Vintage Fret

Decoder / Brand

Harmony serial numbers

Serial numbers are not a dependable dating tool. Model numbers, catalogues and construction details work better. A serial is evidence, not proof.

Letters, digits and hyphens. Spaces and dots are ignored.

Brand

Your number, read character by character

Each character of your number appears here.

Entries

Ranked by confidence. Select a row for its rule.

Type a serial number, or press an example. Nothing leaves your device.

Where to look

  • Inside the body, stamped on the neck block
  • Sometimes on the back of the headstock
Generic acoustic guitar outline with three marked places where a serial number may be found 1 inside, through the soundhole 2 neck block 3 back of headstock
Generic outline, not any maker's model. Marks 1 to 3 are the usual places; which apply depends on the format and year.

The formats, in order

Each row is one rule the decoder applies. Where two rows overlap in years, a number can match both, and the decoder shows both.

YearsFormatHow sureUsually found
Harmony stamped numbers
Stamped numbers exist but follow no published date code.		 Cannot tell Inside the body, on the neck block or on a label.

Traps

  • Harmony stamped numbers. Collectors treat Harmony serials as unreliable for dating.

Dates that matter

  • 1975. Harmony ceases production. The company stops manufacturing guitars.

See these on the timeline.

Features that help date it

  • Harmony production ends (earlier to 1975). The brand disappears from catalogues after 1975.

Filter all features by brand and year.

Where the rules come from

  • Author knowledge of published collector consensus; not independently verified online

Rules are rewritten as logic, not copied tables. See About for known gaps.

Other brands

Martin, Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Rickenbacker, Kay, Silvertone and Danelectro, Other makers.