Where to Find a Gibson Serial Number (Solid Body, Hollow/Semi-Hollow, and Acoustic)
Let me help you find the serial number on a vintage Gibson guitar so you can find out what year it was made. Gibson guitars can have serial numbers in the following locations: back of the neck, bass-side F-hole, treble-side F-hole, visible through the sound hole, or on the neck block. This quick clip shows you where your Gibson serial number is located on your guitar.
Watch: Where to find the serial number on a Gibson guitar
This short video shows exactly where to look on solid body, hollow/semi-hollow, and flat top acoustic Gibson guitars.
Visual guide: Where to find a Gibson serial number
Use this diagram to quickly identify where the serial number is located on your Gibson guitar before entering it into the Gibson Serial Number Lookup .
Quick list: common Gibson serial number locations
- Back of the neck (usually near or just above the tuning machines)
- Bass-side F-hole (often on an orange label inside the body)
- Treble-side F-hole (may include a factory order letter prefix)
- Visible through the sound hole (often on an orange label or ink stamp)
- Neck block (inside the guitar, visible through the sound hole)
Solid body electrics: where to find the serial number
Solid body electrics: find the serial number on the back of the neck at the top. It’s typically just above the tuning machines or next to the tuning machines.
Hint: the large “Made in USA” stamp begins in about 1970.
If you can’t see a number right away, tilt the guitar in bright light and look for a faint ink stamp or impressed stamp.
When you find it, head here to date it: Gibson Serial Number Lookup.
Hollow and semi-hollow: where to find the serial number
Hollow and semi hollow: find the serial number on the back of the neck near the tuning machines, or look through the bass-side F-hole, or possibly through the treble-side F-hole.
The treble-side F-hole numbers are typically preceded by a factory order letter prefix which can indicate what year it was made.
What to check first
- Back of the headstock/neck (quickest and most common)
- Orange label inside the body (often visible through the bass-side F-hole)
- Ink stamp through an F-hole (sometimes faint—use a flashlight)
Found it? Plug it in here: Gibson Serial Number Lookup.
Flat top acoustic guitars: where to find the serial number
Flat top acoustic guitars: find the serial number on the back of the neck near the tuning machines, or on the back of the body visible through the sound hole, or possibly on the interior neck block visible through the sound hole.
The neck block marks are typically factory order numbers and may be preceded by a letter prefix indicating the year it was made.
Flashlight tip
Use a phone flashlight and look inside the sound hole toward the neck. If you see markings on the neck block, snap a clear photo and zoom in.
Next step: Gibson Serial Number Lookup.
Want help dating, appraising, or selling a vintage Gibson?
I’m John with True Vintage Guitar and I collect, deal, and appraise vintage Gibson guitars primarily made in the 1950s and 1960s. If you want an appraisal or you’re looking to sell a vintage Gibson, you can contact me at my website: TrueVintageGuitar.com.
FAQ: Gibson serial numbers
What if I can’t find a serial number anywhere?
Some guitars have very faint stamps or ink that can be hard to see. Try bright angled light on the back of the headstock/neck, and use a flashlight for F-holes or the sound hole.
Is the orange label always the serial number?
Not always. On some models, the orange label is the easiest identifier; on others, the most useful mark can be an ink stamp or a factory order number (often with a letter prefix).
What does “Made in USA” tell me?
On many solid body Gibsons, the larger “Made in USA” stamp starts appearing around 1970, which helps narrow the era quickly. Gibson reused nearly the same serial numbers in the 1960s and 1970s, so the presence of the stamp can tell you the decade when the same number is used in both.
