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Masterbuilt Serial #'s


The G

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Hi,

Does anyone know the serial number convention for Epiphone Masterbilt guitars.

Just picked one up and my search here proved futile.

It is an AJ 500 MVS with a 10 digit # starting with 0810160---.

Appreciate any help.

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  • 2 months later...

The serial# reads like

 

YY-MM-FF-1234(5)

 

 

Hey y'all, what's FF? I'm guessing you meant to type "DD."

 

And, also, what do the 1234 numbers refer to?

 

Finally, if I'm using the guitardaterproject.com site, which letters do I enter for QingDao?

 

Thanks very much!

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Why don't you use the factory codes any longer ?

 

Is it on all guitars - or only on the "F3........" serials ?

 

I know from conversation with Jim Rosenberg that we should rate the guitar by its quality,

that is ok for me - nonetheless it would be nice to know where it was build.

And by 'where' I mean not only the country.

 

 

We don't provide information anymore on the factory codes, as the quality of our Epiphone guitars is the same throughout all the Epiphone factories; just to avoid that people were starting to ask for a guitar from a particular factory, which would thus make no sense.

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  • 11 months later...

Please help...

I have a Epiphone Massterbilt AJ-500 RE NS since yesterday. Bought the guitar from e-bay manifacturer refurbished.

The # is 311557536

 

I can not understand the year and the month of the production...

And I need to know that because I have to tell it to my luthier

 

Please help...msp_confused.gifmsp_confused.gifmsp_confused.gif

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All serial# of 'refurbished' models start with 311.....

 

It is because this models are not covered with the same warranty as regulary models

 

there is no 'known' way to tell the year out of this serial#

 

Yeah... I see.

 

Well, thanks. I'll try to contact the dealer for some further help.

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  • 9 years later...

Does anyone out there have tech info on an Epiphone Masterbuilt DR-500 RANGH

It's a Dreadnought, Rosewood back & sides, Gold Grover open tuners, Spruce top (maybe) No electronics.

Stamped on the neck block  0309210043, on label G0100043

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" We don't provide information anymore on the factory codes, as the quality of our Epiphone guitars is the same throughout all the Epiphone factories " ...says the customer service team..... LOL! There's nothing like a good joke to brighten up the day right?! LOL!

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 5/11/2021 at 4:34 PM, MasterB said:

Does anyone out there have tech info on an Epiphone Masterbuilt DR-500 RANGH

It's a Dreadnought, Rosewood back & sides, Gold Grover open tuners, Spruce top (maybe) No electronics.

Stamped on the neck block  0309210043, on label G0100043

Regarding the "RANGH" -- I'd check the label again since that doesn't seem to be a code sequence that Epiphone ever used.  The R typically indicates Rosewood, A indicates Abalone all over the edges of the guitar.  After that, the only codes I've ever seen are "VS" for Vintage Sunburst and "NS" for Natural Satin.  So there are RAVS guitars and RANS guitars.

The "03..." serial number would normally indicate a 2003 model, which is not compatible to the number on the label.  Is that label number on tape covering the original number?  Is the "03..." number on the "neck block" or on the back of the neck? 

Photos would help with all these questions.

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