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
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 *
... more
Gibson EB-2 Bass Guitar
Anderson, Indiana, 460**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$4790
... 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
1972 Gibson EB-4L bass guitar long scale; excellent used condition
Birmingham, Michigan, 480**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$2500
$2, 500
ConditionUsed - Good " The Gibson EB-4L is a rare, 1970s electric bass guitar featuring an SG-style body, a long 34 5-inch scale, and a unique "Super Humbucker" pickup with four coils and a 3-way tone switch, designed to marry features from the EB-0 and EB-3 models. Introduced in 1972 and sold in moderate numbers through 1973, it was a short-lived but distinctive instrument known for its versatility "The ??L?? stands for long scale (34½??) ?? most of Gibson??s ... 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
Vintage Gibson EB2 Bass pots Wiring Harness
Asheboro, North Carolina, 272**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$350
Gibson 70s EB-3 WALNUT Used Electric Bass
Union, New Hampshire, 038**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
$1275