Gibson has been using a consistent dating method since the late 1970s, but it is often more difficult to find the exact model number. If you can identify the type of guitar and the features that are original to the guitar, you can cross-reference that information with a Gibson guitar model picture book or website to determine the exact model you possess. With a little patience and help from the many experts in this field, you can determine the model number as well as the approximate value for selling or insurance purposes.
Nov 17, 2009 I have a Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty purchased used in 1976. The serial # is 00120780 and is imprinted on the back of the headstock, along with LES PAUL CUSTOM and Made in USA. I know it could not have been made in 2000 as it was purchased before then. 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. Gibson Custom 1952-1960 Les Paul, Explorer, Flying V, and Futura reissues (since late 1992): M YRRR or MYRRRR M is the model year being reissued Y is the production year. In 1961, Gibson started a new serial number system. It consisted of numbers that were impressed into the wood. This is generally considered to be the most confusing out. Electric Guitars built at the Gibson USA plant in Nashville are ranked from 500-999. Prior to 1984, the numbers 001-499 show Kalamazoo production, 500-999 show Nashville production. The serial numbers from the Custom, Art, and Historic division vary depending on the line.
How to Find a Gibson Model Number. Guitars made after 1977 use the current YDDDYRRR method, with YY being the year, DDD the day of the year made and RRR the plant designation number. A serial number that starts with 82766 would have been made on October 3, 1986. This will help you narrow down your search as some models were not made in that year. The Gibson Serial Number Decoder currently supports 6 formats from 4 Factories. For guitars made prior to 1977 use the extended search function. This new function will try to match the serial number against older formats, details required for an exact match are listed in yellow. Dating gibson guitars by reference of serial numbers Gibson has used various methods of numbering from 1900, so it is not simply based on the serial number to identify the year of manufacture. From 1902 to 1976, Gibson instruments have a serial number or a FON (Factory Order Number) or both.
Determine the type of guitar you are investigating. Gibson makes many different types of guitars, including archtops, flat tops, solid bodies and acoustics. This will help you narrow down your search as certain models denote a type of guitar and you can rule out any models that do not fit within the type of guitar you are trying to identify.
Determine the year the guitar was made. Gibson guitars are all marked with a year dating method that varies but that can be determined quite easily. Guitars made after 1977 use the current YDDDYRRR method, with YY being the year, DDD the day of the year made and RRR the plant designation number. A serial number that starts with 82766 would have been made on October 3, 1986. This will help you narrow down your search as some models were not made in that year.
Determine the exact model by comparing its size and dimensions as well as the color used for the body. You can compare these specifications to pictures in Gibson guitar collector books. The fret inlays and body and neck binding are also great ways to identify the model you are investigating. The peg-heads will also help you determine what era the guitar is from, whether it is pre-WWII, during WWII or post-WWII, which will have a dramatic effect on the value as well as the model.
Check the parts to make sure they are all original. If some parts have been replaced, it may be difficult to accurately assess the model of guitar you are looking at as many people swap out parts for parts from different models. Often parts from later guitars will fit older ones, and collectors are sometimes fooled into believing the guitar is a certain model when in fact it is something entirely different. Check to see if the model you think the guitar is has the correct parts as well as the right serial number and model designation.
Remove the control plates and pickups to see if a model number is stamped on the guitar. Higher-end models will be easier to identify as many were ink stamped somewhere with that information. If it is a hollow-body guitar, look in the cavities of the body to see if there is a model number stamped within it.
Gibson Serial Number Lookup
The age of a Gibson guitar, along with the physical condition and relative rarity, are the major factors in determining its value. While physical condition can be assessed with a careful inspection, rarity and date of manufacture are not always easy to determine. But the serial number on a Gibson can tell you when the guitar was made. With that information, you can determine its rarity and, ultimately, its worth.
Locate the serial number on your Gibson. For acoustic instruments, the serial number is typically located inside the sound hole at the neck joint or on a piece of paper glued inside the guitar and visible through the sound hole. On electric guitars, the serial number is generally printed on the back of the headstock.
Gibson Serial Number Font
Decipher your serial number if it's eight digits. Since 1977, Gibson has used the following method: The first and fifth numbers indicate the last two digits of the year the instrument was produced, the second through fourth digits tell the day of the year it was produced and the last three digits indicate the production rank. For example, the serial number 81449243 means the guitar was the 243rd instrument made on the 144th day of 1989.
Use the Blue Book of Electric Guitars, available for free at Gibson's website, to date your instrument if it has a different type of serial number. Over the years, Gibson has gone through several different serial-number changes, sometimes resulting in multiple guitars with the same number. The book, which lists all the company's historical serial number schemes, is an invaluable resource when dating vintage Gibson guitars.
Gibson Serial Number Lookup Custom Shop
If you're still having trouble accurately dating your Gibson, take pictures of the guitar, including the serial number, and upload them to the customer service section on the company's website. In most cases, they'll help you date your instrument.
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