Quick Question on 540r Serial

[mircfool]

Hello everyone,
I recently broke out my 540r to get re-set up and was curious as to what the serial number really meant.

The serial reads A800063.

I'm aware of the code, A = January, then the next 2 digits are what bothers me. Are these not supposed to be the year? To the best of my knowledge these were not made in 80/81 (or if they were I apologize for this post!). Then it was the 63rd guitar made that year.

So if anyone could clarify/take a guess at what year this was made I would appreciate it.





For clarification.

Thanks for any replies.

[nuno]

call it oddity or error. or simply what they say about serial numbers from the '80s is not correct. i think so, as i've seen many '80s serial numbers starting with A and H, and usually the first digit denotes the year. A8 = 1988.

[jazzedout]

I believe they have switched to the Fxxxxxx system by 1988 i.e F7xxxxx for 1987 F8xxxxx for 1988 etc... :-/ Could the neckplate be from another guitar from the early 80's?

[mircfool]

Originally Posted by jazzedout

I believe they have switched to the Fxxxxxx system by 1988 i.e F7xxxxx for 1987 F8xxxxx for 1988 etc... :-/ Could the neckplate be from another guitar from the early 80's?

This was my only other conclusion I could come to. Kind of an odd thing to do though.

[IbanezDaemon]

Type that serial number into the below link and you'll get some info on the guitar:

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx



Hope this helps dude!

[nuno]

Originally Posted by jazzedout

Could the neckplate be from another guitar from the early 80's?

it could be, but if so, it was made directly at the factory, as there are too many late '80s Ibanezs serials starting with anything but F. probably they were lacking numbered plate and put some left from late '70s and early '80s. the only thing is that they didn't have black plates in that era, only chrome and gold, IIRC. who knows...

[Pursuit]

Originally Posted by IbanezDaemon

Type that serial number into the below link and you'll get some info on the guitar:

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/ibanez.aspx



Hope this helps dude!

I was gonna say that too! lol

According to that link, the guitar was built at the Terada Plant in Japan in 1980, and as the OP mentioned, the production number was 63.

[nuno]

Originally Posted by Pursuit

According to that link, the guitar was built at the Terada Plant in Japan in 1980, and as the OP mentioned, the production number was 63.

which obviously means that that dater doesn't work correctly.

[IbanezDaemon]

I'd say the serial number dater does work correctly but the serial number/backplate is obviously from a much earlier guitar. For instance if I stamp F0045673 on my Jem BSB it doesn't mean that it was made in 2000 it means that serial number is wrong. The guitar dater site can only go on the serial number it is given.

[nuno]

EDIT- don't mind.