Paiste Serial Numbers

Paiste serial numbers were first applied during 1972. Prior to this there was no accurate means of determining the age of a Paiste other than to identify the years of production for the series or model, when known.
These cymbals are referred to as "Pre-Serial" cymbals.
It should also be noted that it is not uncommon for serial numbers to be difficult to read due to hammering and lathing. In these cases, the era of the cymbal can usually be identified, but the exact year may not be determined.

Also of important note, cymbals have been found without serial numbers stamped on them from production eras where we might expect them.

This guide does not apply to serial numbers on many prototypes, nor the German made Paistes which seem to have been numbered from 1xxxxx up (see German serial number section below).

? - 1971 preserial and transition models

(Keep in mind trying to date any Paiste by printed labels is not exact: the transition from red ink to black ink for the weights could have varied depending on series and location: German or Swiss plant).

There is a Wiki section that helps determine the age of Formula 602's based on the stamp format: Preserial Era stamps

General rules to follow in determining the age of your 602's, 2002's:

1959 - 1981: Red "type/weight" Stamp ink at 3 o'clock on Standard weight models: Paper Thin, Thin, Thin Crash, Medium, Medium Ride, Heavy, Concert (all lines and models).

1971: Paiste logo stamp starts getting applied above the bell (probably with introduction of 2002 line which comes in late spring) in all Paiste lines and Ludwig cymbals (Standard and Stanople) Paiste Super, Ludwig Standard and Stanople never get a series name stamp.

1972: Serial numbers (on Swiss cymbals), series name logo stamps and outline logo stamp on bottom introduced. "True" Black Label era stamping begins.

Red ink diameter stamp under the bell until 1973 (or very late in-year 1972) and then it changes to Black for the reminder of Black Label phase (1973-1981).

In 1975 (or very late in 1974), the "Type/weight" stamp ink changes to Black for specialty type 602s only: seven sound set cymbals, Chinas, Flat Rides.
Joe Morello cymbals now get the black signature stamp instead of the red Joe Morello Set stamps.

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  Preserial 602 hi-hats only the "type/weight" is stamped

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  Preserial 602 hi-hats size is in red ink

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  Closeup

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  Preserial Stambul 65 "Thin crash" no name just weight printed in red

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  1950's NS12 Stambul with original "offset" weight stamp

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  Preserial 602 23" thin

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  23" thin bottom

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  1960's 602 production showing weight stamps

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  Stamping in action

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  Rubber ink stamps for all sizes and lines

Transition 602 models: Some very early (1972) 602's had serial numbers but didn't have the series name stamped below the name Paiste:
(Vintage 602 SE Hats always had the black diameter stamp under the bell and the SE logo stamps on top were always black.)

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  Transition 23" thin 602, no series name printed

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  23" thin 602 close up: no series name printed

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  Transition 602 20" "heavy" is labeled in red ink #200492 (early '72 production)

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  Size is stamped in red, no outlined "Paiste" logo

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  602 23" medium serial #222910 (mid '72 production)

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  Bottom view: size is stamped in red, no outlined "Paiste" logo

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  B8 Stambul with Paiste name but no series name

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  B8 Stambul with "Paiste" and series name, weight is printed in black, probably post '72 production

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  '73 production 602 sound edge showing black ink for series type

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  '73 production 602 sound edge showing black ink for size

Preserial 2002's: Very early production 2002's (1971) didn't have the series name stamped below the name Paiste. Some also had a "border" around the the 2002 logo stamp (we do not have a picture example).

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  Early ink stamp no "2002" printed

• 2002 14 hh pre serial.jpg

  Early ink stamp no "2002" printed

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  Full labels but no serial#, probably a preserial leftover that was stamped at a later date then sold

1972 - 1981

• Starting some time during 1972 there were six digit numbers stamped on each cymbal.
  

The specific year is identified by the 'first' digit in the serial number. Some believe a leading 1 means 1971, but we haven't found one yet having checked thousands.
All 6 digit serials with a leading 1 check out as 1981 for Swiss made cymbals. The German made ones from the 70's do start with a 1, but that isn't the year (see explanation below).

• Therefore, "345678" would be a cymbal manufactured in 1973.

• The original 1970's style involved no additional lettering with the serial number such as series name.
  

• Research is starting to show that Paiste Nottwil put serial numbers on the lower lines in 1972 and 1973 (at least some of the time) and then stopped this practice in very early 1974, choosing only to put serial numbers on the professional lines (F602, 2002 and later Sound Creation) for the rest of the Black Label era.
  

• All series (except Paiste 101) were using black labels during this era.
  

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  Very early 1972 Formula 602 serial #

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  1973 2002

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  1974 Formula 602

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  1975 2002

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  1976 Formula 602

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  1978 2002

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  1979 Sound Creation

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  1980 2002

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  Very early 1980 2002 production

As a general rule for all Paiste lines made in Switzerland:

• 6 digits no lettering: 70's production, first digit indicating year:
  

2xxxxx 1972
3xxxxx 1973
4xxxxx 1974
5xxxxx 1975
6xxxxx 1976
7xxxxx 1977
8xxxxx 1978
9xxxxx 1979
0xxxxx 1980
1xxxxx early 1981

**German serial numbers**

Some collectors are sure they have 1971 production Paiste cymbals with serial numbers starting with 1xxxxx, they are in fact German made Paistes with a different serial numbering format.
German-made 2002's started receiving serial numbers from late 1974 to early 1975 onwards: they used a different system than the Swiss system (they are numbered consecutively), the first digit does not equal the year!
If you are looking at a German Black Label Paiste from the 1970s, the second digit is a good general indicator of the year here's a breakdown (these dates are not exact):
1971 ~1973 no serial numbers
1974-1979 serial numbers : 10xxxx-20xxxx (17xxxx serial is from around 1977 or 1978. a lower third digit: 171xxx -174xxx most likely = 1977 while a higher third digit 175xxx - 179xxx puts you around 1978) (another example: #196181 late 70's)
1980 serial numbers: 20xxxx - 21xxxx
1981-1986 serial numbers: 22xxxx-3xxxxx (example: #228044 early 80's) (All 2oo2s with serial# 22xxxx are red labeled)
1986-1990 serial numbers: 3xxxxx-4xxxxx (example: #333994 mid 80's, #418074 late 80’s).

Confirmed specific dates from the German factory:
serial# 2612xx produced in November 1983
serial# 2984xx produced in October 1984
serial# 3244xx produced in August 1985
(Right before Paiste went to the printed color logos it looks like production increased and they started going through serials at a faster rate.)

The German plant is known for making all of the "lower line cymbals" through Paiste's history up to the present, it is understood that Sound Creations were never made in Germany.
Quite a few 2002’s were made there, especially for the German market (we do not see many here in the U.S).

Here is an example of German made 2002’s with consecutive serial numbers (common for a matched pair) most likely made in early/mid 1977:

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  German 2002 15" marching cymbals with consecutive serials

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  German 2002 stamp

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  German 2002 serial# 173368 = mid 1977 production

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  German 2002 serial# 173367 = mid 1977 production

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  German 505 serial# 194708 = approx. 1979 production

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  German 505 serial# 203998 = 1980 production

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  German 404 serial# 251468 = approx. 1982 production

1981 - 1986

• Starting in 1981, "PAISTE" started to be stamped above the serial number, often along with SERIES. (NOTE: This change occurred not at the beginning of the year, but sometime during it - some examples of the previous style exist with 1981 serial numbers.)

• Like before, the first number indicates year - the following would be an example of 1982:

PAISTE 2002 234567

• 6 digits with plain PAISTE stamp:
  

1xxxxx remainder of 1981 (some early Color printed Logo '81 cymbals just have PAISTE above the number and not series name)
2xxxxx 1982
3xxxxx 1983
4xxxxx 1984
5xxxxx 1985
6xxxxx early 1986

• During this time (mid/late '81) Paiste changed label colors on some of their series. Formula 602 - Blue, 2002 - Red, 505 - Green, among others.
  
• The RUDE and Colorsound 5 names were NOT stamped after PAISTE.
  

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  Formula 602 was shortened to simply "602" 1982 serial

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  Sound Creation was located under PAISTE, due to space limitations 1982 serial

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  1981 RUDE

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  1984 Colorsound 5

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  1982 Formula 602

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  1984 505

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  1984 Sound Creation

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  1984 Colorsound 5

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  1985 2002

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  1985 2002 (Special Order Reflector finish)

1986 - 1989/90

• During 1986 (probably when they launched all the new lines - 3000, 2000, 1000, etc.), "PAISTE" was stamped above the serial number, without series name.
  

• Like before, the first number indicates year - the following would be an example of 1989:

PAISTE 901234

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  1986 2000 Colorsound

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  1986 3000

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  1987 2002

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  1987 Formula 602

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  1987 Sound Creation

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  1988 3000

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  1988 3000 Reflector

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  1989 Formula 602

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  1990 Sound Formula

1986 Model phaseout/replacements

• 505 (discontinued by this time) and the new1000 lines both used green logos.
• 2002 and the new3000 lines used red logos. The red ink on the 3000 series is a little darker color.
• Formula 602 and the new2000 lines both used blue logos.
• With the exception of the 2002/3000 series, none of the other new series were direct replacements, they just shared the same color ink!

• 505 16 Crash.jpg

  505

• 1000 18 Crash.jpg

  1000

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  2002

• 3000 20 Ride.jpg

  3000

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  Formula 602

• 2000 16 Crash.jpg

  2000

1989/90 - 1995

• During late '89 or ealy '90 the company name was changed to the 'high/low' style" "pAisTe".

• Therefore "pAisTe 345678" would be from 1993.

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  1989 Rude with new high/low style

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  1990 3000

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  1991 2000 Sound Reflections

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  1993 Formula 602

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  1993 Signature

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  1995 2002

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  1995 2000 Sound Reflections

1995 - 2011

• Sometime in 1995 Paiste started using eight digit serial numbers. In these cases, the first two digits represent the year of production.

• Therefore "96789012" would be from 1996.

• 1995 Signature Serial.jpg

  1995 Signature

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  1996 Sound Formula

• 1999 Signature Serial.jpg

  1999 Signature

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  1999 Dimensions

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  2000 Signature

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  2004 2002

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  2008 Signature

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  2009 Dark Energy

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  2010 Giant Beat

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  2011 Formula 602

• Starting in about 2005, "MADE IN SWITZERLAND" was added to the bottom logo of the 2002 cymbals.

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  MADE IN SWITZERLAND

2011 - present

• In the second half of 2011, Paiste started using a laser etched serial number on the cymbal's bottom side. Numbers are not stamped on the top side from this point on. The first two numbers are still the year produced.
  

• 2012 Giant Beat Serial.jpg

  2012 Giant Beat

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  2015 Signature

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  2016 Masters

• 2017 Giant Beat Serial.jpg

  2017 Giant Beat

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  2017 Masters

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  2018 Giant Beat

• 2018 Signature Reflector Serial.jpg

  2018 Signature Reflector

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