How To Date Your Gibson Guitar

We help you find how to date your Gibson guitar and find out when and where it was made...

Do you know when was your Gibson made? Many players don't, and sometimes (unless you bought it from new) it can be hard to tell. Also, Gibson, as we all know, is one of the greatest manufacturers of guitars, and having the status of one of the most desirable guitar brands ever has some disadvantages, too: counterfeit Gibsons have been sold for many decades now, and many players sometimes don't even realise they've been fooled.

Knowing how to identify correct serial numbers still remains one of the best and most effective ways to date your Gibson, and at the same time confirm its authenticity. So... let's all crack on with it! Gibson Serial Numbers 1975-Present This Article is designed to assist in dating and/or identifying instruments manufactured or distributed by Gibson Guitar Corp. Please note that most of this information relates to serial numbers used from 1975 to present.

For more details on Gibson Serialization prior to 1975 and historical product specs, use your Gruhn's Guide or view the following page for Gibson serial Number FAQs:

Gibson Serial Number Information

Corrections and additions to this section will be made as necessary. Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, Gibson Memphis 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:

99 = 1975 00= 1976 06 = 1977

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.

The pattern is as follows

YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.

Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989. Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s. Examples:

70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.
82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.

NOTE - Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005.. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch indicator.

There are always exceptions to these rules, the two listed below are worth noting: Les Paul Classic: This model features an ink stamped serial number with no "MADE IN USA" (just as we used on the original 1952-1960 Les Pauls). Most will be 5 to 6 digits in length, but the earliest examples feature 4 digit serial numbers. There should be a space after the 1st digit with the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers, and no space with the 6 digit numbers. The 1st digit indicates the year of manufacture for the 4 & 5 digit serial numbers, these were used from 1989-1999. The 1st and 2nd indicate the year of manufacture for the 6 digit serial numbers which we've been using since 2000. Examples:

9 xxx = 1989 (4 digit number beginning with "9" used only in 1989)
0 xxxx = 1990
9 xxxx = 1999
00xxxx = 2000
05xxxx = 2005

Those beginning with "94":

In 1994, Gibson's Centennial year, many instruments have a serial number that begins with "94" for the year, with the remaining 6 digits indicating the ranking number.

Gibson Custom 1952-1960 Les Paul, Explorer, Flying V, and Futura reissues (since late 1992):

M YRRR or MYRRRR
M is the model year being reissued
Y is the production year
RRR(R) indicates the guitar's place production for that year. NOTE: This number includes all models for a particular reissue year - so, for example, a 1958 Reissue serial number may include '58 Reissue LP Standard and '58 Explorer production.

Example:

7 5123 is the 123rd 1957 reissue model produced in 2005.

1961-1969 Firebird, Les Paul, and SG reissues (since 1997):

YYRRRM
Y is the production year
RRR(R) indicates the guitar's place in production for that year. M is the model being reissued
Reissue model codes:
- 1= SG Custom and Special
- 2= Gibson SG Standard
- 3= 1963 Firebird 1
- 4= 1964 Firebird III
- 5= 1965 Firebird V & VII
- 8= 1968 Les Paul Custom

Examples:

050102 is the 10th SG Standard reissue produced in 2005.
030084 is the 8th 1964 Firebird III reissue produced in 2003.

Historic ES MODELS (since 1995):

(A or B)-MYRRR
M is the model year being reissued
Y is the production year
RRR indicates the guitar's place in the sequence of Historic ES production for that year.
Reissue model codes:
- 2= ES-295
- 3= 1963 ES-335 (block inlays)
- 4= ES-330
- 5= ES-345
- 9 with an "A" prefix = 1959 ES-335 (dot inlays)
- 9 with a "B" prefix= ES-355

Example:

A-38005 is the 5th '63 ES-335 Reissue produced in 1998.

Carved Top models (serial number on orange label)

YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR indicate the guitar's place in the sequence of carved tops made that day.
NOTE - as of 2000, 1st digit will be a "2"

Examples: