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Last Modified: May 09, 2025
Before 1972, Nisshin Onpa does not seem to have used serial numbers on their Maxon pickups.
1- 1972 - Oct 1977 Maxon pickup serial number
The serial number of the Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickups are 5-digits format (1972-Oct 1977).
The serial number : ABCDD
- A: production line code (1: production line 1, 2: production line 2, etc.).
- B: year of manufacture (i.e. 1975 was shown as « 5 »)
- C: month, 1=Jan… 9=Sep., 0 (zero)=Oct., X=Nov., .(dot)=Dec.
- DD= day of the month (01 to 31)
2- Nov 1977 - 1981 Maxon pickup serial number
The serial number of the Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickups are 6-digits format (Nov 1977-1981).
The serial number : ABCCDD
- A: production line code (1: production line 1, 2: production line 2, etc.).
- B: year of manufacture (i.e. 1980 was shown as « 0 »)
- CC: month, 01=Jan… 09=Sep., 10=Oct., 11=Nov., 12=Dec.
- DD= day of the month (01 to 31)
Nisshin Onpa – Maxon pickup magnets:
- Alnico 8: U-1000 / Super 70
- 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.
Credits : - Many thanks to the Private Collector in Ohio/US who gave us permission to use the pic of his early Maxon pickup whose serial number starts with 3 (Line production n°3)
- 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.
- 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.
Disclaimer The information obtained through this page DOES NOT hold any official or legal validity and can not be used as proof of authenticity of any product. Furthermore, while manufacture dates are accurate for the most part, they might vary sligthly from reality in some cases.
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