Gibson Les Paul Serial Number Lookup and Dating

Table Of Contents

• Step One: Serial Number Decoder & Serial Number Format
• Dating a Gibson Guitar with 4 to 6 Digits Ink Stamped
• Gibson Serial Number Search for 3 to 6 Digit Impressed Serial Numbers with NO “Made In USA” Stamp
• Serial Number Dates for Six Digit Serial Numbers with “Made In USA” Stamp Underneath
• 8-Digit Sticker Serial Number with Model Name and “Made In USA”
• How to Check Gibson Les Paul Serial Numbers for 8 or 9 Digit Impressed Serial Numbers
• Uncover Your Guitar’s Story with Joe’s Vintage Guitars

Finding out the year of your Gibson Les Paul guitar can be a very tricky task indeed. That being said, if you are trying to figure out what your guitar is worth, just a one year difference can make an astronomical difference in value! In order to help you ascertain what year your guitar was made, and consequently, what it is worth, I have written up a comprehensive guide to dating your Gibson Les Paul guitar. While serial numbers and features can be an effective way to date your guitar, the best way to get the date of your guitar is to contact a vintage guitar expert! Lucky for you, I’m just a phone call or email away and would be happy to assist you! Feel free to contact me if you would like help dating or valuing a guitar. For a detailed and precise valuation, consider our free appraisal services, ensuring you understand the full potential of your instrument

Step One: Serial Number Decoder & Serial Number Format

The first step in dating your Les Paul is locating the serial number and deciphering it correctly. The serial number will be located on the back of the headstock as seen below.

Next, figure out which type of serial number your Les Paul has. Gibson changed the way they put serial numbers on their guitars over the years, so the serial number format is a great place to start. Click on the format below that matches your serial number to be taken directly to that part of this article! As always, please reach out if you would like to sell your Gibson guitar to a passionate collector who will take care of it and appreciate  it!

• 4 to 6 digits and ink stamped 1953 – 1960
• 3 to 6 impressed (No MADE IN USA stamp) 1961 – 1969
• 6 digits impressed with MADE IN USA stamp 1970-1975
• 8 digit sticker with model name and Made In USA (1975-1977)
• 8 or 9 digit impressed (1977-Present)

Dating a Gibson Guitar with 4 to 6 Digits Ink Stamped

From 1952 until 1960, Gibson Les Paul serial numbers were stamped in ink on the back of the headstock. The ink color can be yellow or black. Sometimes, the serial numbers have a gap between the first number and the rest of the numbers. These serial numbers can be deciphered as follows:

The first digit of the serial number corresponds to the last digit of the year. For example:

• 2 = 1952
• 3 = 1953
• 4 = 1954
• 5 = 1955
• 6 = 1956
• 7 = 1957
• 8 = 1958
• 9 = 1959
• 0 = 1960

If you have a Gibson guitar with an ink stamp serial number, I am interested in buying it! Feel free to contact me at (602) 900-6635 or email me at joesvintageguitars94@gmail.com

Gibson Serial Number Search for 3 to 6 Digit Impressed Serial Numbers with NO “Made In USA” Stamp

As you can see above, Gibson changed the way they put serial numbers onto their guitars. Starting sometime in 1961, Gibson switched from an ink stamp, to an impressed stamp. If your guitar has an impressed serial number and NO “Made In USA” Stamp, it was made sometime between 1961 and 1970.

KEEP IN MIND: Serial numbers from this period are very inconsistent and should really only be used as a general guide. They were often reused or used improperly, hence why some serial numbers in this list correspond to more than one year. If you want help ascertaining the exact year of your instrument, feel free to call me at (602) 900-6635 or email me at joesvintageguitars94@gmail.com

100 to 424401961 42441 to 611801962 61450 to 642221963 64240 to 710401964 71041 to 966001962, 1963, or 1964 9660 to 999991963

000001 to 0999991967 100000 to 1060991963 or 1967 106100 to 1068991963 109000 to 1099991963 or 1967 110000 to 1115491963 111550 to 1157991963 or 1967 115800 to 1182991963 118300 to 1209991963 or 1967 121000 to 1399991963 140000 to 1401001963 or 1967 140101 to 1443041963 144305 to 1443801964 144381 to 1498641963 149865 to 1498911964 149892 to 1529891963 152990 to 1742221964 174223 to 1766431964 or 1965 176644 to 2503351964 250336 to 3059831965 306000 to 3109991965  or 1967 311000 to 3201491965 320150 to 3206991967 320700 to 3291791965 329180 to 3301991965 or 1967 330200 to 3322401965, 1967 or 1968 332241 to 3480921965 348093 to 3491001966 349121 to 3686381965 368640 to 3698901966 370000 to 3709991967 380000 to 3853091966 390000 to 3909981967 400001 to 4066661966 406667 to 4096701966, 1967, or 1968 409671 to 4109001966 410901 to 4199991966 420000 to 4291931966 500000 to 5009991965, 1966, 1968, or 1969 501009 to 5016001965 501601 to 5017021968 501703 to 5027061965 (wide neck), 1968 503010 to 5031091968 503405 to 5209551965 (wide neck), 1968 520956 to 5300561968 530061 to 5308501966, 1968, 1969 (knobs) 530851 to 5309931968 or 1969 530994 to 5399991969 540000 to 5407951966 or 1969 (knobs) 540796 to 5450091969 555000 to 5579991966 558000 to 5674001969 570087 to 5706431966 570645 to 5707551966 or 1967 570857 to 5709641966 580000 to 5800801969 580086 to 5809991966, 1967, 1969 knobs 600000 to 6009981966, 1967, or 1968 600000 to 6060901969 700000 to 7007991966, 1967 or 1969 750000 to 7509991968 or 1969 800000 to 8009991966, 1967, 1968 or 1969 801000 to 8128381966 or 1969 812900 to 8199991969 820000 to 8200871966 or 1969 820088 to 8238301966 824000 to 8249991969 828002 to 8474881966 or 1969 847499 to 8589991966 or 1969 859001 to 8950381967 895039 to 8969991968 897000 to 8989991967 or 1969 899000 to 8999991968 900000 to 9099991970 910000 to 9999991968

Serial Number Dates for Six Digit Serial Numbers with “Made In USA” Stamp Underneath

Starting in 1970, Gibson began stamping “Made In USA” on the back of the headstock on all electric guitar models. If your guitar says “Made In USA” on the back of the headstock, it was definitely, unequivocally made after 1970! Once again, serial numbers from this time period are NOT reliable and should only be used as a loose guide. Feel free to contact me at (602) 900-6635 if you have a guitar that you would like help dating or valuing your Gibson. Below are the serial numbers and corresponding years for guitars with the “Made In USA” Stamp

000000        1973               MADE IN USA stamp

100000        1970-1975     MADE IN USA stamp

200000        1973-1975     MADE IN USA stamp

300000        1974-1975     MADE IN USA stamp

400000        1974-1975     MADE IN USA stamp

500000        1974-1975     MADE IN USA stamp

600000        1970-1972, 1974-1975    MADE IN USA stamp

700000        1970-1972     MADE IN USA stamp

800000        1973-1975     MADE IN USA stamp

900000        1970-1972     MADE IN USA stamp

8-Digit Sticker Serial Number with Model Name and “Made In USA”

From 1975-1977, Gibson used sticker serial numbers. These are easy to identify because they also include the model name of the guitar on the back of the headstock as seen above. Below are the corresponding serial numbers.

99xxxxxx     1975
00xxxxxx     1976
06xxxxxx     1977

How to Check Gibson Les Paul Serial Numbers for 8 or 9 Digit Impressed Serial Numbers

Starting in 1977 and continuing on until present day, Gibson began using a standardized and easy-to-read serial number system. This system was and is very reliable and will always give you a correct year on your guitar. The year of the guitar is determined by the FIRST and FIFTH digits of the number. These two digits represent the last two digits of the year. For example: 

90008554=1998 
05571664= 2001
88765111= 1985

Uncover Your Guitar’s Story with Joe’s Vintage Guitars

Let’s discover together what secrets your vintage guitar holds! I want to hear about the family stories, the shows played, and the owners of these legendary instruments. I am happy to help you date, value and sell your vintage guitar! Sell your vintage instrument to a vintage guitar aficionado today!