Kiso Suzuki Guitar Serial Numbers
So you want to date your kiso Suzuki guitar. The first kiso Suzuki guitars are actually pre 1951 possibly even from 1948 I will send tom the label and photos of the guitar in question, anyway.
All kiso Suzuki guitars pre-1970 had the date ( anno or Anne ) stamped on the label with the model number eg. Anne 1967 No.7 etc from 1969-1970 the kiso labels changed to the square label and then had 5 digit serial numbers with the first being the year of the 70s it was made eg 10345 =1971 #345. The square label was used until 1979 where the label was now round with ALL serial numbers starting with 9,0,1, 2,3 for 1979, 1980 81 82 83.the round label from 1979 and some 1980 labels have the green wreath border.
Nagoya Suzuki had also changed labels from the standard white and yellow to the white square label for standard Nagoya's and green square labels for the three S series. All Nagoya s have 6 digit serials, and 7 after mid 80s. I can be found on facebook at kiso Suzuki guitars - Jarrod a.
Anonymous Jarrod said. Hi tomas and all,in my years of trying to date Suzuki guitars the only sense I can make of it all is for kiso Suzuki's ( inc. Takeharu, Halifax, bluebell, tomson etc ) the first number of the serial number is the last year of the build year ie. 11023 would be either, 1971(apparent on takeharu's which have the model number build year and serial number which the first digit is always last of the build year) or 1981 depending on the label square being approx. 1971 -1979 and the round being 1978-1986.the scarce 50's and 60's kiso's I have seen, have the build year and the model number ie.1968 No6. Nagoya Suzuki is a lot harder to date as masakichi Suzuki made guitars in the early 1900's but are better known for their generic label easily going back as far as the 50's and up to 1980 before changing again for their last 7-8 years. Most (NOT ALL )Nagoya Suzuki's have a 6 digit serial number stamped on the inside of the neck heel, where the first 2 digits are the year ie.
711360 so 1971 build number #1360 some have thought the 6 digit serial numbers were the whole build date, I don't think that's the case, Manji or M Suzuki's even harder to date as there is less known about these Suzuki's some were made in japan late 70's early 80's before being made in korea,also have a 6 digit serial number and a letter. I too thought I had a nice 70's Suzuki until I bought a kiso Suzuki 1981 catalogue with my guitar in it unfortunately confirming the round label to be late 70's-80's.here are my Suzuki's and their serial numbers w65hs round label 91036 (1979 ), my w65h round label 00316 (1980). My kiso wos260/12 round label 01212 (1980),my Nagoya built Suzuki's. Three S AE-30 with the green three s square label from 1980-1987 ser# 810987 (1981),Nagoya #12 old square label ser# 710518 (1971), and Manji Suzuki FW516 ser# K919025.M Suzuki guitars were made in Hamamatsu japan by Suzuki musical INST MFG company aka the Suzuki we know today and on speaking to them yes they did make Manji Suzuki guitars but could not provide accurate build dates but did tell me the Japanese made M Suzuki's were 70's 80's.
If anyone else has any information on these wonderful lesser known guitars hit me up, jarrodamohau@yahoo.com.au. I have just purchased a Suzuki guitar the other day from a thrift shop.I didn't know it was a Suzuki because the label was all written in Japanese, except I could read the number 33 and the letter R in the upper right side of the label. The label is square and positioned inside the sound hole. I found out it was a Suzuki because a friend helped me translate the Japanese characters. I figured this was for local (Japanese) consumption because it had no English label on it.
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Could somebody give me more info on this guitar? I have two wonderful 700's, one bought and carefully repaired from an op shop, one nearly new from someone who took very good care of it. They are both Nagoyas with the same square label, but the first has a 4-digit serial number, 4361, which I'd guess was #361 of 1974 based on one system described here.
Kiso Suzuki Guitar History
The second is much younger, 790590, which post-dates the round label start in 78 based on the first-2-digit model, putting it into 1979 (unit 590). So label shape is not a guarantee, though it seems partially useful if you have round one. The older one's serial number is stamped very clearly and with a smaller stamp than was used on the other one, and the digits are hard to make out on 790590, seems it wasn't stamped firmly and the ink ran a bit. It would be great if someone could get one of the craftsmen to talk about how they did it!