Gibson has used at least a dozen distinct serialization schemes since 1902 — paper labels, interior-stamped factory order numbers with year letters, A-prefix hollowbody labels, 4-6 digit die-stamps, 8-digit YDDDYRRR, 9-digit YDDDYBRRR, and a simplified 9-digit YYNNNNNNN format. No single rule decodes them all. The decoder matches the format first, then decodes the year when the serial actually encodes one.
Sources 1 Manufacturer 1 Reference view all
Era map: 1902-1947 paper labels (sequential). 1947-1961 A-prefix hollowbody labels (year from range table). 1952-1961 FON letter-prefix interior stamps (Q-Z = 1961-1952). 1961-1970 die-stamped 4-6 digit peghead (no "Made in USA", year ambiguous across reuse). 1970-1975 die-stamped 6-digit with "Made in USA" (still ambiguous). 1975-1977 8-digit decals (99=1975, 00=1976, 06=1977). 1977-2005 8-digit YDDDYRRR (year = pos 1+5, day-of-year = pos 2-4). 2005-2014 and mid-2019+ 9-digit YDDDYBRRR (+ batch digit). 2014-mid-2019 simplified YYNNNNNNN. Custom Shop, artist runs, Les Paul Classic, Centennial, and student-line FONs each have their own conventions.
Positions 1 and 5 (1-indexed) together are the last two digits of the year. Positions 2–4 are the day of year (001–366). Positions 6–8 are the rank for that day.
Same year/day encoding as the 8-digit format (positions 1+5 = year, 2–4 = day of year), with a batch digit at position 6 and a 3-digit rank at 7–9.
The first two digits are the 2-digit year (14–19 only). The remaining seven are a plain sequential rank.
The first two digits encode the year: 99 = 1975, 00 = 1976, 06 = 1977. The remaining six are sequential.
Sequential serial with no year encoded in the digits. Covers three distinct sub-eras: 1961-1969 die-stamped with no "Made in USA" (4-6 digit, highly ambiguous — same number reused across years), 1970-1975 die-stamped 6-digit with "Made in USA" stamp below (also ambiguous), and some 1961-1969 student-line 4-digit stamps. Dating requires cross-referencing Gibson's year-range charts with features (pot codes, hardware, finish, neck date).
A + 3-5 digit number on a label inside the F-hole. Used exclusively on mid-to-upper-end hollowbody instruments. White label from A-100 (1947) through A-18750 (Jan 12, 1955); orange label from A-20001 (Jan 13, 1955) through A-36147 (1961, the final A-series serial). Year decoded via Gibson's official serialization range chart.
Factory Order Number stamped INSIDE the instrument (not on the headstock). Format is a letter (Q-Z) + batch number (3-5 digits) + optional rank. The letter pins the year directly: Z=1952, Y=1953, X=1954, W=1955, V=1956, U=1957, T=1958, S=1959, R=1960, Q=1961. Gibson worked backwards through the alphabet, ending the FON system in 1961 when the die-stamped serial-number system took over.
A 4-digit impressed or inked headstock serial used on some Junior/Special/Melody Maker student-line models from the fall of 1958 onward — an exception to the standard era numbering. Not to be confused with the Factory Order Number (FON), which was stamped inside the instrument and used a different layout.
Short-numeric (4–6 digit) serial ink-stamped on the back of the headstock on Les Paul Classic models of this era. The serial itself carries no year; dating uses the listing year as context.
Six-digit format where the first two digits are the last two digits of the year and the remaining four are sequential.
On most Gibson models the serial is impressed (or ink-stamped on very early models) on the back of the headstock. Some Custom Shop models and certain hollowbody models use different locations — see the find-locations below.
Back of headstock (solid-body standard)
The primary location for most Les Paul, SG, and Explorer models from 1977 onward. The serial is impressed into the wood through the finish.
F-hole paper label (hollowbody / semi-hollow)
On ES-series and other hollowbody instruments the serial often appears on a paper label visible through the treble-side F-hole. A corresponding inked or impressed serial is usually also on the headstock.
Back of headstock — inked (pre-1961 student line)
Junior, Special, and Melody Maker models pre-1961 have a 4-digit factory order number ink-stamped rather than impressed.
Gibson's official serial lookup and dating reference; documents the 1975-1977 decal, the 8-digit YDDDYRRR format (1977+), and the 9-digit YDDDYBRRR format (July 2005+).
Comprehensive reference maintained since 1995 covering paper-label era, A-series (1947-1961), ink-stamped peghead, 1961-1975 impressed, and modern formats.
Every format rule on this page traces back to at least one of the sources above. If you spot an error or have an additional authoritative source, see the methodology.