PRS Guitars Serial Number Lookup & Dating Guide
Verify authenticity, decode production year, and look up factory specifications for PRS Guitars guitars.
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) |
PRS Guitars Hardware Verification & Anti-Counterfeit Audit
3-Step Physical Inspection & Anti-Counterfeit Checklist
Genuine USA Maryland PRS guitars (Core, S2, CE) feature a handwritten serial number applied with ink, followed by model shorthand or year code. Stenciled or printed fonts indicate an SE import or counterfeit.
Authentic PRS Gen III and patented tremolos feature discrete brass knife-edge saddles with countersunk mounting screws. Inexpensive knockoffs use generic chrome pot-metal saddles.
Inspect fretboard bird inlays under lighting. Authentic PRS birds have crisp, hand-milled edges seated flush with the rosewood. Counterfeits frequently display cloudy epoxy filler seams around poorly cut acrylic birds.
A genuine Maryland Core Custom 24 with the small gold stamped "10" on the rear headstock trades at an average $600–$800 premium over non-10 top equivalents on Reverb.
of second-hand PRS buyers verify whether the serial is handwritten in gold/black ink by a Stevensville craftsman (Core/S2/CE) vs silk-screen printed (SE Cor-Tek Indonesia).
Average time to sell a pre-owned PRS SE Silver Sky across Reverb and local classifieds, representing the fastest turnover rate of any electric model in the PRS catalog.
Player Dilemma: PRS SE Silver Sky / Custom 24 vs S2 American Standard vs Core Custom 24
Community Verdict: The PRS SE line, spearheaded by the John Mayer Silver Sky and Paul's Guitar, has captured widespread acclaim, while Core models remain rock-solid blue-chip investment assets.
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.
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