the letter (3rd position) is the month March (see chart.) The final four numbers are the unit number 13. The letter (2nd position) is an internal code. The next letter (3rd position) is the month in this case M=June (see chart.) The final three numbers are the unit number. The final three numbers are the unit number 101. The next two numbers are the month 10=October. There is no indication of year in this configuration–just “sometime between ’86 and ’89. The last three numbers are the unit number 13. The letter is the month February (see chart). Two letters, four numbers, like so: MI0031. The three numbers at the end are the unit number. The third and fourth letters are the date QH=01. (See chart at the top of the page.) The first letter is the year 1985. Four letters and a number, like so: LJQH013. The final four numbers are the unit number 13.Īlternate serial number configurations for Yamaha Electric, Archtop, and Bass Guitars The third letter is the month June (see chart above.) The first and second numbers (following the 3 letters) are the day 18th. The first two letters are the year Q=0 and I=2, so 2002. Letter-letter-letter-#, like so: QIM180013. The last four numbers are the unit number 13. The fifth and sixth numbers are the day 18th. The third and fourth numbers are the month 02=February. The first two numbers are the year 00=2000. The last four numbers are the unit number 11. The fourth and fifth numbers are the day 18th. The second and third numbers are the month March (03). The last three numbers are the unit number 22. The second and third numbers are the month 09=September. YMMI (Yamaha Music Manufacturing Indonesia), Made in Indonesia, 1990-1996: The final four numbers are the unit number 3112. Three letters, six numbers, like so: QIM183112. Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan, 2001-: The final three numbers are the unit number 111. Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan, 1971-2001: The last four numbers are the unit number 21. Tenryu/Wada Factory, Made in Japan, 1985-1986: The final two numbers are the unit number. The second two numbers are the month here, May. Tenryu/Wada Factory, Made in Japan, 1969-1984: No year of manufacture can be determined. Tenryu/Wada Factory, Made in Japan, 1946-1968: The three numbers are the unit number 123. Letter-letter-letter-#-letter, like so: QIL123A. Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan, 2001-:

(See previous entry for Yamaha Music Craft for more on the numbering.) During 1999, they starting the count each month at 200 rather than 500. The last three numbers are the unit number. The three numbers are the unit number this started over each month at 500, so unit number 21. (That first letter is an “oh” not a zero.) Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan, 1997-1999: 111 is the unit number and the final letter is an internal code. Letter-letter-letter-#-letter, like so: QLY111C. The three numbers are again, unit number. 213=unit number and that last letter is an internal code. Using the charts, we see that H=1991 and P=September. The last three numbers indicate unit number. The number following the letter is the year, in this case.

The letter at the beginning represents the month, so J would be March (see chart above). If you still can’t figure it out, please see Yamaha contact info at the bottom of this page.Īlternate serial number configurations for Yamaha Classical and Acoustic Guitars First LetterĪ lot of people have written in to say, “Hey! My Yamaha serial number looks nothing like this!” To you folks, we offer the following: Several other serial number configurations used by Yamaha over the years. The last three numbers represent order of production on the day the guitar was made.Įxample: hm02316 = the 316th unit made on June 2 of 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, or 2001. The first two numbers indicate the day of the month.

(Their numbering system began with “H” for 1.) The first letter indicates the last digit of the year of production. Serial numbers on Yamaha guitars repeat every ten years due to the way they are formed.

Airline acoustic guitar serial numbers