| Period | Label Type | Serial Number Format | Manufacturer Notes | |---|---|---|---| | 1967–1969 | Yoshino Gakki White Label | Showa era format (e.g., 470510 = 1972) | Original Morris production | | 1970 | Yoshino Gakki White Label | Western calendar format | Transitional period | | 1971–1972 | Square Orange Label | Model number + production count | First Moridaira-dedicated label | | 1972–1975 | Square Orange Label | Western year + production count | TERADA or IIDA markings appear | | 1975–1976 | Ellipse Covered Wagon Label | Western year + production count | New label design introduced | | 1976–1979 | Ellipse Covered Wagon Label | 5-digit Western year + count | "MORRIS MUSICAL INST., CO." | | 1980–1983 | Ellipse Covered Wagon Label | 6-digit Western year + count | Final vintage-era label |
Guitars from the early 1980s may have a silver sticker with a letter/number prefix. While less documented than brands like Fender, these stickers are unique markers of Moridaira factory production during that decade. 3. Where to Find the Information Soundhole Label:
If your serial number starts with a letter, your guitar was likely built by a partner factory like Terada, which helped Morris keep up with high demand. Letter + 5 or 6 digits (e.g., A79XXX ) morris guitar serial numbers
Labels are often rectangular, plain, and features "Moridaira" or "Morris" in stylized cursive fonts. Serial numbers are often missing entirely or stamped directly onto the wood of the back brace.
: Represents the month of manufacture (A = January, B = February, etc.). | Period | Label Type | Serial Number
These do not contain direct date codes. To date these, you must look at the catalog history of the model number. For instance, a Morris W-30 was introduced in the early 70s; a low serial number indicates an early production run within that specific model's lifecycle. Format C: Letter Prefixes (Factory Outsourcing)
Early 1970s Morris guitars utilized traditional, heavy X-bracing. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, high-end models began utilizing scalloped bracing to improve responsiveness and projection, aligning with the evolution of the acoustic guitar market. Where to Find the Information Soundhole Label: If
Serial numbers from this era are notoriously unreliable. They are often 4, 5, or 6 digits long and serve more as production sequence numbers rather than coded dates. 2. The Golden Era & Vertical Logo Era (1975–1980s)
A cost 50,000 Yen (mid-tier, often featuring a 3-piece back like a Martin D-35).
| Type | Format | Example | Meaning | |------|--------|---------|---------| | Japan Custom Shop | J + 6 digits | J 050212 | J = Japan, 05 = 2005 | | China-made (Morris G-Series) | C + 6 digits | C 120103 | C = China, 12 = 2012 | | Limited Editions | LE + year + number | LE 2020 015 | 2020, 15th piece |