- Serial number gibson guitar identification charts serial numbers#
- Serial number gibson guitar identification charts serial number#
- Serial number gibson guitar identification charts code#
- Serial number gibson guitar identification charts series#
The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once they stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1.
Serial number gibson guitar identification charts serial number#
NOTE – Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.Ĩ2765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.Įxamples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989. Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number. The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with “MADE IN USA” below. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows:Įarlier models had an ink stamped serial number or no serial number at all, these are much more difficult to date.Īround 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that they primarily use to this day at Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, and the Gibson Custom facility in Memphis, TN. See our Dating a USA Gibson page for more info.įrom 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock.
Serial number gibson guitar identification charts code#
Throughout the war and even for some time after, each year had its own quirks around FON batch numbers and letters 1942 to 1951 FON Info Yearĩ07, 910, 923, 2004, 2005, 7000s (all with banner logo)ġ100s to 3700s (move from script to block logo)įrom 1952 to 1961, a consistent letter code resumed, with the letter appearing before the batch number.Serial numbers are not the only thing that will give you a year for your Gibson.
Serial number gibson guitar identification charts series#
The year is indicated by the first letter in any series of letters for these years. To complicate matters further, there was sometimes a second letter from 1938 to 1941 indicating the brand (G for Gibson, K for Kalamazoo, W for Recording King) and sometimes even a third letter indicating "Electric" (the letter E).
The consistency around this stopped during WWII and resumed in the early 1950s. 1902 to 1945 FON Overview Yearġ to 7900 (some with letter, some without)įrom 1935 to 1942, the FON included a letter suffix. A FON usually consisted of a 3-, 4-, or 5-digit batch number followed by one or two other numbers in most cases. Some earlier lower-end models had no serial number at all, making the FON the sole numerical identifier in those cases. These will generally date an instrument earlier than the serial number, as they were typically applied in the early stages of assembly. Instruments will generally have one or both of these numbers stamped or written either inside the body (generally the case on earlier models) or on the back of the headstock.įONs were Gibson’s way of internally tracking batches of instruments throughout production.
Serial number gibson guitar identification charts serial numbers#
Gibson has historically used two different alpha-numerical formats to catalog its instruments: serial numbers and FONs (Factory Order Numbers). Dating a Gibson by Factory Order Number (FON) After 1950, headstocks had uniform thickness.
Before mid-1950, most Gibson headstocks were thinner at the top when looked at from a side profile. The thickness of the headstock, however, is not as vulnerable to modification or replacement. This makes relying entirely on the physical features of a guitar potentially misleading. Many older instruments may have reproduction or other non-original parts, including a non-original finish. Aside from the logos, each era of manufacturing included certain identifying traits such as the hardware (tuners, knobs, plates, etc.), the pickups, the type of finish, and the electronics inside that can give clues as to when an instrument was made.