Eko Ranger Guitar Serial Numbers

Eko Ranger Guitar Serial Numbers Prior To 1977
Eko Ranger Guitar Serial Numbers List

The Eko NXT 018 Eq features Agathis top, back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupanà fingerboard. This instrument represents the perfect choice if you want to learn to play guitar and you are looking for a more comfortable shape than the classic D (Dreadnought).

1967 Eko Ranger 6 acoustic guitar - Superb condition. This guitar is from the late 60's made by the famous Italian company Eko. What makes this guitar so rare is it was made the year the founder of Eko Guitars, Oliviero Pigini, passed away and after his death the company slowed and halted production of many of their guitars. Replacement necks can have serial numbers years after the model 'should' be dated by spec and in all instances if the spec changed by the date shown on the neck the spec must be used to determine year of production, ie. A Lo Pro equipped guitar with an 03' serial number except for K7's which were the only guitar produced in 03' with a Lo Pro.

Price: $12.71 $11.18. Top Quality headstock decals for all your guitar restorations. Decal have two coats of clear to protect during shipping and installation. Comes with luthier fitting instruction for a professional finish.

The Eko NXT A100ce features Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupanà fingerboard. This ins

The Eko NXT D100ce features Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupanà fingerboard. This ins

Eko Ranger Guitar Serial Numbers Prior To 1977

The Eko NXT D100ce features Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupanà fingerboard. This ins

The Eko NXT D100e XII with Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Mahogany neck and Parinari Campestris fingerboard represents th

Duo A200ce

Eko ranger guitar serial numbers prior to 1977

Duo A200e

Duo D200ce

The Eko Alps 018J Acoustic Guitar features a 018J cutaway shape body. The 018J shape, compared to the 018 shape, has more generous shape and greater depth, aspects that approach it to a J (Jumbo) but always keeping a charm close to an instrument suitable for fingerstyle.

The new Eko EGO Icon II Eq features a Sitka spruce top, Sapele back and sides, selected mahogany neck and South America Roupanà fingerboard. The EGO Icon II is among the first in the world which mount the new Fishman FLEX preamp, with piezo and tuner.

Marco Polo MM is the guitar by Eko Guitars featuring Mahogany top, back, sides and neck, South American Roupana fingerboard and bridge. Thanks to its small size, 610mm scale lenght and 43mm fingerboard width at nut, the Marco Polo MM is the ideal traveler guitar for the musician always on the go.

Marco Polo SO features Italian Spruce top, Ovangkol back and sides, Mahogany neck, South American Roupana fingerboard and bridge. Thanks to its small size, 610mm scale lenght and 43mm fingerboard width at nut, the Marco Polo SO is the ideal traveler guitar for the musician always on the go.

Ranger VR VI, the re birth of an iconic classic guitar. The first edition of this guitar goes back to 1962 when EKO d

Ranger VR XII, the re birth of an iconic classic guitar. The first edition of this guitar goes back to 1962 when EKO

The EVO III 018 CW Blend Eq guitar features a 018 cutaway shape body and a solid Cedar Top. Back and sides are in Mahogany, fingerboard and bridge are in South American Roupana. The guitar is equipped with the Fishman Presys Blend preamp that makes this instrument well suited both on stage and in studio. [...]

The EVO III Baritone Blend Eq baritone guitar features a 018 body shape, solid Cedar top and a 704 mm scale lenght, Mahogany back and sides, South American Roupana fingerboard and bridge. The guitar is equipped with the Fishman Presys Blend preamp that makes this instrument well suited both on stage [...]

The EVO III D CW Blend Eq guitar features a classic Dreadnought cutaway body shape and a solid Cedar top, Mahogany back and sides, South American Roupana fingerboard and bridge. The guitar is equipped with the Fishman Presys Blend preamp that makes this instrument well suited both on stage and in studio. [...]

The new Eko Infinito features a genuine Italian Alpine Spruce top, National Walnut fingerboard and bridge, Okoumè neck (

The new Eko Infinito features a genuine Italian Alpine Spruce top, National Walnut fingerboard and bridge, Okoumè neck. For back and sides, we decided to use the Okoumè treated with ETS (Eko Tanning System) again. Infinito is available in D and 018 shape.

The Ranger Futura model by Eko Guitars was created to celebrate what is probably the most representative guitar of the Italian brand, the Eko Ranger. Ranger Futura is designed and assembled in Italy using solid Italian Spruce for the top, figured Okoume for back, sides and neck, South American Roupana [...]

The MIA IV 018 CW Eq features a solid Cedar top, flamed Ovangkol back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupana fingerboard. MIA IV series is among the first in the world to be fitted with the new Fishman FLEX Blend preamp, including piezoelectric, condenser microphone and onboard tuner.

The MIA IV 018 Eq features a solid Cedar top, flamed Ovangkol back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupana fingerboard. MIA IV series is among the first in the world to be fitted with the new Fishman FLEX Blend preamp, including piezoelectric, condenser microphone and onboard tuner.

The MIA IV D CW Eq features a solid Cedar top, flamed Ovangkol back and sides, Mahogany neck and South American Roupana fingerboard. MIA IV series is among the first in the world to be fitted with the new Fishman FLEX Blend preamp, including piezoelectric, condenser microphone and onboard tuner.

The ONE 018 CW EQ guitar, in addition to its extremely attractive aesthetics given by the 018 CW Eq shape, has some unique features that are not found before: the 46mm fingerboard width at nut (the standard is 43mm), the 57mm bridge string spacing (54mm standard) and a scale lenght (diapason) of 630mm [...]

The One D CW Eq guitar has familiar features: a 43mm fingerboard width at nut, a 54mm bridge string spacing and a 650mm scale l

The One D Eq guitar has familiar features: a 43mm fingerboard width at nut, a 54mm bridge string spacing and a 650mm scale leng

The One D guitar has familiar features: a 43mm fingerboard width at nut, a 54mm bridge string spacing and a 650mm scale length, combined with an Adirondack top, Mahogany back and sides, South American Roupana fingerboard and bridge.

An uncompromising series based on a selection of woods from all over the world. The WOW series, (WOW is the acronym of Wood of the World, but also the exclamation of those who see these guitars for the first time), represents the top of the EKO catalog range.

An uncompromising series based on a selection of woods from all over the world. The WOW series (WOW is the acronym of Wood of the World, but also the exclamation of those who see these guitars for the first time) is the top of the EKO catalog range.

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DATING IBANEZ GUITARS

An Ibanez serial number can tell you two things, year of manufacture and factory [or country] of manufacture. There is no master list to correlate to a model number, these are consecutive serialized numbers only. If you're trying to figure out what model something is from the serial number, figure out what year it is then go to the catalog library for the corresponding year [or year before or after] to find the model. Some models will never be found in the catalogs, that's just the way it is.

On typical Ibanez serial numbers the first 2 digits will indicate year, or the first digit will indicate the last digit of the year, but there are also some that indicate no year at all. Because allot of it can be confusing I'll spell out as many model/serial types as I can remember tonight in a fully inconcise and dribble filled rant. ;)

This page is for dating Ibanez guitars built in Japan only. See the Factories heading a few paragraphs down for little info on guitars produced elsewhere.

Before 1975 Ibanez did not put serial numbers on their guitars. Most just bore a neck plate simply marked Japan. The only way to date these guitars is to find out what years they were available and then comparing all the minute details like scripts, contours, and inlay variances that only the hardcore vintage gurus know. These guitars can be dated by their electronics if they are original. Here is the breakdown courtesy of Ibanez Collectors World.

Until 1977 Maxon used 5 digit serials:
1st character is a production code (1,2,3, etc., maybe related to different production location)
2nd character indicates the year of production (2=1972, 3=1973, etc.)
3rd character indicates the month of production (0=January, 1=February, ... 9=October, .=November, X=December)
4th and 5th character is the day of production (01 to 31)

Although guitars already had serials from 1975, between 1977 and 1982 they used a 6 character serial on pickups:
1st character is a production code (1,2,3, etc., maybe related to different production location)
2nd character indicates the year of production (7=1977, 0=1980, 1=1981, etc.)
3rd and 4th character indicates the month of production (01=January, ... 12=December)
5th and 6th character is the day of production (01 to 31)

1975 - Present, This old style serial number will either be on the neck plate or impressed into the back of the headstock. It consists of a letter, A - L, followed by a 6 digit number. The letter stands for the month, A for January etc., the first 2 digits will be the year, 76 is 1976, 96 is 1996, the last 4 digits will be the consecutive production number for that months production, 1356 would be the 1356th guitar produced that month. This form of serial numbering is still used today on guitars where the number is impressed into the back of the headstock. A761356 - The 1356th guitar produced in January '76

1987 - Present - These serial numbers will either be on the neck plate or on a serial sticker affixed to the back of the headstock, with some models still following the impressed old school serial numbers shown above. There are many variables of numbering through these years and between different models and are broken down into 3 categories, stickers, plates, and the impressed numbers that follow the old school style detailed above.

HEADSTOCK SERIAL STICKERS
PLATE NUMBERS
CUSTOM SHOP
NO SERIAL NUMBER
ODDITIES

1987 - 1996 - Guitars built in Japan between these years will have a serial number beginning with F followed by 6 numbers. F is the production factory which stands for Fujigen. The first digit will be the last digit of the year, ie. F8***** is a guitars made in Fujigen in 1988. The last 5 numbers will be the consecutive number denoting production count for the year with the caveat that each month will start at predetermined intervals of 3000 or 5000, etc.

1997 - Present - Under the old numbering scheme 1997 would show duplicate numbers to 1987 so the serial number was changed to the F and 7 digits, now the first 2 denoting year of production. F98***** is a guitar built by Fujigen in 1998. The last 5 numbers will be the consecutive number denoting production count for the year with the caveat that each month will start at predetermined intervals of 3000 or 5000, etc. Presently it is set at 3000. With production year beginning in November - 00000～02999 - November, 03000～05999 - December, 06000～08999 - January, 09000～11999 - February, 12000～14999 - March etc.

Factories - Shown as F for Fujigen in the examples above, other factories used that mainly produced the budget models were C for Cort [Korea], S for Samick [Korea], W for World [Korea], and guitars are also built in I Indonesia, China, and who knows where else. These serial numbers are usually quite different from the MIJ numbers, have many extra digits because of the enormous volume of guitars produced, and I am not familiar enough with any of them to tell you how to figure out the dating.

Cort Serial Numbers - Cort serial numbers are denoted with a C prefix followed by either 7 or 8 digits. I'm not sure what year the changeover occurred but using the formula it will be easy for you to tell. A 7 digit number example - C5030567 - translates, 5 = 1995, 03 = 3rd month [March], 0567 = 567th guitar built in March 1995. An 8 digit number example - C03114373 - translates, 03 = 2003, 11 = 11th month [November], 4373 = 4373rd guitar built in November 2003.

Premium Serial Numbers - Prior to 11/2011 there are 5 digits followed by a letter. The letter denotes year, starting in 2010 with A, with a 5 digit production number. Post 11/2011 they changed to alpha, 4 numbers, alpha, the first letter being the month, A for January, the last being the year, B for 2011, C for 2012, etc. Z will be the year 2035. Month, production number that month, year.

Sugi Serial Numbers - Alphabet Production Month (A = January to L = December), Next two numbers are Production Year (09-2009. 10-2010), Next number 5 is Model number. 5 is UV77REMC [2 is FRM1, etc], Next Two numbers is monthly series number.

Everything Else - The Guitar Dater Project will decode W, S, I and who knows what other prefixes [factory codes]. I do not know how accurate the system is but the few I've run have worked just fine. GUITAR DATER PROJECT.

Plate serial numbers have nothing to do with headstock serial numbers. In a case where a guitar has both the true serial number will always be the headstock number. Plate numbers usually follow the pattern of the first 2 digits denoting year of production followed by a 4 digit number that denotes consecutive production for that model for that year, or consecutive production number for that particular model from the models inception. In cases where generic non model specific plates are used the 4 digit number is just the consecutive number of that plate which could have made it on possibly 10 different models.

JEM - UV - JEM plates are 6 digit and the first 2 digits is the production year while the last 4 is the consecutive number JEM built from inception. 870060 is an 87' and the 60th JEM built. Except for the very first batch of 90' UV plates that began 00, UV plates are also dated by the first 2 numbers. 00 is a 90', 90 is a 90', 91 is a 91'. A Universe plate 912787 would denote a production year of 91 and the 2787th Universe built. Where things go astray is when the Jem line went to AANJ in 93'. This is where you start seeing consecutive numbered plates on the remaining regular joint models that no longer indicate year. 160225 was a very odd plate number I came across on a Jem. Most that I'm aware of are what I call 250k plates [25****] and current 2003' FP15th's have 260K plates [26****] meaning there have been over 10,000 Jem's made since they deviated from the serial plate numbering. No matter as most can be dated by the headstock serial # but there will be guitars without them and the plate number will be the only number available. Late BFP's with direct mount pickups for example which bear these 160k/250k plates and no headstock sticker. The UV plate numbers also changed to these consecutive plates and will be found on late UV7BK's in both green dot and silver. Universe plate 912787 would denote a production year of 91 and the 2787th Universe built.. Universe number 250435 could be a 96' UV7 green dot and the 435 indicates the 435th plate. Pinning these guitars down to closer than a 2 year window would be tough. This actually makes alot of sense from a manufacturing stance as they no longer had to order plates that denoted year of production and could just order consecutive numbered plates without care to year. They would no longer be restricted to using a specific plate in a specific year and any batch of plates would be good forever.

JS - JS series guitars built in Japan have a neck plate that is stamped with a consecutive number since production first began with no indication of date. They are termed J plates because of a J prefix in the number but somewhere around J 002700 they dropped the J leaving just the 6 digit number. Plate number J 000001 is on a 93' Donnie that I will always consider Jim Donahue's guitar, now residing in the Hoshino USA collection. [Jim had control of plate numbers 1-15 and used the #1 plate when he assembled what is considered his Donnie late in the 93' run] A 2003' JS2000 I did this week had the plate number 010044 finally cracking 10,000 JS models built in Japan [and probably 3 times as many built in Korea]. The only way to date a JS that only has a neck plate number is by spec. Sometime around 1995 they started using the typical F based serial stickers on the headstock and in all cases this should be considered the serial number of the guitars that bear them.

STW - 7/6 Double neck - Oddly these used JS plates in the 006000 range [from memory]. Some have actually had two numbered plates and some have had one numbered and one unnumbered plate.

Bensalem, Pa. Address Plates - The cast black and chrome neck plates like the JS, these bear a 6 digit serial number. The first 2 digits indicate year and the last 4 indicate a consecutive production number for USAC's. 880675 would be a USAC built in 1988 and the 675th USAC produced. 88'-90' plates will have a Bensalem, Pa. address as H&S guitars was based in Bensalem. Note that these do not indicate the guitar was 'built' in the US but typically means it was assembled and finished in the US using Japanese parts.

North Hollywood Address Plates - H&S moved to LA in late 90'/91' and USAC's built or assembled there will bear the North Hollywood plate serialized in the same manner as the Bensalem plate.

Stamped Serial Number - 5 digit number found on the back of the headstocks on AANJ USAC models. 92398 is probably the 398th USAC built in 92' but could also represent the 398th stamped on the head in this manner.

RG750/60/60 - RADIUS - SABER - POWER

These guitars will either have Bensalem or North Hollywood plates depending on year, pre 91' will be Bensalem, post 91' will be North Hollywood. These plates will either follow the 6 digit plate scheme where the first 2 digits denote year, or they will be blank and have a Japan serial sticker on the headstock.

BLANK NECK PLATES

Eko Ranger Guitar Serial Numbers List

Guitars with the blank numbered cast plate will bear a headstock serial sticker denoting the Fujigen production of the parts.

The American Custom Shop has 2 ways of serializing their guitars.

LA91JS01 - Indicates Los Angeles manufacture in 1991, JS model, 1st JS model built in 1991.

LA060493 - Indicates Los Angeles manufacture on June 6, 1993 [Steve's Triple Neck]

Endorsee guitars built in Bensalem were pre AANJ and would typically get a specific model plate, ie. JEM plate or JS plate, or a consecutive numbered 6 digit cast black and chrome plate on guitars without specific model plates.

There are some models that have no serial number at all. Many American Masters will either have a paper serial sticker or nothing. Guitars with no serial can only be dated by spec to when that guitar is shown to be available.

Your serial number might indicate a year the guitar was not available. Typically you'll find serial numbers that indicate production the year or years before the guitar became officially available. In preparation for a model release the factory will produce as many as they believe they can immediately distribute so there are guitars available when the model is announced. Other times you'll find that the guitar was available even years earlier in other markets or even as spot production specials for Summer NAMM [or other country] Many times you'll see a model that you will not find in any literature, and if it is factory and not a custom it probably indicates a run of guitars ordered as a special. These might be in a different color, have different inlays, or whatever other spec made it different. Generally these are identified by spec consensus, ie. almost all specs indicate it's a 550 except the inlays. For verification the neck should be pulled and the factory model designation stamps used in addition to the specs.

Your serial number could be for a year long after your guitar was available. Or was it? Was it still available somewhere else in the world where it still had a strong market and was still being sold. Just because a P1 is not available in the US in 97' doesn't mean it wasn't still available in France. Just because no PGM's were shown in the US catalog until 1994 doesn't mean that 100's and 300's hadn't been sold in the US and abroad since 1991. Also there are many guitars whose necks have been replaced due to breaks or just bad necks. Replacement necks can have serial numbers years after the model 'should' be dated by spec and in all instances if the spec changed by the date shown on the neck the spec must be used to determine year of production, ie. a Lo Pro equipped guitar with an 03' serial number [except for K7's which were the only guitar produced in 03' with a Lo Pro] most certainly has had a replaced neck and the Lo Pro points the production to a year before 03'.

Ibanez Rules is not affiliated with Ibanez or Hoshino USA.