Paiste Serial Numbers

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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).

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.

  • Very early 1972 Formula 602 serial #

  • 1974 Formula 602

  • 1973 2002

  • 1975 2002

  • 1976 Formula 602

  • 1978 2002

  • 1979 Sound Creation

  • 1980 2002

  • Black Label (bottom side)

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

  • 6 digits no lettering: 70's first digit indicating year (6xxxxx) is 1976
  • 6 digits with plain PAISTE stamp: 80's, (3xxxxx) is 1983
  • 6 digits with pAisTe (logo): stamp 90's, (2xxxxx) is 1992
  • 8 digits from second half 90's.

**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:

  • German 2002 15" marching cymbals

  • German 2002 stamp

  • German 2002 serial# 173368 = mid 1977 production

  • German 2002 serial# 173368 = mid 1977 production

  • German 505 serial# 194708 = approx. 1979 production

  • German 505 serial #203998 = 1980 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
  • Formula 602 was shortened to simply "602".

  • 1982 Formula 602

  • Sound Creation was located under PAISTE, due to space limitations.

  • 1982 Sound Creation

  • 1981 RUDE

  • 1984 Colorsound 5

  • 1981 Sound Creation Serial.jpg

    1981 Sound Creation

  • 1981 2002 Serial.jpg

    1981 2002

  • 1982 Formula 602

  • 1982 Sound Creation

  • 1984 505

  • 1984 Sound Creation

  • 1984 Colorsound 5

  • 1985 2002

  • 1985 2002 (Special Order Reflector finish)

  • During this time Paiste changed label colors on some of their series. Formula 602 - Blue, 2002 - Red, 505 - Green, among others.

1986 - 1989/90

  • Sometime 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

  • 1986 2000 Colorsound

  • 1986 3000

  • 1987 2002

  • 1987 Formula 602

  • 1987 Sound Creation

  • 1988 3000

  • 1988 3000 Reflector

  • 1989 Formula 602

  • 1990 Sound Formula

  • 505 (discontinued by this time) and the 1000 lines both used green logos.
  • 2002 and 3000 lines used red logos. The red ink on the 3000 series is a little darker color.
  • Formula 602 and 2000 lines both used blue logos.
  • 505 16 Crash.jpg

    505

  • 1000 18 Crash.jpg

    1000

  • 2002

  • 3000 20 Ride.jpg

    3000

  • Formula 602

  • 2000 16 Crash.jpg

    2000

1989/90 - 1995

  • Sometime in late '89 or ealy '90 the company name was changed to the 'high/low' style" "pAisTe".
  • Therefore "pAisTe 345678" would be from 1993.

  • 1989 Rude with new high/low style

  • 1990 3000

  • 1991 2000 Sound Reflections

  • 1993 Formula 602

  • 1993 Signature

  • 1995 2002

  • 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

  • 1996 Sound Formula

  • 1999 Signature Serial.jpg

    1999 Signature

  • 1999 Dimensions

  • 2000 Signature

  • 2004 2002

  • 2008 Signature

  • 2009 Dark Energy

  • 2010 Giant Beat

  • 2011 Formula 602

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

  • 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

  • 2015 Signature

  • 2016 Masters

  • 2017 Giant Beat Serial.jpg

    2017 Giant Beat

  • 2017 Masters

  • 2018 Giant Beat

  • 2018 Signature Reflector Serial.jpg

    2018 Signature Reflector


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