619337/836476686.jpg)
Quite often the serialnumber was also blind stamped (some handwritten) on the underside of the bridgefoot. Occasionally the serialnumber was handwritten on one of the braces.
![Epiphone Serial Number Lookup Epiphone Serial Number Lookup](/uploads/1/1/9/6/119619337/915950203.jpg)
Zenith s/n 7738
Olympic s/n 6851
Epiphone Serial Number Ee
Olympic s/n 11690
The s/n is sometimes ink typed on a label where it should have been letter pressed. According to Wiedler Epiphone often applied a newer type label with the old s/n typed in when a guitar was brought in for repair. There are also a few cases of a s/n on an older than typical label, probably either by mistake or because they had ran out of the current type see pictures For a reason unknown a new numbering system was applied in 1944 which started with number 50.000.
NOTE: Although the Sorrentino and the Howard guitars were offered under another brand, they are part of the same serial number system.
References :
Felix Wiedler, NY Epi Reg
Jim Fisch & L.B. Fred, The House of Stathopoulo, 1996, pp. 221-225
Felix Wiedler, NY Epi Reg
Jim Fisch & L.B. Fred, The House of Stathopoulo, 1996, pp. 221-225
ELECTRIC GUITARS
“While Epiphone’s SN systems for acoustic instruments and 1950s electric hollow bodies appear to be pretty straightforward, the SN systems of their other electric instruments and amps are much less so. Over the years a number of different SN systems were used.” (Wiedler)
“With the inception of the Electar line in late 1935, Epiphone began a new numbering system which was employed solely on the electric instruments (Electar, Century, Coronet, Zephyr, Kent, Harry Volpe model). This manifested itself in the form of a blind stamped number between three and five digits, usually located on the top rear of the headstock. (Fisch & Fred, The House of Stathopoulo, page 225)
Wiedler wrote us June 2013: “The Electar series started at a lower s/n than 3-digit. The earliest example I have documented is s/n 25.
Until circa 1938 the s/n stamp is located on the top edge of the headstock. When the headstock shape of the Spanish electrics changed to the center-dip style the stamp was moved to the back of the headstock.
Wiedler wrote us May 2016: “The first Electar instruments from 1935 don’t show a serial number. In c. 1936 serial numbers started possibly near SN 1 (first documented is SN 25) and reached the 7000s by the time electric instrument/amp production was virtually halted during WW2. Currently I have listed Zephyr Spanish SN 7182 as the last pre-war electric guitar.
When Epiphone restarted electric instrument production in 1946, only the Zephyr Hawaiian model carried on with the old SN system – the first documented is SN 7307. All other electric models used a new 5-6 digit SN system – with model-specific 2-3 digit prefix followed by a 3-digit serial suffix. This lasted until 1949. Around 1950 hollowbody electrics adopted the label/SN system of acoustic instruments (first documented example: Zephyr Regent SN 60182), while electric Hawaiian instruments used a new SN system starting around SN 9000.” see pictures
References :
Felix Wiedler, NY Epi Reg
Jim Fisch & L.B. Fred, The House of Stathopoulo, 1996, p. 224-227
For Epiphone serialnumbers of the Upright Bass, see : Bass Monkey
Felix Wiedler, NY Epi Reg
Jim Fisch & L.B. Fred, The House of Stathopoulo, 1996, p. 224-227
For Epiphone serialnumbers of the Upright Bass, see : Bass Monkey
How Old Is My Epiphone Guitar
In its day, the Epiphone MandoBird made itself heard loud and clear in the e-mando market. It's known for being affordable and not terribly high-end, but it has served well as a gateway instrument to pique the interest of players and audiences alike. Some players—including no less a professional than the phenomenal Carrie Rodriguez—find that a MandoBird meets their musical needs perfectly.Although discontinued, the MandoBird has lost none of its appeal. They don't come up for sale as often as you might imagine, and when available they tend to be snapped up quickly. Mahogany body with mahogany bolt-on neck. Single-coil pickup and tone & volume controls. I have five MandoBird IVs available:
- Serial number SI02100315. Sunburst. This one has some light plectrum marks on the pickguard and typical small surface marks from being played a bit. One tiny ding on the back. No fretwear or significant bumps or bruises. Gig bag included. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $500 plus shipping.
- Serial number SID06060086. Black. This MandoBird is used but in good shape, with minor dings and surface scratches, and a blemish on the end of the headstock. Gig bag included. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $550 plus shipping.
- Serial number SI050401028. Gold Flake. Used but clean and sparkly. Many financial advisors these days are telling their clients to buy gold. All I'm suggesting is that you follow that advice to its logical conclusion. Why stop at precious metals? Gig bag included. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $550 plus shipping.
- Serial number SI05020XXXX. Candy Apple Red. This MandoBird is used but in excellent shape, with only minor player wear. The only problem is that someone gouged out the last four digits of the serial number. Gig bag included. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $550 plus shipping.
- Serial number SI050203714. Gold Flake. Used. Slight player wear. A minor chip on the headstock and a couple more on the treble side, but in excellent condition otherwise. Could be the wisest investment you'll make all year. Gig bag included. See more photos, call 425/772-0231, or for more information. $500 plus shipping.