Korg M1 — Serial Number =link=

What the serial number indicates

Korg transitioned its numbering system in 1983. For the M1 era (1988–1995), the serial numbers are (usually 6 digits) and do not contain embedded date codes like "YYMM". Instead, dating is determined by comparing your number to known production milestones:

The original CR2032 battery typically lasts 10–15 years; most M1s have already required at least one replacement to keep user programs saved. Korg M1 Serial Number

Some very late M1s (mostly the M1EX or M1R rackmount) feature a letter prefix like A or B . Example: A01234 . This appears to indicate:

Locating the serial number on a vintage Korg M1 is straightforward, though its placement can vary slightly depending on whether you have the original keyboard or the rack-mount version. What the serial number indicates Korg transitioned its

Beyond historical curiosity, the M1’s serial number has concrete, practical uses for owners.

A: Yes. The software version, often sold as the Korg Legacy Collection, uses its own unique product code for digital authorization, which is entirely separate from the hardware serial number on the keyboard's sticker. Some very late M1s (mostly the M1EX or

Using the key production milestone we know (serial #100,000 in November 1990), you can estimate your M1's production date. The table below provides a general guideline for estimating the production period of your Korg M1 based on its serial number range.

Does the number point to an early 1988 build or a later 1991 build?

: A lush, atmospheric pad that showcased the unit's "AI" (Advanced Integrated) Synthesis System [6, 24].

Some users report that holding [ENTER] + [9] while powering on may display the OS version and sometimes an internal date, though this is often the software build date rather than the hardware's birth date. Why Dating Matters