Washburn Guitars Serial Number Lookup & Dating Guide
Verify authenticity, decode production year, and look up factory specifications for Washburn Guitars guitars.
10-Second Washburn Guitars Dating Rules of Thumb
USA Custom Shop & Nuno N4 (Chicago / Mundelein)
USA Custom Shop instruments use a 'USA' or 'US' prefix + 2-digit year (or 6-digit YYMMNN for N4 models).
Standard Modern 8/9-Digit Import Code
Asian production models (China, Indonesia) encode the year in the first two digits and month in digits 3 & 4.
Vintage Japanese Yamaki / Matsumoku (1978–1987)
Wing-series electrics (Falcon, Eagle) and Harvest acoustics have 6-digit serials where the first 1-2 digits indicate year.
Korean Samick / Cort Era ('S', 'CC' Prefixes)
1990s Korean production models use letter prefixes followed by 2-digit year (S=Samick, CC=Cort).
Where to Find the Serial Number on a Washburn Guitars Guitar
On all Washburn acoustic guitars (D-Series, Heritage, Comfort), the model and serial number are printed on the internal soundhole oval label.
For Nuno N4, Parallaxe, and USA Custom models, the serial number is stamped or laser-etched onto the back of the headstock or back of neck heel.
Older 1980s Matsumoku and Korean bolt-on models feature serial numbers stamped directly onto the chrome 4-bolt neck plate.
Washburn Guitars Serial Number Formats & Historical Dating Cheat-Sheet
| Production Era | Serial Format | Decoding Rule / Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA Custom Shop / Signature (1988–Present) | USA / US + YY + Sequence (e.g. USA950412) | Instruments built at the Washburn USA Custom Shop in Mundelein / Chicago, Illinois feature a prominent USA prefix followed by the 2-digit year code. | USA950412 -> USA Custom Shop, 1995 production |
| Nuno Bettencourt N4 6-Digit Format (1991–Present) | YYMMNN (e.g. 940315) | Famous Nuno Bettencourt signature N4 guitars use a 6-digit stamp where the first 2 digits represent the manufacturing year and next 2 indicate month. | 940315 -> Handbuilt N4 from March 1994 |
| Standard Import 8/9-Digit Format (1990s–Present) | YYMMNNNN / YYMMNNNNN (e.g. 19041234) | Modern standard acoustics and electrics from Indonesia, China, and Korea encode year in the first two digits and month in digits 3-4. | 19041234 -> Built April 2019, unit #1234 |
| Letter-Prefix Factory Import System (1988–2000s) | Prefix + YY + Sequence (e.g. S9405123, CC081234) | S/SC indicates Samick Korea/Indonesia; CC indicates Cort; N indicates World Musical Instruments Korea. | S9405123 -> Built at Samick Korea in 1994 |
| Vintage Japanese Yamaki / Matsumoku (1978–1987) | 6-7 digits starting with 7 or 8 (e.g. 801234) | Golden era Japanese acoustics and Wing-series electrics built by Yamaki and Matsumoku use single-digit year prefix codes. | 801234 -> Handcrafted in Japan, 1980 |
Washburn Guitars Hardware Verification & Anti-Counterfeit Audit
3-Step Physical Inspection & Anti-Counterfeit Checklist
True USA Custom Shop N4s feature 5 recessed machine bolts going into brass neck inserts with "Washburn USA" or "Davies" stamped in the pocket. Reject guitars with standard rectangular 4-bolt metal neck plates passed off as N4s.
Genuine USA N4s come factory-equipped with a Bill Lawrence USA L-500 twin-blade humbucker in the bridge. Verify the chrome housing and distinct dual blades; swapped generic pickups degrade resale value by $150–$250.
USA Dime 3 models feature custom shop headstock pearl inlay, Kahler or German Schaller/Floyd Rose trems, and set-neck construction. Dime 333 models are bolt-on with licensed trems and "Dime 333" printed on the headstock or truss rod cover.
of secondary buyers assume any Washburn with a Stephens Extended Cutaway is a USA Custom Shop N4; import models (N24) also feature the licensed curved joint at 1/3 the price.
Original Chicago USA Custom Shop Dime 3 models ($3,800–$7,500+) command over four times the resale value of Korean/Chinese Dime 333 bolt-on reissues ($850–$1,800).
For over a decade certified as the world's best-selling acoustic guitar, the solid-top D10S retains over 68% of original MSRP on Reverb and eBay.
Player Preference: Chicago USA Custom Shop Nuno N4 (Davies/Stephens) vs Modern Import N24 / Shred Competitors
Community Verdict: Purists and professional shredders overwhelmingly rate the Chicago USA Custom Shop N4 among the top three ergonomic superstrat designs in history, justifying a substantial 3x–4x secondary market premium over import N24 models.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dating & Authenticating Washburn Guitars
How do I search and check a Washburn serial number?
For acoustic guitars, check the paper label inside the soundhole. For electrics and N4 models, look at the back of the headstock or neck plate. Enter the number into our free Washburn lookup tool above to verify the production year, country of origin, and factory code.
Where can I find the serial number on a Washburn acoustic?
On Washburn acoustic guitars, the serial number is printed on the rectangular or oval paper label affixed to the back wood inside the soundhole, directly beneath the model number.
How do I tell if my Washburn Nuno N4 is USA-made or an import?
True USA Custom Shop N4s have "Washburn USA" stamped on the reverse headstock, Stephens Extended Cutaway neck joint, Davies or Chicago neck shape, and a 6-digit (YYMMNN) or USA-prefixed serial number. Imports (N2, N1) have standard bolt-on neck plates and letter-prefix serials.
What do the factory letter prefixes mean on Washburn serials?
S indicates Samick (Korea/Indonesia), CC indicates Cort Indonesia, N indicates World Musical Instruments Korea, and CW indicates certified Asian partner facilities.
Explore Washburn 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 Washburn Guitars.
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