Serial M 901234 → Morris, 1990, January 234th unit.
Premium, high-end acoustics introduced in the late 1970s and 1980s, often featuring intricate pearl inlays and solid woods.
The first two digits generally represent the exact year of manufacture (e.g., 04xxxxxx for 2004), followed by the month, and a specific production number. 3. How to Date a Morris Guitar Using Paper Labels morris guitar serial numbers
Early 70s Morris guitars featured open-gear or cheap covered tuners. Late 70s and 80s models transitioned to high-quality, Morris-branded enclosed die-cast tuners or imported Gotoh tuners.
Notice the wide variety of formats, ranging from 5-digit to 7-digit sequences, with and without letter prefixes. No single decoding method applies universally. Serial M 901234 → Morris, 1990, January 234th unit
When the serial number alone does not provide a clear answer—and for vintage Morris instruments, this is often the case—several other dating methods can help narrow down the year of manufacture.
Early 1970s headstocks feature a script "Morris" logo with a flowing, connected font. By the late 70s, Morris adopted a blockier, vertical logo that closely mimicked the iconic Martin headstock font. Notice the wide variety of formats, ranging from
On some models, the serial number can be found —the rounded joint where the neck meets the body. One owner of a Morris W601m reported finding the number “41567” on the neck heel.
The (楕円幌馬車ラベル) appeared from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. For these instruments, the serial number often begins with the last two digits of the year. One owner of a Morris W-50 with serial number beginning with “9” suggested it was likely a 1979 manufacture, sold in 1980. Another TF Series W-50 with serial 080960 was interpreted as a 1980 instrument based on the leading “80”.
Serial number alone won't give an exact date, but combine it with logo, label, and hardware – you’ll get within 1–3 years. For pre-1984 models, “first digit = year in 1970s” is your best bet.
Labels shifted to a light beige, tan, or stark white background.