Serial numbers
What Year is it anyway
Generally if the guitar was made before 1987 you can use the following EXAMPLE C760276 this is March 1976 the 276pc made that month The first letter is for the Month so A is January, B is Feb, C is March and so on The next two numbers are the Year 76 is 1976, 78 would be 1978. The next 4 numbers are the production number that month they only produced 9999 pcs each month. Some models might have two serial numbers, one on the headstock and one on the neckplate
examples
77XXXX is a 1977 model
00XXXX is a 1990 model
This is a little harder but you can use the following EXAMPLE F700001 The letter is now the Factory designation ( F = Fugijen ) The first Number is the year the next 5 numbers are the production number of the piece for the year. so the above guitar was made in 1987 and is the first one made that year. note that some models before 97 may have only the last number of the year , after 97 to resolve problems with the 2000 year was added another number.
examples
F5XXXXX is a 1995 model
F97XXXXX is a 1997 model
P.S. from the JEMSITE
Even though the serial numbers tell you the approximate creation date or model year, Ibanez has no way of tracking models by serial number. They cannot tell that "F501234" is a JEM or a bass guitar. You cannot trace the JEM777LNG number of a guitar by it's serial number. For some reason that Ibanez cannot explain, many neck plate serial number are incorrect in respect to the model year. Often RBs have 87xxxx stampings when they are '88 models and PMCs have 91xxxx designation when they're a 1992 model. I believe JEM/UV guitars deserve a better serial numbering system that what Ibanez has implemented.