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.
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 having checked thousands.
All 6 digit serials with a leading 1 check out as 1981 for Swiss made cymbals. The German made ones do have leading 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 most likely = 1977 while a higher third digit 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, it is understood that formula 602's and 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 2002’s with consecutive serial numbers most likely made in 1977:
German 2002 marching cymbals
German 2002 stamp
consecutive numbers
consecutive numbers
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:
- Formula 602 was shortened to simply "602".
1982 Formula 602
- Sound Creation was located under PAISTE, due to space limitations.
1982 Sound Creation
- The RUDE and Colorsound 5 names were NOT stamped after PAISTE.
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
- 1983 505 Serial.jpg
1983 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 - 1990
- 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:
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
1990 - 1995
- Sometime in 1990 the company name was changed to the 'high/low' style" "pAisTe".
- Therefore "pAisTe 345678" would be from 1993.
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
European & Japanese distributors
Dallas Arbiter England
Ivor Arbiter
Arbiter Custom Formula 602 logo. This cymbal is probably from the mid 1960s. Charlie Watts used a 16" Arbiter Custom Formula 602 for many years before it cracked.
Arbiter Custom pricing and available sizes indicate the "Custom" might been Stambul with a different emboss.
'71/'72 Dallas-Arbiter catalog
'71/'72 Dallas-Arbiter catalog
1968 Arbiter Ltd. catalog
1968 Arbiter Ltd. price list
1964 Arbiter advert
SISME Italy
The Dixie was also imported into Italy by Sisme with an added red ink stamp and "High Performance" included in the emboss logo.
Sound creation logo with "high performance" stamp for SISME
Pearl Japan
There was a time when Pearl distributed Paiste in Japan. From research that time period seems to run from 1969 to 1979.
Below is a page from a 1979 Pearl JDM catalog showing the selection of Sound Creation, Formula 602, 2002, and 404's.
Of note here is the selection of 404s: it contains actual 404s and restamped Dixies as indicated by some of the sizes (12") and the Medium Thin and Crash Ride options.
The Dixie cymbals have a different emboss that includes the Pearl logo (see below).
Dixie with Pearl logo included in stamp
Paiste selection in 1974 Pearl JDM catalog. Shows Pearl was selling Giant Beats as well as 602s and Dixies
1975 JDM catalog
1975 JDM catalog - 2002s in - Giant Beats out.
1976 JDM catalog
1979 JDM catalog
Information from the Paiste.com site[1]
Return to the Paiste Series Portal
Return to the Paiste Cymbal Type Portal
