Gibson Acoustic Serialization
Taken from the 11th Edition
Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars
By Zachary R. Fjestad
Blue Book Publications, Inc.
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Minneapolis, MN 55425 U.S.A.
Phone: 800-877-4867 (U.S.A. and Canada orders only)
Phone: 952-854-5229
FAX: 952-853-1486
Email: guitars@bluebookinc.com
Web site: www.bluebookinc.com
Reprinted with permission
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GIBSON ACOUSTIC SERIALIZATION 1

GIBSON
GIBSON ACOUSTICACOUSTIC SERIALIZATION,SERIALIZATION cont.
GIBSON

Identifying Gibson instruments by serial number is tricky at best, anddownright impossible in some cases. The best method of identifying
them is to use a combination of the serial number, the factory ordernumber and any features that are particular to a specific time (i.e. logo
design change, headstock volutes, etc).
In addition to the above serial number information, Gibson also used
Factory Order Numbers (FON) to track batches of instruments being
produced at the time. In the earlier years at Gibson, guitars were normally built in batches of forty instruments. Gibson’s Factory Order
Numbers were an internal coding that followed the group of instruments through the factory. Thus, the older Gibson guitars may have a
serial number and a FON. The FON may indicate the year, batch
number, and the ranking (order of production within the batch offorty).
This system is useful in helping to date and authenticate instruments.
There are three separate groupings of numbers that have been identified and which are used for their accuracy. The numbers are usually
stamped or written on the instrument’s back and seen through thelower f-hole or round soundhole, or maybe impressed on the back of
the headstock.
Code Letter FONs were discontinued after 1941, and any instruments
made during or right after World War II do not bear an FON codes.
In 1949, a four-digit FON was used, but not in conjunction with any
code letter indicating the year.
From 1952-1961, the FON scheme followed the pattern of a letter,the batch number, and an instrument ranking number (when the guitar was built in the run of forty). The FON is the only identification
number on Gibson’s lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J160E, etc.) which do not feature a paper label. Higher grade models(such as the Super 400, L-5, J-200, etc.) feature both a serial number
and a FON. When both numbers are present on a higher grade model,
remember that the FON was assigned at the beginning of the production run, while the serial number was recorded later (before shipping).
The serial number would properly indicate the actual date of the guitar.
1902-1947: The first serialization system was started in 1902. The
serial numbers started with number 100 for acoustics, around 90000
for electrics and run up to 99999. All numbers are approximates. In
most cases, only the upper end instruments were assigned identification numbers. Serial numbers appear ink-stamped on a white paperlabel.
FONs were first used in 1935. Other FONs may appear that aren’tlisted here that were produced during WWII. From 1935 to 1937, theletter appeared between the batch and instrument numbers (i.e. 722 A23, 465 D 58, 863 E 02). The number is ink-stamped inside the guitar on the back. In 1938, the FON was changed to a two- or three-letter prefix before the batch and instrument numbers. The first letter
indicates the year, the second indicates the brand (i.e. G for Gibson, Kfor Kalamazoo), and the third (if applicable) for electric. The FON iseither ink-stamped on the label or on the back of the headstock.
Nick Lucas models produced between 1928 and 1933, will all haveserial numbers from 1928 or 1929.
SERIAL NUMBERS
APPROX. LAST #
1500
2500
3500
5500
8300
9700
10100
10600
10850

YEAR
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911

SERIAL NUMBERS
APPROX. LAST #
YEAR
13350
1912
16100
1913
20150
1914
25150
1915
32000
1916
39500
1917
47900
1918
53800
1919
63650
1920
69300
1921
71400
1922
74900
1923
81200
1924
82700
1925
83600
1926
85400
1927
87300
1928
89750
1929
90200
1930
90450
1931
90700
1932
91400
1933
92300
1934
92800
1935
94100
1936
95200
1937
95750
1938
96050
1939
96600
1940
97400
1941
97700
1942
97850
1943
98250
1944
98650
1945
99300
1946
99999
1947
FACTORY ORDER NUMBERS (FON)
BATCH NUMBERS
YEAR
259
1908
309
1909
545, 927
1910
1260, 1295
1911
1408, 1593
1912
1811, 1902
1913
1936, 2152
1914
2209, 3207
1915
2667, 3508
1916
3246, 11010
1917
9839, 11159
1918
11146, 11212
1919
11329, 11367
1920
11375, 11527
1921
11565, 11729
1922
11973
1923

2 GIBSON ACOUSTIC SERIALIZATION, cont.
LETTERA
B
C
DDA
E(X, OROTHER LETTERS)
E
F
FA
G
H

YEAR
1935
1936
1937
1938
1938
19391941
1940
1940
1941
1942

1947-1961: Gibson changed their serialization system once theyreached 99999 and decided they did not want to go to a six-digit system. Instead, they added an A prefix followed by a three-, four-, orfive-digit number. The new system started on April 28, 1947 withnumber A 100. The last number was used on February 21, 1961.
From 1947 to early 1955, white oval labels were used. In early 1955,
the label was changed to an orange oval. Serial numbers are on thelabel and FONs are ink-stamped on the inside back of the guitar.
FONs consisted of a letter, four-digit batch number, and count number (i.e. Y 2230 21, V 4867 8, R 6785 15). FONs were discontinued
after Gibson changed to the new serialization system in 1961.
SERIAL NUMBERS
APPROX. LAST #YEAR
A 13041947
A 26651948
A 44131949
A 65971950
A 94191951
A 12462
1952
A 161011953
A 18667
1954
A 21909
1955
A 24755
1956
A 268191957
A 28880
1958
A 32284
1959
A 35645
1960
A 36147
1961
700-1000S
1947
1100-3700S
1948
3700-4500S
EARLY 1949
2000S
LATE 1949
3000-5000S
1950
6000-9000S
1951
FACTORY ORDER NUMBERS (FON)LETTER
YEARZ
1952
Y
1953
X
1954
W
1955
V
1956
U
1957
T
1958
S
1959
R
1960
Q
1961

1961-1970: In 1961, Gibson started a new serial number system thatcovered all instrument lines. It consisted of numbers that wereimpressed into the wood. This is generally considered to be the mostconfusing out of all Gibson’s serial number systems used between theyears 1961 and 1970. There are several instances where batches ofnumbers are switched in order and duplicated, not just once, but up tofour times, and seem to be randomly assigned throughout the decade.
Note: If "MADE IN USA" is stamped in the back of the headstocknear the serial number, the guitar is not from the 1960s, but the1970s. In this case, please refer to the next section on serialization for
1970-1975 guitars.
NUMBER
100-42440
42441-61180
61450-64222
64240-71040
71041-96600
96601-99999
000001-099999
100000-106099
106100-108999
109000-109999
110000-111549
111550-115799
115800-118299
118300-120999
121000-139999
140000-140100
140101-144304
144305-144380
144381-149864
149865-149891
149892-152989
152990-174222
174223-176643
176644-250335
250336-305983
306000-310999
311000-320149
320150-320699
320700-329179
329180-330199
330200-332240
332241-348092
348093-349100
349121-368638
368640-369890
370000-370999
380000-385309
390000-390998
400001-406666
406667-409670
409671-410900
410901-419999
420000-429193
500000-500999
501009-501600
501601-501702

YEAR
1961
1962
1963
1964
1962, 1963, 1964
1963
1967
1963, 1967
1963
1963, 1967
1963
1963, 1967
1963
1963, 1967
1963
1963, 1967
1963
1963, 1964
1963
1964
1963
1964
1964, 1965
1964
1965
1965, 1967
1965
1967
1965
1965, 1967
1965, 1967, 1968
1965
1966
1965
1966
1967
1966
1967
1966
1966, 1967, 1968
1966
No Entries
1966
1965, 1966,1968, 1969
1965
1968

GIBSON ACOUSTIC SERIALIZATION, cont. 3
NUMBER
501703-502706
503010-503109
503405-520955
520956-530056
530061-530850
530851-530993
530994-539999
540000-540795
540796-545009
555000-556909
558012-567400
570087-570643
570645-570755
570857-570964
580000-580080
580086-580999
600000-600998
600000-606090
700000-700799
750000-750999
800000-800999
801000-812838
812900-819999
820000-820087
820088-823830
824000-824999
828002-847488
847499-858999
859001-895038
895039-896999
897000-898999
899000-899999
900000-901999
910000-999999

YEAR
1965, 1968
1968
1965, 1968
1968
1966, 1968, 1969
1968, 1969
1969
1966, 1969
1969
1966
1969
1966
1966, 1967
1966
1969
1966, 1967, 1969
1966, 1967, 1968 (LOW END)
1969 (HIGH END)
1966, 1967
1968, 1969
1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
1966, 1969
1969
1966, 1969
1966*
1969
1966, 1969
1966, 1969
1967
1968
1967, 1969
1968
1970
1968

1970-1975: From 1970 to 1975 the method of serializing instruments
at Gibson became even more random. All numbers were impressed
into the wood and a six-digit number was assigned, though no particular order was given and some instruments had a letter prefix. Theorange labels inside hollow bodied instruments were discontinued in1970 and were replaced by white and orange rectangular labels on theacoustics, and small black, purple, and white rectangular labels wereplaced on electric models.
In 1970, the words MADE IN USA were impressed into the back of
instrument headstocks (though a few instruments from the 1950s also
had this). The difference between a 1960s and a 1970s Gibson modelis the "MADE IN USA" stamp on the back of the headstock.
NUMBER
000000S
100000S
200000S
300000S
400000S
500000S
600000S
700000S
800000S
900000S

YEAR
1973
1970-1975
1973-1975
1974-1975
1974-1975
1974-1975
1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975
1970, 1971, 1972
1973, 1974, 1975
1970, 1971, 1972

NUMBER
6 DIGITS + A
A + 6 DIGITS
B + 6 DIGITS
C + 6 DIGITS
D + 6 DIGITS
E + 6 DIGITS
F + 6 DIGITS

YEAR
1970
1973, 1974, 1975
1974, 1975
1974, 1975
1974, 1975
1974, 1975
1974, 1975

When the Nashville Gibson plant was opened in 1974, it was decided
that the bulk of the production of products would be run in theSouth; the Kalamazoo plant would produce the higher end (fancier)models in the North. Of course, many of the older guitar builders andcraftsmen were still in Kalamazoo, and if they weren’t ready to change
how they built guitars, then they may not have been ready to change
how they numbered them! Certain guitar models built in the late1970s can be used to demonstrate the old-style, six-digit serial numbers. It is estimated that Gibson’s Kalamazoo plant continued to use
the six-digit serial numbers through 1978 and 1979. So double checkthe serial numbers on those 1970s L-5s, Super 400s, and Super 5
BJBs!
1975-1977: During the period from 1975 to 1977, Gibson used atransfer that had eight-digit numbers. The first two indicate the year
(99=1975, 00=1976 and 06=1977), and the following six digits are inthe 100000 to 200000 range. MADE IN USA was also included on
the transfer and some models had LIMITED EDITION also applied.
A few bolt-on neck instruments had a date ink stamped on the heelarea.
NUMBER
99XXXXXX
00XXXXXX
06XXXXXX

YEAR
197519761977

1977-PRESENT: In 1977, Gibson first introduced the serialization
method that is in practice today. This updated system utilizes animpressed, eight-digit numbering scheme that covers both serializing
and dating functions. The Custom/Historic/Art divisions do not use
this system. Certain models in the Standard series do not follow this,either. Please refer to the end of the section for exceptions. The pattern
is as follows:
YDDDYPPPYY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.

In 1994, for Gibson’s Centennial, they used a special serialization.
Every serial number started with 94 followed by six digits, which werethe production dates and number (YYNNNNNN).
The three PPP numbers 001-499 indicate Kalamazoo production
from 1977 to 1984. The Kalamazoo numbers were discontinued in1984 when the factory closed. The three PPP numbers 500-999 indicate Nashville production from 1977 to 1989.
All currently manufactured Gibsons (non-custom shop) are stampedwith a hand arbor, and start at 300 or 500, and continue until production is finished that day. This hand stamp used to be reset daily at#300 or #500 for all the LP style headstocks. The other shapes (FlyingV, T-Bird, Explorer, etc.) were started at 700.
When acoustic production began at the plant in Bozeman, Montana(in 1989), the series’ numbers were reorganized. Bozeman instruments
began using 001-299 designations and, in 1990, Nashville instruments began using 300-999 designations. It should also be noted thatthe Nashville plant has not reached the 900s since 1977, so thesenumbers have been reserved for prototypes. Examples:
70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, inKalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.

4 GIBSON ACOUSTIC SERIALIZATION, cont.
82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, inNashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.
03202652 means the instrument was produced in Bozeman on
November 16, 2002 and was the 152nd instrument stamped that day(assuming they started at 500).
There are a few exceptions to this system.
Centennial Year/Models: 1994 is the most notable exception, withthe first two numbers representing the year, so all models start with 94
and are followed by six digits. The Centennial models produced forthe 1994 model year have an inked-on serial number that is six digits
long. The serial number appears as YYYYMM. The first four represent
the number produced. They all started on 1894, which represents
instrument #1, and 1994 would be instrument #101. The last twodigits indicate the month of the guitar released. A new model wasreleased each month with a total of fourteen different models thatincludes two prototypes. The last two numbers will range from one tofourteen.
Special Runs/Limited Editions: Certain special editions in the 1970s
and 1980s may feature serial numbers with six digits in the configuration of YY NNNN. The YY indicates the year and the NNNN is theinstrument ranking.
CUSTOM SHOP: Most custom shop models use the configurationof Y9NNN or Y9NNNN (if the production run is higher than 1000units in a year). The Y indicates the last digit of the year the guitar wasbuilt. 9 is assigned to every custom shop guitar, and the last three orfour digits are production numbers.
Historic ES models use a slightly different system than the Custom
Shop. The configuration consists of a letter prefix + MYNNN. The
letter, which is usually an A or B, indicates that it is part of the Historic Collection, the M indicates the last year of reissue model, the Y
indicates the last number of the year the guitar was built, and the final
NNN digits are production numbers.
Custom Shop Signature Models use a serialization system with the artist’s initials and the instrument production number.
Other models such as the Gibson Les Paul Classic may use serialization that was used on the models during that time period. Thesewould be six-digit serial numbers.
Source: A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics, The Classic Years
and Walter Carter and George Gruhn, Gruhn’s Guide to Vintage Guitars.