PB basses serial numbers?

[MrWalker]

I was wondering if anyone has a description of the PB series basses serial number? It's an 8 digit code. My friend just purchased one with the serial number 07080709
Since these basses were produced between 2007 and 2009, I guess the serial number could mean anything...

[vjmanzo]

Hi @MrWalker,

That’s a good question; Parker Guitars never issued an official statement on serial numbers. As you likely already know, these were manufactured in Indonesia, so its possible that the serial scheme is different from the scheme used on USA Parker guitars, but, if I had to guess, I’d say that the serials follow the scheme used on there later Fly basses where they numbers represent an internal code and the production number as described here.

Would love to learn more about the serial scheme used with these, so if you find anything out, please let us know. Perhaps we can piece it together if you come across a few examples and know roughly when they were first purchased.

[MrWalker]

Yes, that may be true.
I'm also wondering if they could have used a Washburn scheme, as I guess the imports were produced at the same facilities as US Music Corp was already using in Asia.
In which case the first 1-2 digits are usually production year.
The PB basses were produced only a few years, from 2006-2009 I believe, based on the catalogs.
The PB51 was introduced in 2007, and disappeared in 2009/10. But hard to tell from the serial number, which is 07080709.... But if it's the first two digits, as for many Washburn, it means 2007.

[vjmanzo]

This is great @MrWalker; if others seeing this thread have a PB bass, please consider posting your serial below so that we can all help to decipher the serial.

[MrWalker]

I googled these models, and found a few ads where I was able to read the serial numbers. The list is below.

PB41: 06020042
PB41: 06020059
PB41: 06020065
PB41: 06020071
PB41: 06020075
PB41: 06072937
PB41: 06082569**
PB41: 06082531
PB41: 06112315
PB41: 06112337
PB41: 06112349
PB41: 06113343*
Pb61: 07031673
PG51: 07062978
PB51: 07080709
Pb61: 07110502
PB51: 07110512
PB51: 07111053*
PB61: 07111657
PB61: 08011874
PB51: 08050598
PB51: 06080556
PB61: 08080825
PB61: 08080827

The ones marked with an * were difficult to read.
And the one marked with ** was mine, so I had the serial number in my camera files.

I also read a FAQ entry on Washburn's web site that states that the year of production can be found by the first one it two digits of the serial number.

The PB41 was introduced in 2006 and appeared in the 2006 & 2007 catalogs.
The PB51 & PB61 was introduced in 2007, and appeared in 2007, 2008 & 2009
The 5-string PB65 appeared in 2008 & 2009.

Looking at the numbers, it seems obvious what the two first digits are year, and the next two are month. And the rest a running number. Shouldn't be day, since 00 appears.

So most likely code is THIS, I guess:
YYMM XXXX

[vjmanzo]

This is fantastic, @MrWalker! Seems like you cracked the code!!! I’ll mark this thread as a sticky, so others can find it easily.

Great work!

[MrWalker]

Thanks

[MrWalker]

I did the same for some P-series guitars, and after 2004 they follow the same serial number pattern as the basses (which is perhaps logical, as they are probably built at the same facility). So at some point, the P series guitars changed from the serial number with a P-prefix to the 8 digit serial number described below. The change happens before the production is moved from Korea to Indonesia, the earliest serial numbers I have found are from September 2004. The move from Korea to Indonesia seems to happen in 2007.

Interestingly enough, the basses are all produced in Indonesia, even the ones produced in 2006. So I presume it could indicate that the new bass-line was the first to be produced at the Indonesian facility, and then the rest of the guitar production followed from Korea in 2007. Just a guess based on the "Made in Korea/Indonesia" mark on the headstock alongside the serial number.

The Indonesian made Maxxfly models seems to have an 11-digit serial number, but seems to still be consistent with a YYMM+XXXXX scheme.

Here's the list that I've compiled:
PM-10
04090529 (Korea)
04091579 (Korea)
04091618 (Korea)
05091429

Parker PM-20
04091618 (Korea - Parker headstock)
04091633 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05061980 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05011727 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05021468 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05030743 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05091799
05110211
05111725 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05112301
06020033 (Korea - Parker headstock)
08050206 (Indonesia 3+3 headstock)
08050245 (Indonesia 3+3 headstock)
08070163
08070351 (Indonesia 3+3 headstock)
08071025
09040583 (Indonesia - 3+3 headstock)
09090131 (Indonesia - 3+3 headstock)

PM-20 Pro
05120271 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05121903 (Korea - Parker headstock)
05122074 (Korea - Parker headstock)
06020014 (Korea - Parker headstock)
06042645 (Korea - Parker headstock)
06110206 (Korea - Parker headstock)
08070477 (Indonesia - 3+3 headstock Lefthand)
08071065 (Indonesia - 3+3 headstock Lefthand)

PM-24V
09061647 (Indonesia 3+3 headstock)


P-30
05120423 (Korea)
05122538 (Korea)
06020448 (Korea)

P-36
04090533 (Korea)
04090646 (Korea)
04091533 (Korea)
04100552 (Korea)
04100740 (Korea)
04100809 (Korea)
04100815 (Korea)
04120545 (Korea)
05010193 (Korea)
05070818 (Korea)
06020491 (Korea)
07102292 (Indonesia)
08050756 (Indonesia)
08060562 (Indonesia)

P-42
04100931 (Korea)
04101311 (Korea)
05010007 (Korea)
05010009 (Korea)
05062066 (Korea)
05061449 (Korea)
05062090 (Korea)
07102268 (Indonesia)
08080292 (Indonesia)
09040265 (Indonesia - lefthand)
09110036

P-44
05051580 (Korea)
05090017 (Korea)
06031962 (Korea)
08071017 (Indonesia)

P-44V
09030062 (Indonesia)

P-44 Pro
08070976 (Indonesia)
09061074 (Indonesia ?)

Maxxfly guitars (don't know model names)
110629902
140116441

[vjmanzo]

This is great!!!!!! Really terrific, @MrWalker!


I’ve linked these posts from the main post on serial numbers.

[Barry]

Nice work indeed. I always appreciate the effort it takes to curate this kind of data.

Shortly after I bought my PM20 second hand in 2009, I contacted American Music Corp for info on my red Bubinga model and they confirmed that:

• It was a limited run, and

• my serial 05010451 indicated a Jan 2005 build

Confirms all the above.

[MrWalker]

Thanks for confirming it!
So there are two ways of getting the info.
A) Dig for hours on end
B) Send an email and ask

I KNEW there was an easier way!

But more importantly, I learned a lot about Parker and have an understanding of what US Music Corp tried to do. And in fact, I'm impressed!

[vjmanzo]

It’s an impressive effort, and we all benefit from your work!! Thanks!!

[Barry]

... I KNEW there was an easier way!

[Jack Burton]

P series guitar serial # format:

Just providing info. I have a P38 that I bought new in early 2001. It was Korean made and a serial number of P1200153. Which would be MM/YY/Production #. I've noticed that many believe its YY/MM/prod#... but I do not believe that's accurate.

[Zinc Bath]

I agree. P1000045 CANNOT be YY/MM/pn, There is NO month 00. It HAS to be MM/YY/pn ... ie production# 045, October 2000.

[papere]

Thank you for the info on PM38 Serial Numbers. It totally makes sense that it is MMYY then production number. You took my headache away.

[Charlie]

Hi there,
I just created an account on this site as I recently bought a pm20 (according to the neckpin coverplate!), in mho it is a pm20pro though. It has SD hbs, an inlay around the blade of pearle, a rosewood fret board with star inlay at 12th fret. Also original 6 inline tuners. The serialnumber does not fit the quoted list. Headstock says made in Indonesia, nr is 07031601. Any info you guys have? The guitar plays very nice. Nearly as fine as my Strat from Japan '81...
Regards, Charlie

[Mike987]

Great info! I’ve been looking for a hornet bass and just recently snagged two of them that are currently on the way! I always like to figure out the years of my Parker’s. One is a hornet bass used by Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith. As far as I can tell, the only difference is that one is gloss black and the other is flat black. I’m really excited as I’ve been in the market for a new bass.

One says it’s a PB41 and the other says it’s a PB415. Once they both arrive I’ll check on if there are any differences unless one listing is a typo or something.

[Mike987]

Well I got both basses! The one sold as a PB415 appears to be a standard Parker hornet 4 string bass in matte black. Aerosmith Tom Hamilton PB41 bass is a gloss black that is nearly identical from a distance besides the finish..with the exception of one thing..it’s FRETLESS! I don’t know if Parker sold Fretless hornet basses or if Tom Hamilton had this specific one made that way. One might ask, how did you not notice that it has no frets? It has lines on the fretboard that look like frets. Same color as the side markers that Parker basses and guitars have on the side of the neck. From the pics in the ad, it always looked like it was frets. I got it and noticed it seemed different while playing it.. it has the same pickups and configuration. Just no frets! Again, I’m unsure if this is a custom thing or if Parker sold Fretless basses.

[Mike987]

The “not actually frets” frets:



PB41 bass
Serial number: 05112233

PB415 (don’t recall ever seeing one listed at that but music go round had it listed as a PB415) bass
Serial number: 06112299