Reading Eastman serial numbers

[RickPick]

Can anyone give me any information about reading Eastman serial numbers? I recently purchased a used MD504 (which I like very much) and would like to learn whatever I can about it. The serial number, written by hand on the label and visible through the oval hole, is 1103 10214. I could GUESS it was made in March of 2011, but that would only be a wild guess. Does anyone know? Thanks

[Ed Goist]

Found this on the Eastman website (http://www.eastmanguitars.com/faq/):

Q: Do you have records of the manufacture date of my instrument by its serial number?

The best we can do is an approximate guess. Up until 2011 serial numbers were assigned when the instrument left our shop. Starting in 2011 they are assigned upon factory completion. El Rey guitars are not included in the list.

Mandolin Serial Numbers
2007 serial numbers 1050-2450
2008 serial numbers 2451-4050
2009 serial numbers 4151-5600
2010 serial numbers 5601-8150
2011 serial numbers 8151 and above

So, it looks like your's is a 2007.

[RickPick]

Ask and you shall receive! (sometimes....) Thanks Ed -- Just what I wanted!

[shortymack]

Can anyone give me any information about reading Eastman serial numbers? I recently purchased a used MD504 (which I like very much) and would like to learn whatever I can about it. The serial number, written by hand on the label and visible through the oval hole, is 1103 10214. I could GUESS it was made in March of 2011, but that would only be a wild guess. Does anyone know? Thanks

1103 = March 2011. 10214 is the model number (which in this case, is the ten thousandth two hundred and fourteenth Eastman strings instrument made). It would of been a 2007 if it was only four last digits but its five.

[RickPick]

OK, an important refinement on reading the info passed on by Ed. Makes sense, since Eastman's 2007 through 2010 serials appear to be numbers based on instruments manufactured each year. By the time 2011 rolled around, it was more than a simple change of whether the numbers were based on leaving the shop or factory completion -- it was also that volume of instruments produced required moving into 5 digits soon after the end of 2010 production. Thanks shortymack for helping me interpret the information Ed helpfully passed on.

[shortymack]

Youre welcome. Got my info straight from Mark at Eastman a while back on one of my visits there.

[DataNick]

My Eastman MD515 also came with a Certificate that had the actual date of production hand written as Dec 12, 2010.

[RickPick]

DataNick -- Does your 515 also have a serial number that is in the 5601-8150 range? If so, that confirms shortymack's post and I just heard the other shoe fall!

[Dave Hanson]

Both my 615 mandolin and 615 mandola have exactly the same serial number, the mandolin serial UK 003 was made in 2005 and the mandola serial UK 003 made in 2007.

Can anyone explain this to me, or were all UK destined instruments given the same number ?

Dave H

[Jim Yates]

My 2005 Eastman 605 is serial #120.
143448

[hanknc]

Here's my 2006 Eastman 505 sn 0259 ...

162466

[Nick Gellie]

Here is my Eastman 505. One of the best mandolins I have owned.

191466

191465

N2001640

Year made?

[Nick Gellie]

I would say Jan 2020 no. 640 of Eastman 505 made