Understanding the history and specifications of your PRS guitar can significantly enhance your appreciation for your instrument. One of the most crucial pieces of information is the year it was manufactured, and the key to unlocking this detail lies within the serial number. This guide provides an in-depth look at how to perform a Prs Guitar Serial Number Lookup, enabling you to accurately determine the age and sometimes even the model of your PRS guitar. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a curious owner, or considering purchasing a PRS, this information is invaluable.
Decoding PRS Set-Neck Serial Numbers
For PRS guitars featuring a set-neck construction, the serial number is typically located on the back of the headstock. These serial numbers are structured to clearly indicate the year of manufacture through a prefix number. Following this prefix, the remaining digits represent the sequential production order of set-neck models.
To identify the year of your set-neck PRS guitar, refer to the prefix number and consult the table below:
| Prefix Number | Year(s) | Prefix Number | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1990, 2000 | 9 | 1989, 1999 |
| 1 | 1991, 2001 | 08 | 2008 |
| 2 | 1992, 2002 | 09 | 2009 |
| 3 | 1993, 2003 | 10 | 2010 |
| 4 | 1994, 2004 | 11 | 2011 |
| 5 | 1985, 1995, 2005 | 12 | 2012 |
| 6 | 1986, 1996, 2006 | 13 | 2013 |
| 7 | 1987, 1997, 2007 | 14 | 2014 |
| 8 | 1988, 1998 |
Once you’ve identified the prefix, you can further pinpoint the year of manufacture by examining the sequential digits. The following table provides approximate serial number ranges for set-neck PRS guitars for each year from 1985 to 2014. Keep in mind these are approximate ranges, and minor variations can occur.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001 – 0400 | 1985 | 7601 – 10100 | 1990 | 146420 – 159132 | 2009 |
| 0401 – 1700 | 1986 | 10101 – 12600 | 1991 | 159133 – 170591 | 2010 |
| 1701 – 3500 | 1987 | 12601 – 15000 | 1992 | 170592 – 183862 | 2011 |
| 3501 – 5400 | 1988 | 15001 – 17900 | 1993 | 183863 – 196410 | 2012 |
| 5401 – 7600 | 1989 | 17901 – 20900 | 1994 | 196411 – 206059 | 2013 |
| 20901 – 24600 | 1995 | 206060 – onwards | 2014 | ||
| 24601 – 29500 | 1996 | ||||
| 29501 – 34600 | 1997 | ||||
| 34601 – 39100 | 1998 | ||||
| 39101 – 44499 | 1999 | ||||
| 44500 – 52199 | 2000 | ||||
| 52200 – 62199 | 2001 | ||||
| 62200 – 72353 | 2002 | ||||
| 72354 – 82254 | 2003 | ||||
| 82255 – 92555 | 2004 | ||||
| 92556 – 103103 | 2005 | ||||
| 103104 – 114940 | 2006 | ||||
| 114941 – 132401 | 2007 | ||||
| 132402 – 146419 | 2008 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="Table showing PRS set-neck serial number prefixes and corresponding years of manufacture."
S2 Model Serial Numbers
PRS S2 models, introduced in 2013, have a distinct serial number format. These serial numbers also help determine the year of production.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2000001 – S2003820 | 2013 | S2003821 – onwards | 2014 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="PRS S2 model serial number year lookup table."
CE Model Serial Numbers
CE (Classic Electric) models utilize a prefix of “7” or “CE” to denote the model. The serial number is located on the neck plate at the back of the guitar. The year of manufacture is identified using the initial prefix digit “7” or the “CE” prefix, followed by sequential numbers.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 0001 – 0270 | 1988 | 7 8821 – 10700 | 1994 | CE 25390 – 26399 | 2003 |
| 7 0271 – 1830 | 1989 | 7 10701 – 13000 | 1995 | CE 26400 – 27900 | 2004 |
| 7 1831 – 3200 | 1990 | 7 13001 – 14680 | 1996 | CE 27901 – 29377 | 2005 |
| 7 3201 – 4540 | 1991 | 7 14681 – 17130 | 1997 | CE 29378 – 31800 | 2006 |
| 7 4541 – 7090 | 1992 | 7 or CE 17131 – 19580 | 1998 | CE 31801 – 32783 | 2007 |
| 7 7091 – 8820 | 1993 | CE 19581 – 20749 | 1999 | CE 32784 – 33881 | 2008 |
| CE 20750 – 21599 | 2000 | ||||
| CE 21600 – 23199 | 2001 | ||||
| CE 23200 – 25389 | 2002 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="Year of manufacture lookup for PRS CE models using serial numbers."
EG Model Serial Numbers
The EG (Electric Guitar) models share the same year determination method as CE models. Their serial numbers, located on the neck plate, begin with “5” or “EG” followed by a sequential number unique to that model.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 0001 – 0920 | 1990 | 5 1291 – 2070 | 1992 | 5 2871 – 3190 | 1994 |
| 5 0921 – 1290 | 1991 | 5 2071 – 2870 | 1993 | 5 3191 – 3300 | 1995 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="PRS EG model serial number and year identification guide."
Swamp Ash Special Serial Numbers
The Swamp Ash Special model also follows the same year identification system. Like CE and EG models, the serial number is on the neck plate. It starts with “8” or “SA”, followed by a sequential number. Notably, the first 200 Swamp Ash Special guitars used CE serial numbers.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 00001 – 00410 | 1997 | SA 00970 – 01179 | 2000 | SA 02288 – 02700 | 2005 |
| 8 or SA 00411 – 00760 | 1998 | SA 01180 – 01399 | 2001 | SA 02701 – 02800 | 2006 |
| SA 00761 – 00969 | 1999 | SA 01400 – 01899 | 2002 | SA 02801 – 03055 | 2007 |
| SA 01900 – 02099 | 2003 | SA 03056 – 03256 | 2008 | ||
| SA 02100 – 02287 | 2004 | SA 003257 – 03312 | 2009 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="Guide to PRS Swamp Ash Special serial number lookup for year identification."
Bolt-On Bass Serial Numbers
For bolt-on PRS basses, the serial number is found on the neck plate. Following the year prefix, a code digit “4” indicates a bolt-on neck bass, followed by the sequential number for that specific bass.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 0001 – 0030 | 1989 | 4 0031 – 0140 | 1990 | 4 0141 – 0200 | 1991 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="PRS bolt-on bass serial number decoding for year of manufacture."
Set-Neck Bass Serial Numbers
Set-neck PRS basses have their serial numbers located on the back of the headstock. After the year prefix, a code digit “9” signifies a set-neck bass model, followed by the sequential production number.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 0001 – 0230 | 1986/1987 | 9 0231 – 0350 | 1988 | 9 0351 – 0680 | 1989 |
| 9 0681 – 0730 | 1990 | 9 0731 – 0800 | 1991 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="How to lookup the year of a PRS set-neck bass using its serial number."
Electric Bass Serial Numbers
Electric Bass models from PRS use a unique serial number format. After the year prefix, the code “EB” indicates an Electric Bass. This is followed by the sequential production number for that particular bass. The serial number is located on the back of the headstock.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EB 00007 – 00072 | 2000 | EB 00200 – 00422 | 2002 | EB 00502 – 00650 | 2004 |
| EB 00073 – 00199 | 2001 | EB 00423 – 00501 | 2003 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="PRS Electric Bass serial number year identification guide."
SE Model Serial Numbers
SE (Student Edition) model guitars have their serial numbers on the back of the headstock. The year of manufacture for SE guitars is determined by a letter prefix preceding the numerical sequence.
| Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2000 | E | 2004 | J | 2009 |
| B | 2001 | F | 2005 | K | 2010 |
| C | 2002 | G | 2006 | L | 2011 |
| D | 2003 | H | 2007 | M | 2012 |
| I | 2008 | N | 2013 | ||
| O | 2014 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="Lookup table for PRS SE model guitar year based on serial number letter prefix."
Acoustic Serial Numbers
Acoustic PRS guitars have their serial numbers located on a label inside the soundhole. All acoustic serial numbers begin with the letter “A”, followed by a two-digit year prefix.
| Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A09 | 2009 | A10 | 2010 | A11 | 2011 |
The remaining digits after the year prefix indicate the sequential production number of acoustics built to date.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0001 – 0190 | 2009 | 0191 – 0517 | 2010 |
| 0518 – onwards | 2011 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="Guide to finding the year of PRS acoustic guitars using serial numbers."
Amplifier Serial Numbers
PRS amplifier serial numbers are located on the back of the amp in the upper right corner. They begin with the code “AMP” and are followed by a two-digit year prefix.
| Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMP08 | 2008 | AMP09 | 2009 | AMP10 | 2010 |
| AMP11 | 2011 |
The digits following the year prefix represent the sequential number of amplifiers built that year, with the sequence resetting each year.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0001 – 0052 | 2008 | 0001 – 0912 | 2009 |
| 0001 – 0575 | 2010 | 0001 – onwards | 2011 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="PRS amplifier serial number lookup for year of manufacture."
Speaker Cabinet Serial Numbers
Speaker cabinet serial numbers are also found on the back, upper right corner. They begin with “SPK” and are followed by a two-digit year prefix.
| Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year | Prefix Letter | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPK09 | 2009 | SPK10 | 2010 | SPK11 | 2011 |
Similar to amplifiers, the remaining digits indicate the sequential number of cabinets built that year, resetting annually.
| Approximate Serial Numbers | Year | Approximate Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0001 – 0366 | 2009 | 0001 – 0260 | 2010 |
| 0001 – onwards | 2011 |
Alt text instruction for a hypothetical image placed after this table: alt="How to decode PRS speaker cabinet serial numbers to find the production year."
Why is PRS Serial Number Lookup Important?
Performing a PRS guitar serial number lookup offers several key benefits:
- Authenticity Verification: Confirming the serial number is a crucial step in verifying the authenticity of a PRS instrument, especially when purchasing used guitars.
- Determining Year of Manufacture: Knowing the year your PRS was built provides valuable historical context and can affect its value, particularly for vintage or collectible models.
- Model Identification (Indirectly): While the serial number primarily indicates the year and production sequence, understanding the serial number format for different PRS model lines can sometimes help narrow down the model type, especially when combined with other visual cues.
- Resale Value: Accurate information about the year and model, derived from the serial number, is essential when determining the resale value of your PRS guitar.
By utilizing this comprehensive guide, you can confidently perform a PRS guitar serial number lookup and unlock the story behind your instrument, connecting you more deeply with its legacy and craftsmanship.
