The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

Hey Guys, this is only for the set neck & neck thru Tri sound Models, Not the Thor Sound. ( Now includes other series see below)
It covers Guitars & Bass's.
Most of you by now would know I am a bit of a serial number nerd.
Some of the methods of serial number dating we are using still don't seem quite right for some models.
Tri sound for me is one of them.
The Tri sound models pre date the Thor sound, no arguements there, with the Thor sound later getting the newer 3 a side headstock.
Many Tri & Thor serials begin with 0 or 1, easy, they are either 1980 or 1981, correct?NO
The problem for me has always been how can you have an 81 Tri sound & an 80 Thor sound.
The answer is in their serial numbers.
All of the Tri sounds I have had, Guitars & Bass's carry a 0 or a 1 as the first number, now here's the key, the Third number is always a nine.
This system pre dates the first number year we are used to
Eg: 059233, one of mine.
The first 2 numbers are the month, here 05 May.
The 3rd number is the year of the seventys, 9 = 1979
With 4,5 & 6 being the production numbers, this particular guitar is number 233.
So, May 1979, number 233.
Also, if the first number is 1 it will only be followed by a 0, 1 or 2 indicating either 10th, 11th or 12th month.
If the first number is 0 it will be followed by 1 through 9.
Once the Model Name changed to Thor Sound it follows the system we are used to, first number year of the eighties, eg: 0 = 1980.
Again this shows the 1980 model change over we previously have seen with the Vantages.
So far this works for all of my Tri Sounds, Past & present plus the serials I have gathered.
Let me know your thoughts Gentlemen, does anyone have a Tri sound that does not conform.

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Well done, Trevor!

The change in the serial number system took place in April 1980 for VANTAGE guitars. (0 04 xxxx)
I wonder if it's the same (month) for Aria's Tri/Thor series?

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Hi Mozart,
Thankyou.
Here is a little more information.
There was also a font change with the Tri Sound Model around Aug 1979.
From the Very full rounded font to a thin squarer style.
Noticeable on the TR cover & Headstock Logo
This font also carried over to the Thor sound series.
Serial numbers remained consistent throughout the font change.
I have not found any Tri sound branded guitars that have the new 0 1980 numbering system
I do however have a Feb 1980 Thor Sound that conforms to the 0 system.
The exact headstock shape change is un determined at this point, however I feel it followed sometime soon after.
I need more serials from 3 a side Thor sounds, guitar & Bass Set neck or neck through to get a more definitive point.
Cheers.

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My Guitars- http://matsumokuguitars.com/

FWIW the SN on my TSB550 Thor Sound Bass with inline tuners is 005140.

Thanks

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My Guitars- http://matsumokuguitars.com/

Hi Trevor
Nice research
My TS400 Thor Sound, set neck, 6 in line machine heads says 002315

Ok, I've spent many many hours today going through this & everything else I have in my serial number lists.
I have discovered the same sequence in other series.
Firstly Rev Sound First run.
Includes all neck through guitars & Bass's
Same principal as I have described for the TS series.
If 9 is the 3rd number then the first 2 are month 3rd is year.
I have also pinpointed the exact month when the serial numbering went from this format to first number = year.
It is December 1979.
If the serial # starts with a 9 it will be followed by 12.
Eg: 11th month 79 = 119216. 11 being the month, 9 being 79 & 216 production number.
12th month 79 = 912341. 9 = year 1979, 12 being the month & 341 the production number.
So from the 12th month 79 the the first number = the year of manufacture.
I'm now working on my SB series Bass serial numbers, it looks like the bat ear models also follow this system.
Still more compiling to do on that but its looking pretty good at this stage.
This finally helps explain why so many guitars & Bass's serials start with 0.
They weren't all made in 1980 after all, its just that 9 of the 12 months of production per year had a Zero in front of them, & then of course we did indeed hit 1980 just when they changed to first number = year.
My Brain Hurts now, must sleep .
Cheers.

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My Guitars- http://matsumokuguitars.com/

Sorry to through a monkey wrench in this but my Thor Sound TS 350 is a six in line with the the first four characters of the SN being L770

The 79 Catalog has what appear to be transition models for the TS line with two to a side tuners. The 1980 has the six on a side headstock.

My RSB Deluxe II follows the first two numbers being the year (84).

My Electra X290, believed to be an Uncle Matt (it has MMK 45's) does not fit any of the schemes. They were made from 81 to 84. The number starts 075, making it either an 80 which does not work or an 85 which does not work. I know this is not an APII and Electra may not have followed the same scheme as APII.

Ok, my RS600 with 6 inline tuners has serial 001026. So it would be the 26th unit produced in January of 1980?

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RSB your TS is a bolt on neck yes?
This does not work with the bolt on models, please see the first post on what models are included.
Cheers.

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My Guitars- http://matsumokuguitars.com/