How to Date Your Gibson or Epiphone by Serial Number
Your serial number tells you when your guitar was built. It does not tell you which bridge is on it. Bridges get swapped, and two guitars from the same year can have different ones.
Use the tables below to read your number by era. They follow Gibson’s published guide, which is linked at the bottom of the page if you want to double-check. Find your serial number first. Depending on the model, it may be a decal on the back of the headstock, a number impressed or ink-stamped on the back of the headstock, or an ink stamp on the label inside the f-hole.
Jump to: Gibson serial numbers | Epiphone serial numbers | If your number doesn’t fit
Gibson serial numbers
Per Gibson’s published guide, for Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic and Gibson Memphis guitars:
Letter key: Y = year digit(s), DDD = day of the year, B = batch number, R = ranking number (the guitar’s place in production).
| Era | Format | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 1975-1977 | 8-digit number on a decal on the back of the headstock | Date it by the first two digits: 99 = 1975, 00 = 1976, 06 = 1977 |
| 1977 to present | YDDDYRRR (8 digits, impressed into the back of the headstock) | YY = last two digits of the production year, DDD = day of the year, RRR = factory ranking |
| July 2005 to 2014 (Gibson USA) | YDDDYBRRR (9 digits) | YY = last two digits of the year, DDD = day of the year, B = batch number, RRR = ranking for that day starting at 001. Batch 0 starts each day and moves to batch 1 after 699 is stamped. |
| 2014 to mid-2019 (Gibson USA) | YYRRRRRRR | YY = last two digits of the year, RRRRRRR = production number for the model year. These numbers do not give a specific day. A new model year usually starts in the fall, so a 2015 model may have been built in late 2014. |
| Mid-2019 to present (Gibson USA) | YDDDYBRRR | Same pattern as 2005-2014 above. |
Exception Gibson lists:
- Numbers beginning with 94: In 1994, Gibson’s Centennial year, many guitars have an 8-digit number starting with 94, then a 6-digit production number. Despite the length, these do not show the day of production.
Gibson Custom and reissue models use their own ink-stamped formats on the back of the headstock. Gibson’s guide lists them in full, so check there for those models.
Signature models: Per Gibson, artist signature models often depart from the standard formats, because they have been built under several brands. If you have one, email service@gibson.com.
Epiphone serial numbers
Per Gibson’s published guide, Epiphone numbers fall into two main eras. (The Epiphone formats are in the Epiphone section of Gibson’s serial number page.)
Letter key: F = factory code, YY = year, MM = month, R = ranking number (may be more or fewer digits, and does not show total units built), S = sequential number.
| Era | Format | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| About 1993 to about 2008 (most regular production models) | FYYMMRRRR | F = factory code (can be two letters), YY = year (can be a single digit on 1990s models), MM = month, R = ranking number. Many 1980s and early 1990s numbers follow a similar plan but may not have a factory code. |
| About 1993 to about 2008 (some models) | FYYMRRRR | F = factory code, YY = year, M = a month letter (A = January, B = February, and so on), RRRR = ranking number |
| Epiphone Elite/Elitist models | FYSSSS | F = factory code, which is an F or a T. Y = last digit of the year (2 = 2002, 3 = 2003, and so on). SSSS = sequential number. |
| About 2008 to present | YYMMRRRRRR (all digits, no letters) | YY = year, MM = month, R = ranking number |
If your number doesn’t fit
Some numbers don’t match any of the patterns above. Older instruments, signature models and special runs can be different. If yours won’t date, email clear photos of the serial number and the headstock to service@gibson.com, or call 1-800-4GIBSON, as Gibson’s guide suggests. Please don’t guess a year from a number that doesn’t fit a pattern.
Source: Gibson’s published serial number guide – https://www.gibson.com/pages/serial-number-search
Gibson and Epiphone are trademarks of their owners. Faber is not affiliated with either brand.
Know your guitar’s year? Use the Parts Finder to see which Faber parts fit your guitar: https://finder.faberusa.com/find.php
Serial number questions
Does my serial number tell me which bridge my guitar has?
No. A serial number tells you when your guitar was built, not which bridge is on it. Bridges can be changed over the years. To see which Faber parts fit your guitar, use the Parts Finder at https://finder.faberusa.com/find.php.
Where do I find the serial number on my Gibson or Epiphone?
Per Gibson’s published guide, it depends on the model and era. Common places are a decal on the back of the headstock, a number impressed or ink-stamped on the back of the headstock, or an ink stamp on the label inside the f-hole of an ES-style model.
Why doesn’t my 2014-to-2019 Gibson USA serial number show a day?
Per Gibson’s published guide, Gibson USA numbers from 2014 to mid-2019 show the model year only, not a specific day of production. A new model year usually starts in the fall, so a guitar can be built before its model year begins. Numbers from mid-2019 on go back to the day-of-the-year format.
What should I do if my serial number doesn’t match any format?
Email photos of the serial number and the headstock to service@gibson.com, or call 1-800-4GIBSON. Artist signature models in particular often don’t follow the standard formats.