2005-Current- Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit
serial number in early July 2005.
The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the
beginning of the day,
and once 699 is stamped, the batch number will change to 1.
The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will
remain the same.
The only difference from the 1977-2005 is the addition of this
batch indicator.
YDDDYBPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
B is the batch number
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.
1977-2005 Gibson introduced the 8 digit serialization method. This updated system uses an impressed eight digit
numbering scheme that covers both serializing and dating
functions.
The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.
Since 1989, acoustic guitars built at the Bozeman, Montana
facility are ranked from 001-499.
Electric Guitars built at the
Gibson USA plant in Nashville are ranked from 500-999.
Prior to
1984, the numbers 001-499 show Kalamazoo production, 500-999 show
Nashville production. The serial numbers from the Custom, Art, and
Historic division vary depending on the line.
The historic reissue
guitars feature historically accurate serial numbers.
Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on
Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped
that day.
82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3,
1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.
Serial Number dating is more complex for earlier
(Pre-1977) Gibson's and
will not be addressed here at this time.