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
1969 Gibson EB-0 Bass WALNUT with slotted headstock
Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1390
Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1969 Gibson EB-0 bass in its original Walnut finish. It has a great playing neck with good frets. All of the electronics have been replaced as the pickup is an aftermarket sidewinder pickup. The pickup cavity was modified to house this pickup. The truss rod cover has been replaced and a shim has been placed underneath the nut. The pictured hardshell case is included. This slotted headstock EB-0 looks good with ... more
Vintage 1970 Gibson EB-0L Bass Natural
Stockton, California, 952**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1200
Awesome storage unit find Bass has been modified to a fretless, it is also missing the bridge cover as well as the small model plaque. I acquired it as shown. "GIBSON" is missing the S Local guitar shop owner inspected and said it was in good shape for its age Bass shows some scratches as should be expected. IThe case it came with has some cracks, its in rough shape I have added many images, please be sure to look through all and ask any questions you ... more
Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar
Anderson, Indiana, 460**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$5790
1973 Aria Diamond Violin Bass inspired by Gibson's EB-1 cool 50+ year old bass !
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1495
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
... more
2024 Gibson Rex Brown Signature Thunderbird Ebony 4 String Bass Guitar With Case
Lewiston, Maine, 042**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1826
Stock # J78010770-NK / 10 13XZ
A New Signature Bass Model From Rex Brown
Multi-instrumentalist Rex Brown is well-known for his work with legendary metal bands Pantera and Down, and his hard-rocking solo album, Smoke on This?? His new Gibson Rex Brown Signature ... more
1963 Gibson EB-0 Cherry Vintage Short Scale SG Bass, 100% Original w / Case
Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$3600
Featuring solid Honduran mahogany construction and a rosewood fretboard, this EB-0 weighs 7lbs 13oz. The famous ??Mudbucker?? pickup ... more
Used Gibson SG Standard Bass - Ebony
Brookfield, Wisconsin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1599
Used Gibson SG Standard Bass - Ebony
A used Gibson SG Standard Bass. This is a showroom model that has seen almost no use and is in fantastic condition. The bass will ship with all original factory documentation and packaging. Additionally, before shipment our luthiers will provide a professional inspection and full setup, so it arrives ready to play. If you have any questions about this instrument or any of our great gear, please send us a message!
Please note--these may not be ... more