How do I use the Eastman serial number lookup?

Use the free tool at the top of this page. Enter your serial number exactly as it appears on your guitar. Click Lookup to get production year, factory, and era. No sign-up required.

Where are Eastman guitars made?

Eastman guitars are made in Zhu Hai, China. The company was founded in Beijing in 1992 and established its primary manufacturing facility in Zhu Hai as production grew.

What does the letter prefix mean on my Eastman serial?

The letter prefix indicates the product line: M = Acoustic guitar, E = Electric guitar, D = Archtop guitar, U = Ukulele, MA = Mandolin. The two digits after the prefix are the actual year.

Can I date a pre-2014 Eastman by serial number?

Pre-2014 Eastman serials are simple sequential numbers that do not encode the year. You can identify them as pre-2014, but for an exact year you should contact Eastman customer service or compare hardware and cosmetic details to catalogs.

What is the 8-digit Eastman serial format?

Eastman used an 8-digit numeric format from roughly 2014-2019. Two variations exist: one interprets the year from the first and fourth digits with month from digits two and three; the other uses the first and third digits for year and the second digit for month. The decoder tests both.

Is Eastman a good guitar brand?

Eastman is widely respected for offering boutique-level materials and construction at mid-range prices. Their acoustics, archtops, and electrics are particularly praised for all-solid-wood builds, nitrocellulose finishes, and hand-voiced tops.

How much is my Eastman guitar worth?

Value depends on model, year, condition, and originality. Entry-level Eastman acoustics typically range from $400-$700, while higher-end all-solid models can run $1,000-$2,500. Archtops and custom electrics may command more. Condition is the most important factor.

Does Eastman have an official serial number lookup?

Eastman does not provide a public online serial number lookup. Our decoder provides detailed results including factory identification, year of production, and product line classification — all for free.

Eastman Guitar Serial Number Lookup & Decoder: Complete Guide (2026)

Use our free Eastman guitar serial number lookup tool to decode your guitar instantly. Covers Eastman acoustic, electric, archtop, mandolin, and ukulele serial numbers from the 1990s to present. Find production year, factory, and country of origin.

Enter your serial number below

Find Your Eastman Production Year

Covers Eastman acoustic, electric, archtop, mandolin, and ukulele serials from the 1990s to present.

What's Next?

Now that you've decoded your Eastman guitar, here are the best places to continue:

Setup Specs Lookup — Find factory specs by year and model

Acoustic Guitar Action Height Guide — Dial in comfortable string height

Truss Rod Adjustment Guide — Set neck relief safely

My Gear Garage — Track your collection and maintenance schedule

Garage Pro — Maintenance log with unlimited guitars, full history & smart reminders

Eastman Serial Number Lookup: Decode Your Guitar Instantly

Eastman has earned a reputation as one of the most respected boutique-style guitar makers out of China, offering hand-voiced acoustics, vintage-inspired electrics, and beautifully carved archtops at surprisingly fair prices. Whether you own an AC series acoustic, a T series electric, or a faithful archtop, the Eastman serial number lookup tool above decodes your instrument in seconds. Enter your serial number and get production year, factory location, and country — all free, with no sign-up required.

Our decoder covers Eastman guitars from the 1990s to present, including acoustic, electric, archtop, mandolin, and ukulele serials. If you're buying used, authenticating a recent purchase, or simply curious about your guitar's history, read on for the complete guide.

Own another guitar? We also have free serial number decoders for Fender, Squier, Gibson, Epiphone, Ibanez, PRS, Yamaha, Taylor, Martin, Jackson, Charvel, Gretsch, ESP, Schecter, Takamine, Guild, Seagull, Rickenbacker, Chapman and Harley Benton.

Eastman acoustic guitar

Part 1: Where Is My Eastman Serial Number?

Before you can use the Eastman serial number decoder, you need to find the number on your instrument.

Inside the soundhole (acoustics): The serial number is most commonly printed on the interior label, visible through the soundhole.
Back of the headstock (electrics and archtops): Many Eastman electrics and archtops have the serial stamped or printed on the back of the headstock.
Neck block: Some older or special-order models may have the serial on the neck block inside the body.
Certificate of authenticity: Higher-end Eastman models ship with paperwork that includes the serial number.

Pro tip: Use a flashlight and small mirror for acoustics. Eastman labels are typically white or cream with black text, and the serial is clearly marked near the model name.

Part 2: Letter Prefix Format (2020+)

Starting around 2020, Eastman moved to a letter-prefix system that makes dating quick and easy. The format is:

Pattern	Meaning
Prefix	Product line
YY	2-digit year (actual)
######	Production sequence

Product Line Prefixes

Prefix	Instrument Line
M	Acoustic guitar
E	Electric guitar
D	Archtop guitar
U	Ukulele
MA	Mandolin

Worked Examples

M2005121: M = Acoustic, 20 = 2020, sequence 05121 → 2020 Eastman acoustic, Zhu Hai, China
E2212345: E = Electric, 22 = 2022, sequence 12345 → 2022 Eastman electric, Zhu Hai, China
U21001: U = Ukulele, 21 = 2021, sequence 001 → 2021 Eastman ukulele, Zhu Hai, China
D230001: D = Archtop, 23 = 2023, sequence 0001 → 2023 Eastman archtop, Zhu Hai, China

This format is the most reliable Eastman has used, giving an exact year and product line at a glance.

Part 3: 8-Digit Format (2014-2019)

Eastman used an 8-digit numeric format during the mid-2010s. Two overlapping interpretations exist in this window, so the decoder tests both.

2014-2016 Variation: D1 D2 D3 D4 + sequence

Position	Meaning
D1 + D4	Year (2 digits)
D2 + D3	Month (01-12)
Digits 5-8	Production sequence

Example: 14651234 → D1=1, D4=4 gives year 14 (2014); D2=4, D3=6 gives month 46 — invalid, so this particular serial does not fit the 2014-2016 pattern cleanly. The decoder evaluates both variations and returns the plausible match.

2016-2019 Variation: D1 D2 D3 + sequence

Position	Meaning
D1 + D3	Year (2 digits)
D2	Month (single digit)
Digits 4-8	Production sequence

Example: 18601234 → D1=1, D3=6 gives year 16 (2016); D2=8 gives month 8 (August) → August 2016, Zhu Hai, China

Because these two variations overlap, very short production runs or unusual sequences may require contact with Eastman for confirmation. The decoder returns the most mathematically consistent result.

Part 4: Pre-2014 Sequential Numbers

Before 2014, Eastman used simple sequential numbering without an embedded date code. A serial like 12645 is valid, but it only tells you the guitar was built before the dated formats began.

If you have a pre-2014 Eastman, the best way to determine the exact year is to:

Note the serial number and model name.
Contact Eastman customer service or an authorized dealer with the serial.
Cross-reference cosmetic and hardware details with known catalogs from the era.

Early Eastman guitars are less common, so precise dating can add meaningful context for resale or insurance purposes.

Part 5: Eastman Factory Locations

Zhu Hai, China — The Primary Factory

Virtually all Eastman guitars are built in Zhu Hai, China. The company was founded in Beijing in 1992 by Qian Ni and moved production to Zhu Hai as it scaled. The factory combines traditional hand-work — particularly for tops, bracing, and archtop carving — with modern tooling for consistency.

Eastman is unusual among Chinese guitar makers for its emphasis on old-world construction techniques, including hand-scalloped bracing on many acoustics and nitrocellulose lacquer finishes on higher-end models.

Part 6: Era-by-Era Changes

1990s: Founding and Early Production

Serials: Simple sequential numbers
Key Models: Early archtops and classical guitars
Production: Very small batches, hand-built in Beijing
Notable: Eastman began by supplying archtop parts and instruments to the international market

2000s: Acoustic and Mandolin Expansion

Serials: Sequential numbering continued
Key Models: AC series acoustics, MD series mandolins
Production: ~5,000-10,000 instruments per year
Notable: Reputation grew for all-solid-wood acoustics at mid-range prices

2010s: Dated Serial Formats Begin

Serials: 8-digit numeric format (2014-2019)
Key Models: AC322, AC422, E series electrics, archtop AR series
Production: ~10,000-20,000 instruments per year
Notable: Product line diversifies into electric guitars and ukuleles

2020s: Modern Letter-Prefix System

Serials: Letter prefix + YY + sequence
Key Models: AC series, SB series, T series electrics, U series ukuleles, MA mandolins
Production: ~20,000-30,000 instruments per year
Notable: Clear product-line identification and exact dating

Summary: Quick Reference Table

Format	Pattern	Era	Example
Letter prefix	Prefix + YY + ######	2020+	M2005121 = 2020 Acoustic
8-digit (Variation A)	D1D2D3D4 + XXXX	2014-2016	14651234
8-digit (Variation B)	D1D2D3 + XXXXX	2016-2019	18601234 = Aug 2016
Sequential	3-7 digits	Pre-2014	12645