• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

headcrash

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
240
Location
Germany
Hi forumites,
where can I find an explanation of the build codes, which the serial number tool spits out?
 

jayjayjay

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2021
Messages
276
There are various posts on the forums describing it - search around. I don't know that there's (yet) a single post/thread that compiles them all together, though.
 

headcrash

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
240
Location
Germany
Thanks jayjayjay, I was hoping for a real "decoder", especially concerning the color codes.
Do you know or someone else, which color is the code "21"?
 

PeteDuBaldo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
10,149
Location
Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
Thanks a lot Pete !!
Is there an online source where to look up the color codes?
Not at this point, I have some old catalogs and price sheets that I reference. I have also used the "wayback machine" to look at the early versions of the Ernie Ball website and pull color names and build codes where available.

The colors number in the hundreds, and EB has within the past 3 years moved to a 3-digit color code. Some color codes have been all numbers, some all letters, and they are now a combination of both, and sometimes they make sense while other times they do not (at least on the surface).

Some examples :
01 Black
02 White
21 Candy Red (Candy apple red is different)
09 Mystic Dream
DD Martini Olive Green (Dargie Delight 1)
BH Kinetic Blue (makes sense, right?)
J3 Blue Honu (JP Majesty color #3)
BD is Hydrospace (original working name was Blue Dream)
CA1 is quilt Diablo Blue
CA2 is flame Diablo Blue
CA3 is opaque Diablo Blue

With all of the exclusive and limited runs the number of color codes has exploded, and without an EB database dump there's no real way to compile a list - plus the list is always growing as added added all the time for BFR, one-offs, etc.
 

jayjayjay

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2021
Messages
276
Looks like you've already got one started!

Folks could provide the serial numbers of their instruments for looking up the build codes, as well as scraping the archive. Some online shops list the serial numbers of instruments on sale, as well. Alternatively, if someone didn't want to give the s/n they could look it up and provide the build code along w/ the color the EBMM tool spits out.

Obviously it wouldn't be complete - to say nothing of instruments built before EBMM started using/publishing build codes - but over time it could become fairly comprehensive.
 

dave1812

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2011
Messages
575
Location
Germany
Here are the Build Codes for my EBMMs

JP7 Honey Roasted PDN (Piezo/Dot Inlays/Matching Headstock)
971-CH-PM-00-CS-LE

JP6 Emerald Green Sparkle PDN (No Piezo/Shield Inlays/Matching Headstock)
960-ES-26-00-CS-CR

JP6 Neptune Blue PDN (Piezo/Dot Inlays/No Matching Headstock)
961-NB-R2-00-CS-CR

JP6 Starry Night PDN (Piezo/No Inlays/No Matching Headstock)
961-SN-RB-00-CS-CR

Bongo 5HH Vintage Tobacco Burst PDN
162-AA-M2-01-CS-CR
 

headcrash

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
240
Location
Germany
Here are mine (three):

350-35-11-00
Axis Sport HH Hardtail
-> for this guitar the database to does not spit out more, so the following is provided by me:
Burnt Apple no pickguard maple neck maple fretboard matching headstock



310-53-11-00-CS-CR
Axis Super Sport HH Hardtail Translucent Gold
Maple Neck Maple Fretboard Matching Headstock


My Axis Sport HSS hardtail transparent red black pickguard Maple Neck Maple fretboard non-matching headstock is from 1997 and there is no build code
 

nikwik

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2016
Messages
24
I started work on a spreadsheet for build codes by trawling through the serial number database a few years back and the attached PDF is as far as I got - posted this on my Facebook Axis group last week as it happens.
Hi forumites,
where can I find an explanation of the build codes, which the serial number tool spits out?
 

Attachments

  • Axis Build Codes.pdf
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nikwik

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2016
Messages
24
Here are mine (three):

350-35-11-00
Axis Sport HH Hardtail
-> for this guitar the database to does not spit out more, so the following is provided by me:
Burnt Apple no pickguard maple neck maple fretboard matching headstock



310-53-11-00-CS-CR
Axis Super Sport HH Hardtail Translucent Gold
Maple Neck Maple Fretboard Matching Headstock


My Axis Sport HSS hardtail transparent red black pickguard Maple Neck Maple fretboard non-matching headstock is from 1997 and there is no build code
Build codes may also be on a sticker underneath the pickups - at least thats were it was on my Sport.
 

Bodefosho

New member
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
1
Location
Canada
Thanks for that PDF of build codes. I can fill in one blank: color code 18 is solid red. That's based on my build code of 301-18-11-00-CS-CR.
 

PinkPanther

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2011
Messages
43
Location
Germany
You should hold this model

911= Model: Music Man Luke I (reissue) -
LC= Color: Pearl Candy (was in the original Red Pearl)
20= Neck: (Birds Eye) Maple [=10] + Fretboard: Rosewood [=10] -
00= Pickguard: No -
B2= Case: "Old" Style -
CR= Hardware: Chrome

built on December 27th, 2012

in your hands. Have fun!
 
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