Serial number dating / ESP
ESP serial number lookup
Find the year an ESP was built, read from ESP’s own numbering scheme.
Can't read a digit? Type ? in its place. Looked-up serials are kept, never tied to you. How it works
Type the serial or code from the instrument. We read it as you type.
Cross-check with a pot code
The number stamped on a potentiometer inside the guitar. It dates the part, not the whole instrument.
Example ESP serials and how they read
Made-up serials in each of ESP’s formats, read by the dater above.
| Serial | Reads as | Format |
|---|---|---|
| SS0512345 | 2005 | Japan letter-prefix / LTD (2000-2015) |
| W22051234 | 2022 | Japan letter-prefix / LTD (2000-2015) |
How ESP serials date
- ESP USA (2014+)
- E-II current layout (2016+)
- Japan letter-prefix / LTD (2000-2015)
- Pre-2000 Japan date code
More on ESP serial numbers
Where to find the serial
On the back of the headstock (pre-2000 date codes stamped, letter-prefix systems printed). A 5-digit number on the neck plate is not a serial.
How sure is it
Every result carries its confidence. Treat the year as a strong guide, not proof: a serial can be replaced, a neck and body can be from different years, and reissues copy old numbering. For anything that matters, confirm the year against the neck date, the pot codes and ESP's product archive.
Other brands
This is one of many brands the serial number dater covers.