Earlier copies have a serial number on the cover. If there's no serial number, then it's a later issue.
you cannot without a guide or the line ticket which gives the date of manufacture
Just the serial number is not enough to tell who or what you have.
model number is always smaller than serial
Usually by the serial number. If no serial number, then by features
No way to tell just by the serial number.
No way to tell from a serial number only.
Not as easy as it is to call Yamaha with your serial number and have them tell you exactly what it is.
The serial number will equate to a year.
If serial number data has been published, yes.
No way to tell. Sorry, but a serial number alone usually does not tell us much.
You can not tell the model number with just the serial number.