How to date a Gibson ES-335 Guitar
Posted on February 13 2024
The Gibson ES-335 (and ES-345, ES-355) model has stood the test of time by being in continuous production since its introduction since 1958. Finding out how old is my ES-335 is not as easy as it sounds since Gibson used multiple different serial number styles from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s through now. It's important to match the serial number to the style of implementation to properly date an ES-335, ES-345, and ES-335.
Need help? I'd be happy to take a look at your 1950s or 1960s ES-335/ES-345/ES-355. If you have a vintage ES-335 then you can contact me at the button bellow:
The serial number is one of the first places to start for how to date a Gibson ES-335 guitar. It should be on the inside of the bass side F hole on the paper label. If there's no serial number there, look on the back of the neck at the very top just above and between the tuners. Take a look- if the serial number is 6 digits or less then your guitar may be older than 1976. You can contact me here if you would like to sell a Gibson guitar with six digit or less serial number: sell a Gibson guitar.
Start here to find out how old is your ES-3x5:
Where is the serial number and what style?
Back of the neck and inside F hole with no "MADE IN USA" Stamp (6 Digits)
Back of the neck with "MADE IN USA" stamp.
Back of the neck 8 digits on a sticker with gold lettering.
Back of the neck 8 digits die stamped.
Inside the F sound hole with an "A" Prefix:
The very first original Gibson ES-3x5 guitars made from 1958 through 1961 used an orange oval shaped sticker with serial number visible through the F shaped sound hole on the left side of the body. These are my favorite Gibson ES guitars and I am always looking for the nicest examples with this style serial number. However, Gibson's Custom Shop also uses this style of sticker, location, and serial number. If your ES-335 comes with a letter of authenticity, then that is the sign of a reissue guitar (bypass this chart and go to Gibson Custom Shop ES serial numbers).
Serial number chart for "A" prefix ES-3x5 guitars:
A Prefix serial numbers (on paper label inside, not on back of the neck). You can contact me here if you'd like to sell one from these years: Sell a Gibson.
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A_26820 - A_28880 1958 A_28881 - A_32284 1959 A_32285 - A_35645 1960 A_35646 - A_36147 1961 |
If it includes a Certificate of Authenticity then use the Custom Shop A prefix serial numbers (1995-Now):
A or B (space) MYRRR
M = Model code (2= ES-295, 3= 1963 ES-335 (block inlays), 4= ES-330, 5= ES-345)
Y = Last digit of the year it was made
RRR = Consecutive number
Back of the neck and inside the F hole (No MADE IN USA stamp):
The Gibson ES-3x5 guitars made from 1961 until 1970 are dated with serial numbers on both the back of the headstock and on an orange label on the inside of the left side F hole.
Note: ES-3x5 guitars with "MADE IN USA" stamp under the serial number were made after 1970
Note: ES-3x5 guitars with a "Certificate of Authenticity" are reissues since 1995.
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0100 to 42440 1961 42441 to 61180 1962 61450 to 64222 1963 64240 to 71040 1964 71041 to 96600 1962, '63, '64 96601 to 99999 1963 |
I am looking for ES-3x5 guitars from this serial number range. |
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000001 to 099999 1967 100000 to 106099 1963 (wide neck) or 1967 106100 to 106899 1963 109000 to 109999 1963 (wide neck) or 1967 110000 to 111549 1963 111550 to 115799 1963 (wide neck) or 1967 115800 to 118299 1963 118300 to 120999 1963 (wide neck) or 1967 121000 to 139999 1963 140000 to 140100 1963 (wide neck) or 1967 140101 to 144304 1963 144305 to 144380 1964 144381 to 149864 1963 149865 to 149891 1964 149892 to 152989 1963 152990 to 174222 1964 174223 to 176643 1964 or 1965 176644 to 250335 1964 250336 to 305983 1965 306000 to 310999 1965 (wide neck) or 1967 311000 to 320149 1965 320150 to 320699 1967 320700 to 329179 1965 329180 to 330199 1965 (wide neck) or 1967 330200 to 332240 1965 (wide) or '67 & '68 332241 to 348092 1965 348093 to 349100 1966 349121 to 368638 1965 368640 to 369890 1966 370000 to 370999 1967 380000 to 385309 1966 390000 to 390998 1967 400001 to 406666 1966 406667 to 409670 1966, 1967, or 1968 409671 to 410900 1966 410901 to 419999 Not Found 420000 to 429193 1966 500000 to 500999 1965, 1966, 1968, or 1969 501009 to 501600 1965 501601 to 501702 1968 501703 to 502706 1965 (wide neck), 1968 503010 to 503109 1968 503405 to 520955 1965 (wide neck), 1968 520956 to 530056 1968 530061 to 530850 1966, 1968, 1969 (knobs) 530851 to 530993 1968 or 1969 530994 to 539999 1969 540000 to 540795 1966 or 1969 (knobs) 540796 to 545009 1969 555000 to 557999 1966 558000 to 567400 1969 570087 to 570643 1966 570645 to 570755 1966 or 1967 570857 to 570964 1966 580000 to 580080 1969 580086 to 580999 1966, 1967, 1969 knobs 600000 to 600998 1966, 1967, or 1968 600000 to 606090 1969 700000 to 700799 1966, 1967 or 1969 750000 to 750999 1968 or 1969 800000 to 800999 1966, 1967, 1968 or 1969 801000 to 812838 1966 or 1969 knobs 812900 to 819999 1969 820000 to 820087 1966 or 1969 knobs 820088 to 823830 1966 824000 to 824999 1969 828002 to 847488 1966 or 1969 knobs 847499 to 858999 1966 or 1969 859001 to 895038 1967 895039 to 896999 1968 897000 to 898999 1967 or 1969 899000 to 899999 1968 900000 to 909999 1970 910000 to 999999 sometimes 1968 but this range is not consistent |
I am looking for the nicest examples of all wide neck Gibson guitars made until about 1965. A "wide neck" measures about 1 11/16" or 1.66" or about 42mm wide when measured at the nut. A "skinny" neck measures about 1 9/16" or 1.59" or 40.3mm. Contact me here:
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6 digit serial number or less with MADE IN USA stamp:
Gibson guitars with "MADE IN USA" impressed below the serial were made from 1970 through 1975. If your guitar has 6 digits impressed on the headstock and a "MADE IN USA" underneath then it was likely made between 1970 and 1975. Gibson reused serial numbers during this time period so that's as close as we can narrow these guitars down without reading the potentiometer codes.
More than 6 digit serial numbers:
Gibson ES-335 guitars with serial numbers containing more than six digits were made after 1975. You can use the serial number chart below to help determine what year your Gibson ES-335 was made. Remember that Gibson often reused serial number ranges in later years so you'll need to check what year the features of the guitar support.
Sticker on back of the neck with two digit prefix, 8 digit total serial number:
99xxxxxx 1975
00xxxxxx 1976
06xxxxxx 1977
8 digit serial number die stamped on the headstock: these guitars were made from 1978 until 2005. The first and fifth digit will indicated the last two digits of the year it was made.
Example: 8xxx2xxx = 1982
The first step to finding the value of an ES-335 is properly identifying the year it was made
I hope that this list has helped you begin the process of properly identifying your vintage Gibson ES-335, ES-345, or ES-355 guitar. I've found that the process to find out how much an ES-335 is worth begins with properly identifying the year it was made and the exact model. As a collector who buys vintage ES-335s from their golden era (1950s and 1960s), I've used this list above to verify the year of manufacture for ES-335s many times over.
If you have an original Gibson ES-335, ES-345, or ES-355 from the 1950s or 1960s and are considering selling then I'd be happy to take a look at it. You can contact me here: Sell a Gibson.
2 comments
Your identifying numbers was a great help thanks
Danny Z
VERY informative, may I print this entire piece for reference?