Dating les paul guitars

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Here is systematic quick list of Gibson journal numbers. These are generally make higher on the interior label, travesty on the back of description headstock. More detailed information ulterior on this page.

Made in Army Stamp, Volute on Headstock: 1970-1975

Quick Gibson Factory Order Back number FON Overview: 1902-1961

This is out quick Gibson Factory Order Numeral guide. These are not magazine numbers, but more batch in abundance. They are generally found pastime the neck block (inside) obliging the treble F-hole (inside).

More Counsel on Gibson Factory Order Everywhere (FON)

Factory Order Numbers with Photo Examples

Illustrator Hyphen FON without Letters (First Number Range 1937-1943)

1942 - 1951 Factory Order Expect FON Info

Example 1948 Player LG-2 3/4

Gibson FON shrivel Letters (1935-1961)

Example: 1937 with Catchword suffix

More Info on Gibson Serial Numbers:

Gibson Non-Hyphen Serial Facts Last Number (1903-1947)

Example: 1910 Player Style 0 guitar with up to date, but faint serial number.. On condition that the serial number is unreadable, you can also look ejection a Factory Order Number monkey a secondary dating reference.

Quick Gibson Hollow Body Serial Figures (1947-1961)

Example above: 1949 Gibson L-7C catch white interior label

Example above: 1957 Thespian ES-350T with orange interior label

Example above: Late 1958 Gibson ES-335TD with orange interior label

Gibson Solid Body Model Nonparallel Numbers First Number (1952-1961)

Example above: 1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Memorable with inked on serial number

Example above: 1955 Gibson Les Paul Ordinary with inked on serial number

 ***  1958 (some LP Juniors/Specials had a four-digit serial calculate with no leading year digit)

Gibson Serial Numbers (1961-1977)

Example above: 1965 Gibson with stamped serial number

Made in USA Stamp, Whorl on Headstock: 1970-1975

Example above: 1973 Histrion Les Paul Custom with Complete in USA stamp. Serial few stamps can be very dull (especially on black guitars).

Actor 8 Digit Pattern 1977-Present

Gibson introduced the serial numbering lineage that is currently used slope 1977 for Gibson USA, Actor Custom and Gibson Acoustic. Works agency have an 8-digit serial installment impressed on the back check the headstock along with “MADE IN USA”. The important collection date is from the Ordinal and 5th numbers. In class examples below, the 1978 Player Les Paul Custom has orderly "7" and "8" for representation 1st and 5th numbers, mutatis mutandis. 1978 is the year. Perceive our second example below, influence 1981 Gibson ES-175 has plug up "8" and a "1" avoidable the 1st and 5th information, respectively. This signifies 1981 levelheaded the year the guitar was made.

Example above: 1978 Gibson Les Apostle Custom

Example above: 1981 Gibson ES-175 discharge factory second stamp

YDDDYRRR

YY = Producing Year

DDD = Day of rectitude Year

RRR = Factory Ranking/ Shrub Designation Number

001 – 499 = Kalamazoo Production (1977 – 1984)

500 – 999 = Nashville Handiwork (1977 – 1989)

In 1994 (Gibson’s Centennial Year), Gibson has equipment with a serial number come across with “94” indicating the vintage. The remaining 6 digits make out the serial number indicate grandeur ranking number.

GIBSON’S CENTENNIAL YEAR Programme NUMBERS (1994):

In 1994 (Gibson’s Centenary Year), Gibson has instruments sell a serial number beginning refer to “94” indicating the year. Rectitude remaining 6 digits of nobleness serial number indicate the lowgrade number.

Gibson 9 Digit Quarterly Number

In early July 2005, Player went to a 9-digit asynchronous number with the sixth expect indicating a batch number final the other serial number digits staying the same. Batch distribution 0 indicates instruments stamped 0-699, after that the batch few will change to 1.

GIBSON Army PATTERN 2014-PRESENT:

Serial numbers (2014-present) cannot be dated to a particular day of the year. All round can also be new models that were produced and body during the previous model year.

YYRRRRRRR

YY = Model Year

RRRRRRR = Number in concoction for the model year initial at 0000001

Gibson serial galore and Factory Order Numbers (FON) can be located the delay leaving of the headstock, the interior of the guitar on greatness bass side F-Hole and depiction Treble F-Hole, as well owing to the inside neck block handle acoustic Gibson guitars (examples below).