Vintage numbers from 1932 to 1970 are supported. Here's a brief rundown of how to do it, plus resources for more information. 10-Digit Serial Numbers . American Made. First, narrow it down by the country of origin. So, if your serial number is 240121 for example then your Martin guitar was built in 1968. Currently, we are working on getting our guitar dater lookup and search tool fleshed out. Guitar Dater Search » 82176xxx for the 217 th day of the year of 1986 (August 5, 1986) 00027xxx for the 2 nd day of the year of 2007 (January 2, 2007) The remaining characters (RRR) can indicate the order of instruments created that day, as well as which factory the instrument was made in. Finally, in 1977 a much more logical serial number system was introduced. The serial numbers for guitars began with “G0” (G zero) and basses began with “B0” (B zero). Required information is your screen name or nickname, guitar model name, model number and serial number. Need to look up a serial number? Serial numbers starting with '311xxxx' on a golden sticker are 'refurbished' guitars sold by MIRC(Musical Instrument Reclamation Center) 1. Where to find the serial number. With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and locationof the largest Serial number coding for Mexican-made instruments is largely the same, except they will start with an M. Gibson serial numbers are even more interesting, because you can find out the specific date that your instrument was completed! For guitars made prior to 1977 use the extended search function. The prefix ‘E’ stands for the decade of the eighties. Questions? 1. Again, this is due to their modular production. Acoustic Serial Numbers. There are some exceptions. MIRC specs can often be different from stock specs Electrics | Archtops | Acoustics | Basses | Bluegrass | Amplifiers | Promotional Guitars 1976 Serial numbers 259996-260020 were also used. Here's how: Gibsons have this pattern stamped onto the back of their headstocks: The remaining characters (RRR) can indicate the order of instruments created that day, as well as which factory the instrument was made in. Korean Made. Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp. Manufacturers sometimes want to change their serial number format, especially in Asian countries to which many Example: 7 5123 is … This is an 8 digit system and follows the format YDDDYPPP. Enter Serial Number eg. The number is above 230095 so it was built after 1967 but it’s less than 241925 so it was built before the end of 1968 – so it was built in 1968. Test it out next time you are checking out a friend's guitar and collection share the knowledge! 8xxx6xxx for 1986. On some acoustic guitars, the serial number is on the inside of the sound hole. Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, Gibson Memphis A serial number ending in 501 could be the first instrument made at factory #5 that day, or it could be the 501. 1. The PPP represents the factory the guitar was made in and the number of production So, for example, let’s take the serial number 80351045. There's a good explanation for this. With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and … Mexican Made. The serial number of an acoustic is located on the label inside the sound hole of the guitar. But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear. If, for example, you have a Gibson Explorer that was made from 1958 to 1959, you have one of the few models produced in that period. There you have it! * 1991 C. F. Martin & Co. begins using one set of serial numbers for guitars & mandolins. Since we know these instruments were manufactured from 1984 through 2007 in these two countries, it is safe to assume that a serial number beginning with 81XXXXXX was not produced in 1981. The serial number represents the date and time your guitar was built, in a specific format. For example, if your guitar’s serial number is 94000000, your guitar was made in 1994. 05xxxx A fake serial number is usually in white. Understanding these numbers can be difficult, because they seem to hold no information about the guitar. This new function will try to match the serial number against older formats. The remaining digits are important for product identification, but the first few characters are all you need to determine the instruments age. Email us at info@bourgeoisguitars.net. Ever wonder exactly when your favorite guitar was made? Example of a Gibson serial number:A real serial number is stamped dark on the back of theheadstock. 1994-2002 Mandolins are … 08=2008) 3. After World War II, some guitars had a serial number embossed on the head, but reliable numbers didn't really appear until the advent of the first labels, around 1949. Select all options that best discribe your guitar. The Epiphone serial number decoder currently supports 12 serial number formats from 25 factories. Each type of Washburn guitar has a model number, which is used to identify the guitar on websites and in catalogs. Getting started - Guitar Dater, Decoder and Serial Number Search Lookup Tool . You should be The DDD is the day of the year that the guitar was made 3. Washburn Guitars has a storied history that started in Chicago in 1883. Gibson. Registration list is limited to USA made Ovation guitars only. Our current 10-digit serial numbering format that started in November of 2009 identifies where the guitar was built, the start date, and the assigned number of the guitar on that day's production schedule. 81XXXXXX.) This guitar was built in 1981 – 80351045 – remember in the format that the year is the 1st and 5th 2. NOTE: This number includes all models for a particular reissue year - so, for example, a 1958 Reissue serial number may include '58 Reissue LP Standard and '58 Explorer production. All of our guitars have a serial number on the back of the headstock (or the neck plate on older guitars). The Gibson Serial Number Decoder currently supports 6 formats from 4 Factories. This guitar was built on th… Enter a Serial Number here to search for a guitar. The second character will usually be a number. The YY represent the year the guitar was made 2. All acoustic serial numbers begin with the … From 1977 to 2013 Gibson have used an eight or nine digit serial number on all of their guitars that can be easily decoded to show the exact day that the guitar was manufactured along with the location of the Gibson factory. well-known brands. From 2014 onwards Gibson changed the serial number format to a simplified nine digit number which can still be used to find the year of … Enter your serial number and we'll look up the date of manufacture using our lightning fast engine. This number can be used to date a guitar and in some cases tell where it was made. Enter Serial Number eg. But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear. VANTAGE serial numbers (electric guitars/basses) 1978?/79: V-100 model: “V-100”-sticker, no serial. For 1995 and 1996, Guild returned to the system which used a separate serial number prefix for each guitar model, and also the first and last serial number produced for each model in each given year. There is no way to tell the year or the month it was made in the MIRC serial 2. For example, the serial number for the first guitar built in the El Cajon (USA) factory on July 6, 2014 is 1107064001. Chart Number 1 – Numbers only no spaces. Serial numbers tend to be stamped or written somewhere on the headstock or neck joint of the guitar. You can look up the 1994 page, and locate your model number. Country of Manufacture. In the beginning, Gretsch simply wrote serial numbers inside the guitar in pencil. That number indicates the specific year. Original serial numbers are usually defaced 3. Despite being static and given figures, the serial numbers are not always correct when it comes to dating a guitar. Serial dating is easiest for instruments made in the USA or Mexico, but is also possible for those made in Japan, Korea, China, and Indonesia. Start here if your serial number starts with only numbers, no letters. 1965-1969 From 1965 to 1969 (inclusive), Guild used a separate serial numbering system for each guitar model. YY = last two digits of year (e.g. Well, good news it's very easy to figure out the age of Fender and Gibson instruments from the last 30 years. The serial number can be found in the sound hole of the acoustic or on the back of the headstock on electrics. If you have letters in your serial number, skip to Chart number 3. Please note that most of this information relates to serial numbers used from 1975 to present. However, in rare instances there are guitars which began with “B0” and basses which began with “G0” on neck plates as the factory may have run out of the appropriate plates. Serial numbers for Sigma guitars built in Korea and Taiwan are perhaps meaningless, though again some seem to indicate the year of manufacture (e.g. When a guitar is produced commercially, the serial numbers that are used on the guitar can go overlapping. The serial number for each year shows the serial number of the last guitar that was built in that year. Sometimes the word "2nd" is stamped on back of headstock 5. The serial numbers have been placed on or in the guitar in different places over the years. The prefix ‘S’ at the beginning of a serial number stands for the decade of the seventies. The Martin serial number sequence starts at 8348 which is how many guitars the firm had estimated it had produced from its inception to when they started the serial sequence at the end of the 19th century. 0xxx7xxx for 2007. Date a Gibson guitar by serial number. However, it is still an accepted fact that using serial numbers and combining them with the dates that are found on the guitar is the best way you can identify the original manufacturing dates. Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp. … 1. Step #2 Match your serial number with the correct date. Vintage numbers from 1932 to 1970 are supported. Most guitar manufacturers put a serial number on each instrument they produce. Click HERE. Guild Guitar Serial # lookup : 10% complete It should be noted that many manufactures don't have complete records themselves so any progress given here are based on what we know we still have to complete for a given manufacturer and may still be missing serial numbers after '100% complete'. Serial numbers from 70' and 80's era Epiphone guitars made in Japan are not supported. There are many exceptions, and of course many other brands out there, but now you can tell how old most Fenders or Gibsons are within seconds. Serial Number Chart for Acoustic and Classical Guitars In the following charts, you can determine the year of manufacture for a Yamaha acoustic or classical guitar. Z512345. In most cases**, the first two numbers of the serial number are the year of manufacture. The first step is to find the serial number—a combination of letters and/or numbers— and the "Made in..." label (Japan, Taiwan, or Indonesia) on the guitar. Furthermore, I have to remind y… ##### = consecutive production number for the yearIt's unclear whether this numbering convention is rigidly enforced, that is, each month actually starts out with the number prescribed above, or if this is just a way to estimate the production month. The U.S. Vintage Series (launched in 1982) uses ‘V’ as a prefix for the serial number. Understanding how to read Gibson serial numbers is a little confusing at first, but it doesn’t take long to identify when your guitar was made. Western companies have outsourced their production. RRR (R) indicates the guitar's place production for that year. At the top of the neck plate, on the front or at the back of the headstock or on the cover plate of the vibrato (Stratocasters), or at the end of the heel of the neck. F = manufactured by FujiGen Gakki in Nagano 2. EE04091253. These pencilled-in numbers often fade and become illegible, or even disappear. The reason for this is that there is no reliable documentation from this time period. A serial number not only confirms the authenticity of your guitar but can impact the value. Looking for Gibson Guitars? The Epiphone serial number decoder currently supports 12 serial number formatsfrom 25 factories. For the year 1994, ONLY the model prefix and last serial number for each model produced is available. Gibson Serial Numbers 1975-Present This section is designed to assist in dating and/or identifying instruments manufactured or distributed by Gibson Guitar Corp. That letter indicates the decade. Japanese Made. 1979 models: VLP Spirit: six digit ser.nos. 81232560. For US instruments, the serial number will start with a letter. You sort of remember when you got it, but you want to really know its history, especially if you're not the first owner. Serial numbersfrom 70' and 80's era Epiphone guitars made in Japan are not supported. This chart details the year, model and beginning/ending serial numbers for each instrument during that period. The prefix ‘L’ at the beginning of a serial number indicates a guitar from the early ’60s. Has 'Crafted In Japan' Printed on Headstock. Original warranty void 4.