How old is my electric guitar?

We often get asked: how old is my guitar? Well, determining the age of an electric or acoustic guitar is usually easy if you know where to look. Sometimes there is a birth certificate hidden inside the soundhole, but not always. Let us tell you where to look and what to look for.
February 23, 2024 by
Erik Bogaards
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Dating an Electric guitar with a serial number 


To determine the age of your guitar, you'll need to look for the serial number. However, finding this number can be quite a challenge. Sometimes it's simply located on the headstock or on the label inside the soundhole. But other times, it may be cleverly hidden at the end of the neck on the heel block of the guitar. This varies depending on the brand. That's why we'll explain where to find the serial number for major guitar brands like Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor and Eastman as well as what those numbers actually mean. 


In this blog you can read more about finding out the year of construction of electric guitars.  


How old is my Fender guitar? 


Since 1976, Fender has been placing most of the serial numbers for guitars made in the United States on the headstock of the instrument. Usually on the back, but sometimes on the front.



The number usually starts with a letter indicating the decade::  

S =  1970's 

E = 1980's, 

N = 1990's,  

Z = 2000's (sometimes DZ, for the Deluxe serie) 

76 + 5 digits       1976 

S6 + 5 digits       1976 


S7 + 5 digits       1977 - 1978 


S8 + 5 digits       1978 


S9 + 5 digits       1978 - 1979 


E0 + 5 digits      1979 - 1981 


E1 + 5 digits       1980 - 1982 


E2 + 5 digits       1982 - 1983 


E3 + 5 digits       1982 - 1985 


E4 + 5 digits       1984 - 1988 


E8 + 5 digits       1988 - 1989 


E9 + 5 digits       1989 - 1990 


N9 + 5 digits       1990 

N0 + 5 digits       1990 - 1991

N1 + 5 or 6 digits  1991 - 1992 


N2 + 5 or 6 digits  1992 - 1993 


N3 + 5 or 6 digits  1993 - 1994 


N4 + 5 or 6 digits  1994 - 1995 


N5 + 5 or 6 digits  1995 - 1996 


N6 + 5 or 6 digits  1996 - 1997 


N7 + 5 or 6 digits  1997 - 1998 


N8 + 5 or 6 digits  1998 - 1999 


N9 + 5 or 6 digits  1999 - 2000 


Z0 + 5 or 6 digits  2000 - 2001

Z2 + 5 or 6 digits  2001 - 2002 

Z3 + 5 or 6 digits  2003 - 2004 


Z4 + 5 or 6 digits  2004 - 2005 


Z5 + 5 or 6 digits  2005 - 2006 

Z6 + 5 or 6 digits  2006 - 2007

Z7 + 5 or 6 digits  2007 - 2008 

Z8 + 5 or 6 digits  2008 - 2009 


Z9 + 5 or 6 digits  2009 - 2010

US10 + 6 digits     2010 

US11 + 6 digits     2011 


US12 + 6 digits     2012 


US13 + 6 digits     2013 


US14 + 6 digits     2014 


US15 + 6 digits     2015 


US16 + 6 digits     2016 


US17 + 6 digits     2017 


US18 + 6 digits     2018 


US19 + 6 digits     2019 


Important notice! This number only applies to Fender guitars made in the USA. Since the '90s, guitars from Mexico and other places have also been released. Different numbering applies to those guitars.  


Exceptions with Fender guitars 


There are many exceptions with these serial numbers, such as the American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) series. These have serial numbers that start with V and deviate from the year in which the guitars were made. Additionally, Fender has released many special or limited editions over the years with different serial numbers. Fender Serial Number Finder can help determine the age of the guitar. 


What year was my vintage Fender guitar made 


The older a guitar, the harder it can be to determine exactly how old it is. On the very first Esquires and Telecasters the number was in the bridge (from 0 to about 999). After that, the number moved to the ‘Neck Plate’ that connects the neck to the body. From 1963, an L was briefly placed in front of the number and from 1965, the unmistakable F Logo appeared in the neck plate. From 1965, those Fender guitars were given the following numbers: 


100000 to 110000     1965 

110000 to 200000     1966 


200000 to 210000     1967 


210000 to 250000     1968 


250000 to 280000     1969 


280000 to 300000     1970

300000 to 340000     1971 

340000 to 370000     1972 


370000 to 520000     1973 


500000 to 580000     1974 


580000 to 690000     1975 


690000 to 750000     1976 


Of course Fender also made guitars before 1965, but then you end up in the top category of vintage guitars. Collector's items with a matching price tag. There is often data on parts such as neck, body and 'potentiometers' that can help with dating. You can of course be lucky, but the chance that you will come across a real one in the wild is small. Because that data often only says something about when the part was made, and that does not say everything about the guitar as a whole. In addition, the condition of this type of vintage guitars is decisive. So don't draw too big conclusions if you come across something like this and if in doubt, ask for expert advice. Over the years we have seen, played, traded, bought, heard, appraised and repaired dozens of vintage Fender guitars! Our Fellows are happy to help you! 


How old is my Gibson guitar? 


Since 1977, Gibson has been placing a serial number on the back of both acoustic and electric guitars, on the headstock. You can determine the age of your guitar directly from this serial number, as it consists of 8 or 9 digits with the following information:  


YDDDYRRR


First digit: decade (Y) in which the Gibson guitar was made. 


Second to fourth digits: day of the year (DDD) on which the Gibson guitar was made. 


Fifth digit: year (Y) in which the Gibson guitar was made. 


 Sixth digit: Since 2005, Gibson USA switched to a 9-digit serial number. The sixth digit (B) now represents the 'batch' number.


 Last three digits: factory and 'factory ranking' number(RRR)


Don't feel like puzzling? Here a handy tool to help you date your Gibson guitar (up until 1977): 


What year was my vintage Gibson guitar made? 


Dating Gibson guitars prior to 1977 can be a bit tricky, mainly because the company used different systems before that time. For instance, in 1975, the serial number started with '06', in 1976 with '00', and in 1977 with '99'.


From 1970 to 1975, Gibson used a messy mix of numbers and digits that doesn't follow much logic:


Number    Year 


0XXXXX    1973 


1XXXXX    1970-1975 


2XXXXX    1973-1975 


3XXXXX    1974-1975 


4XXXXX    1974-1975 


5XXXXX    1974-1975 


6XXXXX    1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 


7XXXXX    1970, 1971, 1972 


8XXXXX    1973, 1974, 1975 


9XXXXX    1970, 1971, 1972

Letter: Year 


XXXXXX + A  1970 


A + XXXXXX  1973, 1974, 1975 


B + XXXXXX  1974, 1975 


C + XXXXXX  1974, 1975 


D + XXXXXX  1974, 1975 


E + XXXXXX  1974, 1975 


F + XXXXXX  1974, 1975 

From 1961 to 1970, Gibson once again had a somewhat messy system with partially overlapping and numbers used throughout the years:


Year    Numbers: 

1961    100-42440 


1962    42441-61180 


1963    61450-64220 


1964    64240-70500 


1962    71180-96600 


1963    96601-99999 


1967    000001-008010 


1967    010000-042900 


1967    044000-044100 


1967    050000-054400 


1967    055000-063999 


1967    064000-066010 


1967    0670000-070910 


1967    090000-099999 


1963, 1967    100000-106099 


1963    106100-108900 


1963, 1967    1090000-109999 


1963    110000-111549 


1963, 1967    111550-115799 


1963    115800-118299 


1963, 1967    118300-120999 


1963    121000-139999 


1963, 1967    140000-140100 


1963    140101-144304 

1964    144305-144380

1963    144381-145000

Year    Numbers: 

1963    147009-149864 

1964    149865-149891 


1963    149892-152989 


1964    152990-174222 


1964, 1965    174223-176643 


1964    176644-199999 


1964    200000-250335 


1965    250336-291000 


1965    301755-302100 


1965    302754-305983 


1965, 1967    306000-306100 


1965, 1967    307000-307985 


1965, 1967    309848-310999 


1965    311000-320149 


1967    320150-320699 


1965    320700-321100 


1965    322000-326600 


1965    328000-328500 


1965    328700-329179 


1965, 1967    329180-330199 


1965, 1967-68    330200-332240 


1965    332241-327090 


1965    348000-348092


1966    348093-349100 


1965    349121-368638


1966    368640-369890

Year    Numbers: 


1967    370000-370999 


1966    380000-385309 


1967    390000-390998 


1965-68    400001-400999 


1966    401000-407985 


1966    408000-408690 


1966    408800-409250 


1966    420000-426090 


1966    427000-429180 


1966    430005-438530 


1966    438800-438925 


1965-66, 1968-69    500000-500999 


1965    501010-501600 


1968    501601-501702 

1965, 1968    501703-502706 


1968    503010-503110 


1965, 1968    503405-520955 


1968    520956-530056 

1966, 1968-69    530061-530850

1968-69    530851-530993 

1969    530994-539999 


1969    540796-545009 

1966    550000-556910 


1969    558012-567400

1966    570099-570755

1969    580000-580999 

1966-69    600000-600999

Year    Numbers: 


1969    601000-601090 


1969    605901-606090 


1966-67    700000-700799 


1968-69    750000-750999 


1966-69    800000-800999 


1966, 1969    801000-812838 


1969    812900-814999 


1969    817000-819999 


1966, 1969    820000-820087 


1966    820088-823830 


1969    824000-824999 


1966, 1969    828002-847488 


1966    847499-858999 


1967    859001-880089 


1967    893401-895038 


1968    895039-896999 


1967    897000-898999 


1968    899000-899999 


1968    900000-902250 


1968    903000-920899 


1968    940000-941009 


1968    942001-943000 

1968    945000-945450 

1968    947415-956000 


1968    959000-960909 


1968    970000-972864


From 1947 to 1961, Gibson used an 'A' in their numbering system:


Year    till number (approx.)# 

1947    A 1305 


1948    A 2665 


1949    A 4410 


1950    A 6596 


1951    A 9420 


1952    A 12460 


1953    A 17435

1954    A 18665 

1955    A 21910 


1956    A 24755 


1957    A 26820 


1958    A 28880 


1959    A 32285 


1960    A 34645 


1961    A 36147 

Exceptions with Gibson guitars


Gibson has a rich history and has been making guitars since before 1947. But here you are in the exceptional category of vintage acoustic guitars. Here too, the (original) condition of the guitar is decisive for the value. In addition, there are many exceptions for Gibson guitars, so it is quite possible that your serial number is not listed here. Over the years we have seen, played, traded, bought, heard, appraised and repaired dozens of vintage Gibson guitars! Our Fellows are happy to help you!

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