identification des guitares gibson par numéro de série :
Gibson Serial Number Identifier for
Guitars, Banjos, Basses, Mandolins etc...
Finding the year your Gibson was made.
JUMP DOWN TO YEARS
1903-1947 1947-1961 1961-1969 1970-1975 1975-1977
1978 to date: use the first and the fifth number in the serial number.
GIBSON SERIALIZATION
Identifying Gibson instruments by serial number is tricky and at sometimes impossible.
The best methods of identifying them is by using a combination of the serial number,
the factory order number and any features that are particular to a specific time that changes
may have occurred in instrument design (i.e. logo design change, headstock volutes, etc).
So far there have been 6 different serial number styles used on Gibson instruments.
The first serial numbers started in 1902 and ran until 1947.
The serial numbers started with 100 and went to 99999. All numbers are approximates.
In most cases, only the high end instruments were assigned identification numbers.
1903 to 1947 CHART
Year Made First serial number of that year Last serial number of that year
1903 100 1150
1904 1151 1850
1905 1851 2550
1906 2551 3350
1907 3351 4250
1908 4251 5450
1909 5451 6950
1910 6951 8750
1911 8751 10850
1912 10851 13350
1913 13351 16100
1914 16101 20150
1915 20151 25150
1916 25151 32000
1917 32001 39500
1918 39501 47900
1919 47901 53800
1920 53801 62200
1921 62201 69300
1922 69301 71400
1923 71401 74900
1924 74901 80300
1925 80301 82700
1926 82701 83600
1927 83601 85400
1928 85401 87300
1929 87301 89750
1930 89751 90200
1931 90201 90450
1932 90451 90700
1933 90701 91400
1934 91401 92300
1935 92301 92800
1936 92801 94100
1937 94101 95200
1938 95201 95750
1939 95751 96050
1940 96051 96600
1941 96601 97400
1942 97401 97700
1943 97701 97850
1944 97851 98250
1945 98251 98650
1946 98651 99300
1947 99301 99999
White oval labels were used on instruments from 1902 to 1954,
at which time the oval label was changed to an orange color.
On instruments with round sound holes, this label is visible directly below it.
On f-hole instruments, it is visible through the upper f-hole.
The second type of serial numbers used started with an A prefix and ran from 1947 to 1961.
The first number is A 100.
1947 to 1961 CHART
REMEMBER
in this chart all serial numbers start with - A -
Year Made First serial number of that year Last serial number of that year
1947 A100 A1305
1948 A1306 2665
1949 A2666 4410
1950 A4411 6595
1951 A6596 9420
1952 A9421 12460
1953 A12461 17435
1954 A17436 18665
1955 A18666 21910
1956 A21911 24755
1957 A24756 26820
1958 A26821 28880
1959 A28881 32285
1960 A32286 35645
1961 A35646 36150
Please read this:
Here is where the " SOMETIMES " rule applies.
When production of solid body guitars began, an entirely new serial number system was developed.
Though not used on the earliest instruments produced (those done in 1952),
a few of these instruments have 3 digits stamped on the headstock top.
Some time in 1953, instruments were ink stamped on the headstock back with 5 or 6 digit numbers,
the first indicating the year, the following numbers are production numbers.
The production numbers run in a consecutive order and, aside from a few oddities
in the change over years (1961-1962), it is fairly accurate to use them when identifying
solid body instruments produced between 1953 and 1961. Examples of this system:
4 2205 = 1954 614562 = 1956 In 1961 Gibson started a new serial number system that covered all instrument lines.
It consisted of numbers that are impressed into the wood.
It is also generally known to be the most frustrating and hard to understand system that Gibson has employed.
The numbers were used between the years 1961-1969.
There are several instances where batches of numbers are switched in order,
duplicated, not just once, but up to four times, and seem to be randomly assigned, throughout the decade.
In general though, the numbers are approximately as follows:
APPROXIMATE YEAR SERIAL RANGE
1961 to 1969
1961 100-42440
1962 42441-61180
1963 61450-64220
1964 64240-70500
1962 71180-96600
1963 96601-99999
1967 000001-008010
1967 010000-042900
1967 044000-044100
1967 050000-054400
1967 055000-063999
1967 064000-066010
1967 067000-070910
1967 090000-099999
1963, 1967 100000-106099
1963 106100-108900
1963, 1967 109000-109999
1963 110000-111549
1963, 1967 111550-115799
1963 115800-118299
1963, 1967 118300-120999
1963 121000-139999
1963, 1967 140000-140100
1963 140101-144304
1964 144305-144380
1963 144381-145000
1963 147009-149864
1964 149865-149891
1963 149892-152989
1964 152990-174222
1964, 1965 174223-176643
1964 176644-199999
1964 200000-250335
1965 250336-291000
1965 301755-302100
1965 302754-305983
1965, 1967 306000-306100
1965, 1967 307000-307985
1965, 1967 309848-310999
1965 311000-320149
1967 320150-320699
1965 320700-321100
1965 322000-326600
1965 328000-328500
1965 328700-329179
1965, 1967 329180-330199
1965, 1967, 1968330200-332240
1965 332241-347090
1965 348000-348092
1966 348093-349100
1965 349121-368638
1966 368640-369890
1967 370000-370999
1966 380000-385309
1967 390000-390998
1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 400001-400999
1966 401000-407985
1966 408000-408690
1966 408800-409250
1966 420000-426090
1966 427000-429180
1966 430005-438530
1966 438800-438925
1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 500000-500999
1965 501010-501600
1968 501601-501702
1965, 1968 501703-502706
1968 503010-503110
1965, 1968 503405-520955
1968 520956-530056
1966, 1968, 1969530061-530850
1968, 1969 530851-530993
1969 530994-539999
1966, 1969 540000-540795
1969 540796-545009
1966 550000-556910
1969 558012-567400
1966 570099-570755
1969 580000-580999
1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 600000-600999
1969 601000-601090
1969 605901-606090
1966, 1967 700000-700799
1968, 1969 750000-750999
1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 800000-800999
1966, 1969 801000-812838
1969 812900-814999
1969 817000-819999
1966, 1969 820000-820087
1966 820088-823830
1969 824000-824999
1966, 1969 828002-847488
1966 847499-858999
1967 859001-880089
1967 893401-895038
1968 895039-896999
1967 897000-898999
1968 899000-899999
1968 900000-902250
1968 903000-920899
1968 940000-941009
1968 942001-943000
1968 945000-945450
1968 947415-956000
1968 959000-960909
1968 970000-972864
1970 to 1975 and more identifier information.
From 1970-1975 the method of serializing instruments at Gibson became even more random.
All numbers were impressed into the wood and a six digit number assigned,
though no particular order was given and some instruments had a letter prefix.
The orange labels inside hollow bodied instruments was discontinued in 1970 and were replaced
by white and orange rectangle labels on the acoustics, and small black, purple and white rectangle
labels were placed on electric models.
In 1970, the words "MADE IN USA" was impressed into the back of instrument headstocks
(though a few instruments from the 1950s also had MADE IN USA impressed into their headstocks as well).
Year (s) Approximate Series Manufacture
1970, 1971, and 1972 100000s, 600000s, 700000s, 900000s
1973 000001s, 100000s, 200000s, 800000s and a few “A” + 6 digit numbers
1974 and 1975 100000s, 200000s, 300000s, 400000s,500000s, 600000s, 800000s
and a few A-B-C-D-E-F + 6 digit numbers
1975-77
During the period from 1975-1977 Gibson used a transfer that had eight digit numbers,
the first two indicate the year, 99=1975, 00=1976 and 06=1977,
the following six digits are in the 100000 to 200000 range.
MADE IN USA were also included on the transfer and some models had LIMITED EDITION also applied.
A few bolt on neck instruments had a date ink stamped on the heel area.
In 1977, Gibson first introduced the serialization method that is in practice today.
This updated system utilizes an impressed eight digit numbering scheme
that covers both serializing and dating functions. The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year DDD is the day of the year PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.
The numbers 001-499 show Kalamazoo production, 500-999 show Nashville production.
The Kalamazoo numbers were discontinued in 1984.
When acoustic production began at the plant built in Bozeman,
Montana (in 1989), the series' numbers were reorganized.
Bozeman instruments began using 001-299 designations and, in 1990,
Nashville instruments began using 300-999 designations.
It should also be noted that the Nashville plant has not reached the 900s since 1977,
so these numbers have been reserved for prototypes. 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.
However, it has come to light recently that the Kalamazoo plant did not directly switch over to the “new”
8 digit serialization method in 1977.
When the Nashville Gibson plant was opened in 1974, it was decided that the bulk of the production
of products would be run in the South; the Kalamazoo plant would produce the higher end (fancier) models in the North.
Of course, many of the older guitar builders and craftsmen were still in Kalamazoo;
and if they weren't ready to change how they built guitars, then they may not have been
ready to change how they numbered them! Certain guitar models built in the late 1970s can be used
to demonstrate the old-style 6 digit serial numbers. It is estimated that Gibson's Kalamazoo plant
continued to use the 6 digit serial numbers through 1978 and 1979. So double check the serial
numbers on those 1970s L-5s, Super 400s, and Super 5 BJBs!
Gibson's F O N System
In addition to the above serial number information, Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers (F O N)
to track batches of instruments being produced at the time. In the earlier years at Gibson,
guitars were normally built in batches of 40 instruments. Gibson's Factory Order Numbers were an
internal coding that followed the group of instruments through the factory.
Thus, the older Gibson guitars may have a serial number and a F O N.
The F O N may indicate the year, batch number, and the ranking
(order of production within the batch of 40).
This system is useful in helping to date and authenticate instruments.
There are three separate groupings of numbers that have been identified and are used for their accuracy.
The numbers are usually stamped or written on the instrument's back and seen through
the lower F hole or round soundhole, or maybe impressed on the back of the headstock.
1908-1923 Approximate #s
YEAR F O N
1908 259
1909 309
1910 545, 927
1911 1260, 1295
1912 1408, 1593
1913 1811, 1902
1914 1936, 2152
1915 2209, 3207
1916 2667, 3508
1917 3246, 11010
1918 9839, 11159
1919 11146, 11212
1920 11329, 11367
1921 11375, 11527
1922 11565, 11729
1923 11973
F O Ns for the years 1935-1941 usually consisted of the batch number,
a letter for the year and the instrument number. Examples are as follows:
722 A 23
465 D 58
863 E 02.
Code Letter and Year
A 1935
B 1936
C 1937
D 1938
E 1939
F 1940
G 1941
Code Letter F O Ns were discontinued after 1941, and any instruments made during or right after
World War II do not bear an F O N codes. In 1949, a four digit F O N was used, but not in conjunction
with any code letter indicating the year.
From 1952-1961, the F O N scheme followed the pattern of a letter, the batch number
and an instrument ranking number (when the guitar was built in the run of 40).
The F O N is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models
(like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) which do not feature a paper label.
Higher grade models (such as the Super 400, L-5, J-200, etc.) feature both a serial number and a F O N.
When both numbers are present on a higher grade model, remember that the
F O N was assigned at the beginning of the production run, while the serial number
was recorded later (before shipping). The serial number would properly indicate the actual
date of the guitar. F O N examples run thus:
Y 2230 21
V 4867 8
R 6785 15
Code Letter and Year
Z 1952
Y 1953
X 1954
W 1955
V 1956
U 1957
T 1958
S 1959
R 1960
Q 1961
After 1961 the use of FONs was discontinued at Gibson.
There are still some variances that Gibson uses on some instruments produced today,
but for the most part the above can be used for identifying instruments.
For the most accurate identification you would need to contact the Gibson Guitar Corporation itself.
NOTE: Almost Music will not be held responsible for errors in dating records or the charts
we made to help you find the year your guitar was made.
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Here is an page from the Gibson Musical Instruments site.
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Search and ye shall find serial numbers and more
Today gibson.com debuts new ways to self-search for serial numbers and identify instruments.
First, you may download a definitive resource for your instrument research.
That will assist you in getting the exact information you need right away.
If you still have questions then contact Customer Support
by email .
Finally, you may call toll-free 24/7 at 1-800-4GIBSON.
Please Note: The Customer Support representatives don't appraise your
instruments over the telephone or quote market value. Other excellent sources
with greater market expertise for that kind of information are your authorized Gibson Dealers.
Click here to find your nearest
authorized dealer and then consult them. You can also contact the publishers of the authoritative
Blue Book of Guitars for appraisal information. Our previous serial number and guitar identification search mechanism was automated.
That is, you didn't talk to anyone but entered a serial number or answered either/or and yes/no
questions based upon your answers to a few questions. Simple but not always satisfying as new
information became available or as new questions came to the minds of our users.
Now, you can download various files provided by the comprehensive,
authoritative Blue Book of Guitars .
Their new Sixth Editions include a volume for electrics and one for acoustics.
These are the very same sources our Customer Support representatives use to help
Gibson and Epiphone players worldwide. Now you can read and research your questions
in the proverbial sanctity of your own home or office. Our new search site
even provides a link to download
Adobe Acrobat Reader
enabling you to download, read, and print the relevant files.
Here's a list of the files you can download and the categories of information available:
Gibson Serial Number Information
Gibson Electric Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars
Gibson Acoustic Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars
Epiphone Serial Number Information
Epiphone Electric Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars
Epiphone Acoustic Guitar Descriptions from the Blue Book of Guitars
If you still have questions, we probably can not help you (just being honest) but you are welcome to email us:
Almost Music Email.
. Customer Support answers most emails within 24 hours.
Finally, call us 24/7, anytime at 1-800-4GIBSON to talk to one of our knowledgeable Customer Support representatives.
In the upcoming weeks the search site and files will be updated to include photos of many of the
instruments to aid you in identifying your instrument. As new models debut we will add those as well.
The search site also allows you to search for your nearest Gibson Musical
Instruments dealer ,
contact the nearest international distributor ,
search only the product catalogs < query-prod.htm? search www.gibson.com http:>,
or search the entire GMI site .
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Please understand this: with serial numbers their is no "always" but their is "always" exceptions to every rule.
We can not guarantee that all or any of the information on this page is accurate.
NOTE: Almost Music will not be held responsible for errors in dating records or on the date charts.
This free service is provided to help you find the year your guitar was made.
Thanks to the many contributors that made this page possible.
Introduction and "What type of Gibson guitar do I have?"
Before much can be determined about a Gibson guitar, several things must be identified:
The type of guitar (flattop, archtop, solidbody, lapsteel, etc).
The exact model.
The year it was made (or approximate year/era).
Oringinality (have any of the parts been changed or modified?).
First Determine the Type of Guitar and the Model.
Sometimes there is a tag inside the guitar stating the "style" or model. Once this is known, go directly to the section about that model (listed in the blue table of contents text above). Short of that, these are the different types of Gibson guitars made, and their key identifiable features.
Acoustic Archtop Gibsons: two "f" hole style sound holes, body 3" to 4.5" thick, slightly arched top, acoustic with no pickups (but sometimes these models have bolt-on pickups added later by players).
Electric Archtop Gibsons: two "f" hole style sound holes, pickups and knobs routed into the slightly arched top, body 3" to 4.5" thick.
Electric Thinline Archtop Gibsons: two "f" hole style sound holes, pickups and knobs routed into the slightly arched top, body 1.5" to 2.5" thick (the norm is about 1.75" thick, though a few models are slightly thicker).
Electric Solid body Gibsons: body is a solid piece of wood (no soundhole cutouts) 1.5" to 2" thick, pickups and knobs routed into the top of the guitar.
Flattop Gibsons: single round sound hole under the strings, body 3.5" to 4.5" thick with a flat top, usually not electric.
Electric Lapsteel Gibson: a small solidbody guitar that is played in the lap, Hawaiian style, with a metal slide bar, pickup and knob routed into the top.
Once the type of guitar is determined, figuring out the exact model is MUCH easier! (just go to one of the above six linked webpages that describes your guitar, and compare each model specs to your guitar, until you find the one that matches).
Next Determine the Year or Approximate Year. Gibson guitars usually have a FON (Factory Order Number), a serial number, or both (but sometimes neither!). Various serial number systems were used by Gibson, and often the same serial number could be used in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. See the serial number/FON section for details. Duplicate or no serial/FON number doesn't make things easy, but there are other traits that allow the serial number to make sense (see the General Specs section for more details). Also mid to top end instruments usually have a label inside the guitar with the serial number. Guitars with no label are usually lower end instruments (or are a solidbody guitar!)
Probably the first thing when trying to determine the year on an old Gibson is whether the guitar was made "pre-WW2", during WW2, or "post-WW2". This is easy to do, as Gibson used different peghead logos for pre-WW2, "wartime", and post-WW2 (see the General Specs section for more details). Knowing the general era of the Gibson guitar will make Gibson's rather complicated serial number/FON systems less tangled.
Next Determine the Model. There are several general questions which can be asked in determining a guitar's model, once the type of guitar (flat top, arch top, etc.) has been determined:
What is the color of the top of the guitar? Common top colors include black, natural, "sunburst" (a yellow center that fades to a darker red or brown around the edges), and "cherry red" (a translucent red which shows the wood grain).
What is the color of the back of the guitar? Common back colors include translucent dark brown, translucent light brown, sunburst, cherry red, etc.
What is the body size? (measure the guitar across the top at the widest point, which is the guitar's "hips"). This is really important for all model types except solidbody electrics.
What is the style of fingerboard inlays? (dots, blocks, trapezoids, double parallelagrams, etc.)
What is the style of "Gibson" peghead logo? That is, is it white silkscreen, gold silkscreen, or pearl inlay? Also if the logo is pre-WW2, wartime, or post-WW2 (see above). Also fancier models can even have some sort of pearl inlaid decoration (a "crown" or long skinny "diamond") on the peghead just below the "Gibson" logo.
What is the style of binding? Binding is the whitish/yellowish/tortoise "band" that goes around the edges of the body. Most Gibsons have some sort of body binding. Often binding is multi-layers (white/black/white, etc). Some guitars also have binding on the neck. The more binding a guitar has, the fancier the model.
Finally Determine the Originality.
Originality of an instrument is very important. Modifications (any