Dean Rhapsody 12-String Bass Serial Numbers

There are three different serial numbering systems found on the Dean Rhapsody 12-string basses. These numbering schemes are indicative of which company in Korea manufactured the basses:

• E = World Factory in South Korea (Old designation)

  1. US = Un Sung Factory in Inchon, South Korea

  2. WK = World Factory in South Korea (New designation)

There is consistency throughout all three in that the first two digits of the serial number are the last two digits of the year in which the bass was built. While Dean does not differentiate these as separate types or production runs, we have found it helpful to sort them into these general categories.

The first series of basses have the letter ‘E’ followed by 6 digits. Production dates range from 2000 through 2005 (this one dates to 2001) although there are also a few recorded examples of 2010 and 2011 dates. This may be due to a new builder using up a supply of new old-stock parts. First series basses have the Dean logo centered between the tuners as shown below

The second series of basses have ‘US’ followed by 8 digits. This example dates to 2014. While most basses in this series are dated from 2012 through 2015, there are basses dated from 2006 that have the headstock of the first series (see below). This is likely due to the change in the manufacturing company in Korea; the new company started a new format for serial numbers but there were necks left over from the first company which already had the logo positioned in the center of the tuners.

The current third series has the letters “WK” followed by 8 digits. Dates in 2017 and 2018 have been seen so far.