The easiest way to find the year of manufacture of a Gibson guitar in particular is the reference instrument serial number of the factory order number.

In the 1970s, Gibson standardized the serial number system that is still in use today. The general eight-digit serial numbers on Gibson guitars are stamped on the back of the head. The first and fifth year are combined in the instrument was made. The numbers of second, third and fourth show on which day of the year, the instrument was made. The sixth number represents the location where the instrument was made, and the last two digits are the “production cycle” number.

From 1975-1977 the number can be found on a sticker on the back of the blade. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows:

99 = 1975
00 = 1976
06 = 1977

In 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that we use primarily for the U.S. today Gibson, Gibson acoustic, and installation of Gibson Custom Memphis, TN.

The serial number will be 8 digits to enter the back of the blade with “MADE IN USA” below.

The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the year of production
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the ranking of the factory / number designation of the plant.
Before 1984, when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Rank 500-999 numbers below to indicate Nashville production through 1989.

Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson Electric built in Nashville and Memphis. Rank Bozeman numbers start each day by 001 and the electrical system can start as low as 300.

Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on 10 January 1978 in Kalamazoo, and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.

82765501 means the instrument took place on 3 October 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.

NOTE – Gibson USA going to a serial number of 9 digits in early July 2005 ..
The sixth number is now a batch number, batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once the seal 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch indicator.

There are always exceptions to these rules, the two that follow are worth noting:

Les Paul Classic: This model has an ink stamp with serial number MADE not “in the U.S.” (as we used in the original Les Paul from 1952-1960). Most will be from 5 to 6 digits long, but the earliest examples feature 4 digit number series. There must be a space after the 1st two digits with the digits 4 and 5 serial numbers, not the space with the 6-digit numbers.

The 1st digit indicates the year of manufacture for the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers, these were used from 1989-1999. The 1 and 2 indicate the year of manufacture for serial numbers of 6 digits that have been using since 2000.

Examples –
9 xxx = 1989 (4-digit number beginning with “9″ used only in 1989)
0 xxxx = 1990
9 xxxx = 1999
00xxxx = 2000
05xxxx = 2005

Those beginning with “94″:
In 1994, Gibson’s centennial year, many instruments have a serial number beginning with “94″ for the year, with the remaining 6 digits indicating the order number.

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