Deciphering Carter Serial Numbers

 
  Serial number explanation for Carter Steel Guitars PRO models (produced from 1992-2010)  
     
  ABCDEFGH - xx  
 

A and E (numbers 1 and 5) designate the last 2 digits of the year manufactured.

Example: 0xxx5xxx - xx was made in 2005

 
 

F, G, and H (numbers 6, 7, and 8) are the day of the year manufactured.

Example: 0xxx5118 - xx would have been made on the 118th day of 2005

 
 

B, C, and D (numbers 2, 3, and 4) are the day of the year manufactured.

Example: 00465118 - xx would have been the 46th guitar made in 2005

 
 

- xx designate the model number as declared below

Example: 00465118 - 12 would have been a 12-string made in 2005

Note: The hyphen ( - ) will be a space at the end of the first 8 digits of the serial number.

 

  Serial number ending for model designation
 
  -10 = S-10 -22 = D-12  
  -20 = D-10 -32 = S-12 with D-10 BODY  
  -30 = S-10 with D-10 BODY -00 = Experimental  
  -12 = S-12 -xx+4 = Laq. Fin.  
    -8xx = LE model  
       
 

Serial Number Explanation for Carter-Starters (produced from 2000-2009)

White label underneath has CS-xxxxx (xxxxx are 5 numbers).
Also stamped underneath is xxxxx (just the 5 numbers; no CS).

xxxxx = ABCDE
A= Year produced
B= Quarter in that year
CDE= number it was in that quarter's production

Examples

  • 34008 was made in 2003, in the 4th quarter, and was the 8th Carter-Starter produced in that quarter.
  • 01195 was made in 2000, in the 1st quarter, and was the 195th Carter-Starter produced in that quarter.
 

Serial Number Explanation for Magnum PRO Select (produced from 2005-2010)

White label underneath has M-xxxxxxx.
Also stamped underneath is M-xxxxxxx (where the hyphen is just a space).

xxxxx = ABCDEFG
A= Model (1=S-10DB 2=D-10)
BC= Year produced
D= Quarter in that year
EFG= number it was in that quarter's production

Examples

  • M2073041 was a D-10 Magnum, made in 2007, in the 3rd quarter, and was the 41st Magnum produced in that quarter.
  • M1091094 was an S-10DB Magnum, made in 2009, in the 1st quarter, and was the 94th Magnum produced in that quarter.