I was wondering about MS-20 serial numbers and identifying characteristics. One thing led to another and, well, I started to compile this page. It grew substantially, and the actual MS-20 details are now on a new page:
Korg MS-20 Serials & Characteristics
There is also a more detailed investigation of one particular serial number:
Twynthesisers
Korg used a variety of serial number systems up to about 1984, when the last product catalogue I’ve read came out [1]; the table below attempts to make sense of them. Introduction years given and chronological order are a bit approximate as not all sources are reliably precise. Some serial numbers are linked to sources (mostly Matrixsynth (MS)); the others are mostly from online ephemera. Numbers suffixed P are devices I have personally examined. Some instruments have appeared online repeatedly; all quasi-permanent appearances found are listed. Where an item is relisted on an auction site by the same seller it will normally be regarded as one appearance, unless additional photos etc. are given. “ⓘ” symbols indicate tooltips with additional information, usually dates or reliability qualifications.
This page will usually be updated as and when I see more numbers. (Additions with durable online sources or pictures welcome.)
Please note: The presence on this page of a serial number found on a sales site does not imply anything about the honesty of the seller; indeed there are a growing number of cases where the sale seem unlikely to be genuine, and the purported sellers may not even be in the country they claim to be selling in. (Alternatively images may be reused by different sellers who are too lazy to take their own shots, but it will look like the same device.) Examples are noted here in an attempt to find patterns in serial numbers.
Year-based and Other Numbers (c.1966–1981)
Most of the early serial numbers for models introduced up to c.1977 seem to be a two-digit year number followed by a distinct four-digit series for each model (yynnnn). This is shown by the existence of duplicates of the complete numbers e.g. there are two 760051s but they are different models. (See Appendix: Collisions) n.b. this means that serial numbers cannot be used to determine production numbers for these models.
However, some models have either four or five digits, but no year ((n)nnnn), and there is at least one instance of an eight-digit number.
Sometimes a particular model may change from one system to another, or perhaps use different systems in different national markets; in some cases the importer/rebadger may have used their own serial numbers which are unlike Korg’s.
Several early Korg products were rebadged, mostly as Univox for import to the USA. Some of these seem to use their own numbering.
To some extent, it is possible to determine which national market group a particular device was originally sold in by checking the rated mains voltage. [2] Roughly, that’s 100V — Japan; 117V — North, Central & northern South America, Taiwan; 220V — continental Europe, most of Africa, most of South America; 240V — former British empire countries. [3] In some instances there seem to be distinct serial numbers for the different markets.
| model | intro. year | number type | examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donca Matic Rockmate [4] (beatbox) | 1966 | nnnnnn |
|
| Mini Pops Doncamatic (organ module) | ? | yynnnn | |
| Doncamatic Mini Pops 5 (organ module) | 1966 | yynnnn | |
| Mini Pops 7 / SR-95 (beatbox) |
1966 | nnnnn | |
| yynnnn | |||
| Mini Pops 3 / SR-55 (beatbox) |
1967 | yynnnn |
|
| JR-5 [5] (beatbox) | 1971? | yynnnn | |
| Mini Pops Junior (beatbox) | 1972 | yynnnn | |
| Synthesizer Traveler / F-1 (multi-effects pedal) |
1972? | yynnnn |
|
| Donca Matic Stage Man / SM-20 (beatbox combo amplifier) |
I’ve seen the introduction date given as 1973 to 1979, but the earlier end of that range seems more likely. The only s/n example I’ve seen seems to be 1975 but it’s not absolutely clear that it is a serial number rather than something else. | ||
| ? | yynnnnnn | ||
| VCF / Synthe Pedal / FK-1 [6] (filter module with pedal) |
1973? | yynnnn |
|
| Mr.Multi / FK-2 [7] (multi-effects pedal) |
1973? | yynnnn | |
| K-1 / miniKORG / miniKORG-700 (unitary keyboard |
1973 | 0nnn– 3nnn |
K-1 numbers seem not to form a single continuous sequence. Most are 117V models, Univox-branded.
|
| 5nnn |
5nnn numbers are 100V, Korg branded |
||
| 6nnn |
6nnn numbers are 220V, Korg-branded
|
||
| 7nnn 8nnn |
most 7/8nnn numbers are 240V, Korg-branded *7816 is 230V |
||
| K-2 / miniKORG 2 / miniKORG-700S (unitary keyboard |
1974 | (0|1)nnnn |
Some K-2s use four or five digits. This mostly looks like a single series, but dropping the leading zero after about 1300.
11423 is an outlier here, and may not be part of the same series. (Or may have an extra 1 by mistake.) All these are Univox-branded (Univox miniKorg K-2), imported to the USA; perhaps they used their own numbering for this model? |
| 5nnnn |
One Japanese-market 100V K-2 found. (miniKorg-700S) |
||
| 5nnnnn |
Other K-2s have six-digit numbers beginning 5, and are all 240/220V models. The 5 could represent 1975 — but if so, what happened in 1974? Were K-2s only sold in the US in the first year? Perhaps these are both 74 and 75. 503- numbers seem all to be 240V Korg-branded. One 504- has turned up, for a Korg-branded 220V model which being sold from Sweden, but with an older French label. Perhaps 504- was used for 220V markets? Then there is a Korg-branded 240V 510- instance, which may represent an overflow from the initial 503- block, skipping 504-? |
||
| yynnnn |
From 1976 to 1979, some K-2s have regular year-based numbers (no 78s found yet):
*240V miniKorg-700S†117V miniKorg 2. According to the plates these are imported by Unicord but they aren’t actually branded Univox.‡220V miniKorg-700S
|
||
| K-3 / MAXIKORG / KORG-800DV (unitary keyboard |
1974 | K-3s have two distinct types of serial numbers, 4-digit and year-based 6-digit. From the year component of the 6-digit numbers it seems possible that they were introduced late in 1975, and that all 4-digit numbers are earlier. Both types appear to have been used in all major national markets. | |
| 0nnn |
0nnn numbers are Univox- or Unicord-branded, 117V (MaxiKorg): |
||
| [57]nnn |
5- numbers (and so far only one 7-) are Korg-branded (800DV), and are mostly 100V, except: * 240V, † 220V, ‡ unknown:
|
||
| yynnnn |
Most of the 6-digit numbers are 117V Univox-/Unicord-branded (Maxi-Korg). The remainder are Korg-branded (800DV), * 100V, † 220V, ‡ 240V: |
||
| RT-10 (electronic metronome) | 1974? | nnnnn | |
| WT-10A [8] (electronic tuner) | 1975 | nnnnnn |
The nature of these numbers is not clear. As far as I’m aware this model was not produced in either 1970, the 1980s, or the 1990s.
|
| 900PS
(unitary keyboard |
1975 | yynnnn |
|
| SB-100 (unitary keyboard bass synthesiser) | 1975 | yynnnn |
|
| Mini Pops 35 (beatbox) | 1976 | yynnnn | |
| Mini Pops 120(P/W) [9] (beatbox) | 1976 | yynnnn | |
| Mini Pops SR-120 (beatbox) | 1976 | yynnnn |
|
| K-4 / PE-1000 / Poly Ensemble-P (piano-strings keyboard w/ synth voice) |
1976 | yynnnn |
|
| K-5 / PE-2000 / Poly Ensemble-S (organ-strings keyboard) |
1976 | yynnnn |
(see note [10])
|
| KORG-770
(unitary keyboard |
1976 | yynnnn |
|
| KA-180 (combo keyboard amp) | I have no information regarding the KA-180’s introduction date, and only one serial number as yet. This is significantly later than the last other 5-digit serial number. But a user manual is available online, which is stylistically identical to the 770 manual, which may indicate a 1976 date. And the knobs are the same type used on it and the other 1976 models, and early (1977?) M-500s, so this position should be about right. | ||
| ? | nnnnn |
|
|
| M-500 / micro-preset (unitary keyboard preset synthesiser) |
1977 | yynnnn |
*rebadged as VictorEarly M-500s had the same knob type as Korg 770s and earlier models; later ones (and all M-500SPs) had the same as on the PS-series and later models. The change seems to have occurred in mid-1977, but all ‘Victors’ so far have the early type.
|
| M-500SP / micro-preset (unitary keyboard preset synthesiser) |
1977 | yynnnn | |
| 19nnnn |
Some M-500SPs have numbers in the upper half of the 19- block, so they might have been placed there by Korg later in the production run after they stopped using year-based numbers, on the basis that they weren’t going to sell more than 5,000 MS-50s? It seems likely that 95245 is one of these, but with a missing leading 1 on its label. Or it could be a missing 7; however — tentatively — given the numbers found so far, it looks as though 79s stopped in 792-. This fits with the 1978 production which also came to two thousand and something. The first digit of 1(?)95782 is not visible, but I’m assuming it fits in here too; it’s possible that it was also missing. |
||
| PS-3010 (keyboard) | 1977 | yynnnn | |
| PS-3100
(polyphonic unitary/semimodular keyboard |
1977 | The PS-3300 and PS-3010, released simultaneously, seem to use regular year-based numbers. [11] So you’d expect the first PS-3100s to have 77- numbers, but only 71 and 80 (which I assume is year-based) so far. So perhaps 71- was used for 1977–79 instead. (It could be a model number introduced late in production, eventually overlapping with the Poly-61. But then, where are the 1977–79 ones? Perhaps someone at Korg had become discontented with colliding numbers in 1975–1977?) | |
| 71nnnn | |||
| yynnnn | |||
| PS-3300 (polyphonic semimodular synthesiser) | 1977 | yynnnn | |
Model Numbers (1977–c.1983)
The year-based number system seems to have been retired in 1981. From c.1977–83 new models have six-digit serial numbers where the first two digits are mostly specific to the model. In some instances (presumably the better-selling models) there are additional number blocks.
The last four digits usually seem to be a separate sequence for each model. This is shown by the existence of duplicates of these four digits between models. Consequently the serials should tell us something about production numbers, but we don’t get a production date.
Mostly the numbers were not separate for different national markets. But there are exceptions. Some of the leading digits do overlap between models, but as yet I haven’t noticed any complete duplicates between models.
It seems that the tuners (WT-12, GT-6, Micro-Six) don’t follow the same pattern, as indeed, the WT-10A didn’t. However, as yet at least, there are no duplicate numbers, so these are probably in the same numberspace. The other overlaps are with the PK-13 pedalboard and the KR-55B, and there are other question marks around Korg pedals. Perhaps Korg had a slightly different view of tuners and other ‘accessories’ than of keyboards and other more substantial products.
(See the Appendix below for a quick summary of these numbers.)
| model | intro. year | number type | examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| EM-570 (powered mixer) | 1977 | 11nnnn | |
| SE-500 (tape echo unit) | 1977 | 12nnnn | |
| MS-10 [12]
(unitary/semimodular keyboard |
1978 | 13nnnn |
|
| MS-20
(unitary/semimodular keyboard |
1978 | 14nnnn 439nnn |
(see the MS-20s page) |
| GT-6 (electronic guitar tuner) | 1978? | 12nnnn? 14nnnn? 15nnnn? 16nnnn? |
This appears to overlap with the MS-20s and SQ-10s, but additional numbers might extend that. [13] I have also (2022-09) seen pictures of a GT-6 with a handwritten number 32405 but I doubt that’s its original number; it may be an inventory number. (2023-02:) There is also now a Micro-6 with a 14- number. |
| SQ-10 (step sequencer) | 1978 | 15nnnn |
|
| VC-10 (polyphonic keyboard vocoder) | 1978 | 16nnnn |
Early VC-10s misspelled the word RESPONSE as RESPONCE on the front panel. I’m not exactly sure when it was corrected but these images show that it was probably between 160449 and 160469, though 160518 has a C as well; which may be down to reaching the bottom of an older stock pile. However, 160177 has an S.
|
| MS-02 (control interface) | 1978 | 17nnnn | |
| MS-03 (control interface) | 1978 | 18nnnn |
|
| MS-50 (modular synthesiser) | 1978 | 19nnnn |
|
| SE-300 (tape echo unit) | 1978 | 20nnnn | |
| PS-3200
(programmable polyphonic semimodular |
1978 | 21nnnn | |
| WT-12 (electronic tuner) | 1979? | Not sure what’s going on here. The serial numbers are of the model-based type but mostly overlap with other models; it may be that there’s another unknown 22- model too. [14] No collisions so far. [15] | |
| 20nnnn 21nnnn 22nnnn 23nnnn 26nnnn |
|
||
| Λ / Lambda / ES-50 (organ-strings keyboard) |
1979? | 23nnnn |
|
| Σ / Sigma / KP-30 (polyphonic preset synthesiser) |
1979 | Some Sigmas have a four-digit number starting 0, which is usually also printed on a label on the top panel. Others have a six-digit number starting 24. It seems possible that the 0nnn group are part of the same sequence, but leaving off the 24-. [16] n.b. several sellers have written that only 1,000 Sigmas were made, but it looks like being at least 3,500 from these results. | |
| 0nnn |
These were all originally 100V-rated (Japan market).
|
||
| 24nnnn |
All the 24-s are 117V/240V.
|
||
| KR-55 (beatbox) | 1979 | 25nnnn |
|
| 36nnnn |
|
||
| KR-33 (beatbox) | 1979 | 26nnnn |
|
| X-911 (guitar synthesiser module) | 1979 | 27nnnn |
|
| Δ / Delta / DL-50 (unitary keyboard |
1979 | 28nnnn |
|
| PK-13 (bass-pedal keyboard) | ? | Some PK-13s overlap (but don’t collide) in 28s with the Delta. But others are 42-, which is not otherwise occupied as yet. There may be another 42- model? | |
| 28nnnn 42nnnn |
|
||
| SD-400 (BB delay unit) | 1979? | 29nnnn |
|
| SD-200 (BB delay unit) | 1979? | 30nnnn |
|
| WT-3 (Japanese-scale electronic tuner) | ? | 31nnnn? |
|
| CX-3 [17] (electronic organ) | 1979 | 32nnnn |
|
| Trident (I)
(polyphonic unitary keyboard |
1980 | 33nnnn |
|
| BX-3 [18] (dual-manual electronic organ) | 1980? | 34nnnn |
|
| LP-10 (electronic piano) | 1980 | 35nnnn | |
| Mono/Poly / MP-4 (4-voice unitary keyboard |
1981 | 37nnnn |
|
| 47nnnn | |||
| 53 nnnnnn |
These don’t seem to be original Korg number plates; presumably Hagström, the importer’s, plates and numbers? |
||
| PolySix / PS-6 (6-voice unitary keyboard |
1981 | 38nnnn |
|
| 39nnnn |
|
||
| 46nnnn |
|
||
|
|||
| There seems to be an overlap in the 39s between the PolySix and the KR-55B. (This may be why there are significantly fewer 39– than 38– PolySixes?) The numbers are a bit clumpy, as if batches of one or the other model were receiving numbers, anything from about 10 to about 1,500 at a time. (These figures may change, but the distribution really doesn’t seem random at this point.) | |||
| KR-55B (beatbox) | 1982 | 39nnnn | |
| BPX-3 (bass synthesiser module) | 1982? | 40nnnn | |
| Trident II
(polyphonic unitary keyboard |
1982 | 41nnnn | |
| EPS-1 (electronic piano + string machine) | 1982? | 43nnnn |
|
| Micro-Six / GT-6J (guitar/bass tuner) |
MuZines has an advert for the Micro-Six from the December 1982 Music UK. So this is likely to be about the right introduction date even if there are earlier number types. | ||
| 1982? | 13nnnn 14nnnn 43nnnn 46nnnn 49nnnn |
Micro-6s have turned up with 13/14nnnn numbers, like some GT-6s. Implications unknown; possibly they were just using up known unused numbers? |
|
| SDD-3000 [19] (rackmount ‘digital’ delay unit) | 1982? | 44nnnn |
|
| KPR-77 (programmable rhythm machine) | 1982? | 45nnnn | |
| 49nnnn |
|
||
| Some of these numbers look like the earlier year-based numbers, but they were released later than the number would indicate so I assume they are part of the model-number sequence. (So far there are no duplicates.) This could indicate gaps at 48-, 51- to 59-, 61- to 69- and 73- to 79- where I’ve seen no numbers (also, still no 10). They may be out there, but it looks as though at this point Korg just decided to allocate blocks of 100,000. (Not avoiding older numbers, however; so far one collision is known — Mini Pops 3 and Poly-61 702650 — and there are likely to be others.) | |||
| SP-80 (electronic piano) | 1982? | 5nnnnn |
|
| SP-80S (electronic piano with strings voice) | 1982 | 6nnnnn |
|
| Poly-61
(programmable polyphonic unitary keyboard |
1982 | 7nnnnn |
|
| SAS-20 (presets keyboard) | 1983 | 8nnnnn |
It looks as though there were more than 10,000 of these made? |
Just Numbers (1983–)
After some point in 1983 new models were given six-digit serial numbers which seem just to be numbers 000001-999999 [20] for each model, as a single sequence over the production timespan [21]. (Presumably some products were by now selling so well that blocks of 100,000 seemed likely to be insufficient.) If so, production numbers may be estimable, though then some of the figures are surprising.
| model | intro. year | number type | examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| GT-60X (electronic guitar tuner) | 1983 | nnnnnn |
|
| KMX-8 (mixer) | 1983 | nnnnnn |
|
| PME-40X (effect pedal chassis/controller) | 1983 | nnnnnn |
|
| Poly-61m
(programmable polyphonic unitary keyboard |
1984 | nnnnnn | |
| PSS-50 (groovebox) | 1984 | nnnnnn | |
| Poly-800
(programmable polyphonic unitary keyboard |
1984 | nnnnnn |
|
| DDM-110 (programmable rhythm unit) | 1984 | nnnnnn | |
| DDM-220 (programmable rhythm unit) | 1984 | nnnnnn | |
| KMS-30 (midi synchroniser) | 1984 | nnnnnn |
|
| CPG-01 (chord demonstrator) | 1984 | nnnnnn |
|
| CPS-01 (chord demonstrator) | 1984 | nnnnnn |
|
| EX-800 (programmable polyphonic synthesiser module) | 1984 | nnnnnn | |
| MM-25 (powered speaker) | ? | nnnnnn |
|
| AT-12 (electronic tuner) | ? | nnnnnn |
|
| SDD-1000 (rackmount ‘digital’ delay) | ? | nnnnnn |
|
Known Unknowns
No serial numbers visible on pictures I’ve seen of MS-01s, MS-04s, FK-3s, FK-4s, and FK-5s. I have also examined the slightly later EXP-2, KVP-001, and KVP-002 pedals, and found none. This may be typical for Korg pedals of the time. An exception is the PME-40X — and its modules, which also seem to be “just numbers”, but I haven’t been taking a note of them.
Other models I’ve seen no numbers for include: PS-3040, PS-3050, PS-3060, Mini Pops 20S, Mini Pops 45, WT-13, SP-2035 [22], KM-50, Quartz, CPK-01. There was also a KMT-60, a MIDI thru-box which seems to have been released alongside the KMS-30, but I have neither numbers nor date for it.
As a general caveat regarding distribution of these serial numbers, it should be borne in mind that there is an obvious sampling bias, on the basis that the websites I can keep track of are English-language ones; while this includes some results from Japan and occasionally various parts of Europe, the bulk of these numbers are found either on eBay.uk or on Matrixsynth, which predominantly obtains results from eBay.us. Therefore units sold in non-English national markets are likely to be underrepresented. I have no good information regarding original sales proportions in non-English markets, but there seem to be very few results from, for example, Hindi, Spanish, or Swahili markets. It may indeed be that sales in these areas were quite limited in c.1965–1984, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there at all, and more significantly it doesn’t mean that distinctive serial number formats might not have been used, which are not identified in these results to date.
Appendix: “Model Numbers” Summary
(As found. As noted above, some of these correspondences are a little unclear.)
| 10nnnn | ? | 25nnnn | KR-55 | 40nnnn | BPX-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11nnnn | EM-570 | 26nnnn | KR-33, WT-12 | 41nnnn | Trident II |
| 12nnnn | SE-500, GT-6 | 27nnnn | X-911 | 42nnnn | PK-13 |
| 13nnnn | MS-10 | 28nnnn | Delta, PK-13 | 43nnnn | EPS-1, Micro-Six |
| 14nnnn | MS-20, GT-6, Micro-Six | 29nnnn | SD-400 | 439nnn | MS-20 |
| 15nnnn | SQ-10, GT-6 | 30nnnn | SD-200 | 44nnnn | SDD-3000 |
| 16nnnn | VC-10, GT-6 | 31nnnn | WT-3 | 45nnnn | KPR-77 |
| 17nnnn | MS-02 | 32nnnn | CX-3 | 46nnnn | PolySix, Micro-Six |
| 18nnnn | MS-03 | 33nnnn | Trident | 47nnnn | Mono/Poly |
| 19nnnn | MS-50 | 34nnnn | BX-3 | 48nnnn | ? |
| 20nnnn | SE-300, WT-12 | 35nnnn | LP-10 | 49nnnn | KPR-77, Micro-Six |
| 21nnnn | PS-3200, WT-12 | 36nnnn | KR-55 | 5nnnnn | SP-80 |
| 22nnnn | WT-12 | 37nnnn | Mono/Poly | 6nnnnn | SP-80S |
| 23nnnn | Lambda, WT-12 | 38nnnn | PolySix | 7nnnnn | Poly-61 |
| 24nnnn | Sigma | 39nnnn | PolySix, KR-55B | 8nnnnn | SAS-20 |
Appendix: Collisions
All duplications (and triplications) of serial numbers found on this page. (n.b. does not currently include MS-20s. In instances above where digits are given as unclear, they will not appear in this table.)
| number | instances |
|---|---|
| 0066 | K-1 0066, Σ 0066 |
| 005117 | DDM-220 005117, EX-800 005117 |
| 702650 | Mini Pops 3 702650, Poly-61 702650 |
| 760051 | K-3 760051, KORG-770 760051 |
| 760093 | K-3 760093, K-5 760093 |
| 760322 | K-2 760322, K-3 760322 |
| 770004 | K-3 770004, Mini Pops SR-120 770004, K-5 770004 |
| 770024 | VCF 770024, K-3 770024 |
| 770041 | Mini Pops Junior 770041, K-5 770041 |
| 770071 | K-3 770071, Mini Pops 35 770071 |
| 770073 | K-2 770073, KORG-770 770073 |
| 770167 | K-4 770167, KORG-770 770167 |
| 770172 | VCF 770172, 900PS 770172 |
| 770203 | 900PS 770203, K-4 770203, M-500 770203 |
| 770220 | K-3 770220, KORG-770 770220 |
| 770222 | K-5 770222, KORG-770 770222 |
| 770325 | Mr.Multi 770325, KORG-770 770325 |
| 770410 | K-5 770410, KORG-770 770410 |
| 770441 | K-4 770441, KORG-770 770441 |
| 770474 | K-4 770474, KORG-770 770474 |
| 770657 | K-4 770657, KORG-770 770657 |
| 771201 | M-500 771201, PS-3300 771201 |
(This table is automatically generated and may be updated without notice.)
Comment or Question about this page? write
Notes
- After 1984 there seems to be an increasingly numerous and indistinct range of plastic boxes and serial numbers. I don’t feel like I have time to spend on them. ↖
- Note for people used to recent products: In this period linear power supplies were the norm, and setting these up to switch (even manually) between input voltages was regarded as an undesirable expense by most manufacturers. Digital instruments can usually get away with switch-mode power supplies, which can be built to automatically adjust to possible input voltages relatively simply. Even recent analogue instruments are less likely to have national (mains voltage) market differences, due to the use of external power adaptors. ↖
- 220V countries would also include current Chinese empire and former Soviet empire countries, but there may not have been any direct sales there. There are several examples where devices have been converted to a different voltage, including some to 230V. There is also one K1 which does seem to have an original 230V stamp, though I’m not sure where in the world 230V was a standard at the time; perhaps for touring between 220V and 240V areas? Or just a typo. ↖
- The Rockmate was also rebadged as several different brands/model names including Olsen, Lafayette Rockbeat, Knight Combo Sideman, Wexler (see examples here, here, here). To date I haven’t seen any of their serial numbers. ↖
- The JR-5 was Univox-branded and seems to be the same machine as the Mini Pops Junior. Tentatively, we might think it was simply renamed early in 1972? ↖
- The VCF (also called Synthe Pedal) was operated with an FK-1 pedal, and is sometimes listed as the FK-1, which in fairness is actually written on the numberplate. But contemporary Korg catalogues list the FK-1 pedal as separate from the VCF. Confused yet? Well in addition some VCFs seem to be partnered with FK-4 pedals. Make what you will of that. ↖
- There is another Mr.Multi at Matrixsynth which doesn’t seem to have a serial number but does show what may be a 4-digit batch number inside. ↖
- I’m not clear whether the WT-10A and WT-10 are precisely the same thing. Korg themselves seem to do without the A in their current materials but all these examples have it, as did their catalogues at the time. There are slight cosmetic differences between the 7- versions and the 8- and 9- versions. ↖
- The Mini Pops 120 was produced with two case types, a portable version and a not-so-portable woody-cased one. I’m assuming that these are the versions listed in the Korg catalogue as 120P and 120W, and have added the suffixes accordingly. ↖
- The MS article Korg Poly Ensemble S String Synthesizer PE-2000 K-5 SN 03044 (2012-02-18) shows another K-5. While the title claims this is s/n 03044, it should be a six-digit number, probably starting with a year 76- to maybe 79-. However, I can’t make it out. The label saying 03044 seems to be an inventory number added by a studio. (Sentience Studio, from which other clearer labels also appear in several MS articles.) ↖
- The later PS-3200 used model number 21-; no numbers yet found for other members of the PS product family. ↖
- The service manual for the MS-10 states that the noise circuit was changed starting with s/n132828. (This implies that Korg used incrementing serial numbers.) It also indicates that the first MS-10 was 130000 rather than 130001, which implies that this may have been normal for the “model-number” series. ↖
- The GT-6 appears in the Korg 1978 brochure with the MS-20 and MS-10. In Korg’s interview with Mieda Fumio and Nishijima Hiroaki, they state that it was developed concurrently with the original MS-series models, but I have no specific information regarding order of introduction. I’m placing it between the MS-20 and SQ-10 on the basis of serial numbers found to date, but there may be more to come . . . ↖
- PS-3060 perhaps? ↖
- Possibly, having used up the 22- block, someone decided they weren’t going to sell more than a thousand Stage Echo 300s or PS-3200s, so they might as well use the spare numbers; but the 23- and 26- numbers are a bit intermingled with the later Lambdas and KR-33s. ↖
- Rationale: No duplication found yet between the 0nnn and 240nnn, and it’s beginning to look like there may be disproportionately few 240nnns. (Update: As more numbers have accumulated it appears that there are even fewer 242nnns, which brings that into doubt. More examples needed.) ↖
- A digital revision of the CX-3 was released in 2001, which has a six-digit number type. They are also visually distinct. ↖
- A digital revision of the BX-3 was released in c.2001. They are visually distinct. No s/ns seen yet. ↖
- A pedal (rather than rack) version of the SDD-3000 with later-type serial numbers was released in 1984 or later. ↖
- At least, we have two or more numbers under 100. ↖
- (Update:) This seems to be demonstrated by the existence of DDM-220 and EX-800 005117. ↖
- I suspect these are the 10- block on grounds of proximity to the EM-570. ↖
Article text ©2022–2023 Electropict 
.
Click images for individual licences.