True Vintage Guitar

Gibson Serial Number Lookup

How to date your Gibson by serial number

Gibson Serial Number Lookup

Date your Gibson guitar by serial number
Discover what year your vintage Gibson guitar was made here
Especially helpful for Gibson guitars pre-1975

Our Gibson Serial Number Lookup will help you find the year of your Gibson

How to use the Gibson Serial Number Lookup: Use the the clickable pictures on this page below to select the location, style, presence of the Made In USA stamp to guide you to the correct table of serial numbers. It's important to check your serial number on the correct table to find the age of your Gibson guitar since Gibson reused the same serial numbers many times. It will also show you how to decode the 8 and 9 digit modern serial numbers.

Why this is necessary: Gibson reused the same serial numbers many times, so you'll need to use the correct chart to find out how old it is.

Scroll down to start, then click the picture that best represents your guitar in each section

Or, click here to jump to the tables if you already know how to read Gibson serial numbers

Start with the location - Click the picture that matches the location of your serial number to continue

Back of Neck

Look on the back of the headstock near the top, above the tuners

Inside "F" Hole

Look inside the guitar body through the "F" shaped sound hole for a paper label or ink stamp

Inside Round Sound Hole

Look for a paper label or an ink stamped number

Does it have a "MADE IN USA" marking?

No "MADE IN USA" Marking

Back of headstock is only marked with a serial number, no other markings or stickers

YES - Marked "MADE IN USA"

Marked "MADE IN USA" with serial number - This can include a sticker or a stamp

Select ink Stamp, die Stamp, or ink stamp with "Classic" on the front

If there is a "MADE IN USA" Stamp - Please select your type

Round sound hole acoustic guitars

Round sound hole labels for flat top acoustic guitars made before 1961 have either a Factory Order Number (FON) or a proper serial number.

If your Gibson flat top acoustic has a paper label serial number beginning with "A", please contact me.
Since Gibson used multiple styles of both serial numbers and factory order numbers, you'll need to select the photo below which best describes the label presence, color, and style of identification number in order to be directed to the correct chart.

Please click on the photo that matches your label to view serial numbers

Gibson ink stamped serial numbers on the neck:
Solid body electric guitars 1953 - 1961

5 or 6 Digit ink stamped Gibson serial numbers

These serial numbers are typically found on 1953 - early 1961 Gibson guitars including Les Paul, Explorer, Flying V, and Doubleneck guitars.

This is the most helpful serial number range for dating a 1950s Les Paul guitar. I collect Gibson guitars from the 1950s but especially the Les Paul guitars: sell a Gibson.

How to read ink stamp serial numbers with 5 or 6 digits: if a 1950s guitar, the first digit will indicate the last digit of the year it was made (9 = 1959).

Exceptions: Gibson used a space between the prefix and consecutive number until the total production per year exceeded 4 digits. Some Gibsons made between 1957 and 1961 may have a 6 digit ink stamp number. Les Paul Models (Goldtops) from 1952 do not have serial numbers. Les Paul Custom guitars from 1953 also do not have serial numbers.

Serial Number Range Year
3 XXXX 1953
4 XXXX 1954
5 XXXX 1955
6 XXXX 1956
7(x)XXXX 1957
8(x)XXXX 1958
9(x)XXXX 1959
0(x)XXXX 1960
1(x)XXXX 1961
vintage gibson guitar buyer

Looking to sell your vintage Gibson?

If you own a vintage Gibson with an ink stamped serial number such as a Les Paul, Explorer, or Flying V and want more info, or a price quote, you can contact me here: sell a Gibson.



Custom Shop Ink Stamp serial numbers: Gibson reused a similar style of ink stamped serial numbers for the custom shop reissue guitars starting in 1992. If your Gibson has a Certificate of Authenticity, then it's a Custom Shop reissue and not a 1950s Gibson guitar. Here's how to decode the custom shop serial number pattern:

M_YRRR or MYRRRR

M = 1950s Reissue Year (8 = 1958, 9 = 1959, etc)
Y = Last digit of manufacture year (5 = 1995, 2005, or 2015)
R = consecutive production number

vintage gibson ES-335 guitar buyer

Looking to sell your vintage Gibson Les Paul, SG, or ES series guitar?

If you own a vintage Gibson with a die stamped 3 - 5 digit serial number and want more info, or a price quote, you can contact me here: sell a Gibson.

Lookup a 3 - 5 digit die stamped Gibson serial number

How to read 3 to 5 digit die stamped serial numbers: read your serial carefully, then check the chart below to see where your number fits between the first and last numbers for each year. Scroll down for 6 digit die stamp numbers.

These serial numbers are typically found on Gibson guitars made from 1961 - 1964 including Les Pauls, SG, ES-335, ES-345

If you own a vintage Gibson with a die stamped serial number and are considering selling, please contact me here: Sell a Gibson.

Serial Number Range Year
0100 to 42440 1961
42441 to 61180 1962
61450 to 64222 1963
64240 to 71040 1964
71041 to 96600 1962, 1963, or 1964
96601 to 99999 1963

Lookup a 6 digit die stamped Gibson serial number

The 6 digit die stamped serial numbers with NO Made In USA stamp are typically found on the back of the headstock of Gibson guitars made from 1963 - 1969.

How to read 6 digit die stamp numbers: Make sure the headstock does not have the "MADE IN USA" stamp (scroll down for charts with stamp). Read the number carefully, (especially the first 3 digits), then check the chart below to see where your number falls in the range of first to last known numbers for that year.

Note: Gibson reused 6 digit serial numbers sometimes more than once in the 1960s. these are just a starting point for identifying the year of manufacture. If you would like more info about your vintage Gibson, please click here to contact me.

I am looking for the nicest examples of Gibson guitars made in the 1960s.
If you own an ES-335 or SG from this era and would like to sell it, please contact me to sell your vintage Gibson

Serial Number Range Years Manufactured
000001 - 099999 1967
100000 - 106099 1963, 1967
106100 - 106899 1963
109000 - 109999 1963, 1967
110000 - 111549 1963
111550 - 115799 1963, 1967
115800 - 118299 1963
118300 - 120999 1963, 1967
121000 - 139999 1963
140000 - 140100 1963, 1967
140101 - 144304 1963
144305 - 144380 1964
144381 - 149864 1963
149865 - 149891 1964
149892 152989 1963
152990 - 174222 1964
174223 - 176643 1964, 1965
176644 - 250335 1964
250336 - 305983 1965
306000 - 310999 1965, 1967
311000 - 320149 1965
320150 - 320699 1967
320700 - 329179 1965
329180 - 330199 1965, 1967
330200 - 332240 1965, 1967, 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, 1967, 1968
409671 - 410900 1966
410901 - 419999 Not Found?
420000 - 429193 1966
500000 - 500999 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969
501009 - 501600 1965
501601 - 501702 1968
501703 - 502706 1965, 1968
503010 - 503109 1968
503405 - 520955 1965, 1968
520956 - 530056 1968
530061 - 530850 1966, 1968, 1969
530851 - 530993 1968, 1969
530994 - 539999 1969
540000 - 540795 1966, 1969
540796 545009 1969
555000 - 557999 1966
558000 - 567400 1969
570087 - 570643 1966
570645 - 570755 1966, 1967
570857 - 570964 1966
580000 - 580080 1969
580086 - 580999 1966, 1967, 1969
600000 - 600998 1966, 1967, 1968
600000 - 606090 1969
700000 - 700799 1966, 1967, 1969
750000 - 750999 1967, 1968, 1969
800000 - 800999 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
801000 - 812838 1966, 1969
812900 - 819999 1969
820000 - 820087 1966, 1969
820088 - 823830 1966
824000 - 824999 1969
828002 - 847488 1966, 1969
847499 - 858999 1966, 1969
859001 - 895038 1967
895039 - 896999 1968
897000 - 898999 1967, 1969
899000 - 899999 1968
900000 - 909999 1970
910000 - 999999 1968


Ink stamped serial number - marked "Classic" On headstock

Ink stamped serial numbers with a headstock marked "Classic" are re-issues, please check Reverb for more information about value

Start: Finish: Year:
9_001 9_999 1989
0_0001 0_9999 1990
1_0001 1_9999 1991
2_0001 2_9999 1992
3_0001 3_9999 1993
4_0001 4_9999 1994
5_0001 519999 1995
6_0001 619999 1996
7_0001 729999 1997
8_0001 899999 1998
9_0001 999999 1999
000001 009999 2000
010001 019999 2001
020001 029999 2002
030001 039999 2003
040001 049999 2004
050001 059999 2005
060001 069999 2006


6 digit Gibson serial numbers with "MADE IN USA" stamp

Gibson began stamping the backs of the headstocks of their guitars with a "MADE IN USA" stamp in 1970.

How to read serial numbers with "MADE IN USA" stamp underneath: Gibson reused this range once again, but this time, they jumped all over the place. The potentiometer codes will be more helpful to find the age of an early 1970s Gibson guitar.

Serial Number Range Year Made in USA Stamp
000000 1973 Yes
100000 1970-1975 Yes
200000 1973-1975 Yes
300000 1974-1975 Yes
400000 1974-1975 Yes
500000 1974-1975 Yes
600000 1970-1972, 1974-1975 Yes
700000 1970-1972 Yes
800000 1973-1975 Yes
900000 1970-1972 Yes


8 digit Gibson serial numbers with "MADE IN USA" die stamp

These serial numbers are typically found on the back of the headstock of Gibson guitars made between 1977 and 2005.

How to read 8 digit die stamped Gibson serial numbers: The first and fifth digit will indicated the last two digits of the year it was made. The second, third, and fourth digit indicate the day of the year. The last three digits indicate in which factory it was produced (<500 = Kalamazoo, >500 = Nashville)

Example: 8xxx2xxx = 1982

Sample: 70928001 = 92nd day of the year

70928001 = 001 (first) guitar of the day in the Kalamazoo factory



8 Digit Gibson Serial Numbers with "Made In USA" Sticker

These serial numbers are typically found printed in gold on a clear sticker applied to the back of the headstock of Gibson guitars made from 1975 - 1977

Serial Number Range Year Sticker
99xxxxxx 1975 Yes
00xxxxxx 1976 Yes
06xxxxxx 1977 Yes


9 digit Gibson serial numbers with "MADE IN USA" die stamp

Gibson updated its serial number system in 2005 to include an extra digit for the batch number (6th digit).

How to read 9 digit die stamp Gibson serial numbers: The first and fifth digits still indicate the last two digits of the year it was made.

Example: 0xxx5xxxx = 2005



Gibson serial numbers inside hollow body guitar - white label: 1910 - 1946

The following table is for Gibson serial numbers located only on a white paper label.

Note: This table is for proper Gibson serial numbers (not FONs) printed on white paper labels located inside a Gibson instrument made between 1903 and 1947. Gibson restarted the serialization in 1947 and added an "A" prefix before the number. Scroll down for A prefix serial numbers.

First Number: Last Number:       Year:
1 1500 1903
1501 2500 1904
2501 3500 1905
3501 5500 1906
5501 8300 1907
8301 9700 1908
9701 10100 1909
10101 10600 1910
10601 10850 1911
10851 13350 1912
13351 16100 1913
16101 20150 1914
20151 25150 1915
25150 32000 1916
32001 39500 1917
39501 47900 1918
47901 53800 1919
53801 63650 1920
63651 69300 1921
69301 71400 1922
71401 74900 1923
74901 81200 1924
81201 82700 1925
82701 83600 1926
83601 85400 1927
85401 87300 1928
87301 89750 1929
89751 90200 1930
90201 90450 1931
90451 90700 1932
90701 91400 1933
91401 92300 1934
92301 92800 1935
92801 94100 1936
94101 95200 1937
95201 95750 1938
95751 96050 1939
96051 96600 1940
96601 97400 1941
97401 97700 1942
97701 97850 1943
97851 98250 1944
98251 98650 1945
98651 99300 1946
99301 99999 1947


Gibson Serial numbers inside hollow body guitars
White label with "A" prefix: 1947 - 1955

Start Finish Year
A-100 A-1304 1947
A-1305 A-2665 1948
A-2666 A-4413 1949
A-4414 A-6597 1950
A-6598 A-9419 1951
A-9420 A-12462 1952
A-12463 A-16101 1953
A-16102 A-18667 1954
A-18668 A-20000 1955

If the serial number starts with "A" please see chart below. For all other orange label serial numbers, please click here to view that Gibson serial number range.

Gibson serial numbers - orange label with "A" prefix

Orange labels with "A" prefix are found on Gibson guitars made from 1955 - 1961 and modern reissues.

I collect and buy nice examples of orange label vintage Gibson guitars. You can contact me here if you're thinking about selling a Gibson.

Start Finish Year
A-20001 A-21909 1955
A-21910 A-24755 1956
A-24756 A-26819 1957
A-26820 A-28880 1958
A-28881 A-32284 1959
A-32285 A-35645 1960
A-35646 A-36147 1961
A-36147 A-9999999 Reissue
“1950’s

Looking to sell your vintage Gibson?

If you own a vintage Gibson with an Orange Label “A” serial number such as ES-335, ES-345, ES-355, SJ-185, or SJ-200 and want more info, or a price quote, you can contact me here: sell a Gibson.

Gibson serial numbers inside "F" sound hole - ink stamped factory order numbers

The following table is a reference guide for three to five digit ink stamp numbers stamped directly onto the wood with no letter prefix.

These are called Factory Order Numbers (or FONs) which is a number for a batch of guitars.

Until 1961, Gibson's low to middle grade models had FONs only in lieu of an actual serial number.

Look for the FON that is closest to yours on the following table.

Serial Number Range Start Year End Year
200 - 1000 1908 1910
1000 - 2000 1910 1914
2000 - 4000 1914 1917
11000 - 11300 1917 1920
11300 - 11500 1920 1922
11500 - 11973 1922 1923


Gibson serial numbers inside "F" sound hole - Ink stamped factory order numbers

In true Gibson fashion, the company began reusing the same FON number range over again from 1947 to 1951.

This range is still a bit inconsistent but should be helpful to establish a ballpark year of manufacture.

Gibsons from this time period should have tapered headstocks.

Serial Number Range Year
~700 to ~1099 1947
~1100 to ~3700 1948
~3700 to ~4500 1949
~2000s 1949
~3000 to ~5000 1950
~6000 to ~9000 1951


Gibson Factory Order Numbers - letter prefix ink stamped inside the body

Look for your corresponding letter below in the list of Factory Order Numbers.
These can be found in "F" hole guitars, and inside round hole flattops

In lieu of serial numbers, low to middle grade Gibson guitars until 1961 had an FON instead of a specific serial number.

Factory Order Letter: Year: 
A (for ink stamps on wood only, for paper label go here (send user to A prefix paper label)) 1935
B 1936
C 1937
D or DA 1938
E + extra letter 1939
E  (with no other letter) 1941
F   (with no other letter) 1942, 1943
F + extra letter 1940
G 1941
H

1942


FON prefixes were discontinued until 1952, but resumed in a reverse pattern beginning with "Z":
Factory Order Letter: Year: 
Z 1952
Y 1953
X 1954
W 1955
V 1956
U 1957
T 1958
S 1959
R 1960
Q 1961

The Factory Order Number system was made obsolete in 1961 when all proceeding Gibson guitars received individual serial numbers.