Esp Ltd Guitar Lookup Serial Number Tracking

Many records have been lost during years and most of all were destroyed in a fire accident on late 90s in ESP Japan factory.

For old guitars we can only know the exact data reading the ESP warranty card (when there is), or unscrewing the neck (if the neck is bolt on) and read under it becuse probably theres the data write on pencil).

I keep record of this data in order to try to deduce other correspondences.

Esp Ltd Guitar Lookup Serial Number Tracking

ESP Guitar Company says: Unfortunately the factories at ESP Japan have not kept a consistent and sensible serial number tracking system in place over the years.

For this we apologize, and we are working to maintain a more consistent system going forward.

The PRE-2015 system doesnt apply to early ESPs, some of which had no serial number tracking system at all and used random numbers.

NOTES ON SERIAL NUMBERS: - Many custom orders or first new model made did not have any serial number.

The circle logo ESP CUSTOM GUITARS on the back of the headstock is not a typical feature on ESP guitars made for the Japanese market and custom order.

Serials from 1990 to 1996 are written in a sort of Times New Roman font, otherwise are in a sort of Arial font.

NOTES FOR MY WEBSITE: - For the specialcustom order guitars the description on this website are based on the standard set (specs, color, construction and hardware can vary).

The truss rod cover change from rectangular with white edges and bell with white edges to black bullet style in 1993.

ESPs have black hardware in North America and Black Nickel hardware elsewhere.

They changed pretty much everything for the export market, and export to most makers means anything but US.

NOTES: - year 7 can be 1987 or 1997, 8 can be 1988 or 1998, 9 can be 1989 or 1999 You have to look at the models in production that year.

If you are lucky you can find a serial written on pencil where the body is bolted to the neck (or in the neck also) or in one of the pickup cavities.

SERIAL UNDER PICKUPS: MM Y NN MM month (01 to 12) Y last digit of the year (ex: 1992 2) NN production number For example my MX-220 have serial 80129 that means was made the 08-1991 number 29) 5 DIGITS punched in the bolt plate (for the bolt on versions).

NOTE: Follow this reference may not be accurate because probably they printed a certain number of plates and then put on guitars in a random manner, without noticing consecutive numeration.

This is the reason why we can easilu find guitars with the bolt plate referring to a year or two before or after respect the serial printed on the back of the headstock.

Esp Ltd Guitar Serial Number Lookup