Cort Guitar Serial Number Lookup/Decoder
Cort Guitars (a subsidiary of Cor-Tek Corporation), founded in 1973 by Park Yung-ho, is a major South Korean musical instrument manufacturer based in Seoul. Known for high-quality production at accessible prices, Cort produces over a million guitars annually, including acoustic, electric, and bass models. The company manufactures for major global brands—such as Ibanez, Schecter, and PRS—while maintaining its own brand line.
Cort Serial Number Lookup/Decoder FAQs
Where can I find the Cort serial number?
Most Cort guitars list the serial number on the back of the headstock. Some acoustics place it inside the soundhole on a paper label, and older instruments may use a neck plate or stamped marking. If you cannot find it, check the headstock back and the neck joint first.
What can this Cort serial number lookup/decoder tell me?
It typically identifies the production year, factory or plant code, and country of origin. Some serial formats also hint at model lines or production sequence, but that varies by era.
Why won't my Cort serial number decode?
Serial formats change over time, and limited runs or custom shop instruments can deviate from standard patterns. Try removing spaces or hyphens, and if it still fails, reach out so we can review it and improve the decoder.
Decoder Note
Note: If you try a serial number and the decoder is not able to decode it, please contact us and let us know so we can check the number and fix the decoder. Thank you!
How to decode a Cort serial number
Cort guitar serial numbers primarily indicate the production year, with most models using the first two digits to represent the year (e.g., “06…” indicates 2006, “00…” indicates 2000). Located on the back of the headstock or inside the soundhole, these numbers are not used for specific model identification.
Decoding Cort Serial Numbers
- Year of Production: The first two digits are the most common indicator of the year (e.g., 06XXXX = 2006).
- Decade Markers: If the serial starts with a 9 or 0, it likely corresponds to 199X/200X. If the number is newer, 15XXXX would likely be 2015, and so on.
- Factory Codes: Many Cort guitars, particularly older models, may use letters (like “W” for Cort factory).
- IE Prefix (Indonesia): Modern serials such as IE220403666 are commonly read as IE + YYMM + sequence (2022, April, sequence 03666), indicating Indonesian Cort production.
- “Handcrafted” Labels: Some older models may only have “Handcrafted in Korea” or similar labels without a strictly formatted, searchable serial number.
Common Locations
- Electric: Back of the headstock.
- Acoustic: Inside the soundhole.
Note: Cort does not have a comprehensive, publicly available online database to lookup model information by serial number alone, so for specific model identification, visual identification is recommended.