General Gibson serial number information
Gibson serial numbers are usually on the back of the guitars headstock; either stamped, inked or as a decal. Instruments with f-holes often have the serial number repeated on a label inside the guitar body. A lack of a serial number usually implies an instrument has been refinished.
The current Gibson serial number system
There is no Gibson serial number decoder that can automatically date your pre-1977 Gibson, although after this time, the currently used eight digit system ha been used. Not only can it tell the date, but also the place of production. These details are encoded unambiguosly into the serial number as follows.
YDDDYXXX
where YY is the year, DDD is the day of the year, and it was the XXXth instrument stamped that day. Numbers below 500 signify a Kalamazoo productio, above signifies Nashville.
So for example, 80921089 tells us that this bass was stamped on the 2nd April 1981 (day 092), at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, and was the 089th instrument stamped that day
Vintage Gibson serial numbers
Gibson used various systems of numbering their instruments, and some records exist that can give a clue to a shipping date. 50s and early 1960s details are fairly straightforward, but later serial numbers (particularly around 65-75) can cause more confusion than clarity. BEFORE you read the Gibson serial number charts, please read the rest of this page!
The serial numbers Gibson used, particularly from 1969-1979 are often very difficult to interpret. The reason being that Gibsons 6 digit serial number system reached 999999 several times; each time they continued from 000001.
So Gibson re-used serial numbers. If you read through the charts for a hypothetical number, say 123456 - we see that it was shipped in 1963, 1970-72, and again in 74-75. Not an ideal situation, but many of the Guitars we see listed for sale as 1960s instruments, are actually newer. It is often not the sellers fault, as they will have looked through the numbers, found it was 1963, and would see no reason to look further in the document.
Dating Gibson guitars without serial numbers
Seeing as the Gibson serial numbers can be ambiguous, and that guitar serial numbers are sometimes removed, how can you be sure of a Gibson guitars vintage?. There are subtle changes in most Gibson guitars over the course of their production runs, and, you can usually date a guitar by physical features. Also, with a little knowledge of potentiometer codes, another approximate date can be read. Most instruments can be dated to within 1-2 years without a serial number.
See the list of serial numbers on the Gibson website
Gibson EST 1964 / 1969 EB-0 Electric Bass
Chesapeake, Virginia, 233**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2000
EST. 1964 / 1969, FEATURING RARE FIND, SLOTTED HEADSTOCK
COMES WITH ORIGINAL CASE! INSIDE OF CASE COND. IS FINE, HOWEVER THE EXTERNAL SHAPE OF THE CASE IS POOR. LOTS OF TEARS AND ATTEMPTED FIXES
THE GIBSON ITSELF IS IN FAIR SHAPE, SOME DINGS AND WEAR FROM USE. ITEM IS AS PICTURED ABOVE. MESSAGE WITH ANY QUESTIONS!
* FEDEX SHIPPING ONLY *NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE LOWER 48 STATES *
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Epiphone By Gibson EB-0 Electric Bass
Somonauk, Illinois, 605**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$300
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1968 Gibson EB-2D 2 Color Sunburst Electric Bass Guitar
Hollywood, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$6900
Feel free to ask me any questions
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1965 GIBSON EB-O or EB-3 CHROME PICKUP COVER HANDREST CORRECT FOR 1965-1968
Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$125
This is a chrome cover from a 1965 EB-O that will also fit an EB-3 bass. This one is correct for models from mid-1965 thru 1968 but will also fit 1962 thru early-1965 models as well. The only difference is that these earlier ones would have a nickel finish but they still have the same dimensions. These have been somewhat hard to locate lately simple because a lot of them were thrown away or misplaced by their original owners. This one has ... more
1968 GIBSON EB SERIES, LES PAUL BASS CHROME TUNERS SET OF (4) WITH SCREWS
Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$225
This is a chrome set of (4) tuners from a 1968 EB-O that will also fit EB-2 and EB-3 basses. These are correct for models from 1968 thru 1972. Vintage Fender bass tuners are a dime-a-dozen (well maybe not that cheap) but these areextrremely difficult to fins as a complete set. All (4) tuners are in great shape and operate very smoothly; these were made by Schaller and are branded 'Gibson' on the little dust cover. Includes the mounting ... more
1964 Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar with Hard Shell Vintage Flight Case
Chantilly, Virginia, 201**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$5200
The Gibson comes with a stellar silver and gold very early flight case you could ship it overseas in that thing and I wouldn't be afraid. It came from a very high end Collection and is in extremely good condition and will not find one in better shape. Plays and sounds amazing, has the stock bass boost switch that gets super deep tones and a very very cool bass!!!!  It is so clean you can eat off of it!!! Jimmy page... more
1972 Gibson EB-3 Mahogany Bass Guitar
Kokomo, Indiana, 469**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2000
Gibson eb-3 bass guitar, 1960s / 1970s
Jamaica, New York, 114**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1900
Vintage gibson, in working condition , broken alongside the bottom, seems to be an easy fix if you know what youre doing. Local pick up NYC... more