Gibson Serial Numbers
Gibson Guitars-
Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, Gibson Memphis
1975-1977
8-digit number typically found on a decal on the back of the
headstock that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows:
99 = 1975
00 = 1976
06 = 1977
1977-Present
8-digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with "MADE IN USA" impressed below the number. The format is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY indicates the last two digits of the production year
DDD indicates the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.
Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory closed, the numbers 001-499
indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989.
Beginning in 1989, all Gibson
acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT, marking the start of a new ranking system. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as
the 300s.
2005-2014 Gibson USA
Beginning in July 2005, Gibson USA moves to a 9-digit number,
with the 6th digit now being a batch number. Batch 0 starts at the
beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number changes to 1. The new format is as follows:
YDDDYBRRR
YY indicates the last two digits of the
production year
DDD indicates the day of the year
B is the batch number
RRR is the factory ranking for that day
beginning with 001
2014 - Mid 2019 Gibson USA
These serial numbers do not
indicate a specific day of production.
The new model year typically
launches in the fall as the current model year winds down. It is not uncommon
for a new model year model to be produced during the previous model year (example – a 2015 model may have been built in late 2014).
The format is as follows:
YYRRRRRRR
YY indicates the last two digits of the production year
RRRRRRR is the production number for the model year
Mid 2019-present Gibson USA
In 2019, Gibson USA reverts back
to its previous post-2005 scheme, which follows this pattern:
YDDDYBRRR
YY indicates the last two digits
of the production year
DDD indicates the day of the year
B is the batch number
RRR is the factory ranking for
that day beginning with 001
Two notable exceptions
to these rules are as follows:
Les Paul Classic 1989-2014:
This model features a
reissue-style ink-stamped serial number with no "Made In USA" stamp.
Most will be 5 or 6 digits in length, but the earliest examples feature 4-digit
serial numbers. There should be a space after the 1st digit with the 4- and
5-digit serial numbers, and no space with the 6-digit numbers. The format is as follows:
1989-1999
RRRR (Y RRR on earliest examples)
Y is the last digit of the production year
RRR(R) indicates the guitar's place in production for that year
2000-2014
YYRRRR
YY is the last 2 digits of the production year
RRRR indicates the guitar's place in production for that year
(Note- beginning in 2007, the
“Made in USA” stamp was added to the back of the headstock on LP Classics)
Serial numbers beginning with
"94":
In 1994, Gibson's Centennial year,
many instruments have a serial number that begins with "94" for the
year, with the remaining 6 digits indicating the ranking number. These numbers, despite being 8 digits long, do not indicate the day of production. The format is as follows:
94RRRRRR
94 indicates 1994
RRRRRR indicates the production number
Gibson
Custom
Ink stamped on back of
peghead:
Modern models
CSYRRRR
CS indicates Custom Shop
Y is the last digit of the production year
RRR(R) indicates the guitar's place in
production for that year.
Reissue models
M YRRR or MYRRRR
M is the model year being reissued
Y is the last digit of the production year
RRR(R) indicates the guitar's place in production for that year.
4 YRRR
1954 LP Standard, LP Custom
5 YRRR
1955 LP Standard
6 YRRR
1956 LP Standard
7 YRRR
1957 LP Standard, LP Custom, LP Jr
Single Cut, LP Special Single Cut
8 YRRR
1958 LP Standard, LP Jr Double
Cut, Korina Flying V, Korina Explorer
9 YRRR
1959 LP Standard
0 YRRR
1960 LP Standard, LP Special Double Cut
Impressed on back of Peg
Head:
YRRRRM
Y is the last digit of the production year
RRRR indicates the guitar's place in
production for that year.
M is the model year being reissued
YRRRR1
1961 SG Standard
YRRRR2
1962 SG Standard, SG Custom
YRRRR3
1963 SG Custom, SG Special, SG Junior, Firebird
YRRRR4
1964 SG Standard
YRRRR5
1965 Non-Reverse
Firebird
YRRRR7
1967 Flying V
YRRRR8
1968 LP Custom and LP Standard
Impressed on back of Peg Head and ink stamped on label in F-Hole:
1YRRRR
1961 and 1964 ES Models
Ink Stamped on label in F-Hole (no headstock stamp):
ES Models:
A8YRRRR
1958 ES-335
A9YRRRR
1959 ES Models
Carved-top models:
YDDDYRRR
YY indicates the production year
DDD indicates the day of the year
RRR indicates the guitar's place
in production for that year
(NOTE - as of 2000, 1st digit will be a
"2")
Artist Signature Models:
Signature models have been
produced by Gibson USA, Gibson Custom, Gibson Memphis, Gibson Acoustic and Epiphone. These models often deviate from the standard serial number format, and since many artists have multiple signature models across different brands, there are many different serial number configurations and variants. Please contact us at service@gibson.com should you have any questions.
Gibson Banjos 1988 to present:
Earl Scruggs Models
Standard:
Sequential production number, starting at 001
'49 Classic:
YY-RR
YY = Year of manufacture
RR = ranking number (starts at 01)
Golden Deluxe:
YY-RR
YY = Year of manufacture
RR = ranking number (starts at 01)
Flint Hill Special:
FH-YY-RR
YY = Year of manufacture
RR = ranking number (starts at 01)
Special:
ES-YY-RR
YY = Year of manufacture
RR = ranking number (starts at 01)
Non-Earl Scruggs
Models
Style 250:
250-YY-RR
YY = Year of manufacture
RR = ranking number (starts at 01)
Granada:
YY-MM-RR
YY = Year
MM = Month
RR = ranking number (starts at 01)
RB:
RB### = sequential production number
All other models
S(S)-YYMM-RR
S(S) = style (excluding style 250 - see above)
YY = Year
MM = Month
RR = ranking number
Epiphone
Guitars
ca. 1993- ca. 2008
Most regular production models since ca. 1993. Many '80s and early '90s serial numbers may follow a similar scheme, but may not include a factory ID code. The format is as follows:
FYYMMRRRR
F= Factory code (this can be 2 letters as well)
YY= year of manufacture (this can also be just 1 digit for '90s models)
MM= month of manufacture
R= ranking number (may be more or less digits, not necessarily indicative of
total units produced)
Another code used on some Epiphone models in the same time
period:
FYYMRRRR
F= Factory code
YY=Year of manufacture
M= This will be a letter code corresponding to the month (A=January,
B=February, etc...)
RRRR= ranking number
Epiphone Elite/Elitist models:
FYSSSS
F= Factory Code (this code will be an "F" or "T")
Y= Year of manufacture (2 = 2002, 3 = 2003, etc.)
SSSS= Sequential Serial Number
ca. 2008 - Present
Around 2008, Epiphone moves to a serial number consisting of all numbers with no letter code. The format is as follows:
YYMMRRRRRR
YY= year of manufacture
MM= month of manufacture
R= ranking number (may be more or less digits, not
necessarily indicative of total units produced)
Dobro (1995-present)
1995-1997
A(A) (#)###YY
A(A) = model code
(#) ### = ranking number
YY = last 2 digits of year
1997-Current
YMMDDRRY
Y = last digit of year
MM = Month
DD = day of month
RR = ranking number
Y (last digit) = decade
As always, please feel free to contact
us at 1-800-4GIBSON or service@gibson.com should you have any questions.