Serial number dating / Ovation
Ovation serial number lookup
Find the year an Ovation was built, read from Ovation’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 Ovation serials and how they read
Made-up serials in each of Ovation’s formats, read by the dater above.
| Serial | Reads as | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 481234 | 1994 | Main six-digit USA sequence (1972-2013) |
| 0123 | 1978 | Adamas carbon-top sequence (1977-2013), USA |
| E12345 | 1975–1980 | Solidbody (E prefix), USA |
| K17123456 | 2017 | Korean import (K prefix) |
| 90099123 | Sept 1990 | Modern USA date serial (2015+) |
| B12345 | 1974–1979 | Magnum solidbody bass, USA |
How Ovation serials date
- Modern USA date serial (2015+)
- Main six-digit USA sequence (1972-2013)
- Adamas carbon-top sequence (1977-2013)
- Solidbody (E prefix)
- Magnum solidbody bass
- Korean import (K prefix)
More on Ovation serial numbers
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.
Other brands
This is one of many brands the serial number dater covers.