Meinl Serial Numbers
Decoding Meinl Serial Numbers
According to the Meinl Wiki, serial numbers were first added to their cymbals (by laser etching) in 2002. (Although samples with a 2001 serial have been found.)
Originally there were 7 digits in the number, with the first number being the last digit of the year.
For example: 3098761 would be from 2003.
2001 (from the Amun series)
2001 (from the Amun series)
2002
2003
By 2005 (if not before, data is needed), the serial number went to 8 digits:
For example: 50987615 would be from 2005.
2005
2006
2009 (this is odd!)
Currently Meinl is using a 9 digit number, with the first 2 digits being the year.
For example: 161287908 would be from 2016.
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
More Information
The two digits after the year are the month of production:
01 = January
02 = February, and so on.
24 (2024) + 05 (May)
Usually the serial number can be found in the 12 O'Clock position.
However, sometimes there isn't enough space in that area of the cymbal, so it is applied in the 3 o'clock position.
And then in some cicumstances it's located in the 12 O'clock position on the bottom side.
