Serial numbers with 9, 10, or 11 digits
are decoded differently
10-Digit Serial Numbers
Our current 10-digit serial numbering format that started in November of 2009 identifies where the guitar was built, the start date, and the assigned number of the guitar on that day's production schedule. For example, the serial number for the first guitar built in the El Cajon (USA) factory on July 6, 2014 is 1107064001. See the explanation below:
1107064001 First digit indicates where it was made. (1 = El Cajon, California, USA; 2 = Tecate, Baja California, Mexico)
1107064001 2nd & 7th digits indicate the two-digit year - '14 (2014)
1107064001 3rd & 4th digits indicate the two-digit month - 07 (July)
1107064001 5th & 6th digits indicate the day - 06 (the 6th)
1107064001 Last three numbers indicate the guitar's position in that day's production sequence.
9-Digit Serial Numbers
From 1993 until the end of 1999, each Taylor guitar featured a nine-digit serial number that pinpoints when work began on that guitar, along with its series and production position. See the explanation for serial number 980311301 below:
980311301 First two digits indicate the year - 98 (1998)
980311301 3rd & 4th digits indicate the two-digit month - 03 (March)
980311301 5th & 6th digit indicate the day - 11 (the 11th)
980311301 7th digit is a series code number - 0 for 300 or 400 Series, 1 for 500 through Presentation Series, 2 for 200 Series, 3 for a Baby, 4 for a Big Baby, 5 for a T5, 7 for Nylon Series, 8 for 100 Series, and 9 for SolidBody Series. This example is number 3, a Baby.
980311301 Last two digits indicate the guitar's position in that day's production sequence.
11-Digit Serial Numbers
January 2000 - October 2009, the serial number expanded from 9 to 11 digits to accommodate the four-digit year designation. Other than the first four digits noting the year, it's decoded the same as the 9-digit serial numbers. See the explanation for serial number 20070311301 below:
20070311301 First four digits indicate the year - 2007
20070311301 5th & 6th digits indicate the two-digit month - 03 (March)
20070311301 7th & 8th digits indicate the day - 11 (the 11th)
20070311301 9th digit is a series code number - 0 for 300 or 400 Series, 1 for 500 thru Presentation Series, 2 for 200 Series, 3 for a Baby, 4 for a Big Baby, 5 for T5, 7 for Nylon Series, 8 for 100 Series, and 9 for SolidBody Series. This example is number 3, a Baby.
20070311301 Last two digits indicate the guitar's position in that day's production sequence.
The two oldest verified serial numbers are 00109 and 10109. Record keeping in the early days was spotty and it's uncertain which guitar is actually the first one, but these two were built within the first few months of Taylor Guitars production.
When the 410 was introduced in 1991 it was given a unique serial numbering. The serial number has a "4-" plus four more digits like this: 4-1068. This system was only used for two years, with 0001-1121 covering 1991 and 1122-3152 covering 1992.
Here is a table showing serial number ranges for guitars older than 1993
| SERIAL NUMBERS | YEAR | |
| [didn't use serial numbers!] | 1974 | |
| 10109 to 10146 | 1975 | |
| 20147 to 20315 | 1976 | |
| 30316 to [--]450 | 1977 | |
| 451 to 900 | 1978 | |
| 901 to 1300 | 1979 | |
| 1301 to 1400 | 1980 | |
| 1401 to 1670 | 1981 | |
| 1671 to 1951 | 1982 | |
| 1952 to 2445 | 1983 | |
| 2446 to 3206 | 1984 | |
| 3207 to 3888 | 1985 | |
| 3889 to 4778 | 1986 | |
| 4779 to 5981 | 1987 | |
| 5982 to 7831 | 1988 | |
| 7832 to 10070 | 1989 | |
| 10071 to 12497 | 1990 | |
| 12498 to 15249 | 1991 | |
| 15250 to 17947 | 1992 |