How to date a Gibson ES-335 Guitar

Finding out how old your Gibson ES-335 is should be the first step in evaluating a vintage Gibson guitar. Knowing how to date a Gibson ES-335 isn't as easy as checking the serial number! Gibson serial numbers are only one part of the puzzle that is Gibson guitar dating. This is my check list on how to date a Gibson ES-335 guitar. This checklist will also help with how to date Gibson ES-345 guitars and how to date Gibson ES-355 guitars. 

Need help? I'd be happy to take a look at your guitar. Click the red Contact Me button in the lower right corner of your screen to send me information about your guitar. I'm looking forward to checking it out!

If you're looking for help with how old is my Gibson Les Paul guitar, check out How to date Gibson Les Paul guitars. 

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 is 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.

6 digit serial number or less with no "Made in USA" stamp: 

Is your serial number 6 digits or less and doesn't have a Made in USA stamp? This could indicate that your guitar was made between 1958 and 1970 as long as it's not a reissue. Gibson guitars made 1970 and later will have a "MADE IN USA" stamp underneath the serial number. The next place to look would be on the serial number chart further down this page. 

Do you have a Gibson ES-335, ES-345, or ES-355 with six digits or less serial number and no made in USA stamp? I am looking to buy Gibson ES guitars with these features. Click the Contact Me button in the corner of your browser or click here to sell a Gibson guitar.

6 digit serial number or less with MADE IN USA stamp:

Gibson guitars with "MADE IN USA" impressed below the serial were made from 1969 and on. If your guitar has 6 digits impressed on the headstock and a "MADE IN USA" underneath then it was likely made between 1969 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. 

I'm also looking to buy Gibson guitars with impressed serial numbers and "MADE IN USA" stamp. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson guitar.

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. 

Need help? Click the red Contact Me button in the lower right corner of your screen to send me information about your guitar. I'll do my best to help determine how old you Gibson guitar is. 

Gibson serial number chart:

A Prefix serial numbers (on paper label inside, not on back of the neck). Please contact me if you have a guitar with this serial number style:

A_26820 - A_28880   1958

A_28881 - A_32284   1959

A_32285 - A_35645   1960

A_35646 - A_36147   1961

No "A" prefix style (both on interior label and back of the neck). Please contact me if you have a guitar with a serial number like this:

100  ------ 42440   1961

42441---- 61180    1962

61450 --- 64222    1963

64240 --- 71040    1964

71041 --- 96600    1962, 1963, or 1964

96601 --- 99999    1963

000001 - 099999   1967  

100000 - 106099   1963 or 1967

106100 - 106899   1963

109000 - 109999   1963 or 1967

110000 - 111549   1963

111550 - 115799   1963 or 1967

115800 - 118299   1963

118300 - 120999   1963 or 1967

121000 - 139999   1963

140000 - 140100   1963 or 1967

140101 - 144304   1963

144305 - 144380   1964

144381 - 149864   1963

149865 - 149891   1964

149892 - 152989   1963

152990 - 174222   1964

174223 - 176643   1964 or 1965

176644 - 250335   1964

250336 - 305983   1965

306000 - 310999   1965 or 1967

311000 - 320149   1965

320150 - 320699   1967

320700 - 329179   1965

329180 - 330199   1965 or 1967

330200 - 332240   1965, 1967 or 1968

332241 - 348092   1965

348093 - 349100   1966

349121 - 368638   1965

368640 - 369890   1966

370000 - 370999   1967

380000 - 385309   1966

390000 - 390998   1967

400001 - 406666   1966

406667 - 409670   1966 to 1968

409671 - 410900   1966

410901 - 419999   unknown

420000 - 429193   1966

500000 - 500999   1965, 1966, 1968, or 1969

501009 - 501600   1965

501601 - 501702   1968

501703 - 502706   1965 or 1968

503010 - 503109   1968

503405 - 520955   1965 or 1968

520956 - 530056   1968

530061 - 530850   1966, 1968, or 1969

530851 - 530993   1968 or 1969

530994 - 539999   1969

540000 - 540795   1966 or 1969

540796 - 545009   1969

555000 - 557999   1966

558000 - 567400   1969

570087 - 570643   1966

570645 - 570755   1966 or 1967

570857 - 570964   1966

580000 - 580080   1969

580086 - 580999   1966, 1967 or 1969

600000 - 600998   low end models, 1966, 1967, or 1968

600000 - 606090   high end models, 1969

700000 - 700799   1966, 1967 or 1969

750000 - 750999   1968 or 1969

800000 - 800999   1966, 1967, 1968 or 1969

801000 - 812838   1966 or 1969

812900 - 819999   1969

820000 - 820087   1966 or 1969

820088 - 823830   1966

824000 - 824999   1969

828002 - 847488   1966 or 1969

847499 - 858999   1966 or 1969

859001 - 895038   1967

895039 - 896999   1968

897000 - 898999   1967 or 1969

899000 - 899999   1968

900000 - 909999   1970

910000 - 999999   1968

Six digit serial numbers with "MADE IN USA" stamp underneath:

000000        1973                                                MADE IN USA stamp

100000        1970-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

200000        1973-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

300000        1974-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

400000        1974-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

500000        1974-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

600000        1970-1972, 1974-1975                    MADE IN USA stamp

700000        1970-1972                                       MADE IN USA stamp

800000        1973-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

900000        1970-1972                                       MADE IN USA stamp

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 impressed on the headstock: these guitars were made after 1977. The first and fifth digit will indicated the last two digits of the year it was made. 

Example:    8xxx2xxx  =  1982