Gibson Les Paul Serial Numbers

Knowing how to date Gibson Les Paul serial numbers is a study of its own. Gibson's serial number scheme changed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, so a simple Les Paul 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. 

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. If the Gibson Les Paul serial number is six digits or less then your guitar may be older than 1975. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars starting in the 1990s, so check the picture below to compare vintage versus reissue serial numbers.

Start here: How many digits?

4 to 6 digits and ink stamped 1953 - 1960, also reissues marked "Classic"

3 to 6 Dye stamped (No MADE IN USA) 1961 - 1969

6 digits Dye stamped with MADE IN USA  1970-1975

8 digit sticker with model name and Made In USA (1975-1977)

8_digit_dye_stamped  (1977 - 2010s)

9_digit_dye_stamped (2005 - Now)

Gibson Les Paul Serial Numbers

6 digits or less and ink stamped: 

Is your Gibson Les Paul serial number ink stamped like the 1959 Gibson Les Paul on the left? 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 serial number from the 1950s. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars in the past 20 years as well, so check to see that the style matches. 1950s era Gibson Les Paul serial number stamps will have a thinner and sharper font than the larger font of the 1990s to now.

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.

Ink stamped serial numbers (Guitars with "Classic" on the front of the neck are reissues):
(No ink stamp serial in 1952. Les Pauls with "2" prefix are reissues.)
3 XXXX           1953
4 XXXX           1954
5 XXXX           1955
6 XXXX           1956      some with 6 digits until 1961
7(x)XXXX        1957                 
8(x)XXXX        1958                  Contact me if you think you have
9(x)XXXX        1959                  a 1950s Gibson with ink stamp serial
0(x)XXXX        1960                  I would be happy to take a look.
1(x)XXXX        1961                                Sell a Gibson

Gibson Les Paul serial numbers with 6 digits or less and dye stamped on the back of the headstock:

Gibson used the 6 digits or less dye stamped 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. 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. 

3 to 6 digit Gibson Les Paul serial number impressed with no "Made In USA":

Your Gibson Les Paul guitar, if vintage, was made between 1961 and 1963 or 1968 to 1969. Gibson Les Paul 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. Gibson didn't make the Les Paul line from 1964 until 1968, but these serial number ranges will work for the SG guitars made in the 1960s as well. Here's how to date a Gibson Les Paul with six digits or less serial number impressed like the guitar on the right with no Made In USA stamp.

1960s Les Paul Serial Numbers:

0100   to  42440      1961 
42441  to 61180      1962  I am looking for all 4 and 5 digit serial Gibsons
61450  to 64222      1963   
64240  to 71040      1964
71041  to 96600      1962, 1963, 1964
96601  to 99999      1963
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) 1967
311000 to 320149   1965
320150 to 320699   1967
320700 to 329179   1965
329180 to 330199   1965 (wide neck), 1967
330200 to 332240   1965 (wide neck) 1967 or 1968
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

Six Digit Gibson Les Paul Serial Number with "MADE IN USA" Stamp:

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 dye stamped Gibson Les Paul Serial Number with Made IN USA:

8 digit serial number dye stamped 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

Sample:  70928001 = 092 day of the year

               70928001 = 001 guitar of the day in the Kalamazoo factory, above 500 =                                    Nashville factory