How to date a vintage Gibson Les Paul guitar
Posted on May 20 2021
How to date Gibson Les Paul guitars is a study of its own. Gibson's serial number scheme changed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, so a simple serial number lookup isn't often very helpful. Never fear! This page is intended to clear up some some of the inconsistencies of dating Gibson guitars. If you're looking for "How old is my Gibson Les Paul guitar?" then you've come to the right place.
If you're looking for help dating a Gibson ES-335, ES-345, or ES-355 then check out How to date a Gibson ES-335 guitar. Or if you think your guitar may be a Gibson SG, check out How Old Is My Gibson SG Guitar.
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!
The serial number is one of the first places to start for how to date a Gibson Les Paul guitar. It should be on the back of the neck at the top just between and above the tuning machines. Take a look- if your serial number is more than 6 digits then your guitar is no earlier than 1976.
6 digits or less and ink stamped:
Is your serial number ink stamped like the 1957 Gibson Les Paul Special above? Gibson used 5 or 6 digit ink stamped serial numbers on Les Paul guitars from 1952 until 1960. The first digit of this style serial number indicates the last digit of the year it was manufactured. For example, this Les Paul's serial number is "7_6227" so it was made in 1957. This is how to date a Gibson Les Paul from the 1950s. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars in the past 20 years as well.
Do you have a Gibson Les Paul with an ink stamped serial number? I am looking to buy Gibson Les Pauls with ink stamped serial numbers like this from the 1950s. Click the Contact Me button in the corner of your browser or click here to sell a Gibson Les Paul guitar.
6 digits or less and impressed on the back of the headstock:
Gibson used the 6 digits or less impressed serial number style from 1961 until 1975. 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. Here's an example of that style. The serial number is only one way for how to date a Gibson Les Paul from the 1960s. Often the features and potentiometer codes are a better way.
I'm also looking to buy Gibson guitars with impressed serial numbers and no "MADE IN USA" stamp. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson guitar.
Needing help yet? I'd love to check out your guitar. I'm always looking to buy clean examples of vintage Gibson Les Paul guitars. You can send a message to me by clicking the Contact Me button in the lower right corner of your screen. I'm looking forward to seeing it!
3 to 6 digit serial number impressed with no "Made In USA":
Your guitar, if vintage, was made between 1961 and 1969. Serial number ranges here can be tricky since Gibson reused the serial range multiple times through out the 1960s. You would probably benefit from having a professional take a look at your guitar. I would love to take a look. Click the Contact Me Button (lower right of your browser) to send me a message about your guitar. Here's a list of the possible years of manufacture for different serial number ranges:
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. please contact me if you have a Gibson Les Paul in this serial number range:
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
4 comments
I have what appears to be a late 1960’s Gibson Melody Maker. It was purchased as a package with a Kalamazoo amp. The serial number is 590712. It still has the original strings on it and was bought by my grandmother. I remember her playing it in the late 60’s. Can you verify the year by the serial number?
Hi, my Gibson J45 has a serial number of
535487. It is not stamped “made in the USA”
Below the serial numbers. The paper inside the bossy of the guitar is missing. Can you help me pinpoint when this guitar was made and what it might be worth? It’s in very good condition with a straight neck. Thank you!
Ken
Hello, can you help me pinpoint my mid 60’s LG-O Gibson please. It doesn’t have a Made in USA stamp.
Thank you
My les Paul custom
300616