Vintage Fret

Decoder / Brand

Martin serial numbers

One continuous serial sequence since 1898. Separate charts exist for LX, Backpacker, mandolins and some ukuleles. 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

8digit3digit4digit8digit

Entries

Ranked by confidence. Select a row for its rule.
Exact
The rule gives one year.

The rule

One continuous number, no letters. The year is the one in which the highest serial reached that year. Last serial of that year: 8348.

Numbers below 8349 are 1898 or earlier. In 1956 the two main sources disagree on the year-end figure (152775 or 153225), so serials near 152775 to 153225 could fall in 1956 or 1957. Serials 900001 to 902908 are Sigma-Martins from 1981 to 1982 and the table does not apply to them. Martin dates by the year-end figure, so a guitar made in the first weeks of a year can carry a number near the previous year-end.

Usually found

On the centre block inside the body, visible through the soundhole. Also stamped on the neck block.

3 ruled out
  • Fender, Four and five-digit numbers, 1950 to 1964: 1950 to 1957 Ruled out by: brand set to Martin.
  • Gretsch, Sequential numbers, 1939 to 1965: 1953 Ruled out by: brand set to Martin.
  • Guild, Early numbers, 1953 to 1960: 1953 to 1960 Ruled out by: brand set to Martin.

Where to look

  • Inside the body on the centre block, visible through the soundhole (1898 onwards)
  • Neck block stamp
Generic acoustic guitar outline with three marked places where a serial number may be found 1 inside, through the soundhole 2 neck block 3 back of headstock
Generic outline, not any maker's model. Marks 1 to 3 are the usual places; which apply depends on the format and year.

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.

YearsFormatHow sureUsually found
1898 to 2025 Martin sequential serial, 1898 to 2025
One continuous number, no letters. The year is the one in which the highest serial reached that year.		 Exact On the centre block inside the body, visible through the soundhole. Also stamped on the neck block.

Traps

  • Martin sequential serial, 1898 to 2025. Numbers below 8349 are 1898 or earlier. In 1956 the two main sources disagree on the year-end figure (152775 or 153225), so serials near 152775 to 153225 could fall in 1956 or 1957. Serials 900001 to 902908 are Sigma-Martins from 1981 to 1982 and the table does not apply to them. Martin dates by the year-end figure, so a guitar made in the first weeks of a year can carry a number near the previous year-end.

Dates that matter

  • 1898. Martin begins one continuous serial sequence. From this year Martin numbered every instrument in a single run, which is why the Martin table works over more than a century.
  • 1931. Dreadnought D-28 and herringbone style. The D-28 style with herringbone purfling establishes the dreadnought as Martin's flagship line.
  • 1934. Move to 14-fret necks on the OM and D lines. More frets clear of the body mark a shift in how these models are recognised.
  • 1944. Scalloped bracing phased out. Martin moves away from scalloped braces during the war years.
  • 1946. Herringbone purfling ends. The herringbone top ring is dropped.
  • 1969. End of Brazilian rosewood as standard. Martin changes to Indian rosewood across the standard line.
  • 1985. Adjustable truss rod becomes standard. A hex nut at the soundhole end replaces the older T-bar design.

See these on the timeline.

Features that help date it

  • Brazilian rosewood back and sides on standard models (earlier to 1969). Tight, straight grain with strong colour variation. Indian rosewood is plainer and more uniform.
  • Herringbone top purfling on D-28 style models (1931 to 1946). A herringbone pattern ring around the top edge.
  • Scalloped top braces (1938 to 1944). Look inside with a mirror: brace edges are carved in scallops.
  • Adjustable truss rod standard (1985 to later). A hex nut visible at the soundhole end of the neck.
  • Stamped serial on the neck block (post-1898) (1898 to later). Look through the soundhole at the neck block.

Filter all features by brand and year.

Where the rules come from

  • Martin Guitar serial number lookup (martinguitar.com)
  • Vintage Martin serial number chart (vintagemartin.com)

Rules are rewritten as logic, not copied tables. See About for known gaps.

Other brands

Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Rickenbacker, Harmony, Kay, Silvertone and Danelectro, Other makers.