Other notable variations from this time period are a 5 character serial number starting with a number, then a space, and 4 digits. ex Z12345 & Z123456 would be an Archtop guitar from 1952 Z,Y,X,W,V,U,T,S,R,Q followed by 5 or 6 digits.

The following letters would be found on Archtop models: Archtop models had a stamp on the inside of the ‘F hole’, and the solid-body models displayed the serial number on the rear of the headstock. The Serial process from 1952 was clearer. It quickly becomes popular in the market. The Junior, Special, Standard, and the Custom hit the stores shortly after 1952.ġ957 Seth Lover, a Gibson engineer finalizes the Humbucker featuring a double single-coil. Les Paul sales hit the ground running so Gibson decided to expand on their Les Paul arsenal. The company’s first solid-body guitar was released under the name Gibson Les Paul. They purchase the company and fit the demand.ġ946-54 Gibson mastered the classic P-90 single-coil pickup and fits it to guitars such as the ES-5 and ES-175.ĭuring this time Gibson acquired the recording talents of a ceratin Les Paul. Towards the end of World War II, Chicago Musical Instruments saw the chance to take the Gibson brand to millions. The Super 400 Premier, the Southern Jumbo, J-45, and the L5-Premier. It immediately becomes a huge hit with Jazz orchestras and bands around the United States.ġ937-45 Saw the birth of the superb J-200 acoustic guitars. The Gibson ES-150 was endorsed by Charlie Christian. Unless, of course, the pots have been changed. They had to be made before the guitar was assembled so they can give a clue to the age of the guitar. Some documentation crosses over and some has been lost over the years causing gaps in our data.Īs Gibson serial numbers are renowned for being a bit of a nightmare, we contacted them and they’ve advised checking the code on the pots when in doubt. * We’ve tirelessly searched the internet for every record, the information gathered is the most accurate we could find. If you end up with an error message, please scroll down and find your guitar’s credentials manually using our helpful number grids.

Type your serial numbers into the decoder below and you’ll get all the information Gibson has on the instrument. It’s simple enough with our Gibson Serial Number lookup decoder. Researching a guitar’s serial number can also stop you from being the victim of fraud. It’s also essential to have the correct information if you’re considering buying or selling a guitar. Your guitar’s journey from the factory into your hands may be a mystery, but it’s always a good way to dig into the earlier life of your instrument. Authority Guitar has collated a mountain of data to give you the history by using your Gibson Serial Number. Discovering your guitar’s history can be a very rewarding thing to do.

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