Samick Bass Guitar Serial Numbers
Anyone know how to tell when your Samick was made from the serial number? Interesting to see that they are building a plant here in the US to make guitars and moved their US headquarters and distribution center to near Nashville. The tone is really nice on the bass end and bright on the treble.
Hey guys, I bought an electric guitar and case from my old roommate in Philly a couple years ago for a whopping $40! He was foreign, so he didn't quite understand the value of American money yet. The case alone is roughly worth $50. Yeah yeah, I know I'm going to hell for this.Anyway, I can't figure out what type of guitar this is. At first glance it looks like your typical 6-string Fender strat, black body with white pickgaurd, 3 single coil pickups. Only instead of saying 'Fender' on the headstock, it says 'Memphis'. So I'm thinking, 'Ok, Memphis Guitars.
I've heard of those. Let's see what I can find'. Those Memphis guitars are mostly fat body guitars, this is something completely different.So now months later nodody on or offline can tell me what this. thing is. Proffesionals have looked at the logo and told me they've never seen it before. The only hint I've had is that this is maybe a Korean-made Samick from the 80's or 90's.I doesn't look like a cheap ply, the paint is nice (beat up by use, not a lack of quality), the electronics aren't horrible, the neck is a nice maple and straight as an arrow. But THERE ARE NO SERIAL NUMBERS or identifying marks on the guitar, anywhere.
All it says is 'Memphis' on the headstock. Who makes an entire guitar and doesn't at least put a mark or number on it somewhere? I don't care how cheap it is (and this isn't that cheap looking), who does that, seriously?So, I've only found one other hint of 'Memphis' online and it's this eBay auction (which is ending soon):Broken linkGuy says that's a Memphis body and it looks just like mine.Here's another, but the headstock looks different:Broken linkSo anyway, here are some pics of the guitar. It is currently completely taken apart and getting cleaned up, repainted (pick gaurd and pickup covers) and a few other tiny modifications.
Other than that, somebody HELP ME! I don't know who made it, where, what year, what model it is. I want to know.Thanks guys. Drpepper687:It probably is a Memphis guitar made in asia. As far as the serial number or model number goes it looks like you have it totally taken apart.
Have you seen any markings in the neck miter, the neck base, and in the electrical component cavity? 🤔If you can find anything I have no idea as to how you can identify it.
I am assuming that you have done a web search on 'memphisguitars.com', 'memphis guitars', 'memphis stratocasters', etc, etc, etc. If not, you may want to try this, but without numbers what can you do or verify???? 🤔Stab in the dark here. Try looking in the 'Blue Book for Electric Guitars' available at Barnes & Nobles and other good book stores.
😎Good Luck,kcbuck. Drpepper687:That's about all you can do without any model number or serial number. Identifying the guitar via pictures is not reliable as there are so many knock-offs and fakes out there. Have you tried getting numbers off of the components (pickups, pods, and switches) and tracing those numbers to a manufacturer? You have your work cut out for you.Good Luck,kcbuckP.S.
Took another look at your pictures below and the machine heads look like Squire by Fender 'Diamond Back Machine Heads' with that long narrow shaft (spindle) and the small holes for mounting into the headstock. See below picture of the machine heads, this may help or at least its a starting point. Yup, those are the exact same machine heads. But this isn't a Squire. Could 'Memphis' have made exact copies or used the same ones?
(I heard they got sued by Gibson for something like that and went out of business as a result) Or could these just be Squire machine heads that somebody put on this guitar.I'll tell you one thing, a few of them weren't very good (loose). Then again, this guitar might be from the 70's or 80's and that's just old age making them loose. Download lagu stereo hearts stafaband.
Still don't know anything about the guitar other than a few rumors. PS: Here's the current state of the guitar. I am waiting on the last few peices to come in the mail, but so far it's looking good. Though you can't see from the picture, the pickgaurd has been painted with a special pearl paint so it has a slight glitter to it. The pickup covers have been painted black and I installed new tuning knobs. Everything clearcoated of course, including the neck which was slightly sanded and re clearcoated.
The grain really stands out now.Hopefully my other parts will come in the mail today. Drpepper687:I think you safe to assume that it is a Memphis as Memphis copied a lot of other guitar manufacturers models once the pattern dates expired. It's just what model it is?I see from the original condition that it did have regular stock Stratocaster knobs on it. The black speed knobs are a nice addition, may do that with my Strat's?Like I said before, the 'Blue Book for Electric Guitars' may be able to help you identify it and it's actual fair market value too. Don't give up check the Blue Book at Barnes & Noble. Let me know what you find out, as I'm interested now too.Picks & Frets,kcbuck - Texas BoyP.S. Also do a word search 'Memphis' with the search box located in the upper right hand corner of axecentral's opening screen and see if any past posts can help out.
It's worth a shot, anywho. Ok, I finished the guitar for the most part. I will be upgrading parts over the next couple months, such as replacing the bone bridge thingy at the top of the neck with brass because a good friend of mine and legendary jazz guitarist said brass lets the tone ring longer. I will also be completely replacing every piece of the electronic rig inside. Pickups and all. All this stuff is at least 20 years old and needs to be upgraded.
I might even add a humbucker.Other than that, I found out a bunch of info about the guitar. It was made in the mid-80's by a Korean company that got sued by Gibson and ceased to exist, making these guitars somewhat rare nowadays.
Samick Bass Guitar Serial Numbers Dating
Found 5 or 6 online, but none with the same pointed head. Weird.Anyway, here's some pics. Pepper:I like the black speed knobs that you put on that Memphis, that is why my MIM Stratocaster has them too.
I also put the gold speed knobs on my Epi Les Paul Standard Plus Top and a set of Pearly Gates humbuckers. Sounds and looks much classier than before, way cool look.Congradulations on your own shop, I knew that was coming from past conversations with you. I wish you well with many high paying customers and custom guitars by Dr. The real stuff with real sugar is bottled in Dublin, TX. Just don't forget about us here on axecentral as some of the questions asked could use your expertist and experience. Check in every now and again.Best of Luck w/ The Shop,kcbuck. My business actually focuses on giving old guitars a second life, as well as making guitars that real everyday people can afford.
In this economy (hell, in any economy) most people can't afford to drop $1200 on the high end Fenders, so there's a huge market for Squiers right now. And what makes that even better is the fact that Squiers are an excellent platform for building out. They are cheap but not garbage quality, and can be modified easily with a huge variety of parts that are out there (eBay, though I hate it, has been a big help).By the way, I actually found and bought another Memphis. This time it was a sunburst one, and with a rounded headstock.
I have found many and learned a lot about them since I started this thread almost 2 years ago. Despite their cheapy cost, they are actually pretty darn good players. Really good tone for some reason. No two seem to be the same, the company that made them had no consistency in design. That's Asia for ya.