gibson custom shop serial numbers decoder

GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP SERIAL NUMBERS DECODER SERIAL NUMBER

The consistency around this stopped during WWII and resumed in the early 1950s.

1902 to 1945 FON Overview Yearġ to 7900 (some with letter, some without)įrom 1935 to 1942, the FON included a letter suffix. A FON usually consisted of a 3-, 4-, or 5-digit batch number followed by one or two other numbers in most cases.

GIBSON CUSTOM SHOP SERIAL NUMBERS DECODER SERIAL NUMBER

Some earlier lower-end models had no serial number at all, making the FON the sole numerical identifier in those cases. These will generally date an instrument earlier than the serial number, as they were typically applied in the early stages of assembly. Instruments will generally have one or both of these numbers stamped or written either inside the body (generally the case on earlier models) or on the back of the headstock.įONs were Gibson’s way of internally tracking batches of instruments throughout production.

Gibson has historically used two different alpha-numerical formats to catalog its instruments: serial numbers and FONs (Factory Order Numbers). Dating a Gibson by Factory Order Number (FON) After 1950, headstocks had uniform thickness. Before mid-1950, most Gibson headstocks were thinner at the top when looked at from a side profile. The thickness of the headstock, however, is not as vulnerable to modification or replacement. This makes relying entirely on the physical features of a guitar potentially misleading. Many older instruments may have reproduction or other non-original parts, including a non-original finish. Aside from the logos, each era of manufacturing included certain identifying traits such as the hardware (tuners, knobs, plates, etc.), the pickups, the type of finish, and the electronics inside that can give clues as to when an instrument was made.

Gibson custom shop serial numbers decoder