The M1 EX was a factory upgrade or a DIY expansion board that doubled the internal preset memory (from 100 to 200 sounds) and added 18 new PCM waveforms. If your Korg M1 serial number is , it almost certainly does not have the EX board. If your serial number is above 350,000 , it likely shipped from the factory with the EX board already installed. You can verify this by turning on the M1 and looking for "EX" in the top right corner of the LCD screen.
| Serial Range (Approx.) | Likely Production Year | Notes | |------------------------|------------------------|-------| | 100000 – 150000 | 1988 – 1989 | Early units; still use original factory presets. | | 150001 – 210000 | 1990 – 1992 | Peak production years. | | 210001 – 260000 | 1993 – 1995 | Later units; may have updated ROM or minor hardware revisions. | Korg M1 Serial Number
, released in 1988, is one of the best-selling synthesizers of all time, with an estimated [22, 27]. Because of this massive production run, serial numbers range significantly, but they follow a few identifiable patterns: The M1 EX was a factory upgrade or
Unlike modern keyboards that often use stickers on the bottom, the Korg M1 serial number is located in two specific places. For a unit to be considered "all original," these should match. You can verify this by turning on the
In this deep dive, we will decode the mystery of the M1 serial number, explain how to use it to determine your instrument's age, and discuss why this matters for maintenance and market value.
