Dating gibson sg guitars

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 serial number mean?

Examples: In 1994, Gibsons Centennial year, many instruments have a serial number that begins with 94 for the year, with the remaining 6 digits indicating the ranking number. RRR (R) indicates the guitars place production for that year.

How do I find out the manufacture date of my Gibson?

From 2014 onwards Gibson changed the serial number format to a simplified nine digit number which can still be used to find the year of manufacture. For earlier guitars or if this tool fails you can use the pot decoder to get a date of manufacture for the pots.

What Gibson guitars does this decoder support?

This decoder currently supports Gibson guitars from 1977 to date (older guitars coming soon). The serial number can be found on the back of the guitars headstock.

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.

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.

What does the serial number on a Gibson Les Paul mean?

When the original serial system reached 999,999 in 1947, Gibson started over with an ‘A’ prefix 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.

What formats does the Gibson serial number decoder support?

The Gibson Serial Number Decoder currently supports 6 formats from 4 Factories. For guitars made prior to 1977 use the extended search function. This new function will try to match the serial number against older formats.

What is the serial number on a 2016 Gibson Les Paul?

The serial number now consists of 9 digits, the first 2 of which indicate the year and the next 7 digits the sequence number. 16 0001234 is production year 2016 with sequence number 0001234 . Serial number punch stamping machine, Gibson factory. Gibson closed the Memphis plant in April 2019.

How do I find out what year my Gibson Guitar is?

Enter your Gibson guitars 8 or 9 digit serial number in the box below to find the date of manufacture. This decoder currently supports Gibson guitars from 1977 to date (older guitars coming soon). The serial number can be found on the back of the guitars headstock.

What is the serial number on a Gibson 500-999 guitar?

Guitars built in the Nashville factory from 1977 to 1989 used the production numbers 500-999. For example, the serial number 81457556 ? would be May 25 th, 1987 and the 56 th guitar built in the Nashville factory.