THE WORKBENCH / FREE TO USE
Gibson Serial Number Lookup: Date Your Guitar by Serial
Compare your Gibson serial number with published dating formats. Get a calendar date where the format supports one, or every possible year range when it does not. Reused numbers and special models need physical context.
How to use this tool
- Enter the full number, preserving leading zeroes. Spaces and dashes are ignored.
- Compare all matches and check whether the number is ink, a decal, or impressed into the wood.
- Read the checks and linked sources. Contact Gibson when the model or stamp does not fit.
Worked example
82763523 points to October 3, 1983 in Nashville: the 1st and 5th digits give the year, the 2nd to 4th give the day of the year, and a final number of 500 or higher meant Nashville before 1990. Check that the number is pressed into the back of the headstock with Made in USA below.
Gibson serial number dating guide
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Serial number eras and formats
Compare the covered Gibson formats below. The examples illustrate number formats; several formats can fit the same serial, so check the instrument details in each result.
| Years | Format | Example | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 to 1961 | Gibson label serials starting with A | A 12460 | Look on the paper label inside the body through the soundhole or f-hole. |
| 1952 to 1961 | Gibson factory order letters | T1234 | Look inside the body on the neck block. |
| 1952 to 1961 | Gibson solid-body ink serials | 32397 | Look for an ink stamp on the back of the headstock. |
| 1961 to 1969 | Gibson impressed serials, 1961 to 1969 | 144305 | Look for digits pressed into the back of the headstock, without a MADE IN USA stamp. |
| 1970 to 1975 | Gibson 6-digit serials with MADE IN USA | 654321 | Look on the back of the headstock with MADE IN USA below the number. |
| 1970 to 1975 | Gibson 1970s serials with a letter | A123456 | Look for digits pressed into the back of the headstock. |
| 1975 to 1977 | Gibson 8-digit decal serials | 99123456 | Look for a decal on the back of the headstock. |
| 1977 to mid-2005 | Gibson 8-digit serials, 1977 to 2005 | 82763523 | Look on the back of the headstock, or also on the label inside a hollow body. |
| 1994 | Gibson centennial serials starting with 94 | 94012345 | Look for digits pressed into the back of the headstock. |
| July 2005 to 2014 | Gibson 9-digit serials, 2005 to 2014 | 112410501 | Look on the back of the headstock with MADE IN USA below the number. |
| 2014 to mid-2019 | Gibson model-year serials | 150000123 | Look on the back of the headstock with MADE IN USA below the number. |
| Mid-2019 onward | Gibson 9-digit serials from 2019 | 225320789 | Look on the back of the headstock with MADE IN USA below the number. |
| 1989 to 1999 | Les Paul Classic 4 or 5-digit ink serials | 9 123 | Look for ink on the back of the headstock without a MADE IN USA stamp. |
| 2000 to 2014 | Les Paul Classic 6-digit ink serials | 05 0123 | Look for ink on the back of the headstock, with MADE IN USA added from 2007. |
| 1990s onward | Custom Shop serials starting with CS | CS10845 | Look for ink on the back of the headstock. |
| About 1992 to 1993 onward | Custom Shop vintage reissue ink serials | 75123 | Look for ink on the back of the headstock, often with a space after the first digit. |
| About 1997 onward | Custom Shop 1960s reissue impressed serials | 050102 | Look for digits pressed into the back of the headstock. |
| 1990s onward | Historic ES reissue label serials | A-98005 | Look for ink on the label inside the f-hole, with no headstock stamp. |
| 2000 to 2009 | Custom Shop carved-top 8-digit label serials | 20045002 | Look on the orange label inside the body. |
Limits of serial dating
Signature models, Custom Shop instruments and reissues can use separate numbering systems. Some digits identify the model being reissued rather than the production year.
Historical tables for pre-1977 instruments come from secondary references. Numbers were reused and tables can disagree, so every possible year is shown; ink, decals, impressed digits and the MADE IN USA stamp help distinguish the formats.
The 2014 to mid-2019 format gives a model year rather than a production day. A model can have been built in the previous fall, and Custom Shop year digits can repeat each decade.
A calendar date depends on choosing the correct format for the instrument. The switch from 8 to 9 digits in July 2005 can make a date inconsistent; unlisted signature variants, banjos and Dobro instruments need separate guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a 1960s Gibson serial return several years?
Gibson reused numbers and the historical tables disagree in places. The current Gibson guide does not publish these older tables. This tool shows every possible year from the historical ranges instead of choosing one. The stamp type, MADE IN USA mark, and instrument features are needed for context.
Can a Gibson serial number give an exact production date?
The 1977 to mid-2005 eight-digit format and later nine-digit date formats encode a year and day of year. This tool converts those to a calendar date when valid. That interpretation depends on the correct format. The 2014 to mid-2019 model-year format does not encode a day.
What should I do if no Gibson format matches?
Check every digit, leading zero, serial location, and stamp type. Unlisted signature and special formats may not be covered. Gibson invites questions at 1-800-4GIBSON or service@gibson.com. Its guide provides formats rather than an online serial lookup tool.