Korg M1 Serial Number 'link'
The Korg M1, released in 1988, is the best-selling digital synthesizer in music history. Finding and decoding a Korg M1 serial number is crucial for dating the instrument, identifying specific hardware revisions, and assessing its market value. 📍 Where to Find the Korg M1 Serial Number
Korg sometimes reused number blocks for different markets, so these ranges are estimated guidelines , not absolute rules.
: All hardware M1 units were manufactured by Korg during its peak workstation era. Finding Serial Numbers for Software Versions If you are using the digital recreation, such as the Korg Collection M1 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , the "serial number" is your Product Code . Korg M1 Serial Number
The Ultimate Guide to Korg M1 Serial Numbers: Identification and History
: Some units may have a secondary sticker on the underside, often near a barcode. The Korg M1, released in 1988, is the
Serial numbers ranging roughly from 060001 to 150000 . This was the height of the M1's global popularity. Firmware versions stabilised around v12 to v19.
Serial numbers ranging from 001000 to approximately 040000 . These units feature the original, earliest firmware iterations and the distinct initial keybed factory setup. : All hardware M1 units were manufactured by
The M1’s OS was updated several times. The earliest units had OS version 1.0, which lacked some MIDI implementation features and had minor voice allocation bugs. Later units shipped with OS 1.14 or 1.20. While the OS can be updated via EPROM chip replacement, the serial number gives a strong indication of what OS the synth left the factory with. A high serial number (3xxxxx) almost certainly has the final, most stable OS.
The M1’s popularity means many have been repaired or parted out. Here’s how the serial number reveals foul play:
The serial number of a Korg M1 can be significant for several reasons: