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.
The first Jackson serial number, J0001, appeared in 1983, as did the first Randy Rhoads serial number, RR0001.
Table of Contents
Where To Find Jackson Serial Number?
Depending on the model you can find the Jackson serial number stamped into the neck plate, on the fingerboard at the last fret or on the headstock.
Jackson Bolt-On-Neck Serial Number
Almost all bolt-on neck models (except the Junior) have serial numbers stamped on the neck plates.
Jackson Bolt-On guitars have a serial number that starts with 00. Custom Shop Bolt-Ons have a serial number with no leading zeros.
Custom Shop Bolt-On-Neck Serials
In 1986 the production of Jackson Custom Shop was in San Dimas, California. Since 1987 – in Ontario, California.
From 1987 to 1989, Jackson Custom Shop bolt-on guitars were not produced in strict serial number order. Due to a stamping machine error, serial numbers 5234 to 5999 in particular do not exist.
Custom Shop Bolt-On-Neck Serials Chart.
| 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
Since 1990, Jackson Bolt-On-Neck guitars have been manufactured in Ontario, California. All USA Series bolt-on neck instruments have six-digit serial numbers on the neck plate. Except for a few four-digit serial numbers, which were reserved for custom instruments in the spring of 1990.
USA Bolt-On-Neck Serials Chart.
| 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
Since 1994, Jackson Junior Bolt-On-Neck guitars have been produced in Ontario, California. The serial number of Jackson Junior (the only Jackson bolt-on-neck model without neck plates) is stamped into the fingerboard.
Junior Bolt-On-Neck Serials Chart.
| 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
Jackson Neck-thru models have a serial number stamped on the fingerboard at the last fret.
Ontario, California-made neck-thru guitars have a serial number that starts with “UO”, but Ontario Custom Shop Jackson guitars have a serial number that starts with “J”, which adds some confusion.
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.
Randy Rhoads Neck-thru guitars from 1983 to the spring of 1990 had serial numbers that began with the letters RR followed by 4 digits. However, it should be noted that a few Rhoads guitars were mistakenly released with “J” serial numbers instead of RR.
Since 1991, only Custom Randy Rhoads guitars have had RR serial numbers. Production Rhoads guitars were considered USA models and had serial numbers starting with U0.
Randy Rhoads Serials Chart.
| 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.
Before 1990, all Jackson Neck-thru-body guitars except the Randy Rhoads had “J” serial numbers, including the Soloist, King V, Kelly, Concert Bass, etc. But after the spring of 1990, only the Custom Neck-thru body models received “J” serial numbers.
The production Soloist, Kelly, King V models, etc. were now considered “USA” models and received U0 serial numbers.
There are exceptions, however, with production Neck-thru models from the 1990s sometimes being found with “J” or “RR” instead of “U” serial numbers.
Custom Neck-Thru-Body Serials Chart.
| 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.
Archtop Serial Number Chart.
| 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 Model Neck-Thru-Body Serials
Since 1990, the production of Jackson USA Model guitars was located in Ontario, California.
USA Model Neck-Thru-Body Serials Chart.
| 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 S, X, PRO Serial Numbers
Jackson JS, X and Pro Series guitars from 2013 to the present have a 10-digit serial number on the back of the headstock or on the neck plate.
The 3 letters indicate the production location and factory. The first two digits indicate the year.
Country letter codes:
I = Indonesia C = China N = India
Factory letter codes:
H = Harmony Musical Instruments W = World Music Instruments
C = Cort S = Samick
Example: ISJ1720250.
I = Indonesia S = Samick J = Jackson.
Year of construction = 17 (2017).
Charvel Serial Number Lookup
USA Charvel
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 1981-1986.
| SERIALS | YEAR |
|---|---|
| 1001 – 1095 | 1981 |
| 1096 – 1724 | 1982 |
| 1725 – 2938 | 1983 |
| 2939 – 4261 | 1984 |
| 4262 – 5303 | 1985 |
| 5304 – 5491 | 1986 |
Charvel Pro-Mod Style 1, Style 2, DK24, Artist Series, and USA Select guitars made from 2013 to present have a 10-digit serial number located on the back of the headstock or fingerboard.
The first two digits of the serial number identify the year the guitar was made.
For example, a guitar with serial number ICJ1803478 was made in 2018.
Neck-thru/set-neck USA and Custom Shop guitars are typically stamped at the end of the fingerboard. Bolt-on USA and Custom Shop models are stamped on the neck plate.
But keep in mind that the serial number on USA and Custom Shop guitars usually does not indicate the year the guitar was made.
Japanese Charvel
Japanese Charvel guitars were manufactured in the Chu Shin Gakki factory in Nagano, prefecture. However, there are no lists of serial numbers for Japanese guitars.
The year and place of manufacture of such guitars can only be determined by indirect signs, such as body and bridge details.
Most Japanese Charvels were manufactured with a black Kahler 2500 series bridge. These guitars should have a plate on the headstock with a serial number somewhere between 220000 and 250000.
Japanese Charvel serial numbers started at 220000 for the 1986 product line.
The Kahler 2300 series tremolo system was also produced in the early 1986 series before the Japanese Charvels switched to a licensed Floyd Rose bridge.
The 1987 Charvels introduced the Jackson JT-6 Tremolo.
In 1986, the Charvel Model 4 lineup had mother-of-pearl dot fret markers. In 1987, the Charvel Model 4 had Jackson-style shark fin inlays.
In Japan, models from the 1987 import line were released with a body color that matched the headstock color. These special edition Charvel models were made for the Japanese domestic market.
Chushin Gakki acted as the distributor and manufacturer of the Jackson Charvel in Japan. The factory created limited edition and import Charvel models after 1986-87.
In 1987, several import Charvel models were created for specific parts of the world, which mostly never made it to the United States.
In 1996, Chushin Gakki released Made in Japan versions of the San Dimas series. The Japan-only San Dimas series of guitars were released to the Japanese market in 1996. The Japan Group introduced these models, as well as a variety of other guitars, mostly handmade.
A variety of other neck-through and bolt-on models were also made. Guitars released in 1996 featured the familiar late 1980s logos on the headstock.
Japanese-made Charvel guitars had different logos in different product lines.
The first imports were issued with a guitar-shaped Charvel logo, very similar to the original San Dimas Charvel logo. The trademarked Charvel logos were present on more 1986 Charvel import guitars.
The Charvel™ logo was present in the 248xxx – 25xxxx serial number range.
The Charvel logo with the “TM” disappeared at some point before the introduction of the 1987 model line. No Charvel import guitars were produced with the Jackson JT-6 Floyd Rose type tremolo, which had the Charvel™ logo.
The Charvel ® logo appeared on Charvels in late 1986. Any Charvel import with the Charvel ® logo is from the 1987 or later Charvel product line. These guitars are believed to have serial numbers in the 310000 range.
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!