Gibson Serial Number Lookup & Guide
Date your Gibson guitar by serial number
Use our serial number decoder to instantly find the year of your Gibson guitar
Especially helpful for Gibson guitars pre-1975
How To Read Your Gibson Serial Number
- Enter your serial number into the Lookup tool → Lookup
- Select the style and/or logo
- The lookup tells you the year!
- Click "How To Read This Serial Number" to learn more
True Vintage Guitar
Where to find the serial number on a Gibson guitar
Gibson serial numbers appear in several locations depending on the era and model. Check each of these spots on your instrument:
Look Up Your Serial Number →-
1
Back of the neck
Ink or die stamped on the back of the headstock.
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2
Bass (left) side F hole
Visible through the bass-side F hole on a paper label.
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3
Treble (right) side F hole
Ink stamped on the inside back of the body (an FON, not a serial number).
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4
Round sound hole
On flat top acoustics, look inside through the round sound hole for a paper label.
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5
Neck block
Look through the soundhole on the vertical block towards the neck. This is an FON, not a serial number, but it can still be used to date your guitar.
Gibson Serial Numbers 1904 – 1978
Jump to a serial number era below. Learn more about matching the style of your serial number to a certain chart to reliably date your Gibson guitar.
Looking to sell your vintage Gibson?
My name is John Shults. I am a Gibson guitar collector and owner of True Vintage Guitar. If you have a Gibson guitar made before 1975 that you are considering selling, please contact me today for a price quote, or more information.
The Early Days of Gibson: Serial Numbers & Factory Order Numbers 1902 - 1961
In the early days of Gibson, all instruments received a Factory Order Number (FON), but not all received an actual serial number. An FON is a number assigned to a batch of guitars, but a serial number is assigned to only one instrument. Until 1961, only mid grade to top tier Gibson instruments received an actual serial number. FONs are almost always ink stamped directly to the wood inside the instrument, but serial numbers are almost always on a paper label.
Gibson Serial Numbers 1903 - 1947 (Paper Label)
How to read this Gibson serial number range: Your serial number should land between a first number and last number of a certain year.
Check: Use this chart only if your serial number is on a white paper label on the inside back of the instrument.
More information on this range: Only the middle and upper tier Gibson instruments received an actualy serial number until 1961. If your instrument has an ink stamp directly on the wood instead of a paper label, go to the neck chart of Factory Order Numbers. This serial number range should appear on a white label inside the instrument only.
| 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 Factory Order Numbers with No Letter Prefix 1904 - 1951
How to read a Gibson FON with no letter prefix: Match your FON in the range chart below, then check the logo style to confirm the year.
More information on this range: A Factory Order Number (FON) was given to a batch of instruments made by Gibson that's often followed by a rack position written in red pencil. The entire batch received the same FON, and the red pencil number signifies the position of the rack occupied by that instrument alone. FONs are always ink stamped inside the instrument directly on the wood on the neck block on a flat top guitar or the back of the body visible through the left (or bass side) F hole on an archtop.
| Start | Finish | Logo Style | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 133 | Small Script | 1904 |
| 132 | 282 | Small Script | 1905 |
| 283 | 483 | Small Script | 1906 |
| 484 | 539 | Small Script | 1907 |
| 540 | 682 | Small Script | 1908 |
| 683 | 999 | Small Script | 1909 |
| 1000 | 1014 | Small Script | 1909 |
| 1015 | 1449 | Small Script | 1910 |
| 1450 | 1811 | Small Script | 1911 |
| 1812 | 2205 | Small Script | 1912 |
| 2206 | 2562 | Small Script | 1913 |
| 2563 | 2949 | Small Script | 1914 |
| 2950 | 3321 | Small Script | 1915 |
| 3322 | 3999 | Small Script | 1916 |
| 11000 | 11101 | Small Script | 1917 |
| 11102 | 11287 | Small Script | 1918 |
| 11288 | 11309 | Small Script | 1918 - 1919 |
| 11310 | 11373 | Small Script | 1920 |
| 11374 | 11510 | Small Script | 1921 |
| 11511 | 11779 | Small Script | 1922 |
| 11780 | 11999 | Small Script | 1923 |
| 11000A | 11199A | Small Script | 1924 |
| 11201A | 11241A | Small Script | 1925 |
| 8000 | 8200 | Small Script | 1925 |
| 8201 | 8550 | Small Script | 1926 |
| 8551 | 8900 | Small Script | 1927 |
| 8901 | 9229 | Small Script | 1928 |
| 9230 | 9500 | Small Script | 1929 |
| 9501 | 9800 | Small Script | 1930 |
| 9801 | 9988 | Small Script | 1931 |
| 1 | 159 | Small Script | 1931 |
| 160 | 359 | Small Script | 1932 |
| 1 | 3999 | Large Script | 1933 or 1934 |
| 1 | 9999 | Banner | 1942 - 1945 |
| No FON | No FON | Gold Script | 1946 - 1947 |
| 700 | 2999 | Block | 1947 - 1949 |
| 3000 | 5999 | Block | 1950 |
| 6000 | 9999 | Block | 1951 |
Gibson Factory Order Number Letter Prefixes 1935 - 1961
How to read a Gibson FON with letter prefix: Match the letter prefix to the chart below to find the year.
| Prefix Letter | Year |
|---|---|
| A | 1935 |
| B | 1936 |
| C | 1937 |
| D | 1938 |
| DA | 1938 |
| E + (any letter) | 1939 |
| F | 1940 |
| FA | 1940 |
| E (no other letter) | 1941 |
| G | 1941 |
| H | 1942 |
| Z | 1952 |
| Y | 1953 |
| X | 1954 |
| W | 1955 |
| V | 1956 |
| U | 1957 |
| T | 1958 |
| S | 1959 |
| R | 1960 |
| Q | 1961 |
Gibson A Prefix Serial Numbers 1947 - 1961
How to read an A prefix serial number: This range is consecutive, so your serial number will fall withing a start and finish section for a given year.
Note: Only middle to high grade Gibson guitars received serial numbers in this range. Low to mid grade instruments received an FON only.
More info on this range: This serial number range should always appear on a paper label. Gibson used a white label from A-100 (1947) until A-18750, then orange from A-20001 until the last A prefix serial number A 36147 in 1961.
| Start | Finish | Year | Label Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-100 | A-1304 | 1947 | White |
| A-1305 | A-2665 | 1948 | White |
| A-2666 | A-4413 | 1949 | White |
| A-4414 | A-6597 | 1950 | White |
| A-6598 | A-9419 | 1951 | White |
| A-9420 | A-12462 | 1952 | White |
| A-12463 | A-16101 | 1953 | White |
| A-16102 | A-18667 | 1954 | White |
| A-18668 | A-21909 | 1955 | White or Orange |
| A-21910 | A-24755 | 1956 | Orange |
| A-24756 | A-26819 | 1957 | Orange |
| A-26820 | A-28880 | 1958 | Orange |
| A-28881 | A-32284 | 1959 | Orange |
| A-32285 | A-35645 | 1960 | Orange |
| A-35646 | A-36147 | 1961 | Orange |
Gibson Ink Stamp Solid Body Serial Numbers 1953 - 1961
How to read this serial number range: The first digit of the serial is the last digit of the year it was made from 1953 - 1961.
Check: It must be ink stamped in the style below. This is not true for any other style.
Exception 1: First-year Les Paul Model guitars from 1952 and first-year Les Paul Customs from 1953 were not serialized.
Exception 2: At the introduction of the double-cutaway Les Paul in 1958, some serial numbers briefly appeared without the "8" year prefix.
Note: From 1955 to 1961, once production exceeded 1,000 units, an extra digit was often added, resulting in either five- or six-digit serial numbers.
| Start | Finish | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 3_0001 | 3_9999 | 1953 |
| 4_0001 | 4_9999 | 1954 |
| 5_0001 | 5(x)9999 | 1955 |
| 6_0001 | 6(x)9999 | 1956 |
| 7_0001 | 7(x)9999 | 1957 |
| 8_0001 | 8(x)9999 | 1958 |
| 4999 | 8999 | 1958 |
| 9_0001 | 9(x)9999 | 1959 |
| 0_0001 | 0(x)9999 | 1960 |
| 1_0001 | 1(x)9999 | 1961 |
Wondering about how much your vintage Gibson guitar could be worth?
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:
Gibson 5 Digit Die Stamp Serial Numbers 1961 - 1964
How to read a 3-5 digit die stamped serial number: Find where your serial number fits within a start and finish number in the chart.
More info on this range: Gibson began a new serial number scheme across the entire range of its products in 1961 utilizing a metal die stamp on the back of the peghead. This serial number range should always appear die stamped on the back of the peghead or stamped on an orange interior label.
| Start | Finish | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 42440 | 1961 |
| 42441 | 61180 | 1962 |
| 61450 | 64222 | 1963 |
| 64240 | 71040 | 1964 |
| 71041 | 96600 | 1962, 1963, or 1964 |
| 96601 | 99999 | 1963 |
Gibson 6 Digit Die Stamp Serial Numbers 1963 - 1969
How to read a 6 digit die stamp serial number: Your serial should fall within a start and finish range in the chart below. If more than two years are listed in that range, use the nut width, knob style, or potentiometer codes to find the year.
NOTE: If your guitar has "MADE IN USA" stamped underneath, use this chart instead: MADE IN USA.
This serial number range should always appear die stamped on the back of the peghead or stamped on an orange interior label. If your serial number was used in two different years, you can use either the neck width, knob style, or potentiometer codes.
Nut width: Measure the width of the neck at the nut. Gibson guitars made before 1965 typically measure 1 11/16" wide at the nut. Gibsons made after 1965 typically measure 1 9/16" wide.
Knob style: If your Gibson has volume and tone knobs, the style may help determine the year. Gibson introduced the "witch hat" knob in 1967. If your guitar has witch hat knobs, defer to the later possible year.
Potentiometer Codes: The potentiometer code is the week and year that the part was made. If the potentiometer is original to the guitar, then it was made after that date.
| Start | Finish | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 629999 | 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 or 1969 |
| 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 |
Gibson 6 Digit Die Stamp Made In USA Serial Numbers 1970 - 1975
This serial number range should always appear die stamped on the back of the peghead with "MADE IN USA" stamped underneath. This range is not very sequential from Gibson, so the best way to date a Gibson in this range is by using the potentiometer codes.
| Start | Finish | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 000000 | 099999 | 1973 |
| 100000 | 199999 | 1970-1975 |
| 200000 | 299999 | 1973-1975 |
| 300000 | 399999 | 1974-1975 |
| 400000 | 499999 | 1974-1975 |
| 500000 | 599999 | 1974-1975 |
| 600000 | 699999 | 1970-1972, 1974-1975 |
| 700000 | 799999 | 1970-1972 |
| 800000 | 899999 | 1973-1975 |
| 900000 | 999999 | 1970-1972 |
Gibson 6 Digit Die Stamp Made In USA Letter Prefix 1970 - 1975
How to read this serial number: The letter prefix indicates the year referred in the chart below.This serial number range should always appear die stamped on the back of the peghead with "MADE IN USA" stamped underneath. Gibson often used a letter prefix before the serial number for acoustic and high end instruments from 1970 - 1975.
| Start | Year |
|---|---|
| LExxxxxx | 1970-1975 |
| Axxxxxx | 1973-1975 |
| Bxxxxxx | 1974-1975 |
| Cxxxxxx | 1975 |
| Dxxxxxx | 1975 |
| Exxxxxx | 1975 |
| Fxxxxxx | 1975 |
Gibson Clear Sticker Serial Numbers 1975 - 1977
How to read this serial number: The first two digits are a code to indicate the year.This serial number range should always appear on a clear sticker on the back of the headstock with gold lettering.
| Prefix | Year |
|---|---|
| 99xxxxxx | 1975 |
| 00xxxxxx | 1976 |
| 06xxxxxx | 1977 |
8 Digit Die Stamped Serial Numbers 1977 - Today
Gibson’s new 8 digit die stamped serial number scheme began in 1977 and consists of decade digit, day of year code, year digit, factory code, and a consecutive production number.
Quick Look: The first and fifth digits indicate the year.
Factory code: Until 1984, a factory code digit under 5 indicates Kalamazoo, MI, and any digit 5 and over indicates Nashville, TN.
About The Author
John Shults
Founder & Lead Dealer, True Vintage Guitar
John Shults has built True Vintage Guitar into one of the most trusted names in the field. Known for his refreshing transparency in a trade often shrouded in mystery, he has — by age 37 — already sold three of the world's rarest Gibson Les Paul Bursts, including a 1958 Standard now owned by Joe Bonamassa, who praised John as 'on a roll' with his string of rare finds. A 16-year veteran appraiser and dealer, John has bought and sold millions of dollars in vintage guitars across five continents, always with a focus on expertise, honesty, and passion for Fender and Gibson history.