Gibson Serial Numbers, Specs & Info

If you are having trouble dating and identifying a Gibson guitar the first thing you want to check is the serial number.. Gibson's serial number system through out the years have changed multiple times, their serial numbers can give you some valuable information on a particular guitar if you know how they worked. Here are some good pointers to remember without going into details..

1. If you are buying a vintage Gibson guitar and the seller claims that it was made in 1935 the serial number can not be more than 5 digits and can not have a letter. From 1902 to 1947 Gibson serial numbers started at 100 to 99999.

2. From 1947 to 1961 Gibson serial numbers started with an "A" usually followed by 3 to 6 digits.

3. From 1961 to 1969 Gibson gave their guitars random serial numbers, they are the hardest to identify during these years but luckily there is a guide. Below are the serial ranges and dates. For example if the guitar had this serial number: 64555 the guitar was made in 1964.

4. From 1970 to 1975 the words "MADE IN THE USA" and six digit serial numbers were pressed in back of the headstock.

5. 1975 to 1977 Gibson had 8 digit serial numbers. The first two digits of the serial numbers indicated the year. If the serial number started with 99 it was made in 1975, if it started with 00 it was made in 1976, 06 was 1977.

6. In 1977 Gibson introduced another serial number system until 2005.. The serial numbers have 8 digits. The first and fifth digit is the year. The second, third and fourth digit is the day of the year. The last three digits is the plant it was made and the rank. (001-499 Kalamazoo & 500-999 Nashville)

Example: If the serial is 80207445
Year: If you take the first and fifth digit, this guitar would be made in 1987
Day: Second, Third, Fourth digit indicates it was made on Jan-20 (20th day of the year)
Where and Rank: Last three digits indicates the guitar was made in Kalamazoo and was the 445th guitar stamped that day.

For more detailed info on Gibson serial numbers after 1975 I recommend you visit this Gibson Page, for vintage Gibson guitars before 1975 I suggest you go here Gibson Serialization by Blue Book..