There you have it! There are many exceptions, and of course many other brands out there, but now you can tell how old most Fenders or Gibsons are within seconds. This system is fairly reliable for guitars made from 1953 to 1961. The first digit is the year and the other numbers are production numbers. An ink stamp on the back of the headstock which included either 5 or 6 digits. A serial number ending in 501 could be the first instrument made at factory #5 that day, or it could be the 501 st instrument of the day. Gibson introduced a new pattern when they began producing solid body guitars.The remaining characters (RRR) can indicate the order of instruments created that day, as well as which factory the instrument was made in.00027xxx for the 2 nd day of the year of 2007 (January 2, 2007).Gibsons have this pattern stamped onto the back of their headstocks: YDDDYRRR.
#Gibson guitar serial number search serial numbers
It is estimated that Gibson’s Kalamazoo plant continued to use the six-digit serial numbers through 19. Gibson serial numbers are even more interesting, because you can find out the specific date that your instrument was completed! Here's how: Certain guitar models built in the late 1970s can be used to demonstrate the old-style, six-digit serial numbers.Serial number coding for Mexican-made instruments is largely the same, except they will start with an M.The remaining digits are important for product identification, but the first few characters are all you need to determine the instruments age.The body and neck were then coated in a clear tung oil finish, which is highly durable. The second character will usually be a number. Here we have a beautiful 1964 Gibson SG Junior guitar. Date a Gibson guitar by serial number From 1977 to 2013 Gibson have used an eight or nine digit serial number on all of their guitars that can be easily decoded to show the exact day that the guitar was manufactured along with the location of the Gibson factory.For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter.On acoustic guitars, they’re usually in the soundhole. On electrics, they are almost always on the back of the headstock, at the top. Serial dating is easiest for instruments made in the USA or Mexico, but is also possible for those made in Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Gibson Guitar In contrast to finding Fender serial numbers (which can be in a variety of places), locating Gibson serial numbers is more straightforward.
#Gibson guitar serial number search how to
Here's a brief rundown of how to do it, plus resources for more information. Well, good news it's very easy to figure out the age of Fender and Gibson instruments from the last 30 years. Ever wonder exactly when your favorite guitar was made? You sort of remember when you got it, but you want to really know its history, especially if you're not the first owner.