An Introduction

Suhr Electric Guitars In the late 1990s, Suhr Guitars was born. Perhaps most famous for the Mark Knopfler signature guitar produced with Rudy Pensa, John Suhr’s Fender-inspired work like the Classic T reaches many more iconic artists like Scott Henderson and Bill Frisell.

All guitars and basses have serial numbers which start with a year prefix. The prefix is the last one or two digits of the production year, and it applies to all models below.
You can also look up your PRS guitars MODCAT code. Which is the long strange number that looks like this: SLM2FAHFIET_FR_HB-BS
You can enter your MODCAT to find the details about your guitar. To do so, follow this link:
http://www.toragraphics.com/modcat/

May 04, 2011 NOTE – Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch. Well, mine was built in 2/2000 and is sub 800 serial number. IRRC, it was John's decision to chamber the guitar - Good decision too.

What you’ll Need

Serial Number
Modcat Code
PRS Hang Tag
Any of the above

Prefix Number Year or Years
0 1990 2000
1 1991 2001
2 1992 2002
3 1993 2003
4 1994 2004
5 1985 1995 2005
6 1986 1996 2006
7 1987 1997 2007
8 1988 1998
9 1989 1999
08 2008
09 2009
10 2010
11 2011
12 2012
13 2013
14 2014
Set-Neck Serial Numbers

The serial number of a set-neck model is located on the back of the guitar’s headstock.

After the year prefix, the remaining digits indicate the sequential order of set neck models built.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
0001 – 0400 1985
0401 – 1700 1986
1701 – 3500 1987
3501 – 5400 1988
5401 – 7600 1989
7601 – 10100 1990
10101 – 12600 1991
12601 – 15000 1992
15001 – 17900 1993
17901 – 20900 1994
20901 – 24600 1995
24601 – 29500 1996
29501 – 34600 1997
34601 – 39100 1998
39101 – 44499 1999
44500 – 52199 2000
52200 – 62199 2001
62200 – 72353 2002
72354 – 82254 2003
82255 – 92555 2004
92556 – 103103 2005
103104 – 114940 2006
114941 – 132401 2007
132402 – 146419 2008
146420 – 159132 2009
159133 – 170591 2010
170592 – 183862 2011
183863 – 196410 2012
196411 – 206059 2013
206060 – 2014
S2 Models

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
S2000001 – S2003820 2013
S2003821 – 2014
CE Models

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
7 0001 – 0270 1988
7 0271 – 1830 1989
7 1831 – 3200 1990
7 3201 – 4540 1991
7 4541 – 7090 1992
7 7091 – 8820 1993
7 8821 – 10700 1994
7 10701 – 13000 1995
7 13001 – 14680 1996
7 14681 – 17130 1997
7 or CE 17131 – 19580 1998
CE 19581 – 20749 1999
CE 20750 – 21599 2000
CE 21600 – 23199 2001
CE 23200 – 25389 2002
CE 25390 – 26399 2003
CE 26400 – 27900 2004
CE 27901 – 29377 2005
CE 29378 – 31800 2006
CE 31801 – 32783 2007
CE 32784 – 33881 2008
EG Models

The year of manufacture is determined the same way for the EG models. Like the CE models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 5 or EG for the EG models, then the sequential number for that particular model.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
5 0001 – 0920 1990
5 0921 – 1290 1991
5 1291 – 2070 1992
5 2071 – 2870 1993
5 2871 – 3190 1994
5 3191 – 3300 1995
Swamp Ash Special Models

The year of manufacture is determined the same way for the Swamp Ash Special. Like the CE and EG models the serial number is located on the neck plate on the back of the guitar. The following number determines the model: 8 or SA for the Swamp Ash Special, then the sequential number for that particular model * the first 200 Swamp Ash Specials were given a CE serial number.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
8 00001 – 00410 1997
8 or SA 00411 – 00760 1998
SA 00761 – 00969 1999
SA 00970 – 01179 2000
SA 01180 – 01399 2001
SA 01400 – 01899 2002
SA 01900 – 02099 2003
SA 02100 – 02287 2004
SA 02288 – 02700 2005
SA 02701 – 02800 2006
SA 02801 – 03055 2007
SA 03056 – 03256 2008
SA 003257 – 03312 2009
Bolt-On Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers

After the year prefix, these models use a code digit of “4”, indicating a bolt-on neck bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the neck plate on the back of the bass.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
4 0001 – 0030 1989
4 0031 – 0140 1990
4 0141 – 0200 1991
Set-Neck Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers

After the year prefix, these models us a code digit of “9”, indicating a set-neck model bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
9 0001 – 0230 1986/87
9 0231 – 0350 1988
9 0351 – 0680 1989
9 0681 – 0730 1990
9 0731 – 0800 1991
Electric Bass: Sequential Serial Numbers

After the year prefix, these models use a code of “EB”, indicating Electric Bass. This is followed by the sequential number for that particular model. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
EB 00007 – 00072 2000
EB 00073 – 00199 2001
EB 00200 – 00422 2002
EB 00423 – 00501 2003
EB 00502 – 00650 2004
SE Model Serial Numbers

The serial number on SE model guitars can be found on the back of the headstock.

The year of manufacture for SE guitars can be determined by the letter prefix prior to the sequence of numbers that follow.

Prefix Letter Year
A 2000
B 2001
C 2002
D 2003
E 2004
F 2005
G 2006
H 2007
I 2008
J 2009
K 2010
L 2011
M 2012
N 2013
O 2014
Acoustic Serial Numbers

The serial number of an acoustic is located on the label inside the sound hole of the guitar.

All acoustic serial numbers begin with the letter “A”, and are followed by the two digit year prefix.

Prefix Letter Year
A09 2009
A10 2010
A11 2011
The remaining digits indicate the sequential number of acoustics built to date.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
0001 – 0190 2009
0191 – 0517 2010
0518 – 2011
Amplifier Serial Numbers

The serial number of an amp is located on the back of the amp in the upper right corner.

All amplifier serial numbers begin with the code “AMP” and are followed by the two digit year prefix.

Prefix Letter Year
AMP08 2008
AMP09 2009
AMP10 2010
AMP11 2011
The remaining digits indicate the sequential number of amplifiers built that year. This sequence resents each year.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
0001 – 0052 2008
0001 – 0912 2009
0001 – 0575 2010
0001 – 2011
Speaker Cabinet Serial Numbers

The serial number of an speaker cabinet is located on the back of the cabinet in the upper right corner.

All cabinet serial numbers begin with the code “SPK” and are followed by the two digit year prefix.

Prefix Letter Year
SPK09 2009
SPK10 2010
SPK11 2011
The remaining digits indicate the sequential number of cabinets built that year. This sequence resents each year.

Approximate Serial Numbers Year
0001 – 0366 2009
0001 – 0260 2010
0001 – 2011

Model History

This list has been partially compiled through the collective memories of long-term employees at PRS Guitars and may not be 100% accurate.
Excerpt from The PRS Guitars Book, written by Dave Burrluck
Models currently in production are underlined. Click on the model name for more information.

SET-NECK MODELS

Basic Features By 1985

Back angled 3 on-a-side non-veneered headstock
One-piece mahogany glued in neck, regular shape
25” scale length, 24-fret
Single-action truss rod (double action truss rod fitted from late ’91).
10” radiused Indian rosewood fretboard. (Brazilian rosewood was standard until it was phased out by early 90 – 91 on all but top-line limited models such as the Dragons, etc.)
Mother-of-pearl/Abalone moon inlays (birds optional).
One-piece mahogany body or back.
Pickups were originally Standard Treble and Standard Bass. End slugs on E & B changed in ’87 to reduce high end. Changed on CE, Custom and Standard to HFS Treble and Vintage Bass by November ’91.
PRS Tremolo System, Schaller/PRS locking tuners, low friction nut.
PRS: 1985 – 1987. Evolved from pre-’85 all-mahogany guitar, became Standard in 1987.

CUSTOM: 1985 – Current. The definitive original PRS, figured maple top

Suhr Serial Number