Martin

C.F. Martin & Co. has kept impeccable serial records since 1898, making any Martin guitar straightforward to date via its year-end chart. The serial is impressed on the neck block inside the body (look through the soundhole toward the neck). The system starts at 8,348 in 1898 — Martin's estimate of its cumulative pre-numbering production.

Sources 1 Manufacturer 2 References view all

Decode a Martin serial

Quick pick

Find your shape, jump to the format

6 digits Sequential (1898+) primary e.g. 800000 1898+

Supported formats

Sequential (1898+)

1898+

Example 800000 Try it →

Purely-numeric sequential serial impressed on the neck block. The decoder binary-searches Martin's year-end chart to pin the build year. Starting serial for 1898 is 8,348.

Gotchas & format-specific sources

Serial numbers 900001–902908 were used on Sigma-Martin (licensed 1981-1982 imports) and are not Martin-branded; the decoder rejects them.
Martin mandolins pre-1991 used a separate sequence; we don't distinguish mandolins from guitars here.
Martin's rare electric E18 and some signature models don't use the sequential chart.
Backpacker and Little Martin (LX) have their own sequences; this decoder covers the main guitar/ukulele chart only.

Where to find your serial

The Martin serial is stamped on the neck block inside the body. Look through the soundhole toward the neck; the number is impressed into the wood on the forward face of the neck block.

Neck block (inside body)

Universal Martin serial location. Look through the soundhole toward the neck — the number is on the wooden block at the join.

Sources

C.F. Martin — Dating Your Martin (official) Manufacturer

Martin's official serial chart with year-end cumulative totals from 1898 through current production.
Reverb — Dating Martin Guitars by Serial Number Reference

In-depth article covering the Sigma-Martin exception, the mandolin-merge in 1991, and the nonstandard electric E18.
Vintage Guitars Info — Martin Dating Reference

Comprehensive community reference with full year-by-year chart and detailed pre-1898 and model-specific notes.

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.