Where to Find the Serial Number on a PRS Guitars Guitar
For USA Core, S2, and Bolt-On models, the serial number is handwritten in gold or black ink directly onto the lacquer on the back of the headstock.
PRS SE models feature a printed serial number with year letter code and factory origin beneath the headstock tuners.
PRS Guitars Serial Number Formats & Historical Dating Cheat-Sheet
| Production Era | Serial Format | Decoding Rule / Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern USA Core & Bolt-On (2000–Present) | YY + 5-6 digits (e.g. 21 0315420) | First 2 digits represent the manufacturing year (21=2021, 24=2024). Handcrafted in Stevensville, Maryland. | 21 0315420 -> Built in 2021 at Stevensville, Maryland |
| PRS S2 Series (2013–Present) | S2 + YY + 5 digits (e.g. S2 045123) | S2 prefix followed by 2-digit year. Built in Maryland with custom S2 pickups and hybrid USA construction. | S2 045123 -> S2 Maryland Build (2020) |
| PRS SE Series Letter Codes (2000–Present) | Letter prefix + 5 digits (e.g. T12345, V12345, CTI D12345) | Letter codes correspond to year: S=2018, T=2019, U=2020, V=2021, W=2022, X=2023, Y=2024, Z=2025. | T12345 -> SE Series Built in 2019 |
| Vintage Annapolis USA Golden Era (1985–1999) | Single digit + 4-5 digits (e.g. 5 0123, 8 4500) | First digit represents the 80s/90s year (5=1985, 8=1988). Highly sought after early Annapolis factory production. | 8 4500 -> Annapolis Workshop (1988) |
Frequently Asked Questions: Dating & Authenticating PRS Guitars
How do you tell where a PRS guitar was made?
USA Core, Private Stock, S2, and CE Bolt-on models are made in Stevensville, Maryland, USA (handwritten serial). SE models (printed serial with letter year code) are made in Indonesia or Korea.
What does "10-Top" mean on a PRS guitar?
A "10-Top" designates a maple cap with exceptional figuring across the entire top with no dead spots, marked with a small "10" stamped in gold ink on the back upper corner of the headstock.
Explore PRS Guitars Market Prices & Buying Advice
Knowing your guitar's build year is the first step in determining its resale value. Read our comprehensive 2026 buying guide and valuation tables to see current market trends for PRS Guitars.