Dating gibson guitars by serial number
Dating > Dating gibson guitars by serial number
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Dating > Dating gibson guitars by serial number
Last updated
Click here: ※ Dating gibson guitars by serial number ※ ♥ Dating gibson guitars by serial number
Stamped on the back of the peghead. How old is my gear?
This is generally blamed on adjustable bridges that were standard on all models in the 1960's. This is not the most prime of the Les Paul brown cases, as it has a flat top and four latches typically this style of brown case was sold with Les Paul Specials and Juniors. After WW2, all models except the L-5CES, Byrdland, Super 400CES and floating pickup models like the Johnny Smith are laminated maple servile to prevent feedback. That is, is it white silkscreen, gold silkscreen, or pearl inlay. Even then, there may be four other guitars—of all different models—with the same number sequence. Now comes the identifying part. Series starts with 1000. Unfortunately I don't have every range of FON's during this difference. First letter, indicates the year.
However, in the beginning this was not done consistently, so that there are also be instruments without identification. In 1955 Gibson forgot to reset their serial number back to 5 0001. Gibson's F O N System In the early years Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers F O N to track batches of instruments being produced at the time.
Serial Numbers - This was an important change on wrap around tailpieces, because it stopped the wrap-around from leaning forward and cracking the body wood often seen on 1954-1955 Les Paul Juniors and Specials.
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. However, in the beginning this was not done consistently, so that there are also be instruments without identification. Where to find the serial number The serial number is stamped or punched on the back of the headstock. If you want to know the production year of your Gibson guitar, you can calculate it with the serial number decoder, or find it in the tables below. Gibson Factory Order Numbers FON with a letter from 1935 to 1941. FON consists a batch number of usually four digits, followed by a one letter sometimes prefixed by a space followed by one or two digits ranking. The first letter is the year. If there is a second character follows it is the code for the type of the instrument. If follows there is a third letter E, it stands for Electric. The letter preceding the batch number in the FON, and indicates the year of production. The batch number, the first four digits of the FON, followed by a one or two-digit number. This letter shall stand before the FON lot number. Y1234 23 This were used from 1952 to 1961 on archtop models and stamped on the inside of the F-hole. On flat tops it became the neck block stamped. FON PRODUCTION YEAR Z 1952 Y 1953 X 1954 W 1955 V 1956 U 1957 T 1958 S 1959 R 1960 Q 1961 Gibson serial numbers 1952 to 1961, solidbody model. An ink-stamped number from the back of the headstock. Gibson released solidbodies in 1952. No serial numbers were used, Gibson just started therewith in 1953. The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. If the stamped number consists 5 digits, there is a space between the first and second digit a separation between the last digit of the year and the actual serial number. When a six-digit serial number is concerned, there is no space, because the highest number in four digits 9999 has been exceeded and so fills the space. This was the case in the years 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1960. In 1955, Gibson forgot to put back the serial number range to 0001. So they had just put the year from 4 to 5. For this reason, the array of four-digit serial number was exceeded after 9999. Thence 5 digits and no space between the year 5 and the serial number. Some lap steels and Les Paul's from 1961 have such a serial number. Another exception to the above rules is in the autumn from 1958, where a some Les Paul Juniors and Specials had a four-digit serial number. From 1970 to 1975, the 6-digit serial numbers randomly generated. In a random sequence numbers were stamped on the back of the headstock. For some instruments, preceded by a letter. In 1970, the orange labels in the body of acoustic guitars were replaced by white with orange rectangular labels. The electrical models were provided with a rectangular with black and purple triangle. Some instruments from the fifties also had been such a stamp. Gibson serial numbers, 1970-1975. At serialization in the 70s a random method was used. Guitars got six digits in any order, and in some cases they were preceded by a letter that none seemed to have no smeaningful sense. Note that the series of between 1970 and 1975, may be an overlap from production in 1964 and 1965. The table below shows the years in which the numbers could relate. Seral number range PRODUCTION YEAR 000000 - 099999 1973 100000 - 199999 1970 - 1975 200000 - 299999 1973 - 1975 300000 - 399999 1974 - 1975 400000 - 499999 1974 - 1975 500000 - 599999 1974 - 1975 600000 - 699999 1970 - 1972 and 1974 - 1975 Serials 1977-2013. The most sustainable numbering system Gibson was launched in 1977, an eight-digit number. The first and fifth digit representing the year of manufacture. The three intermediate digits, the day of that year. The digits to six to eight gave the serial number. After opening of the new factory in Nashville, in the sequence numbers were also included the production site. Even after the closing of the factory in Kalamazoo in 1984, this process was continued until 1989 in Nashville. In 2005 the system was upgraded to first digit at the end of the batch number was inserted. The sequence numbers were 500 to 699, after which the batch number 1 was increased, and the number returned 500. Serial numbers 2014 to present. Gibson's most simplest system was introduced in 2014. A nine-digit serial number stamped. The first two digits indicate the year, the rest is a serial number for all guitars produced that year. Gibson serial numbers, from February 1961 until 1970. For all models, the serial number on the back of the headstock is stamped. Some serial numbers are duplicated from 1963 to 1969. From this period, the 5-digit and 6-digit numbers can be confused easily and gives the wrong date. Serial number PRODUCTION YEAR 0100 - 42440 1961 42441 - 61180 1962 61450 - 64222 1963 64240 - 71040 1964 71041 - 96600 1962 some 1963 and 1964 96601 - 99999 1963 000001 -t 099999 1967 all 6-digit numbers starting with 0.