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walrus121
Silver Member
USA
187 Posts |
 Posted - 10/15/2005 : 05:02:49
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As long as we are in competition here, I can at least say that my BF-2 is older than your NF-1.
178100 |
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BOSSguy
Copper Member
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2005 : 05:28:25
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quote:
Originally posted by walrus121
As long as we are in competition here, I can at least say that my BF-2 is older than your NF-1.
178100
but my BF-2 is older then your BF-2 hehehehehe 
BF-2 066500
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2005 : 07:11:56
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if this were a competition, then my MIJ BF-2 (silver screw, two-hole battery compartment, SN 0300 ink stamped above switch) would be even older than both of your BF-2's... but I'd still lose,  since maniacally_cool's NF-1 (SN 0200) is presumably even older:
http://bossarea.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=37&whichpage=13
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Sunburst
Silver Member
427 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2005 : 12:16:40
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quote:
Originally posted by bossarea
The theory about the first digit indicating year may have some bearing on reality. For the most part it looks right. The only anomaly I've found is my CS-2 that has a number starting with 9 but we already know about some errors in the production years. Up until around 7xxxxx they all seem to end with 00. The numbers starting with 8 and 9 are all full 6 digit.
Here's the list of my 6 digit numbers:
TW-1 162400
CE-2 164900
VB-2 204100
DM-2 232300
PSM-5 285300
HM-2 441300
DF-2 529300
GE-7 550100
NF-1 568500
OD-2 833468
DD-3 861653
DC-2 876438
MZ-2 878696
CE-3 884463 (Taiwan)
CS-2 902757
DC-3 906154
LM-2 920425
I have 2 pedals with rather interesting numbering. My early Taiwan OC-2 has a 2 letter 5 digit number on a sticker inside the battery compartment. The sticker is the same type that is used for the 6 digit numbers.
My DS-2 has a yellow sticker with a 2 letter, 5 digit number below the thumb screw. The same sticker is also on the box.
Interesting to hear about your CS-2. The double 00 is interesting too, and the same for my pedals. It seems however like a very high percentage of the pedals being checked seem to have the first digit within the years of production. Among my six digits everyone has checked out. Here is my SN list:
DS-1, 568100
HM-2, 619400
OD-2, 924914
TW-1, 079800
DC-2, 701700
DC-3, 949927
Of course the only way to be more sure is to get info from original owners, or people knowing the year a specific pedal was purchased new from a music shop.
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Edited by - Sunburst on 10/15/2005 12:18:13 |
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BOSSguy
Copper Member
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2005 : 17:54:09
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My BF-2 has the two-hole battery compartment as well
It seems that the s/n's that start with 0 all where made this way
My BF-2 s/n is 066500
The Batt wire is along side the spring and comes thru the opening next to the Battery (right side)
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2005 : 23:54:05
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Hey folks.
I have had 4 boss DD-2s. I think the FIRST digit in the serial number, i.e. those that are 6 digits on the paper label under the battery cover denote the year of manufacture.
This appears to agree with all the pedals i've had that were MIJ in 1980's. (BF-2, CE-2, CE-3, GE-7, DD-3, HM-2)
I also have a DC-3 which, has a "9" series SN which denotes an 89 unit.
Don't know if this helps, but I am sure it DOES NOT apply to pedals in early 90's and Taiwan made units that started STAMPING serial numbers on the bottom of the pedal. |
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walrus121
Silver Member
USA
187 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2005 : 03:48:33
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quote:
Originally posted by starr36
Hey folks.
I have had 4 boss DD-2s. I think the FIRST digit in the serial number, i.e. those that are 6 digits on the paper label under the battery cover denote the year of manufacture.
<snip>
Don't know if this helps, but I am sure it DOES NOT apply to pedals in early 90's and Taiwan made units that started STAMPING serial numbers on the bottom of the pedal.
Also should not apply to five digit serial numbers then. I would really have to look at your evidence on this though. |
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walrus121
Silver Member
USA
187 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2005 : 03:58:41
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| Alright, I've looked it over. My broken MIT DS-1 has a number "897969," which I would believe that the first two digits represent the last two digits of the year 1989. However, I don't think that my MIJ BF-2 with number "178100" was built in 1917. So helpful, but must be taken with a grain of salt as not entirely consistent. |
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Sunburst
Silver Member
427 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2005 : 09:56:11
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quote:
Originally posted by walrus121
Alright, I've looked it over. My broken MIT DS-1 has a number "897969," which I would believe that the first two digits represent the last two digits of the year 1989. However, I don't think that my MIJ BF-2 with number "178100" was built in 1917. So helpful, but must be taken with a grain of salt as not entirely consistent.
The theory is that the first digit indicates the year of manufacture. What the other digits represents is unknown. Your DS-1 would then be manufactured in 1988, and your BF-2 in 1981 which makes sense. |
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Sunburst
Silver Member
427 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2005 : 10:07:24
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quote:
Originally posted by starr36
Hey folks.
I have had 4 boss DD-2s. I think the FIRST digit in the serial number, i.e. those that are 6 digits on the paper label under the battery cover denote the year of manufacture.
This appears to agree with all the pedals i've had that were MIJ in 1980's. (BF-2, CE-2, CE-3, GE-7, DD-3, HM-2)
I also have a DC-3 which, has a "9" series SN which denotes an 89 unit.
Don't know if this helps, but I am sure it DOES NOT apply to pedals in early 90's and Taiwan made units that started STAMPING serial numbers on the bottom of the pedal.
Correct, this theory only involves pedals with six digit serialnumbers that is found on a sticker inside the battery compartment. |
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Sunburst
Silver Member
427 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2005 : 08:28:15
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I found some further evidence that strenghtens my theory about the first digit being the year of manufacture. My VB-2 has a serial starting with 2XXXXX, so I was assuming that the pedal is from 1982, the first year of manufacture. When I look at the manual, its printed in september 1982.
This is an important clue.
Cheers... |
Edited by - Sunburst on 11/10/2005 09:24:07 |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2005 : 10:09:14
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I wish I had the original manual for VB-2, and of course the pedal� |
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2005 : 18:52:20
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Due to the question of whether Boss considers this a trade secret (I read that in the Boss book after I got this info), I will not disclose my source, but I do believe that I have the correct S/N decoding info for the newer 2 letter, 4 digit codes used since March of 1989. I posted the info at http://members.cox.net/praisetek
I have yet to decode a serial number that seemed "wrong" - impossible unit number or date of manufacture in the future, etc. I'm very confident at this point that this info is correct.
BTW, this decoding allows you to determine which CH-1's and CE-5's are the older analog versions with MN3101 & MN3007 BBD chipsets in them (like the CE-2) vs. the newer digital versions. This is what originally motivated me to find this decoding info. I'll be adding the detail of that in the future....
I'm skeptical of the "1st number is the year" theory on the older pedals because I, too, have seen S/N's that put the manufacture date outside the range of dates the particular pedal was made.
Boss' service manuals for the old pedals say that the 1st 2 digits of the 4 & 6 digit S/N's rollover to 00 from 99, but don't give any indication of what that actually means. Why are the last 2 digits always 00? If the 1st digit is the year, why would they say it will rollover from 99 to 00?
Gotta run, but I'll add more thoughts as I have time.
Grace and peace,
Steve
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2005 : 19:46:58
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Steve, if I weren't so homofobic I could kiss you.
Truly awesome info. I've checked a few of my pedals already and it all looks correct. Huge Thanks!
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phostenix
Gold Member
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2005 : 20:08:07
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I think you mis-spelled homophobic
No kisses necessary, enjoy the info. I put a lot of time into that research and my only hope is to instill some small level of sanity to the pedal debates.
BTW, my wife has coined the term "pedalphiles" for obsessive pedal collectors. LOL (PC Disclaimer: No offense intended to anyone who might be offended)
I'm just doing "research"
Actually, I intend to build some stuff down the road, we'll see how it goes....
We'll see if I get a cease and desist letter from Boss' attorneys! Ouch!
Grace and peace,
Steve
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Topic |
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How to date a Boss pedal from its serial number?
