Taylor guitar serial number lookup

Reviewed 2026-10-154 primary sourcesSee sources

Taylor publishes exactly what each digit means. Since November 2009 the 10-digit number gives the factory and the day work began. From 1993 to 2009 the number starts with the date and includes a series code.

Covers: Taylor guitars from 1975, including the 1991–1992 model 410 numbers.

Where to find the serial number

• Acoustics built after 1999: on the back label, visible through the sound hole. Before 1999: on the heel block, looking up toward the neck through the sound hole.^[3]
• T5, T5z and T3: through the bass-side F-hole. SolidBody electrics: etched on the bridge access panel on the back.^[3]

Formats Taylor publishes

The decoder checks your number against each of these. A number can fit more than one era; the decoder then shows every possible reading.

10 digitsNovember 2009 on

Digits 2 and 7 together are the year; the date is when work began on the guitar.^[1]

11 digitsJanuary 2000 to October 2009

Year, month and day work began, then the series code and the day’s sequence.^[1]

9 digits1993–1999

Year, month and day work began, then the series code and the day’s sequence.^[1]

Early numbers1975–1992

Taylor’s early ranges overlap in places (for example 10109–10146 in 1975 and 10071–12497 in 1990), so a number can give two years.^[1]

4- + 3 or 4 digitsmodel 410, 1991–1992

Only for model 410 guitars stamped “4-” followed by a number.^[1]

Worked examples

• 1107064001: El Cajon, July 6, 2014, the first guitar started that day (Taylor’s example).^[1]
• 2011029001: Tecate, November 2, 2009, the first guitar started that day (Taylor’s example).^[2]
• 980311301: March 11, 1998, series code 3, first in the day’s sequence (Taylor’s example).^[1]
• 20070311301: March 11, 2007, series code 3, first in the day’s sequence (Taylor’s example).^[1]

What the serial can’t tell you

• The date is when work began on the guitar, not when it was finished.^[1]
• Taylor’s early record-keeping was spotty, so the earliest numbers are uncertain.^[1]
• The 10-digit layout doesn’t include a series or model code.^[1]
• Numbers used in 1977, when Taylor switched from five-digit to three-digit serials mid-year, aren’t decoded because the published range isn’t clear.

Ask Taylor

• Taylor counterfeit guidance: How to contact Taylor to verify a guitar.^[4]