Q: When was my guitar made?
A: The new, 10-digit serial numbering format identifies the factory of production, year, date and the assigned number of the guitar on that day’s production schedule, although the numerical sequence is slightly different from the previous system. For example, the serial number for the first guitar built in the El Cajon factory on November 2, 2009 is 1011029001. Here’s how it breaks down:
-
FACTORY YEAR (3RD DIGIT) MONTH DAY YEAR (4TH DIGIT) PROD. SCHED. # 1 0 (2009) 11 02 9 (2009) 001 Factory designation: 1 = El Cajon 2 = Tecate Accordingly, the serial number for the first guitar built in the Tecate factory on November 2, 2009 is 2011029001.
From 1993 until the end of 1999, each Taylor guitar featured a nine-digit serial number that precisely pinpoints when work was begun on that guitar. As of 2000, the serial number expanded to 11 digits to accommodate the four-digit year designation. Reading left to right, the first two digits (or four starting in 2000) represent the year; the second pair of digits represent the month; and the third pair of digits represents the calendar day that work was begun. The seventh digit is a series code number – 0 for 300 or 400 Series, 1 for 500 thru Presentation Series, 2 for 200 Series, 3 for Baby and Big Baby Series, 5 for T5, 7 for Nylon Series, 8 for 100 Series, and 9 for SolidBody Series. The last two digits denote the guitar’s position in that day’s production sequence. For models older than 1993, please refer to the chart below.
SERIAL NUMBERS YEAR [didn’t use serial numbers!] 1974 10109 to 10146 1975 20147 to 20315 1976 30316 to [–]450 1977 451 to 900 1978 901 to 1300 1979 1301 to 1400 1980 1401 to 1670 1981 1671 to 1951 1982 1952 to 2445 1983 2446 to 3206 1984 3207 to 3888 1985 3889 to 4778 1986 4779 to 5981 1987 5982 to 7831 1988 7832 to 10070 1989 10071 to 12497 1990 12498 to 15249 1991 15250 to 17947 1992
