Epiphone Serial Number Formats
EE + YY + MM + digits(2004-present)Chinese production at the Qingdao factory (most common modern format).
F + digits(1987-present)FujiGen factory in Japan. Highly regarded for quality.
S/R/I + digits(1988-present)Korean and Indonesian production (Samick, Saein, Cort factories).
MC + YY + MM + digits(2000s)Chinese Muse factory production.
11 digit number(2008-present)Newer Chinese production format.
Where to Find Your Epiphone Serial Number
- ▶On the back of the headstock
- ▶On the label inside acoustic models (visible through sound hole)
Tips
- ▶Epiphones with the "F" prefix (FujiGen Japan) are the most collectible and highest quality.
- ▶The Qingdao factory (EE prefix) produces the majority of modern Epiphones.
- ▶Gibson recently moved some Epiphone production to their own facility — check for "Gibson Brands" on the label.
Spotting Counterfeit Epiphone Guitars
Epiphone counterfeits are widespread because fakes are often sold as "Epiphone" to seem more plausible than passing as a Gibson. Fake Epiphone Les Pauls and Casinos are especially common online.
Headstock & Logo▼
- ▶The Epiphone headstock shape has distinct "ears" — compare carefully to reference photos for the specific model and era.
- ▶The "Epiphone" script logo should be a clean inlay or silkscreen. Fuzzy edges, misalignment, or incorrect font weight are red flags.
- ▶If refinished, look for a "ghost" outline of the original logo under the new finish using angled light — legitimate Epiphones will show the original branding.
Truss Rod Cover & Hardware▼
- ▶Epiphone truss rod covers use 2 screws, while Gibson uses 3 screws (Les Paul models). A 3-screw truss rod cover on an Epiphone is a sign someone added a Gibson cover to a fake.
- ▶The truss rod cover should say the model name (e.g., "Les Paul Standard") or be blank. "Gibson" on an Epiphone truss rod cover means it's either a fake or has a swapped part.
- ▶Check the tuning machines — genuine Epiphones use branded Grover or Epiphone Deluxe tuners on higher-end models. Unbranded generic tuners are a red flag on premium models.
Serial Number Verification▼
- ▶Decode the serial number using our tool above. The factory prefix should match a known Epiphone factory (EE = Qingdao, F = FujiGen, etc.).
- ▶Check that the serial number produces a valid date. Impossible dates (month 13+, day 32+) indicate a fake serial.
- ▶Cross-reference the serial with the guitar's features — a serial suggesting 2020s production on a guitar with discontinued features is suspicious.
Body & Construction▼
- ▶Genuine Epiphones have clean binding that's properly adhered. Loose, peeling, or yellowed binding on a claimed "new" guitar is suspect.
- ▶Check the pickup rings, knobs, and switch tip — Epiphone uses specific amber/cream or black colors depending on the model. Random mismatched colors suggest aftermarket parts on a fake.
- ▶The weight and feel should be reasonable for the model. Extremely light guitars with Les Paul shapes often use inferior plywood bodies.
Price & Seller Red Flags▼
- ▶If the price is significantly below market value (more than 40-50% off), exercise extreme caution.
- ▶Be wary of sellers with stock photos only, no serial number photos, or who refuse to provide detailed close-ups of the headstock and serial number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date an Epiphone guitar?▼
Check the first 1-2 characters of the serial number. Letters like F (Japan), S (Korea), EE (China Qingdao) identify the factory. The digits that follow encode the year and month of production.
Are Epiphone guitars made by Gibson?▼
Epiphone is owned by Gibson and designs are Gibson-approved. However, most Epiphones are made in China, Indonesia, or Korea, not in Gibson's USA factories. The Epiphone Elitist and some older models were made in Japan.
What is the difference between Epiphone and Gibson?▼
Gibson guitars are made in the USA with premium woods, hardware, and pickups. Epiphones are made overseas with more affordable components. The body shapes and designs are similar or identical, but materials, construction quality, and pickups differ.
Is my Epiphone Les Paul fake?▼
Check the serial number format matches a known Epiphone pattern, the headstock shape is correct, the "Epiphone" logo is properly aligned, and the truss rod cover and hardware are correct. A decoded serial that produces invalid dates is a red flag.
Epiphone Links & Resources
Epiphone Gallery
More About Epiphone
The Epiphone story begins in 1873 with Anastasios Stathopoulos, a Greek instrument maker who emigrated to the United States and established a manufacturing business in New York City. Under his son Epaminondas ("Epi") Stathopoulos, the company was renamed Epiphone in 1928 and grew into one of the premier American guitar manufacturers of the 1930s and 1940s, producing archtop guitars that competed directly with Gibson at a time when archtops were the instrument of choice in jazz and dance orchestras.
Gibson acquired Epiphone in 1957, initially to gain access to Epiphone's bass production capabilities. After consolidating operations in Kalamazoo, Gibson began using the Epiphone name for budget alternatives to its own models — the Epiphone Casino (1961) and Sheraton became iconic in their own right, played by The Beatles and others. The Casino, in particular, was used by all four Beatles at various points and is among the most photographed guitars in rock history.
Production moved to Japan in the 1970s and 1980s, where FujiGen Gakki — the same factory producing the sought-after JV-era Squiers — built Epiphones to high standards. The Japanese-made "F" prefix Epiphones from 1987 onward remain the most collectible modern instruments in the line. As the brand shifted to Korean and then Chinese production in the 1990s and 2000s, quality improved dramatically, and today's Epiphones represent some of the best value in mid-range guitars.