Paiste Serial Numbers

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Paiste serial numbers were first applied during 1972.
Prior to this there was no exact means of determining the age of a Paiste cymbal, there were more general indicators that would get you in the ball park age wise: the years of production for the series or model, lack of or presence of ink stamping, different version of the logo stamp, alloy used or even the size of the bell or mounting hole.
These cymbals are referred to as "Pre-Serial" cymbals.

  • Important note: cymbals have been found without serial numbers stamped on them from production eras where we might expect them.

? - 1971 preserial and transition models

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

General rules to follow in determining the age of your Paistes:

  •  ? - early 60's?: Stambuls had the size and weight printed in red ink higher than 3:00 on the cymbal, closer to 2:30, (see example below), we don't have any examples of early 602's being stamped this way.
  •  ? - 1959: Red "size" in inches followed by the "type/weight" ink stamp at 3 o'clock (for 602's). Some German Paistes have the size stamped in centimeters.
  • 1959 - 1981: Red "type/weight" ink stamp at 3 o'clock on standard weight models: Paper Thin, Thin, Thin Crash, Medium, Medium Ride, Heavy, Concert (excluding 2002's, giant beats and Sound Creations).
  • 1971: "Paiste" name ink stamp now gets 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 (Ludwig cymbals never get a series name stamp).
  • 1972: Giant beats get the "Paiste" name ink stamp on the "black label" cymbals, they are never given a Paiste outline logo ink stamp on the bottom of the cymbal.
  • 1972: Serial numbers (on Swiss cymbals), series name ink stamp and Paiste outline logo ink stamp on bottom introduced, "True" Black Label era stamping begins.
  • Mid 60's - 1973: Red ink diameter/size stamp under the bell until 1973 (or very late '72) and then it changes to Black for the reminder of Black Label phase (1973-1981).
  • 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 stamps).

  • 1950's NS12 Stambul with size & weight stamp @ ~2:00

  • Preserial 602 hi-hats: only the "type" is stamped

  • Preserial 602 hi-hats, size is in red ink under the bell

  • German Stambul with size in centimeters

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

  • Preserial 602 23" thin

  • 23" 602 thin bottom

  • 1960's 602 production showing weight stamps

  • Stamping in action

  • Rubber ink stamps for all sizes and lines

Transition models:

  • Some 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.)

  • Transition 23" thin 602, no series name printed

  • 23" thin 602 close up: no series name printed

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

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

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

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

  • Early 70's Stambul with Paiste name but no series name

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

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

  • '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 stamp/emboss.

  • Very early 2002 emboss with "border"

  • Early ink stamp no "2002" name printed

  • 2002 14 hh pre serial.jpg

    Early ink stamp no "2002" name printed

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

  • Preserial marching pair

1972 - 1981: the Black label era

Starting in 1972 there were six digit serial numbers stamped on each cymbal coming out of the Swiss plant:

  • The specific year is identified by the 'first' digit in the serial number. Some believe a leading 1 means 1971 (it does not), 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 versions from the 70's do start with a 1, but that isn't the year (see explanation below).
  • The 1970's serial numbers did not include the series name (602, 2002, Sound Creation, etc.) above the serial number.
  • Paiste Nottwil put serial numbers on the lower lines in 1972 and 1973 (Stambul, Stambul 65, Dixie and possibly the Super) up to about serial# 414xxx - probably after or in Jan/Feb 74. They then choose only to put serial numbers on the professional lines (Formula 602, 2002, Giant beat and later Sound Creation) for the rest of the Black Label era.
  • Swiss 404's and 505's didn't get serial #'s until mid '81 when they transitioned to colored logos.

As a general rule for any Paiste line made in Switzerland: 6 digit numbers no series name above it, '72-early '81 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

  • Very early 1972 Formula 602 serial #

  • 1973 2002

  • 1974 Formula 602

  • 1975 2002

  • 1976 Formula 602

  • 1978 2002

  • 1979 Sound Creation

  • 1980 2002

  • Very early 1980 2002 production

**German serial numbers**

German-made 2002's started receiving serial numbers from about 1975 onwards (a few earlier 2002 examples exist).
Some collectors are sure they have 1971 production 2002 cymbals with serial numbers starting with 1xxxxx, they are in fact German made 2002's with a different serial numbering format.
The German numbering system differs from the Swiss system in that that cymbals were numbered consecutively; the first digit does not equal the year!
If you are looking at a German Black Label 2002 from the 1970s, the second digit is a good general indicator of the year (this also applies to all post '74 lower line German produced cymbals except the 101).

  • 1972-74 the German factory not only made 2002s for the German market, they also helped the Swiss factory with exports of 2002s due to high demand.
  • The German plant traditionally made all of the "lower line cymbals" up to the present, it is understood that the Stambul, Dixie and the Super got serial numbers from '75 and later.
  • German Stambul 65's never got serials because they were discontinued by late '73 or early '74 before applying serial numbers started.
  • German 404's and 505's got serials from the start of production in mid/late '77.
  • Right before Paiste went to the printed color logos (1981) it looks like production increased substantially and they started going through serials at a faster rate.

Here's a breakdown (dates are approximate):
1971 ~1975 (or late '74) no serial numbers

~1975-1979 serial numbers : 10xxxx to 20xxxx

  • 17xxxx is from around '77 or '78, a lower third digit (171xxx-174xxx) likely from '77 while a higher third digit (175xxx-179xxx) puts you around '78, serial# 196181 is from about '79.

1980 serial numbers: 20xxxx - 21xxxx

1981-1986 serial numbers: 22xxxx-3xxxxx

  • All 2oo2s with serial# 22xxxx and later are red labeled.
  • Confirmed specific dates from the German factory: serial# 2612xx produced in November '83, serial# 2984xx produced in October '84, serial# 3244xx produced in August '85.

1986-1990 serial numbers: 33xxxx-6xxxxx

  • example: #333994 '86, #418074 '87 or '88.

Below is an example of German made 2002’s with consecutive serial numbers, common for a matched pairs most likely made in early/mid 1977 (also included are some German serial # oddities):

  • German 2002 15" marching cymbals with consecutive serials

  • German 2002 stamp

  • German 2002 serial# 173368 = mid 1977 production

  • German 2002 serial# 173367 = mid 1977 production

  • German 505 black label serial# 194708 = approx. 1979 production

  • German 505 serial# 203998 = 1980 production (black label restamped as green label)

  • German 404 serial# 251468 = approx. 1982 production

  • 80's "red label" German 2002

1981 - 1986

Starting in 1981, "PAISTE" was stamped above the serial number, often along with the series name. (NOTE: This change occurred sometime during the year, 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.

  • Formula 602 was shortened to simply "602" 1982 serial

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

  • 1981 RUDE

  • 1984 Colorsound 5

  • 1982 Formula 602

  • 1984 505

  • 1984 Sound Creation

  • 1985 404

  • 1985 2002

  • 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

  • 1986 2000 Colorsound

  • 1986 3000

  • 1987 2002

  • 1987 Formula 602

  • 1987 Sound Creation

  • 1988 3000

  • 1988 3000 Reflector

  • 1989 Formula 602

  • 1990 Sound Formula

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.

  • 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.
  • 2002 Logo Bottom Switzerland.jpg

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

Early 70's 602 engraving dates

We know from two different sources at Paiste (one was Erik Paiste) that these may represent cymbals which were returned to have some rework done on them.
They most likely date the modification and not the actual cymbal manufacture date. Currently we have records for two dozen of these 602s:

  • 1-72: 3 (one with R - 1 - 72 but in the same style)
  • 2-72: 2
  • 3-72: 5 (one pair of 15" SE hats with outline stamp and the older style patent list)
  • 4-72: 6
  • 5-72: none so far
  • 6-72: 3
  • 2-73: 3 (pair of 1972 serial number hats plus a preserial 20" Ride)**
  • 3-73: 1 (14" SE hat bottom preserial) This preserial tells us that the time lag before a cymbal is returned for rework might be a year or two.
  • And last but not least there is one Giant Beat which has 7 or 9 - 72

(**)The above pair of hi-hats is a rework from Paiste: The engraving is "2-73" and the serial numbers are 226602 and 226603, the hats were 12 3/4" diameter and this is what Paiste customer services had to say: “this hi-hat indeed is from 1972, In former times hi-hat pairs were matched and the serial number was embossed afterwards. The engraving inside the bell “2-73” means, that something was changed or repaired on customer’s request in February 1973 by our craftsmen. The 12 ¾” size is indeed remarkable. It is possible, that the customer damaged the edge, and our craftsmen trimmed the edge at the factory in February 1973 with the result being a smaller sized hi-hat.”

  • 3-72 engraving date

  • 6-72 engraving date

  • 3-73 engraving date "KPAC"

  • (**)02-73 engraving date

  • (**)2-73 cut down to 12 3/4"

Variations of the patent stamp on Sound Edge Hi-Hats, Flat rides

Through the early years of sound edge hi hats, the number of patents by country increased for zero to six:

  • "Pat. Pending" only from 1967 until at least July 1969 (after that the ink changes to show the US patent.)
  • Patent numbers from 4 countries on stamp (Swiss, Great Britain, Italy, USA) ~1970 (possibly as early as July 1969 but no sooner due to the inclusion of US patent number)
  • Patent numbers from 6 countries on stamp (adds Germany and USSR) ~1972 (It is possible it could date as far back as 4/1970 as that's when the German patent number was granted.)
  • Removal of "other countries pending" by 1976 at the latest.
  • There is the possibility that the earliest 602 SE Hats were stamped with a simple Sound Edge Top (and Bottom) in a plain font in red ink at 3:00 O'Clock (like all other 602s) before they came up with the black wavy SE Logo stamp.
  • We have an old advert with this alternate stamping, we were told by Ed Clift that this plain text stamping was just done for the ad and that all production SE Hats had the wavy black logo, but it wouldn't be surprising if some were sold with the plain red ink.

  • "Pat. Pending" only, '67 to pre July '69

  • Approx 1970 preserial 602 sound edge showing Patent numbers from 4 countries & "other countries pending"

  • '73 602 sound edge showing Patent numbers from 6 countries & "other countries pending"

  • '79 602 sound edge showing Patent numbers from 6 countries and lack of "other countries pending"

  • Early flat ride "pat pend" pre Dec. '70

  • "Other countries pending" approx. post 1971

  • "Other countries pending" removed, last iteration stamp

Patent lists and Pat Pending years:

The timeline on the Paiste site says 1967/68 for flat rides and sound edge hats. The details on the U.S. patent & trade mark office site says:

  • Paiste Flat Ride: United States Patent 3,546,994 Filed Jan 22, 1969 and Issue Date: December 15, 1970
  • Paiste Sound Edge Hats: United States Patent 3,453,923 Filed Aug 3, 1967 and Issue Date: July 8, 1969
  • Given Paiste themselves say "invented 1967/1968", they were likely patented in Switzerland and England earlier than USA.

  • Oct. 1967 English patent application

  • English patent application

  • English patent application

  • English patent application

  • US flat ride patent 1970

Early high "ripple count" sound edge bottoms

Another identifying factor of early preserial 602 sound edge bottoms is they had a higher "ripple count" than later versions, it seems Paiste had not decided on a standard number when sound edges were first introduced.

  • There are even numbers of ripples. They started out at 56 or 54 in the "Pat Pending" era (mid 1967 - mid 1969), reduced to 52 once production settled down, reduced to around 36-42 by 1972 (serial number black label era), and 32 by the blue label era and into the present day reissues (needs to be verified).
  • There are cymbals with other ripple numbers (46 x 1, 38 x 1) which might represent the handmade factor, or be intermediate forms in time. We don't have enough examples to get that precise.

Sound Edge ripple reductions (scallops) tabulation as at 10-Oct-21

56 14" preserial x 3
54 15" pat pending; 15" black
52 14" preserial x 7
51 15" with 51 reputed (probably miscount by 1)
50 15" preserial; 14" preserial
46 14" preserial
42 14" black label; 14" preserial, 1972 13"
38 14" black label
36 14" black label x 3
32 14" blue label; 14" present day

  • Preserial 602 14 SE hats hi ripples.jpg
  • Pre serial 602 SE hi rippple.jpg


Information from: Todd Little, Steve Black, Dan Garza, Nils Lillig, Splash Baker.
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