To check the serial number on a Korg M1 is to read its biography. It tells you where it was born, when it was built, and what quirks it might have inherited. For the discerning synthesist, that little sticker is not just a number—it is the instrument’s DNA.
Rarely. There are plenty of fake Korg MS-20s and Minilogues, but the M1 is too complex to clone cheaply. The only "fake" serials you see are on Chinese replacement back panels. If the sticker looks brand new, glossy, and has a QR code—it's a reproduction. Korg M1 Serial Number
By late 1989, Korg dropped the "M1-" prefix and moved to a purely numeric 6-digit code preceded by a 2-digit factory code (usually "17" for Japan, "22" for the Italian factory for European distribution). To check the serial number on a Korg