Where to Find the Serial Number on a Schecter Guitar Research Guitar
Virtually all Schecter guitars feature the serial number stamped or silkscreened on the back of the headstock, directly beneath the model name and country of origin.
Schecter USA Custom Shop instruments also have the serial number and build date stamped on the butt of the neck heel and inside the neck pocket.
Schecter Guitar Research Serial Number Formats & Historical Dating Cheat-Sheet
| Production Era | Serial Format | Decoding Rule / Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Series Korean / Indonesian Prefix (1998–Present) | Prefix + YYMM + Unit (e.g. W19041234) | W indicates World Musical Instruments (South Korea), IW/WI indicates World Music Indonesia, S indicates Sunghan (Korea), I indicates Cort Indonesia, N indicates Cort Korea. | W19041234 -> Built at World Musical Instruments, Korea in April 2019 |
| USA Custom Shop / California Vintage (1976–Present) | USA / SUN + YY + Unit (e.g. USA18045) | Handcrafted at Schecter's Sun Valley, California workshop by master builders. | USA18045 -> Schecter USA Custom Shop, 2018 build |
| All-Numeric 8/9-Digit Format (2000s–Present) | YYMMNNNN / YYMMNNNNN (e.g. 19080456) | Standard numeric date code used on Hellraiser, Omen, C-1, and Reaper series. | 19080456 -> Built August 2019 |
Frequently Asked Questions: Dating & Authenticating Schecter Guitar Research
Where is the serial number located on a Schecter guitar?
The serial number is located on the back of the headstock on almost all Schecter guitars, printed alongside the country of origin.
What does the "W" prefix mean in a Schecter serial number?
The "W" prefix stands for World Musical Instrument Co. in Incheon, South Korea. This factory is widely considered one of the highest-quality guitar manufacturing facilities in Asia and produced iconic Diamond Series lines.
Are all Schecter Diamond Series guitars inspected in the USA?
Yes! Schecter imports Diamond Series guitars from their certified partner factories in South Korea and Indonesia directly to their Sun Valley, California headquarters, where every instrument undergoes professional setup and quality inspection before distribution.
Explore Schecter Guitar Research 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 Schecter Guitar Research.