: Uses a similar three-letter prefix (e.g., "QIM") followed by six numbers, where the first two numbers denote the day of manufacture.
To help you narrow down your search instantly, use this quick-reference guide.
Models like the YAS-62 have multiple "generations" (62, 62II, 62III), but the stamp on the horn often only says "YAS-62." You must use a combination of the serial number and physical features (like the neck style or engraving) to identify the exact version. Regional Differences:
Tenor numbers follow a similar range but often lag behind altos by 1–2 years due to lower production volume. yamaha saxophone serial number lookup
A: No. Quality peaked in the 1980s with Japanese production. A 1982 YAS-62 (serial #150k) is often considered superior to a 2010 YAS-62 (serial #1.1M) due to hand-finishing versus CNC automation.
: Older vintage models may occasionally have a serial number stamped on the neck in addition to the body. Interpreting Yamaha Serial Formats
A retired repair tech named Sal, who ran a forum thread titled "Yamaha Lost Serial Mysteries," told Leo: “Kid, the numbers from 1968–1973 are the wild west. Some horns were custom-made for Japanese naval band officers. Some were prototypes for what became the 61 series. And some… some never left the factory. If your great-uncle had one of those, you’ve got a ghost in your hands.” : Uses a similar three-letter prefix (e
They will typically respond within 3–5 business days with the exact year and month of manufacture, and sometimes the original shipping destination (e.g., "Shipped to USA in March 1992").
A: Older lacquer can bubble over the stamp. Use a non-abrasive pad with a drop of key oil to wipe the area. Never sand the number.
The location of the serial number on your Yamaha saxophone may vary depending on the model and production date. Here are some common places to look: Regional Differences: Tenor numbers follow a similar range
Users can often raise a support ticket on the official Yamaha website to confirm the age of a second-hand instrument.
Over the next week, Leo became obsessed. Not with playing, but with the search . The serial number became a rabbit hole. He discovered that Yamaha’s modern lookup system only reliably covered instruments made after 1974. Before that, records were handwritten in ledgers, and two of those ledgers had been destroyed in a warehouse fire in Hamamatsu in 1985. Or so the official story went.
Because by then, the saxophone had begun to play itself.
Often stamped below the serial number (e.g., "Japan"). How Yamaha Serial Numbers Work