Just a Theory...
(Work in Process)
(Work in Process)
It looks like the letter prefix was initially an F from 1996-2000 and it was stamped on metal neck plates.
Korean Stamped Etched Impressed Neck Plate Serial Number Guitars
Beginning in 2001 we see the first inked letter prefix serial numbers and it is not clear if these are legit or authorized.
If correct, the orders we can see were made in:
2001 May
2006 January
2007 April
2009 March
2015 February, April
And J serial may be from around 2004?
The letters that I have seen are:
A Prefix Made In Korea Inked Serial Numbers
E Prefix Made In Korea Inked Serial Numbers
F Prefix Made In Korea Inked Serial Numbers
J Prefix Made In Korea Inked Serial NUmbers
For A, E , and F serial numbers seem to follow this pattern:
Year, then month, then unit count up to 999.
AYYMM###
EYYMM###
FYYMM###
A prefix:
A0704126 (April 2007, no. 126)
A0704194 (April 2007, no. 194)
A0903140 (March 2009, no. 140)
A0903145 (March 2009, no. 145)
A0903305 (March 2009, no. 305)
A0903396 (March 2009, no. 396)
A0903467 (March 2009, no 467)
A1502407 (February 2015, no. 407)
E prefix:
E0105074 (May 2001, no. 74)
E0105076 (May 2001, no. 76)
E0105156 (May 2001, no. 156)
E1504009 (April 2015, no. 9)
F prefix:
F0601012 (January 2006, no. 12)
F0601070 (January 2006, no. 70)
F0601116 (January 2006, no. 116)
F0601118 (January 2006, no. 118)
F0601259 (January 2006, no. 259)
The J ones are totally different. The have some sort of count in the 29-31 range that is obviously not the year. Still a puzzle. Based on one post they may date to around 2004? Maybe February ??
J prefix:
J2902253
J2902254
J2902270
J3102199
If correct, these orders look like:
May 2001
ES60, Goldstar Teles
January 2006
NLS, Goldstar Teles, AST
April 2007
Goldstar Teles
March 2009
SG, AST, Rick, PRS, Futura
February 2015
AST
April 2015
ES60
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