In 1980, the Jackson Guitar Company was founded, which currently has production locations in 5 countries. Each production location has a unique format for the serial numbers, resulting in diverse serial number formats across the company.
Table of Contents
Where To Find The Serial Number On A Jackson Guitar?
Depending on the model you can find the Jackson Guitar serial number stamped into the neck plate or stamped on the fingerboard at the last fret or on the headstock.
Jackson Bolt-On-Neck Serial Number
Custom Shop Bolt-On-Neck Serials
In 1986 the production of Jackson Custom Shop was in San Dimas, California. Then in Ontario, California.
From 1987 to 1989, Jackson Custom Shop bolt-on-neck guitars were not assembled in strictly sequential serial number order. Due to a stamping machine error, for example, serial numbers 5234 to 5999 do not exist.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| 1001 – 1505 | 1986 |
| 1506 – 7303 | 1987-1989 |
| 7304 – 7498 | 1990 |
| 7762 – 7814 | 1992 |
| 7815 – 7898 | 1993 |
| 7899 – 7973 | 1994 |
| 7974 – 8013 | 1995 |
| 8014 – 8055 | 1996 |
| 8056 – 8089 | 1997 |
| 8090 – 8138 | 1998 |
| 8139 – 8158 | 1999 |
| 8159 – 8176 | 2000 |
| 8177 – | 2001 |
USA Bolt-On-Neck Serials
Production in Ontario, California.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| 000001 – 000900 | 1990 |
| 000901 – 001563 | 1991 |
| 001564 – 001739 | 1992 |
| 001740 – 001931 | 1993 |
| 001932 -002324 | 1994 |
| 002325 – 002687 | 1995 |
| 002688 – 003370 | 1996 |
| 003371 – 004676 | 1997 |
| 004677 – 004923 | 1998 |
| 004924 – 004974 | 1999 |
| 004975 – 005050 | 2000 |
| 005051 – | 2001 |
Junior Bolt-On-Neck Serials
Production in Ontario, California. The serial number of Jackson Junior (the only Jackson bolt-on-neck model without neck plates) is stamped into the fingerboard.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| 0001JJ – 0091JJ | 1994 |
| 0092JJ – 0105JJ | 1995 |
| 0106JJ – 0256JJ | 1996 |
| 0257JJ – 0422JJ | 1997 |
| 0423JJ – 0583JJ | 1998 |
| 0584JJ – 0605JJ | 1999 |
| 0606JJ – 0643JJ | 2000 |
| 0644JJ – | 2001 |
Jackson Neck-Thru-Body Serial Number
Randy Rhoads Serial Number
From 1982 to 1986, the production of Randy Rhoads Neck-thru body guitars was located in San Dimas, California. Then in Ontario, California.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| RR0000 | 1982 |
| RR0001 – RR0294 | 1983 |
| RR0295 – RR0996 | 1984 |
| RR0997 – RR1754 | 1985 |
| RR1755 – RR1929 | 1986 |
| RR1930 – RR2115 | 1987 |
| RR2116 – RR2274 | 1988 |
| RR2275 – RR2527 | 1989 |
| RR2528 – RR2664 | 1990 |
| RR2665 – RR2683 | 1991 |
| RR2684 – RR2706 | 1992 |
| RR2707 – RR2724 | 1993 |
| RR2725 – RR2744 | 1994 |
| RR2745 – RR2756 | 1995 |
| RR2757 – RR2784 | 1996 |
| RR2785 – RR2801 | 1997 |
| RR2802 – RR2823 | 1998 |
| RR2824 – RR2844 | 1999 |
| RR2845 – RR2860 | 2000 |
| RR2861 – | 2001 |
Custom Neck-Thru-Body Serials
From 1983 to 1986, production of Jackson Custom Neck-thru body guitars was located in San Dimas, California. Then in Ontario, California.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| J0001 – J0034 | 1983 |
| J0035 – J04064 | 1984 |
| J0407 – J1539 | 1985 |
| J1540 – J2799 | 1986 |
| J2800 – J4072 | 1987 |
| J4073 – J5007 | 1988 |
| J5008 – J56574 | 1989 |
| J5658 – J5842 | 1990 |
| J5843 – J5923 | 1991 |
| J5924 – J5974 | 1992 |
| J5975 – J6079 | 1993 |
| J6080 – J6171 | 1994 |
| J6172 – J6238 | 1995 |
| J6239 – J6300 | 1996 |
| J6301 – J6379 | 1997 |
| J6380 – J6444 | 1998 |
| J6445 – J6506 | 1999 |
| J6506 – 6568 | 2000 |
| J6569 – | 2001 |
Archtop Guitar Serial Number
In 1986, the production of Jackson Archtop guitars was located in San Dimas, California. Then in Ontario, California.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| JA0001 – JA0011 | 1986 |
| JA0012 – JA0036 | 1987 |
| JA0037 – JA0087 | 1988 |
| JA0088 – JA0149 | 1989 |
| JA0150 – JA0169 | 1990 |
| JA0170 – JA0175 | 1991 |
| JA0176 – JA0177 | 1992 |
| JA0178 – JA0179 | 1993 |
| JA0180 | 1994 |
| JA0182 – JA0185 | 1999 |
| JA0186 – JA0191 | 2000 |
| JA0192 – JA194 | 2001 |
USA Neck-Thru-Body Serials
Production in Ontario, California.
| Serial Number | Year |
|---|---|
| UO0001 – UO0852 | 1990 |
| UO0853 – UO1750 | 1991 |
| UO1751 – UO2070 | 1992 |
| UO2071 – UO2527 | 1993 |
| UO2528 – UO2941 | 1994 |
| UO2942 – UO3211 | 1995 |
| UO3212 – UO4005 | 1996 |
| UO4006 – UO5247 | 1997 |
| UO5248 – UO6904 | 1998 |
| UO6905 – UO7626 | 1999 |
| UO7627 – UO8969 | 2000 |
| UO8970 – | 2001 |
Jackson Guitar Serial Numbers: S, X, PRO Series (Since 2013)
Jackson JS, X and Pro Series guitars from 2013 to the present have a 10-digit alphanumeric serial number on the back of the headstock or neck plate.
The 3 letters indicate the production location and factory.
Country letter codes:
I = Indonesia C = China N = India
Factory letter codes:
H = Harmony Musical Instruments W = World Music Instruments
C = Cort S = Samick
The first two digits indicate the year.
Example: ISJ1720250.
I = Indonesia S = Samick J = Jackson.
Year of construction = 17 (2017).
Charvel Serial Number Lookup
The first guitars produced by Charvel had no serial number. The neck plate only read ‘Made in USA’. From 1981 a serial number was punched.
Charvel Serial Number Chart
| SERIALS | YEAR |
|---|---|
| 1001 – 1095 | 1981 |
| 1096 – 1724 | 1982 |
| 1725 – 2938 | 1983 |
| 2939 – 4261 | 1984 |
| 4262 – 5303 | 1985 |
| 5304 – 5491 | 1986 |
Jackson History
Before the early 1980s, Grover Jackson was employed by guitar builder and manufacturer Wayne Charvel, who was known for producing Fender Stratocaster copies and was the first to create a 24-fret guitar, the “Superstrat.”
Jackson founded his own company in 1980, focusing on crafting customized guitars for individual customers.
One of his earliest clients was Randy Rhoads, the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, who inspired the creation of the “RR” model based on the Flying V or Gibson design.
The exceptional quality of Jackson Guitars drew the attention of heavy metal musicians and led to the development of iconic models such as the King V, Soloist, Concert, and Dinky. These guitars were originally produced in San Dimas, California, and later in Ontario, California.
In 1985, Jackson was acquired by IMC, which aimed to expand its guitar market. While Jackson continued to produce high-end guitars, they also began manufacturing more affordable versions of their standard designs in Asia to cater to customers with smaller budgets.
In late 2002, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation purchased Jackson from IMC, and American production was subsequently relocated to the Fender factory in Corona, California.
Despite the expansion of their product line and manufacturing locations, Jackson has maintained a reputation for producing top-quality guitars.
Jackson guitars have always inspired and fascinated me. Just seeing one makes you think, “You need to own at least one of these!” I’ve only had two Jacksons in my life, and not for long, but the experience was incredible. They are as simple as they are stunning in sound and appearance. Unfortunately, I’ve since sold them. Maybe when the cold winter breeze comes around, I’ll pick up another one and have some fun again!