Dating Epiphone US Guitars

Epiphone made US Serial Numbers 1932 to 1944 - (Acoustic Guitars only)

* 1932 and 1933 = stamped serial number on interior back
* 1934 forward = serial number on the Epiphone label

YEAR		NUMBER RANGE
1932		5000 to 5999
1933		6000 to 7199
1934		7200 to 7999
1935		8000 to 9999
1936		10000 to 10999
1937		11000 to 11999
1938		12000 to 12999
1939		13000 to 14499
1940		14500 to 15999
1941		16000 to 17499
1942		17500 to 18199
1943		18200 to 18999
1944		19000 to 20999

Epiphone made US Serial Numbers 1935 to 1944 - (Electric Instruments only)

With the introduction of the Electar model line in 1935, Epiphone started using a new serial number system for the electric instruments only. The are die stamped and between 3 and 5 digits in length.

Numbers are usually located on the top rear of the peghead. These numbers were applied before painting. The serial number only gives an approximate age.

YEAR		NUMBER RANGE
1935		001 to 249
1936		250 to 749
1937		750 to 1499
1938		1500 to 2499
1939		2500 to 3499
1940		3500 to 4999
1941		5000 to 6499
1942		6500 to 7499
1943		7500 to 8299
1944		8300 to 9999

Epiphone made US Serial Numbers 1944 to 1950 - (Acoustic Guitars only)

A new numbering system was started in 1944. The new numbers started with 50,000.

YEAR		NUMBER RANGE
1944		50,000 to 51,999
1945		52,000 to 53,999
1946		54,000 to 55,999
1947		56,000 to 56,999
1948		57,000 to 57,999
1949		58,000 to 58,999
1950		59,000 to 59,999

Epiphone made US Serial Numbers 1944 to 1950 - (Electric Guitars only)

From 1944 to 1950 a 2 digit prefixes was assigned to specific electric models. The last 3 digits were production numbers. Impressed serial numbers may be found on the back top of the peghead. Unfortunately there is no data available for exact years of production.

MODEL #	PRODUCTION #	MODEL NAME
15	000	Century Hawaiian, other Hawaiians
25	000	Zephyr Spanish
26	000	Zephyr Spanish
60	000	Century Spanish
75	000	Zephyr DeLuxe
85	000	Zephyr DeLuxe Regent