Guitar Model Numbers and Old Guitar Catalogs

When buying a used guitar, it is common to find sellers who cannot provide information on the model number. These are useful in determining the quality of the guitar as compared to other models released in the same period. Higher models typically use less wood pieces, premium flamed tops, and better pickups. Some MIJ guitar models indicate the selling price at the time. For example, an EG-700 model was sold at 70,000 yen. If you know the model number and year of manufacture, you can check the catalog to validate how it should look like.

Model numbers can sometimes be found in the neck joint, as in the case of Fender and Fernandes. Manufacturers like Tokai engrave them at the fingerboard or stamp them in the pickup cavities. Greco models have stickers, though they can be easily removed. Older MIJ guitars may not have any indicator at all.

Once you have the model number, it is also important to know the year of manufacture. Fortunately, MIJ guitars usually indicate them in the first few digits of the serial number. Google can give you a list of guitar dating sites that you may use. Do note that a zero in the serial number can mean either 1980 or 1990. For Greco, a correct truss rod cover indicates that it is 1980.

Armed with the model number and year, you may now consult the guitar catalogs. Here are some sites with vintage and MIJ guitar catalogs:

The World of Musical Instruments Brochures

Aria, Fernandes, Fender, Greco, Orville, Rickenbacker, Tokai, and Yamaha catalogs from the 70s to the 90s.

Studio Greco

This is an intensive catalog of Greco guitars.

World’s largest luthier directory of vintage and rare guitars

This is not a guitar catalog site, but it has a long list of links to popular and rare guitar manufacturers.

Vintage Guitars

Find Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Guild, Hagstrom, Hofner, Ovation, and Vox catalogs from the 50s to the 80s here.

Vintage Guitar Catalogs

This site has Vintage guitar catalogs for popular and rarely heard guitars.

Tokai Guitars Catalog Page

This is the best source of information for Tokai guitars.

Fernandes Product Catalog

The official Fernandes guitar catalogs

ESP Guitars Catalog

This is the official site of ESP and Navigator guitar catalogs.

Audiozone Guitar Gallery

Catalogs  of Jackson Charvel, Ibanez, ESP, LTD, Fernandes, and Caparison guitars.

Ibanez Catalogs

The official site for Ibanez catalogs.

Vintage Guitar Catalog: Charvel

Music Zoo’s Charvel guitar catalogs.

/royc

* Images are from Tom's Guitar Manila