Dating gibson sg special

How do you date a Gibson SG?

The first step in dating your Gibson SG is buying it a nice bouquet of flowers... Seriously though, the best way to date a vintage SG is often not the serial number, but rather by the potentiometer codes and other features it has. Only in 1977 did Gibson switch to a reliable serial number system which can be trusted as a dating tool.

What do the numbers on a Gibson Guitar mean?

Gibson introduced a new pattern when they began producing solid body guitars. An ink stamp on the back of the headstock which included either 5 or 6 digits. The first digit is the year and the other numbers are production numbers. This system is fairly reliable for guitars made from 1953 to 1961. Example: 3 0602 = 1953

When did Gibson start using serial numbers?

Only in 1977 did Gibson switch to a reliable serial number system which can be trusted as a dating tool. Even then, you want to have a rough idea of when it was made based on the features first, because they have used several different serial number formats through the years.

How do I identify a Gibson Guitar?

In the early years Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers (F O N) to track batches of instruments being produced at the time. For information on FON numbers a copy of The Blue Book of Electric Guitars by Zachary R. Fjestad should be obtained. For the most accurate identification contact Gibson .

How to date a vintage Gibson SG?

Seriously though, the best way to date a vintage SG is often not the serial number, but rather by the potentiometer codes and other features it has. Only in 1977 did Gibson switch to a reliable serial number system which can be trusted as a dating tool.

How do you date a Gibson Guitar by serial number?

The Gibson serial number decoder Date a Gibson guitar by serial number From 1977 to 2013 Gibson have used an eight or nine digit serial number on all of their guitars that can be easily decoded to show the exact day that the guitar was manufactured along with the location of the Gibson factory.

How do I find out if my Gibson Guitar is made in USA?

contact the Gibson Guitar Corporation itself. The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with “MADE IN USA” below. RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number. Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production.

When did Gibson stop using 6-digit serial numbers?

Despite being purchased by the Norlin corporation in 1970, Gibson maintained the same confusing 6-digit serial system through 1975, meaning instruments with the same serial number could be from either the ‘60s or the ‘70s.

How do I find the serial number on a Gibson Guitar?

- In 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that we primarily use to this day at Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, and the Gibson Custom facility in Memphis, TN. The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with MADE IN USA below. RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.

How old is my Gibson Guitar?

FON?s were used from 1902 to 1961. There are some other ways you can get an idea of the age of your Gibson. Gibson?s logo has been largely unchanged since 1947 but before that time the logo changed a bit, so you can use that to help identify the era your guitar was built. From 1970 onwards a ?Made in U.S.A? was engraved below the serial number.

How do I tell what year my Gibson Les Paul is?

Early Gibson solidbody electrics received a serial stamp on the back of the headstock, with the first number indicating the year of production. The serial number on this Les Paul Junior indicates that it was made in 1956.

How can you tell if a Gibson Guitar is real?

The pickups are an unknown factor. These are some product from an outside vendor supply. While a Custom Shop or Historical Collection Gibson would use real Gibson made wound pickups to historical specs. And there would be a lot of more work done by hand. Even a person blindfolded could tell a CNC machined neck and fretboard from one done by hand.