Serial Number Format
1995: 5 (no letter prefix) seven digit serial number
1996: F6
1997: F7 and F97 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
1998: F98 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
(Note some special/custom order finishes on basses appear in 1998.)
1999: F99 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
2000: F0 or F2 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
2001 F01 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
2002
2003
2004 04 (no letter prefix), eight digit SN, "MADE IN KOREA" all caps ink stamp
2005: 5 (no letter prefix), eight digit SN, "MADE IN KOREA" all caps ink stamp
Fine Corp ?
Homer J. Simpson found a huge clue as to who may have made these guitars in Korea for Tokai. He found a telecaster type guitar with the same serial number system with the word "Fine" on the headstock. This very likely may indicate that thease were made by Fine Corp before they moved to China and made guitars for Tokai there by 2006.
Serial Number Clues
It looks like these serial numbers may be date based.
I’m also noticing the use of 0 almost like a place holder.
Like year, then month, then number count.
Some years the count leaves room for up to 3 digits, some years 4 digits.
Also, some years they use two digits for the year, some years just one.
Possible format:
FYMM####, FYYMM### or FYYMM####
And this type of serial number is still a bit of a mystery but seems to follow the format of the letter prefix ones, so it may be legit.
Korean Stamped No Letter Prefix Serial Number Neckplates
1995: 5 (no letter prefix) seven digit serial number
1996: F6
1997: F7 and F97 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
1998: F98 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
(Note some special/custom order finishes on basses appear in 1998.)
1999: F99 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
2000: F0 or F2 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
2001 F01 gold foil MADE IN KOREA sticker
2002
2003
2004 04 (no letter prefix), eight digit SN, "MADE IN KOREA" all caps ink stamp
2005: 5 (no letter prefix), eight digit SN, "MADE IN KOREA" all caps ink stamp
Fine Corp ?
Homer J. Simpson found a huge clue as to who may have made these guitars in Korea for Tokai. He found a telecaster type guitar with the same serial number system with the word "Fine" on the headstock. This very likely may indicate that thease were made by Fine Corp before they moved to China and made guitars for Tokai there by 2006.
Serial Number Clues
It looks like these serial numbers may be date based.
I’m also noticing the use of 0 almost like a place holder.
Like year, then month, then number count.
Some years the count leaves room for up to 3 digits, some years 4 digits.
Also, some years they use two digits for the year, some years just one.
Possible format:
FYMM####, FYYMM### or FYYMM####
And this type of serial number is still a bit of a mystery but seems to follow the format of the letter prefix ones, so it may be legit.
Korean Stamped No Letter Prefix Serial Number Neckplates
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