Decoder / Brand
Gibson serial numbers
Four incompatible systems: factory order numbers, a letter plus batch, loosely numbered 1960s runs, and the 1977 to 1999 eight-digit format. The 1960s are the hardest decade. A serial is evidence, not proof.
This is an example number. Replace it with yours. Hyphens matter, so keep them.
Brand
Your number, read character by character
8year0day9day2day3year0no.1no.5no.
Entries
Ranked by confidence. Select a row for its rule.
Exact
The rule gives one year.
The rule gives one year.
The rule
YDDDYPPP: digit 1 and digit 5 are the year (tens, then units), digits 2 to 4 the day of the year, digits 6 to 8 the production number that day. Day 92 is 1983-04-02. Kalamazoo (production number below 500).
Format YDDDYPPP: digits 1 and 5 give the year, 2 to 4 the day of the year, 6 to 8 the production number for that day.
Production numbers 001 to 499 mean Kalamazoo (1977 to 1984), 500 to 999 mean Nashville (1977 to 1989). From 2005 serials have nine digits and from 2014 the format changes again; those are outside this tool.
Usually found
Impressed in the back of the headstock.
Where to look
- Ink stamp inside the body, visible through the f-hole or soundhole
- Impressed into the back of the headstock (1977 onwards)
- Paper label on the inside back (pre-1950s acoustics and archtops)
The formats, in order
Each row is one rule the decoder applies. Where two rows overlap in years, a number can match both, and the decoder shows both.
| Years | Format | How sure | Usually found |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 to 1942 | Factory order number with year letter, 1935 to 1942 A letter followed by a few digits. The letter stands for the year, but letters were reused, so treat the result as a range. | Ambiguous (estimated) | Ink stamp inside the body, usually visible through the f-hole. |
| 1952 to 1961 | Letter plus four digits, 1952 to 1961 A letter (Z down to Q) followed by a four-digit batch number. | Likely | Ink stamp inside the body, or impressed in the back of the headstock on solidbodies. |
| 1953 to 1961 | Five-digit number, first digit is the last digit of the year, 1953 to 1961 Five digits. The first digit gives the year: 3 is 1953, 4 is 1954 and so on to 9 for 1959, 0 for 1960 and 1 for 1961. | Likely | Ink stamped on the back of the headstock or inside the body. |
| 1961 to 1972 | Loosely numbered runs, 1961 to 1972 Five or six digits, no year letter. Number blocks were reused and run in the wrong order. | Ambiguous (estimated) | Impressed in the back of the headstock. |
| 1970 to 1975 | Norlin-era six digits, 1970 to 1975 Six digits, sometimes with a leading letter. Serial blocks are not tied to a year. | Ambiguous (estimated) | Impressed in the back of the headstock. "Made in USA" appears on the headstock from 1970. |
| 1975 to 1977 | Two-digit prefix, 1975 to 1977 A prefix of 99, 00 or 06 followed by the rest of the serial. | Ambiguous (estimated) | Impressed in the back of the headstock. |
| 1977 to 1999 | Eight-digit date code, 1977 to 1999 YDDDYPPP: digit 1 and digit 5 are the year (tens, then units), digits 2 to 4 the day of the year, digits 6 to 8 the production number that day. | Exact | Impressed in the back of the headstock. |
Traps
- Factory order number with year letter, 1935 to 1942. Gibson used a letter prefix with the factory order number. Sources agree on the broad sequence A to H over these years but not on exact boundaries.
- Letter plus four digits, 1952 to 1961. Z is 1952, Y 1953, X 1954, W 1955, V 1956, U 1957, T 1958, S 1959, R 1960, Q 1961.
- Five-digit number, first digit is the last digit of the year, 1953 to 1961. Solidbodies were not serialised until 1953. In autumn 1958 some Les Paul Junior and Special models carried four-digit numbers. Any five-digit number can also match the 1961 to 1970 ranges, so check the other clues.
- Loosely numbered runs, 1961 to 1972. Treat a hit here as a range of candidates. Use pickups, pots, bridge, logo and the "Made in USA" stamp as second clues.
- Norlin-era six digits, 1970 to 1975. Use the headstock stamp, truss rod cover and pickup type to narrow it down.
- Two-digit prefix, 1975 to 1977. Reports of this scheme are thin and less consistent than the 1977 format. Confirm with other features.
- Eight-digit date code, 1977 to 1999. Production numbers 001 to 499 mean Kalamazoo (1977 to 1984), 500 to 999 mean Nashville (1977 to 1989). From 2005 serials have nine digits and from 2014 the format changes again; those are outside this tool.
Dates that matter
- 1902. Gibson founded in Kalamazoo. The Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Company is incorporated.
- 1952. Les Paul model introduced. The solidbody Les Paul appears; solid bodies are not serialised until 1953.
- 1954. Tune-o-matic bridge introduced. The adjustable saddle bridge starts to appear on the better models.
- 1957. PAF humbucker introduced. The Patent Applied For humbucker replaces P-90s on many models.
- 1961. Serial numbering becomes irregular. Number blocks stop mapping neatly to years until the 1977 reform.
- 1970. "Made in USA" stamp added. The stamp starts appearing on the headstock back.
- 1977. Eight-digit date-code system starts. Gibson adopts the YDDDYPPP format, running to 1999.
Features that help date it
- PAF humbucker stickers (1957 to 1962). A "Patent Applied For" label on the underside of the pickup.
- Patent number sticker humbuckers (1962 to 1973). A label showing a patent number instead of "Patent Applied For".
- P-90 single-coil pickups as the standard fitting (1946 to 1957). A wide, flat-looking pickup cover with screw-slotted pole pieces.
- Tune-o-matic bridge introduced (1954 to later). A saddle bridge with individually adjustable saddles on two posts.
- "Made in USA" stamp on the headstock (1970 to later). A stamp near the serial number on the back of the headstock.
Where the rules come from
- Gibson serial number guides (guitarinsite.nl)
- Gibson 1977-1999 eight-digit format, as published by several dealer and collector guides
Rules are rewritten as logic, not copied tables. See About for known gaps.
Other brands
Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Rickenbacker, Harmony, Kay, Silvertone and Danelectro, Other makers.