jupiter numbering system

[valleyboy]

hi all
i've just bought a jupiter alto 769-767 and was wondering what the numbers mean. I've read in the jupiter forum here that the last 3 numbers are the model number, so what do the first 3 numbers mean. also does anyone know how to work out the year of manufacture from the serial number. any information on this sax would be greatly appreciated. it is in really good condition, almost like new i'd say. it with the original hard case and cost me 130 pounds sterling which is around 270 american dollars was this a good deal. the serial number is A03388 if this helps.

[luispa]

Hi,

I have one like your and also would like to know what those numbers mean.

Thank you in advance.

[Kareeser]

I don't think they really mean anything, except perhaps a different model distinction. The 700 series are an intermediate model horn. They play well, and I've always liked 'em.

[saxpiece]

I've read that for Jupiters after 1984 you add 1 to the first digit of the serial number for the year of manufacture.
The A serials seem to be from 1999 so maybe they use letters for the years now to avoid the no decade problem, like a 5XXXXX serial can be 1986 or 1996.
Maybe A=1999. B=2000, C=2001 etc.
I've seen A B and D serials.

Does anyone know why there are JAS-667 and JAS-669-667 models.
If it's a JAS-667 why has it also got the 669 in the model name?
Are the JAS-669-667 later models or just a model variation on the JAS-667.
I think the JAS-669-667 are later models, can any owners help verify this.
I have a Jupiter stamped with JAS-667 and Taiwan and a 9XXXXX serial so it seems like a 1990 JAS-667 made in Taiwan which by looking at it seems about right and after 17 years it's holding up pretty well and sounds pretty good as well.

From another post
"769-767 Just to clarify that the last three digits are the commonly known model number, so this is a 767."

Older Jupiter cases have a "Jupiter Wind Instruments" logo on the case and the newer ones seem to just have a Jupiter logo on the case.

The lower end models use parts from the Chinese factory and then are assembled in Taiwan or are totally made in the Chinese factory after it opened for business in 1996.
The KHS Chinese factory makes the Chinese Evette Buffet models so I assume the KHS Taiwan factory made the pre 1996 Evette Buffets with ROC stamped on them and the serials may be similar to the Jupiters and also the Vito 7133 models from Taiwan are made by KHS (Jupiter) and some Keilwerth models from Taiwan are also made by KHS so maybe these serials are also similar to the Jupiter serials.

Jupiter Factory Tour

http://www.myatt.co.uk/art_012.htm

[saxpiece]

YEAR, MODEL NUMBER, SERIAL NUMBER

1986, Begins with the letter "S", Begins with the number 5

1987 Begins with the letter "S", Begins with the number 6

1988 Begins with the letter "S", Begins with the number 7

1989 Begins with the letter "S", Begins with the number 8

1990 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 9

1991 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 0

1992 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 1

1993 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 2

1994 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 3

1995 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 4

1996 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 5

1997 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 6

1998 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number 7

1999 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number "A"

2000 Begins with the letter "J", Begins with the number "B"

http://www.themusicbox.biz/jupiter.html


How old is my Jupiter instrument?

Jupiter serial numbers are easy to understand. They start with a prefix of the alphabet ie J = 2007 date of manufacture. Work back until A = 1999 then go back from 7 (the first number) ie 7 = 1998. If you have an older instrument once you get to 0 start again from 9 as it = 1990.

http://www.jupitermusic.co.uk/rdas/papp.asp?cmd=FADE&DocumentID=2838&TemplateID=83

[saxpiece]

Sometimes you will have a serial and won't know what decade it's from.
Early Jupiter instrument cases had a "Jupiter Wind Instruments" logo and later Jupiter instrument cases just had a Jupiter logo.
I'm not sure when they started using just the Jupiter case logo.
Also I think the Jupiter logos on the bell are different for the early and later Jupiters.
The earlier ones had a "Jupiter and KHS Musical Instrument Co Ltd" with Taiwan near the serial number and then from the early 1990s they had a "Jupiter and KHS Musical Instrument Taiwan" logo with no Taiwan near the serial number and the newer ones seem to just have a Jupiter logo with Taiwan near the serial number.
I can't really see much design difference between the old JAS-667 Jupiters and the newer JAS-669-667 or JAS-667GN Jupiters.
From what I can tell the early Jupiter model numbers are just JAS-667, JAS 767 etc, then they seem to change to JAS-669-667, JAS 769-767 etc around the early 1990s and now they are JAS-667GN, JAS-769GN or JAS-667GL, JAS-769GL etc (GL=Gold Lacquer, GN=Nickel Silver Keys).

[saxpiece]

All Jupiter instruments work on a simple coding system

3 Letters, 3 numbers then a suffix.

1st letter of code:

J = Jupiter

2nd letter of code:

TR = Trumpet
CR = Cornet
FH = Flugel Horn
HR = French Horn
SL = Trombone (slide)
VL = Valve Trombone
AL = Alto Horn in the UK called Tenor Horn
BR = Baritone Horn
EP = Euphonium
CB = Concert Bass (Tuba)
PC = Piccolo
FL = Flute
AF = Alto Flute
BF = Bass Flute
PS = Soprano Saxophone (Piccolo Saxophone)
AS = Alto Saxophone
TS = Tenor Saxophone
BS = Baritone Saxophone
CL = Clarinet

Numbering system:

The numbering system in general terms the higher the number the more advanced the instrument eg: JAS-565GL is the basic student Alto Saxophone, JAS-767GL is the higher specification instrument.

Suffix:

L = Lacquer
S = Silver plate
N = Nickel plate
GL = Gold Lacquer
BL = Black
RL = Rose Brass bell – Lacquer
E = Split E – only Flute codes

http://www.jupitermusic.co.uk/rdas/papp.asp?cmd=PLTE