Information gathered from the web:Serial numbers on Yamaha guitars repeat every ten years due to the way they are formed.The first letter indicates the last digit of the year of production. (Their numbering system began with “H” for 1.)The second letter indicates the month.The first two numbers indicate the day of the month.The last three numbers represent order of production on the day the guitar was made.Example: hm02316 = the 316th unit made on June 2 of 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, or 2001. First LetterYearsH1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001I1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002J1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003K1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004L1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005M1966, 1976, 1986, 1996, 2006N1967, 1977, 1987, 1997, 2007O1968, 1978, 1988, 1998P1969, 1979, 1989, 1999Q1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000Second LetterMonthHJanuaryIFebruaryJMarchKAprilLMayMJuneNJulyOAugustPSeptemberXOctoberYNovemberZDecemberA lot of people have written in to say, “Hey! My Yamaha serial number looks nothing like this!” To you folks, we offer the following: Several other serial number configurations used by Yamaha over the years. If you still can’t figure it out, please see Yamaha contact info at the bottom of this page.Alternate serial number configurations for Yamaha Classical and Acoustic GuitarsCustom Shop, Made in Japan, 1966-1985:001-1042 in sequenceCustom Shop, Made in Japan, 1986-1990:Letter-####, like so: J7012.The letter at the beginning represents the month, so J would be March (see chart above).The number following the letter is the year, in this case 7 for 1987.The last three numbers indicate unit number.

1. Yamaha Rgx Guitar

012=12th unit.Custom Shop, Made in Japan, 1991-1996:Letter-letter-###-letter, like so: HP213J.Using the charts, we see that H=1991 and P=September. 213=unit number; and that last letter is an internal code.Custom Shop, Made in Japan, 1997-2003:Letter-letter-###, like so: NK333.Using the chart, N=1997 and K=April.

The three numbers are again, unit number. Unit number 333 in this case.Custom Shop, Made in Japan, 2004-:Letter-letter-letter-###-letter, like so: QLY111C.Q=0 and L=5, so 2005. 111 is the unit number; and the final letter is an internal code.Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan, 1997-1999:Letter-letter-###-letter, like so: ON521J. (That first letter is an “oh” not a zero.)The first letter is the year; O=1998.

The second letter is the month; N=July. The three numbers are the unit number; this started over each month at 500, so unit number 21. The final letter is an internal code.Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan, 1999:Letter-letter-###, like so: PM222.The first letter is the year; P=1999. Second letter is the month; M=June.

The last three numbers are the unit number. During 1999, they starting the count each month at 200 rather than 500.

(See previous entry for Yamaha Music Craft for more on the numbering.)Yamaha Music Craft, Made in Japan, 2001-:Letter-letter-letter-###-letter, like so: QIL123A.The first two letters are the year; Q=0 and I=2, so 2002. The third letter is the month; L=May. The three numbers are the unit number; 123. The final letter is an internal code.Tenryu/Wada Factory, Made in Japan, 1946-1968:#####. Just five digit numbers in sequence.

No year of manufacture can be determined.Tenryu/Wada Factory, Made in Japan, 1969-1984:######. Six numbers, like so: 710502.The first two numbers are the year.

In this case 1971. The second two numbers are the month; here, May. The final two numbers are the unit number.Tenryu/Wada Factory, Made in Japan, 1985-1986:######. Six numbers like so: 860021.The first two numbers are the year; 1986.

Yamaha Rgx Guitar

The last four numbers are the unit number; 21.Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan, 1971-2001:########. Eight numbers, like so: 10918111.The first number is the year; 1971. The second and third numbers are the month; 09=September. The fourth and fifth numbers are the day; 18th. The final three numbers are the unit number; 111.Kaohsiung Factory, Made in Taiwan, 2001-:Letter-letter-letter-######.

Three letters, six numbers, like so: QIM183112.The first two letters are the year; Q=0 and I=2, so 2002. The third letter is the month. The first two numbers are the day; 18th. The final four numbers are the unit number; 3112.YMMI (Yamaha Music Manufacturing Indonesia), Made in Indonesia, 1990-1996:########. Eight numbers, like so: 20918022.The first number is the year; 1992. The second and third numbers are the month; 09=September.

The fourth and fifth numbers are the day; 18th. The last three numbers are the unit number; 22.YMMI, Made in Indonesia, 1997-1999:#########.

Nine numbers, like so: 803180011.The first number is the year; 1998. The second and third numbers are the month; March (03). The fourth and fifth numbers are the day; 18th. The last four numbers are the unit number; 11.YMMI, Made in Indonesia, 2000-:##########.

Ten numbers, like so:.The first two numbers are the year; 00=2000. The third and fourth numbers are the month; 02=February.

The fifth and sixth numbers are the day; 18th. The last four numbers are the unit number; 13.YMMI, Made in Indonesia, 2001-:Letter-letter-letter-######, like so: QIM180013.The first two letters are the year; Q=0 and I=2, so 2002. The third letter is the month; June (see chart above.) The first and second numbers (following the 3 letters) are the day; 18th.

The final four numbers are the unit number; 13.Alternate serial number configurations for Yamaha Electric, Archtop, and Bass GuitarsMade in Japan, 1966-1984. For SG, SX, and BB series.

YearSerial Number Sequence196196196-2371-8074-8105-39943 (SG-175, SX-125)1001-1390 (SG1000)1001-1126 (SG20391-002365 (SG1000)010 (SG2000)070 (BB1200)020 (BB20366-003110 (SG1000)060 (SG2000)065 (BB1200)080 (BB20111-004445 (SG1000)088 (SG2000)000 (BB1200)020 (BB2000)1980 (through July)029 (SG1000)075 (SG2000)1980 (through December)09820984 (through July)196Made in Japan, 1984-1986:Letter-letter-letter-letter-###. Four letters and a number, like so: LJQH013.(See chart at the top of the page.) The first letter is the year; 1985. The second letter is the month; March. The third and fourth letters are the date; QH=01. The three numbers at the end are the unit number.Made in Japan, 1984-1996:Letter-letter-####. Two letters, four numbers, like so: MI0031.The first number is the year; 1986. The second number is the month; February.

The four numbers are the unit number; 31.Made in Japan, 1986-1989:#-letter-#####. 5I04013.The first number is an internal code.

The letter is the month; February (see chart). The next two numbers are the date; 4th. The last three numbers are the unit number; 13. There is no indication of year in this configuration–just “sometime between ’86 and ’89.Made in Japan, 1995-1999:######. Six numbers, like so: 610101.The first number is the year; 1996.

The next two numbers are the month; 10=October. The final three numbers are the unit number; 101.Made in Japan, 1994-1997:#-letter-letter-###. Like so: 7FM123.The first number is the year; 1997. The letter (2nd position) is an internal code. The next letter (3rd position) is the month; in this case M=June (see chart.) The final three numbers are the unit number.Made in Japan, 1997-:#-letter-letter-####, like so: 8FJ0013.The first number is the year; 1998. The letter (2nd position) is an internal code.

The letter (3rd position) is the month; March (see chart.) The final four numbers are the unit number; 13.Made in Japan, 1988:Letter-letter-letter-letter-###, like so: SMQI123.The first letter is an internal code. The second letter is the month; June. The third and fourth letters are the date; QI=02. So, June 2nd, 1988. The three numbers are the unit number; 123.Made in Japan, 1989-2002:Letter-letter-letter-letter-###, like so: SKJL321.The first letter is an internal code (both I and S were used). The second letter is the month; K=April. The third letter is an internal code for Japan.

The fourth letter is the year; L=1995. The three numbers at the end are the unit number.Made in Japan, 2002-:Letter-letter-letter-###-letter, like so: QJM111E.The first and second letters are the year; QJ=03. The third letter is the month; M=June. The three numbers are the unit number; 111.

The final letter is an internal code (could be E, F, I, or S.)Made in Taiwan, 1984-2002:Letter-letter-#####, like so: PH07123.The first letter is the year; P=1999. The second letter is the month; H=January. The first two numbers (07 in this example) are the day; 7th. The final three numbers are the unit number; 123.Made in Taiwan, 2002-:Letter-letter-letter-######, like so: QJM120013.The first two letters are the year; QJ=03. The third letter is the month; M=June.

The two numbers that follow are the day; 12th. The final four numbers are the unit number; 0013 (13).Made in Korea and Made in China, 2003-:Letter-letter-letter-####-letter, like so: QKJ0011Y.The first two letters are the year; QK=04 (see chart.) The third letter is the month; J=March. The four numbers that follow are the unit number; (00)11. The last number is an internal code (could be D, R, U, or Y.)Believe it or not, this list does not cover all possible serial numbers. Hopefully, this will help many of you! Again, if you’re still having trouble, please contact Yamaha directly as we have posted all the info we have.

Thanks!Yamaha Corporation of America6600 Orangethorpe Ave.Buena Park, CA 90620(714) 522-9011Email Inquires:Outside the USA, please visit the link below to find contact information by country.

Balston11 wrote:Having looked at Peter's links it still looks like an RM11 to me.The fine tuners on ALL RM-Pro ( I, II and III ) seem to be fastened to a common bracket at the rear of the trem bridge assembly.On the RGX-211 each saddle is moved individually (including the fine tuners), so unless the 3 links about the RM-Pro bridges are incorrect,the RGX-211 is equipped with another 'Floyd Rose' type of trem system, and what type is itThe RGX-211 trem looks closer to the Rockin' Magic I or II (not Pro) but still, not quite the same.RegardsPeter. I looked on that frets on the net site and it doesn't really look like any of them. I am trying to find a replacement tremolo arm for it. I have a 1987 RGX620s with the RM pro I, but have never been able to get the arm out of it.

So I cant use it to test it out. And my 1994 RGX621D has a floyd style tremolo arm that actually doesn't fit. I dont want to spend $28 on a replacement from that guy just to find out it doesn't work. Hopefully someone can help to identify this tremolo. I would love to have an arm for it.The story of the paint job was: I had a 1987 RGX112 that I had bought in 1988.

It was cheap, but it was that hideous metallic bluish purple. I never did like the color. Well a few years later a friend who worked in a body shop offered to paint it. He suggested a hot pink (remember it was late 1989 or early 1990). So, I said sure. It looked cool when he sprayed it, but later after the paint dried it turned the color of chewed bubble gum. So, he was going to just spray it black.

But the black paint he had was about dried out and really thick. Bingo!, dipped fingers into black paint and flung it at the guitar. And what you see was the result.Years later, I lost the guitar (long story). I kind of missed my pink guitar, so I went to ebay, found a similar RGX 211 and recreated it. Here are a few more photos.

I did not get the actual name of the tremolo, but the guy from Frets on the net said he has made arms for this particular tremolo before. He thought that the arm is threaded.However, the whole thing is a moot point. I took the tremolo apart to see if the hole was threaded or not.

There is actually no place for the arm to go into, it was broken off. Now that I remember back to this project, it was broken and I added a tremolo stopper underneath to 'hardtail' it. It has been like it so long, I just simply forgot about it. It would still be interesting to know what this tremolo was called, for future reference.I have heard every comment about my ugly pink guitar over the years. But, It still is my favorite go to guitar to play. Saul - The only Yamaha Tremolo I have ever seen anything stamped on is my 1994 RGX 621d.

Is has TRS-PRO (licensed Floyd Rose) stamped on it. Unless it is stamped in some hidden place under the tremolo, I have never seen it on this chrome one or on the RM Pro models.Unfortunately, There is nothing left to remove. Below the chrome hole for the tremolo, there is supposed to be a socket attached to the tremolo block to accept the tremolo arm. The socket is busted off. So there is nothing to put the arm into. As I said, now my memory is jogged. I remember the reason why I blocked the tremolo and hard-tailed it.

I never use tremolo much anyway. Just was hoping to have all the pieces in place. I may keep an eye on ebay to see if anyone ever tries to sell one of these.

There is no replacing it with a floyd rose without heavy modification. For a guitar I got for $50 off ebay, I have a pretty nice daily player. It's my favorite to play.Thanks for the comments on the paint job. I usually get a bit of ribbing about it. But, it is a one of a kind and no one will ever (willingly) copy it. Sanding those black globs of black paint smooth (without sanding through) was one of the most tedious jobs I ever did. I believe the rgx211 has an RM Rockin' Magic Pro tremolo, predecessor to the RM Pro II, which has more of an actual Floyd Rose look and, I believe, doesn't come with the plastic liner for the trem route.I have 2 guitars with the earlier trem on them and am having a heck of a time finding replacement fine tuner screws.

They have some kind of oddball threads that I haven't been able to find in hardware stores, so if anyone has any info, I'd appreciate it. Can't find the trem alone on ebay and I don't want to spring for a whole 'nother guitar just for the screw.