Schecter Serial Number Formats
W + YY + MM + digits(1998-present)World Musical Instruments (WMI), Korea — primary Schecter factory.
IW + YY + MM + digits(2010s-present)Indonesian production (PT Wildwood).
Where to Find Your Schecter Serial Number
- ▶On the back of the headstock
Tips
- ▶Schecter's Korean production (W prefix) is known for excellent quality at mid-range prices.
Spotting Counterfeit Schecter Guitars
Schecter counterfeits are uncommon but not unheard of, especially for popular models like the Hellraiser and artist signature series.
Serial Number & Origin▼
- ▶Verify the serial number prefix matches a known Schecter factory (W = Korea/WMI, IW = Indonesia). Unknown prefixes are a red flag.
- ▶Decode the serial number using our tool — impossible dates or formats indicate a counterfeit.
Hardware & Build Quality▼
- ▶Schecter uses specific branded hardware — check for Schecter-branded tuners and bridge components.
- ▶EMG or Schecter-branded pickups should match the model specifications. Generic pickups on a premium model are suspicious.
- ▶Korean-made Schecters from the WMI factory have excellent build quality. Noticeably poor fretwork or finish on a claimed Schecter is a red flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Schecter guitars made?▼
Most Schecter guitars are made at the World Musical Instruments (WMI) factory in Incheon, South Korea. Some models are made in Indonesia (PT Wildwood), China, or at the Schecter USA Custom Shop in Sun Valley, California. Korean WMI production is widely praised for its quality relative to price.
What is a Schecter Diamond Series?▼
The Diamond Series is Schecter's main production line, launched in 1998 when the brand shifted to Korean manufacturing. It made feature-rich guitars — active pickups, locking tuners, compound fretboards — accessible at mid-range prices. The Synyster Gates signature model, added in 2007, is one of Schecter's best-selling guitars.
Are Schecter guitars good for metal?▼
Schecter is one of the most popular choices in heavy metal. Korean WMI production offers tight tolerances and active EMG or Seymour Duncan pickups at mid-range prices. Artists including Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold, Robert Smith, and Zakk Wylde have played Schecter.
Schecter Links & Resources
Schecter Gallery
More About Schecter
Schecter Guitar Research was founded in 1976 by David Schecter in Van Nuys, California, initially as a manufacturer of high-quality replacement parts for Fender and Gibson guitars. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Schecter became the go-to source for custom-spec Strat and Tele bodies, necks, and hardware, building instruments for session musicians and professionals who wanted American-quality guitars with custom specifications at more reasonable prices than the OEM versions.
The company was sold in 1983 and reorganized as a full guitar manufacturer. After several ownership changes and a period of decline, Schecter was purchased by a group of investors in 1987 and moved production to Korea, reorienting the brand toward the hard rock and metal market. The Diamond Series, launched in the 1990s, established Schecter's reputation for offering feature-rich guitars — active pickups, locking tuners, compound-radius fretboards — at prices well below comparable USA instruments.
Today Schecter is headquartered in Sun Valley, California, where the Custom Shop produces high-end USA instruments. The majority of the line is manufactured at the World Musical Instruments (WMI) factory in Korea and is widely regarded as among the best-value production guitars available. Artists including Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold, whose signature model is one of Schecter's best-selling guitars, have helped maintain the brand's strong following in the metal community.