Our decoders are constantly being updated
Current as of Mar/2026
Epiphone is a venerable American instrument manufacturer with a history dating back to 1873, which was the primary rival to Gibson in the archtop guitar market before being acquired by Gibson's parent company in 1957. Today, it operates as a subsidiary brand under Gibson Brands, Inc., producing both affordable versions of classic Gibson models and unique Epiphone-exclusive instruments.
(How to decode an Epiphone serial #)
Most Epiphone 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.
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.
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.
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!