Dont know a lot about these numbers so take that with a pinch of salt, you could try posting your question here: and goto the forum link. I would guess the guitar is either a copy or eipiphone had samples made by prospective suppliers in the late eighties.

Due to the 88 at the front I think it might be an early sample from the company whom started manufacture in the 90's for Epiphone.

For example, some Epiphone Les Paul models use bolt-on neck construction and "slab" bodies which are generally less expensive to manufacture, while others stick with tradition and have arched maple tops and glued-in necks like their high-end Gibson counterparts.

From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock, this should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows: In 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that we primarily use to this day at Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, and the Gibson Custom facility in Memphis, TN.

The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with "MADE IN USA" below.

FYYMMRRRR F= Factory code (this can be 2 letters as well) YY= year of manufacture (this can also be just 1 digit for '90s models) MM= month of manufacture R= ranking number (may be more or less digits, not necessarily indicative of total units produced) Example - S02021234 was issued in Feb. Another code used on some current Epiphone models FYYMRRRR F= Factory code YY=Year of manufacture M= This will be a letter code corresponding to the month (A=January, B=February, etc...) RRRR= ranking number Example - R03D0263 was issued in April 2003.

Epiphone Elite/Elitist models FYSSSS F= Factory Code (this code will be an "F" or "T") Y= Year of manufacture (2 = 2002, 3 = 2003, etc.) SSSS= Sequential Serial Number Example - T41234 is a 2004 Elitist model. It is dark maple sunburst, gold plated hardware, and serial # is S7019737. Seems that Epiphone started the numbering over again , I called Epiphone Factory rep's and was told S7019737 was made in 2000's.