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Last Modified: June 22, 2022
Before 1972, Nisshin Onpa does not seem to have used serial numbers on their Maxon pickups.
1- Maxon pickup serial numbers from 1972 to 1977
- According to data from NisshinOnpa:
The serial number of the Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickups are composed of 5 digits from 1972 to 1977.
The serial number : ABCDD
- A: production line code (1: prototype line, the other numbers are the production line numbers).
- B: year of manufacture (i.e. 1977 was shown as « 7 »)
- C: month, 1=Jan… 9=Sep., 0(zero)=Oct., X=Nov., .(dot)=Dec.
- DD= day of the month (01 to 31)
| Note: if A is 1 (prototype line), B is the year code and CDD are not disclosed. |
Note: The information provided is sourced from an email by NisshinOnpa. However, there appears to be confusion regarding 5-digit serial numbers starting with ‘1’. While NisshinOnpa suggests that the first digit ‘1’ signifies a rare prototype pickup, in reality, these serial numbers are not uncommon. In my experience, all of my Maxon pickups bearing 5-digit S/N begin with the number ‘1’. Moreover, it seems that the subsequent numbers might indicate the year, month, and day of production.
It’s plausible that NisshinOnpa referred to a different serial format starting with ‘1’. Some discussions mention a 2-digit serial number exclusively, but I cannot verify this information.
For visual references, click on the photos below to enlarge them ↓
2- Maxon pickup serial numbers from 1978 to 1981
The serial number of the Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickups from 1978 to 1981 are composed of 6 digits.
The serial number : ABCCDD
- A: production line code (1: prototype line, the other numbers are the production line numbers).
- B: year of manufacture (i.e. 1977 was shown as « 7 »)
- CC: month, 01=Jan… 09=Sep., 10=Oct., 11=Nov., 12=Dec.
- DD= day of the month (01 to 31)
| Note: if A is 1 (prototype line), B is the year code and CCDD are not disclosed. |
Note: The above data comes from an email from NisshinOnpa. However, there is certainly confusion regarding 6-digit serial numbers starting with 1. Indeed, NisshinOnpa mentions that the first digit 1 designates a rare prototype pickup but in fact, these serial numbers are not rare at all.
It’s therefore possible that NisshinOnpa had another serial format starting with 1. Some people talk about a 2-digit serial number only but I cannot confirm this information.
Click on the photos below to enlarge them ↓
Nisshin Onpa – Maxon pickup magnets:
- Alnico 8: U-1000
- Alnico 3: Dry Z
- Alnico 5: U-2000,U-4000
- Alnico 8: U-3000
- Ferrite: U-1000 and UD (starting at the end of 1979)
At late 1981, Fujigen bought the entire Maxon Pickup Division from Nisshin Onpa: patents, know-how, equipment, etc. From early 1982, the pickups which equipped the Greco and other brands made by Fujigen were manufactured by Fujigen themselve.
- Many thanks to my friend Luc Froger who gave us a lot of pics of Maxon pickups with serials starting with 1, 2 and 3.
2 Responses
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“The information provided is sourced from an email by NisshinOnpa”.
Actually, it isn’t. It’s from a post on a Tokai forum that claims to quote an email from Nisshin Onpa but gives no proof. The idea that a company has a “prototype line” makes no sense, and like you said, there’s loads of “1xxxx” serial Maxons. Why would hundreds of these have been exported if they were prototypes?
I’ve seen Maxons with a 00 “month” number. They were made in the zeroth month? The info is wrong. probably someone trying to sell their guitar with “prototype” pickups.