Gibson Les Paul Serial Number Look Up
Poochie Tenharmsel
Guitar Dater is a just one tool you can use to see if the serial number might be valid. Then, having a look at the guitar or photos, if you know what to look for, is also useful. Of course, there are those who use pics of real Gibsons to sell fake guitars - the ol' swap-a-roo. It's brutal.
Necro answer - The Guitar Dater is merely a decoder that works by using known serial number formats and decoding them for you. It's frequently not up to date on serial changes. It's also not based on any manufacturers shipping records so it can't tell you if the serial is re-used, fake or what the details are of any particular guitar.
The serial number does not tell you what guitar you have. If you look up any Gibson serial number all it will tell you is day stamped. The number has a few more bits of info, but not color or model or pickups or anything else of value. It is impossible to tell if just by that number if you have a LP or SG or ES-335 ect.
Knowing how to date - decode Gibson Les Paul serial numbers is a study of its own. Gibson's serial number scheme changed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, so a simple Les Paul serial number lookup isn't often very helpful. Never fear! This page is intended to help you search for the answer to your Les Paul serial number questions. If you're searching for "How old is my Gibson Les Paul guitar?" then you've come to the right place.
The serial number is one of the first places to start for how to date a Gibson Les Paul guitar. It should be on the back of the neck at the top just between and above the tuning machines. If the Gibson Les Paul serial number is six digits or less then your guitar may be older than 1975. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars starting in the 1990s, so check the picture below to compare vintage versus reissue serial numbers.
Is your Gibson Les Paul serial number ink stamped like the 1959 Gibson Les Paul on the left? Gibson used 5 or 6 digit ink stamped serial numbers on Les Paul guitars from 1952 until 1960. The first digit of this style serial number indicates the last digit of the year it was manufactured. For example, this Les Paul's serial number is "7_6227" so it was made in 1957. This is how to date a Gibson Les Paul serial number from the 1950s. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars in the past 20 years as well, so check to see that the style matches. 1950s era Gibson Les Paul serial number stamps will have a thinner and sharper font than the larger font of the 1990s to now.
Do you have a Gibson Les Paul with an ink stamped serial number? I am looking to buy Gibson Les Pauls with ink stamped serial numbers like this from the 1950s. Click the Contact Me button in the corner of your browser or click here to sell a Gibson Les Paul.
Gibson used the 6 digits or less die stamped serial number style from 1961 until 1975. Gibson guitars with "MADE IN USA" impressed below the serial were made from 1969 and on. If your guitar has 6 digits impressed on the headstock and a "MADE IN USA" underneath then it was likely made between 1969 and 1975. Gibson reused serial numbers during this time period so that's as close as we can narrow these guitars down without reading the potentiometer codes. The serial number is only one way for how to date a Gibson Les Paul from the 1960s. Often the features and potentiometer codes are a better way.
Your Gibson Les Paul guitar, if vintage, was made between 1961 and 1963 or 1968 to 1969 (no Les Pauls were made during 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967). Gibson Les Paul Serial number ranges here can be tricky since Gibson reused the serial range multiple times through out the 1960s. You would probably benefit from having a professional take a look at your guitar. I would love to take a look. Click the Contact Me Button (lower right of your browser) to send me a message about your guitar. Gibson didn't make the Les Paul line from 1964 until 1968, but these serial number ranges will work for the SG guitars made in the 1960s as well. Here's how to date a Gibson Les Paul with six digits or less serial number impressed like the guitar on the right with no Made In USA stamp.
I am looking for the nicest examples of all wide neck Gibson guitars made until about 1965. A "wide neck" measures about 1 11/16" or 1.66" or about 42mm wide when measured at the nut. A "skinny" neck measures about 1 9/16" or 1.59" or 40.3mm.
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To look up a Gibson guitar serial number, you will need to find the serial number on the guitar and then use it to research the model and manufacturing date of the guitar. Here are the steps to follow:
Keep in mind that dating a Gibson guitar can be challenging, especially if the guitar is a vintage or antique model. In some cases, the serial number may be missing or difficult to read, and other identifying features may have changed or been modified over time.
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The serial number can be a useful tool in dating a Gibson guitar, but it is not always reliable. While Gibson has used a variety of serial number formats over the years, the serial number alone is not always enough to accurately determine the manufacturing date of the guitar.
For these reasons, it is a good idea to use other methods in addition to the serial number when dating a Gibson guitar, such as researching the model and examining the craftsmanship and features of the guitar. If you are still unsure about the manufacturing date of the guitar, it is a good idea to have it appraised by a professional.
It is difficult to determine exactly how many Gibson guitars have been produced, as the company has been in business for over 100 years and has produced a wide variety of models. Gibson is one of the largest and most successful guitar manufacturers in the world, and it is known for producing high-quality electric and acoustic guitars for players of all levels.
Gibson has produced many iconic guitar models over the years, including the Les Paul, SG, ES-335, and J-45. These and other models have been played by some of the most influential musicians in history, and they remain popular today among players of all genres.
In addition to its core line of electric and acoustic guitars, Gibson has also produced a range of other instruments, including basses, mandolins, and banjos. It is estimated that Gibson produces hundreds of thousands of instruments each year, and the company has a reputation for quality and craftsmanship that is unmatched in the industry.
It can be difficult to spot a fake Gibson guitar, as many counterfeiters go to great lengths to make their products look and feel like the real thing. Here are some tips to help you spot a fake Gibson guitar:
Have you been wanting to find out the date of your Gibson guitar or bass? This guide will help you look up serial numbers and date codes that are found on Gibson instruments. From 1902 to the present day. This works for Gibson's iconic models like Les Paul , ES-335, SG, Flying V, J-45 and more!
This is a quick Gibson Factory Order Number guide. These are not serial numbers, but more batch numbers. They are generally found on the neck block (inside) or the treble F-hole (inside).
In early July 2005, Gibson went to a 9-digit serial number with the sixth number indicating a batch number and the other serial number digits staying the same. Batch number 0 indicates instruments stamped 0-699, after that the batch number will change to 1.
Gibson serial numbers and Factory Order Numbers (FON) can be located the back of the headstock, the inside of the guitar on the bass side F-Hole and the Treble F-Hole, as well as the inside neck block on acoustic Gibson guitars (examples below).
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This section is designed to assist in dating and/or identifying instruments manufactured or distributed by Gibson Guitar Corp. Please note that most of this information relates to serial numbers used from 1975 to present.
The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.
Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989.
Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.
NOTE - Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005..
The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch indicator.