Yamaha Serial Number Lookup

Use our free Yamaha serial number decoder to instantly identify your guitar's production year, factory, and country of origin. Simply enter your serial number below — works for all Yamaha acoustic and classical guitars including FG, FS, LL, LS, LJ, A, APX, CPX, NTX, NCX, CG, GC series, and Custom Shop models from Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia.

Found inside the soundhole on a label or stamped near the soundhole

How to Read a Yamaha Serial Number

Reading a Yamaha serial number depends on the era, factory, and country of origin. Our Yamaha serial number search tool automates the entire process, but here's the general approach:

Find Your Serial Number

Check the label inside the soundhole — it usually contains both the model number and serial number. On some models, it may be stamped near the soundhole or on the neck block.

Enter It Above

Type or paste your Yamaha serial number into the decoder above. The format and pattern will be analyzed automatically across all 17 known Yamaha systems.

Get Instant Results

See the production year, month, factory, country of origin, and system detected. If multiple interpretations exist, all are shown — use the 'Made in' label to confirm.

Yamaha Letter-to-Number Reference Chart

Yamaha uses a specific letter-to-number code in many of their serial number systems. Letters represent specific numbers that indicate the month and/or year of manufacture:

For months: H=January, I=February, J=March, K=April, L=May, M=June, N=July, O=August, P=September, X=October, Y=November, Z=December.
For years: The letter represents the last digit (or two digits) of the year. For example, N=7 → 1997 (in 1990s context), Q=0 and K=4 → 2004 (in post-2000 context).

Understanding Yamaha's Letter-Coded Serial Numbers

Here's how to decode a Yamaha letter-coded serial number using System A4 (Custom Shop, 1997–2003) as an example:

NH001

N __ __ __ __

Year = N → 7

1990 + 7 = 1997

__ H __ __ __

Month = H → 1

Month 1 = January

__ __ 0 0 1

Unit # = 001

Sequential production number

For post-2000 systems (A5, A10, A13, A17), two letters encode the year. Here's an example using System A5 (Custom Shop, 2004–present):

QKX001C

Q K __ __ __ __ __

Year = Q(0) K(4)

2000 + 04 = 2004

__ __ X __ __ __ __

Month = X → 10

Month 10 = October

__ __ __ 0 0 1 __

Unit # = 001

Sequential production number

__ __ __ __ __ __ C

Internal Code

Production code (not date-related)

Complete Yamaha Serial Number Format Chart (Systems A1–A17)

Yamaha has used 17 different serial number systems across its various factories in Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia. The format depends on the factory, era, and country of production. Below is a comprehensive chart covering every known system:

System A1 — Custom Shop (1966–1985)

3–4 digits (#001–1042)

Sequential serial numbers used by the Yamaha Custom Shop in Japan. Numbers range from #001 to #1042. No date information can be extracted from these serial numbers.

System A2 — Custom Shop (1986–1990)

Letter + digit + 3 digits

Custom Shop, Made in Japan. The first letter encodes the month (using the Yamaha letter chart: H=1, I=2 … Z=12), the second character is the year digit, followed by a 3-digit unit number. Example: I6001 → February 1986.

System A3 — Custom Shop (1991–1996)

Letter + Letter + 3 digits + Letter

Custom Shop, Made in Japan. First letter = year (H=1→1991 … M=6→1996), second letter = month. 3-digit unit number (each month started with 700). Final letter is an internal production code. Example: HN701J → July 1991.

System A4 — Custom Shop (1997–2003)

Letter + Letter + 3 digits

Custom Shop, Made in Japan. First letter = year (N=7→1997 … Q+J=0+3→2003), second letter = month. 3-digit unit number. Example: NH001 → January 1997.

System A5 — Custom Shop (2004–present)

Letter + Letter + Letter + 3 digits + Letter

Custom Shop, Made in Japan. First two letters encode the year (Q=0, K=4 → 2004), third letter = month. 3-digit unit number followed by an internal code letter. Example: QKX001C → October 2004.

System A6 — Tenryu/Wada (1946–1968)

5 sequential digits

Tenryu / Wada Factory, Made in Japan. A five-digit sequential system. No specific year of manufacturing data is available for these serial numbers.

System A7 — Tenryu/Wada (1969–1984)

YYMMUU (6 digits)

Tenryu / Wada Factory, Made in Japan. First 2 digits = year, next 2 = month, last 2 = unit number. Example: 690301 → March 1969, unit 01.

System A8 — Tenryu/Wada (1985–1986)

YY + 4 digits

Tenryu / Wada Factory, Made in Japan. First 2 digits = year (85 or 86), remaining 4 digits = unit number. Example: 850001 → 1985.

System A9 — Kaohsiung (1971–2001)

Y + MM + DD + UUU (8 digits)

Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan. 1 digit for year (last digit), 2 for month, 2 for day, 3 for unit. Example: 11001001 → October 1, year ending in 1 (1971, 1981, 1991, or 2001). Note: This system can produce duplicate numbers across decades.

System A9-L — Kaohsiung letter variant (1971–2001)

L + L + DD + UUU (2 letters + 5 digits)

Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan. First letter = year digit (using Yamaha letter chart), second letter = month (H=Jan … Z=Dec, X=Oct, Y=Nov, Z=Dec). 2-digit day + 3-digit production number. Example: NX13013 → October 13, year ending in 7 (1977, 1987, or 1997).

System A10 — Kaohsiung (2001–present)

LL + L + DD + UUUU (letters + digits)

Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan. Two letters encode the year (post-2000), one letter for month, 2 digits for day, 4 digits for unit. Example: QHY157001 → November 15, 2001.

System A11 — Yamaha Music Craft (1997–1999)

Letter + Letter + 3 digits + Letter

Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan. Same system as A3 but from a different factory. Year letter + month letter + 3-digit unit (starting from 500 each month) + internal code. Example: NM501J → June 1997.

System A12 — Yamaha Music Craft (1999–present)

Letter + Letter + 3 digits

Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan. Year letter + month letter + 3-digit unit (starting from 200 each month). Example: PK201 → April 1999.

System A13 — Yamaha Music Craft (2001–present)

Letter + Letter + Letter + 3 digits + Letter

Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan. Two letters for year (post-2000) + month letter + 3-digit unit + internal code. Example: QIK001A → April 2002.

System A14 — YMMI Indonesia (1990–1996)

YY + M + DD + UUU (8 digits)

YMMI (Yamaha Music Manufacturing Indonesia). 2-digit year offset from 1990, 1-digit month, 2-digit day, 3-digit unit. Example: 00915001 → September 15, 1990. Note: Shares the 8-digit format with System A9 (Taiwan).

System A15 — YMMI Indonesia (1997–1999)

Y + MM + DD + UUUU (9 digits)

YMMI factory, Made in Indonesia. 1 digit for year (last digit of 199x), 2 for month, 2 for day, 4 for unit. Example: 701150001 → January 15, 1997.

System A16 — YMMI Indonesia (2000–present)

YY + MM + DD + UUUU (10 digits)

YMMI factory, Made in Indonesia. 2-digit year offset from 2000, 2-digit month, 2-digit day, 4-digit unit. Example: 0001150001 → January 15, 2000.

System A17 — YMMI Indonesia (2001–present)

LL + L + DD + UUUU (letters + digits)

YMMI factory, Made in Indonesia. Two letters encode the year (post-2000), one letter for month, 2 digits for day, 4 digits for unit. Example: QIH150001 → January 15, 2002.

Yamaha Factory & Country of Origin Guide

Yamaha acoustic guitars have been manufactured in Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia across several different factories. The serial number system used identifies the factory of origin:

Custom Shop — Japan

1966–Present

Systems: A1, A2, A3, A4, A5

Yamaha's finest handcrafted instruments. The Custom Shop has produced high-end acoustic guitars since 1966. Early instruments used sequential serial numbers (#001–#1042). From 1986 onward, letter-coded systems were introduced. Custom Shop guitars are the most prestigious and valuable Yamaha acoustics, featuring premium tonewoods, hand-selected materials, and meticulous craftsmanship.

Tenryu / Wada Factory — Japan

1946–1986

Systems: A6, A7, A8

The Tenryu/Wada Factory produced Yamaha guitars from 1946 through 1986. This was Yamaha's earliest guitar production facility. System A6 (1946–1968) used simple 5-digit sequential numbers. System A7 (1969–1984) introduced year/month encoding. System A8 (1985–1986) was a transition system before factory changes. These vintage Yamaha guitars are prized for their quality and historical significance.

Yamaha Music Craft — Japan

1997–Present

Systems: A11, A12, A13

Yamaha Music Craft produces premium Japanese-made guitars including the LL, LS, and LJ series. Systems A11 and A12 use single-letter year coding, while A13 (2001+) uses the two-letter year system for post-2000 production. Yamaha Music Craft instruments are known for their exceptional build quality and represent the top tier of Yamaha's production-line guitars.

Kaohsiung Factory — Taiwan

1971–Present

Systems: A9, A10

The Kaohsiung Factory in Taiwan has produced Yamaha guitars since 1971. System A9 (1971–2001) uses an all-numeric format with the last digit of the year, which can lead to ambiguity across decades. System A10 (2001+) adopted the letter-coded year system to avoid Y2K issues. Taiwan-made Yamaha guitars offer excellent quality at mid-range price points.

YMMI — Indonesia

1990–Present

Systems: A14, A15, A16, A17

YMMI (Yamaha Music Manufacturing Indonesia) began production in 1990 and has become one of Yamaha's most important manufacturing facilities. Four different serial systems have been used, evolving from simple numeric formats (A14, A15, A16) to the letter-coded system (A17, 2001+). YMMI produces popular models including the FG, FS, and APX series. Modern Indonesian Yamaha guitars offer outstanding value.

Yamaha Serial Number System Quick Reference

Use this quick-reference table to identify which Yamaha serial number system your guitar uses:

System	Years	Factory	Country	Format	Example
A1	1966–1985	Custom Shop	Japan	3–4 digits	#001–1042
A2	1986–1990	Custom Shop	Japan	L + D + DDD	I6001
A3	1991–1996	Custom Shop	Japan	LL + DDD + L	HN701J
A4	1997–2003	Custom Shop	Japan	LL + DDD	NH001
A5	2004–	Custom Shop	Japan	LLL + DDD + L	QKX001C
A6	1946–1968	Tenryu/Wada	Japan	5 digits	12345
A7	1969–1984	Tenryu/Wada	Japan	YYMMUU	690301
A8	1985–1986	Tenryu/Wada	Japan	YY + UUUU	850001
A9	1971–2001	Kaohsiung	Taiwan	YMMDDUUU	11001001
A10	2001–	Kaohsiung	Taiwan	LLLDDUUUU	QHY157001
A11	1997–1999	Music Craft	Japan	LL + DDD + L	NM501J
A12	1999–	Music Craft	Japan	LL + DDD	PK201
A13	2001–	Music Craft	Japan	LLL + DDD + L	QIK001A
A14	1990–1996	YMMI	Indonesia	YYMDDUUU	00915001
A15	1997–1999	YMMI	Indonesia	YMMDDUUUU	701150001
A16	2000–	YMMI	Indonesia	YYYMMDDUUU	0001150001
A17	2001–	YMMI	Indonesia	LLLDDUUUU	QIH150001

L = Letter, D = Digit. Some systems share formats — check the "Made in…" label on your guitar to identify the correct factory/country if the serial matches multiple systems.

Yamaha Serial Number Lookup by Model Series

All Yamaha acoustic guitars from the same factory and era share the same serial number system. Here's model-specific guidance for the most popular Yamaha guitar series:

Yamaha FG / FGX Series

The Yamaha FG series — Yamaha's most popular acoustic guitar line since 1966 — uses standard serial numbering for its factory and era. Most modern FG guitars (FG800, FG830, FGX800C, etc.) are made in Indonesia (YMMI) and use Systems A14–A17. Vintage FG models from the 1960s–1980s were made in Japan at the Tenryu/Wada factory (Systems A6–A8). The FG Red Label reissues are made at the Yamaha Music Craft facility in Japan.

Yamaha LL / LS / LJ Series

The Yamaha L Series (LL, LS, LJ) represents Yamaha's premium production-line acoustics. Most L Series guitars are made by Yamaha Music Craft in Japan (Systems A11, A12, A13). The LL models feature a jumbo body, LS a concert body, and LJ a medium jumbo body. Higher-end models like LL36, LS36, LL86 are Custom Shop instruments (Systems A3, A4, A5). Check the 'Made in Japan' label and serial format to confirm.

Yamaha APX / CPX Series

The APX (thin body) and CPX (medium body) series are Yamaha's acoustic-electric performance guitars. Most modern APX and CPX models are made in Indonesia (YMMI, Systems A14–A17). Some higher-end models may be made in Japan. The serial number system is the same as other Yamaha guitars from the same factory — enter the serial above to decode.

Yamaha Classical & CG Series

Yamaha classical guitars — including the CG, NCX, NTX, and GC series — use the same serial number systems as Yamaha's steel-string acoustics from the same factory era. Student-level CG models are typically made in Indonesia (YMMI). The GC series (Grand Concert) are premium handcrafted instruments from the Custom Shop in Japan. The NCX and NTX series are nylon-string crossover models.

Yamaha A Series / AC Series

The Yamaha A Series and AC Series are modern acoustic-electric guitars featuring Yamaha's SRT pickup system. Most A Series guitars are made in China or Indonesia. The serial number system for the Indonesian models follows YMMI Systems A14–A17. Earlier A-series models may use different numbering. Enter your serial number above for automatic identification.

Yamaha Custom Shop / Handcrafted

Yamaha Custom Shop instruments are the pinnacle of Yamaha guitar building. Made in Japan, these guitars use Systems A1 (1966–1985, sequential), A2 (1986–1990), A3 (1991–1996), A4 (1997–2003), or A5 (2004+). Custom Shop models include the LL series highest-tier guitars (LL56, LL86, etc.) and special limited editions. These instruments feature hand-selected premium tonewoods and meticulous hand construction.

How to Date a Yamaha Guitar by Serial Number

Dating a Yamaha guitar is one of the most common reasons people search for serial number information. Here's a quick reference:

Serial Format	Example	Era	How to Read Year
3–4 digits	0512	1966–1985	Sequential only — no date encoded
5 digits	12345	1946–1968	Sequential only — no date encoded
6 digits (YYMMUU)	690301	1969–1984	First 2 digits = year (69 = 1969)
6 digits (YYUUUU)	850001	1985–1986	First 2 digits = year (85 = 1985)
8 digits	11001001	1971–2001	Taiwan: 1st digit = last digit of year
9 digits	701150001	1997–1999	Indonesia: 1st digit = last digit of year
10 digits	0001150001	2000–	Indonesia: first 3 digits = year offset from 2000
L + D + DDD	I6001	1986–1990	Letter = month, digit = year (6 = 1986)
LL + DDD + L	HN701J	1991–1999	1st letter = year (H=1→1991), 2nd = month
LL + DDD	NH001	1997–2009	1st letter = year (N=7→1997), 2nd = month
LLL + DDD + L	QKX001C	2001–	First 2 letters = year digits, 3rd = month
LLL + DD + DDDD	QHY157001	2001–	First 2 letters = year, 3rd = month, digits = day + unit

L = Letter (using Yamaha code: H=1, I=2, J=3, K=4, L=5, M=6, N=7, O=8, P=9, Q=0, X=10, Y=11, Z=12). D = Digit. Not sure which format applies? Just enter your serial number above.

Yamaha Serial Number FAQ

Common questions about Yamaha serial number lookup, how to read Yamaha serial numbers, dating Yamaha guitars, and identifying country of origin.

How do I look up my Yamaha serial number?

Enter your Yamaha serial number in the free lookup tool above. Our Yamaha serial number decoder will instantly analyze the format and tell you the production year, country of origin, and factory. Yamaha serial numbers are typically found on a label inside the soundhole or stamped near the soundhole of acoustic and classical guitars.

Where is the serial number on a Yamaha guitar?

On Yamaha acoustic and classical guitars, the serial number is usually found on a label inside the soundhole, or stamped on the back of the headstock or the neck block (inside the body). Check the soundhole label first — it typically contains both the model number and serial number.

How do I read a Yamaha acoustic guitar serial number?

Yamaha has used 17 different serial number systems (A1–A17) across its various factories. Depending on the era and factory, the serial may be all-numeric (3–10 digits) or use a letter-coding system where letters represent numbers: H=1, I=2, J=3, K=4, L=5, M=6, N=7, O=8, P=9, Q=0, X=10, Y=11, Z=12. Our decoder handles all systems automatically — just enter the serial number above.

What does the Yamaha letter-to-number code mean?

Yamaha uses a specific letter-to-number mapping in many of their serial number systems. The code is: H=1, I=2, J=3, K=4, L=5, M=6, N=7, O=8, P=9, Q=0, X=10, Y=11, Z=12. Letters encode the year digits and/or the month of manufacture. For example, in a serial starting with 'NH', N=7 (year 1997 or 7th year of a decade) and H=1 (January).

How can I tell where my Yamaha guitar was made?

Check the 'Made in…' label on your guitar — it will say Japan, Taiwan, or Indonesia. The serial number format also gives clues: Custom Shop and Yamaha Music Craft serials are Made in Japan, Kaohsiung Factory serials are Made in Taiwan, and YMMI serials are Made in Indonesia. Our decoder identifies the factory for each serial number system.

What is the difference between Yamaha's serial number systems?

Yamaha has used 17 different serial number systems (A1–A17) since 1946. The systems differ by factory (Custom Shop, Tenryu/Wada, Yamaha Music Craft, Kaohsiung, YMMI), country (Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia), and era. Older systems tend to be simpler (sequential numbers), while newer systems encode year, month, day, and unit number. Some systems share the same format — in those cases, check the 'Made in' label to determine which system applies.

Can duplicate serial numbers exist on Yamaha guitars?

Yes. Some Yamaha systems, particularly System A9 (Kaohsiung Factory, Taiwan, 1971–2001), only encode the last digit of the year, which means the same serial number could appear on guitars made 10 years apart. For example, a serial with year digit '1' could be from 1971, 1981, 1991, or 2001. Use the guitar's features, model, and 'Made in' label to narrow down the exact year.

How do I date a vintage Yamaha guitar?

For Yamaha guitars from 1946–1968 (System A6), the serial numbers are purely sequential with no date information. For 1969–1984 (System A7), the first two digits indicate the year and the next two indicate the month. For 1985–1986 (System A8), the first two digits are the year. For 1966–1985 Custom Shop (System A1), numbers are sequential (#001–#1042) with no date information. From 1986 onward, the letter-code systems provide specific year and month information.

Does this tool work for Yamaha electric guitars?

This tool is specifically designed for Yamaha acoustic and classical guitars, based on the official Yamaha serial number charts for systems A1–A17. Yamaha electric guitars (such as Pacifica, Revstar, SG, SA) may use different serial number systems. However, some electric guitar serial formats may overlap with the acoustic systems, especially for Japanese-made models.

What Yamaha guitar models does this decoder cover?

This decoder covers all Yamaha acoustic and classical guitar serial numbers, including the FG series, FS series, FGX series, LL series, LS series, LJ series, A series, AC series, APX series, CPX series, NTX series, NCX series, CG series, GC series, and all Custom Shop and handcrafted models. The serial number system is the same for all acoustic models from a given factory and era.

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