Dating Gibson Banjo ''made In Usa''
Posted on May 20 2021
- Vintage The Gibson Banjo Ukulele -. This is a Used Ukuleles for Sale in Wooster OH posted on Oodle Classifieds. Nice old The Gibson banjo ukulele from the 1920's. Made in Kalamazoo, MI, USA. Fully intact and ready to play.
- Gibson budget banjo brand in 1920s. According to Mugwumps the Oriole brand was used by Gibson from 1926. It looks like Oriole was also used as a model name by Gibson – see the image of the Kalamazoo headstock from 1940 below. Images courtesy of Frankie Revell, Frankie’s Vintage Instruments, La Vale, Maryland, United States.
The number in the middle is from 1964 (on an ES-335), and the number in the right is from 1961 (on an Les Paul TV Special). Note the lack of 'Made in USA', thus denoting these are pre-1970 guitars. Gibson Serial Numbers, Feb 1961 to 1970. All models, stamped in back top of peghead. No 'MADE IN USA' stamp below serial number!
Dating Gibson Banjo 'made In Usa' Store
Knowing how to date Gibson Les Paul guitars by serial numbers is a study of its own. Gibson's serial number scheme changed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, so a simple Les Paul serial number lookup isn't often very helpful. Never fear! This page is intended to clear up some some of the inconsistencies of dating Gibson guitars. If you're looking for 'How old is my Gibson Les Paul guitar?' then you've come to the right place.
If you're looking for help dating a Gibson ES-335, ES-345, or ES-355 then check out How to date a Gibson ES-335 guitar. Or if you think your guitar may be a Gibson SG, check out How to date a Gibson SG.
Need help? I'd be happy to take a look at your guitar. Click the red Contact Me button in the lower right corner of your screen to send me information about your guitar. I'm looking forward to checking it out!
The serial number is one of the first places to start for how to date a Gibson Les Paul guitar. It should be on the back of the neck at the top just between and above the tuning machines. If the Gibson Les Paul serial number is six digits or less then your guitar may be older than 1975. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars starting in the 1990s, so check the picture below to compare vintage versus reissue serial numbers.
Gibson Mastertone Banjo Serial Numbers
6 digits or less and ink stamped:
Is your serial number ink stamped like the 1959 Gibson Les Paul on the left? Gibson used 5 or 6 digit ink stamped serial numbers on Les Paul guitars from 1952 until 1960. The first digit of this style serial number indicates the last digit of the year it was manufactured. For example, this Les Paul's serial number is '7_6227' so it was made in 1957. This is how to date a Gibson Les Paul serial number from the 1950s. Gibson reused this serial number scheme for reissue guitars in the past 20 years as well, so check to see that the style matches. 1950s era Gibson Les Paul serial number stamps will have a thinner and sharper font than the larger font of the 1990s to now.
Do you have a Gibson Les Paul with an ink stamped serial number? I am looking to buy Gibson Les Pauls with ink stamped serial numbers like this from the 1950s. Click the Contact Me button in the corner of your browser or click here to sell a Gibson Les Paul.
6 digits or less and impressed on the back of the headstock:
Gibson used the 6 digits or less impressed serial number style from 1961 until 1975. Gibson guitars with 'MADE IN USA' impressed below the serial were made from 1969 and on. If your guitar has 6 digits impressed on the headstock and a 'MADE IN USA' underneath then it was likely made between 1969 and 1975. Gibson reused serial numbers during this time period so that's as close as we can narrow these guitars down without reading the potentiometer codes. Here's an example of that style. The serial number is only one way for how to date a Gibson Les Paul from the 1960s. Often the features and potentiometer codes are a better way.
I'm also looking to buy Gibson guitars with impressed serial numbers and no 'MADE IN USA' stamp. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson guitar.
Needing help yet? I'd love to check out your guitar. I'm always looking to buy clean examples of vintage Gibson Les Paul guitars. You can send a message to me by clicking the Contact Me button in the lower right corner of your screen. I'm looking forward to seeing it!
3 to 6 digit serial number impressed with no 'Made In USA':
Your guitar, if vintage, was made between 1961 and 1969. Serial number ranges here can be tricky since Gibson reused the serial range multiple times through out the 1960s. You would probably benefit from having a professional take a look at your guitar. I would love to take a look. Click the Contact Me Button (lower right of your browser) to send me a message about your guitar. Gibson didn't make the Les Paul line from 1964 until 1968, but these serial number ranges will work for the SG guitars made in the 1960s as well. Here's how to date a Gibson Les Paul with six digits or less serial number impressed like the guitar on the right with no Made In USA stamp:
0100 to 42440 1961
42441 to 61180 1962 I am looking for all 4 and 5 digit serial Gibsons
61450 to 64222 1963
64240 to 71040 1964
71041 to 96600 1962, 1963, 1964
96601 to 99999 1963
000001 to 099999 1967
100000 to 106099 1963 (wide neck) or 1967
106100 to 106899 1963
109000 to 109999 1963 (wide neck) or 1967
110000 to 111549 1963
111550 to 115799 1963 (wide neck) or 1967
115800 to 118299 1963
118300 to 120999 1963 (wide neck) or 1967
121000 to 139999 1963
140000 to 140100 1963 (wide neck) or 1967
140101 to 144304 1963
144305 to 144380 1964
144381 to 149864 1963
149865 to 149891 1964
149892 to 152989 1963
152990 to 174222 1964
174223 to 176643 1964 or 1965
176644 to 250335 1964
250336 to 305983 1965
306000 to 310999 1965 (wide neck) 1967
311000 to 320149 1965
320150 to 320699 1967
320700 to 329179 1965
329180 to 330199 1965 (wide neck), 1967
330200 to 332240 1965 (wide neck) 1967 or 1968
332241 to 348092 1965
348093 to 349100 1966
349121 to 368638 1965
368640 to 369890 1966
370000 to 370999 1967
380000 to 385309 1966
390000 to 390998 1967
400001 to 406666 1966
406667 to 409670 1966, 1967, or 1968
409671 to 410900 1966
410901 to 419999 Not Found
420000 to 429193 1966
500000 to 500999 1965, 1966, 1968, or 1969
501009 to 501600 1965
501601 to 501702 1968
501703 to 502706 1965 (wide neck), 1968
503010 to 503109 1968
503405 to 520955 1965 (wide neck), 1968
520956 to 530056 1968
530061 to 530850 1966, 1968, 1969 (knobs)
530851 to 530993 1968 or 1969
530994 to 539999 1969
540000 to 540795 1966 or 1969 (knobs)
540796 to 545009 1969
555000 to 557999 1966
558000 to 567400 1969
570087 to 570643 1966
570645 to 570755 1966 or 1967
570857 to 570964 1966
580000 to 580080 1969
580086 to 580999 1966, 1967, 1969 knobs
600000 to 600998 1966, 1967, or 1968
600000 to 606090 1969
700000 to 700799 1966, 1967 or 1969
750000 to 750999 1968 or 1969
800000 to 800999 1966, 1967, 1968 or 1969
801000 to 812838 1966 or 1969 knobs
812900 to 819999 1969
820000 to 820087 1966 or 1969 knobs
820088 to 823830 1966
824000 to 824999 1969
828002 to 847488 1966 or 1969 knobs
847499 to 858999 1966 or 1969
859001 to 895038 1967
895039 to 896999 1968
897000 to 898999 1967 or 1969
899000 to 899999 1968
900000 to 909999 1970
910000 to 999999 sometimes 1968 but this range is not consistent
Six Digits with 'MADE IN USA' Stamp:
Six digit serial numbers with 'MADE IN USA' stamp underneath. Contact me if you have a Gibson Les Paul in this serial number range:
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
Sticker on back of the neck with two digit prefix, 8 digit total serial number:
99xxxxxx 1975
00xxxxxx 1976
06xxxxxx 1977
8 Digit Serial Number with Made IN USA:
8 digit serial number impressed on the headstock: these guitars were made after 1977. The first and fifth digit will indicated the last two digits of the year it was made.
Gibson Banjo Serial Numbers Dating
Example: 8xxx2xxx = 1982
Deering 5 string Banjo Trade for Guitar - $750 (Moundsville WV)
Deering 5 string Banjo Basic model made in USA 1981 will trade for Gibson or Fender or other quality Guitar of equal value or cash either way up or down prefer made in USA models will consider others ...
Deering 5 string Banjo Trade for Guitar - $750 (Moundsville WV)
Deering 5 string Banjo Basic model made in USA 1981 will trade for Gibson or Fender or other quality Guitar of equal value or cash either way up or down prefer made in USA models will consider others ...
Deering 5 string Banjo Trade for Guitar - $750 (Moundsville WV)
Deering 5 string Banjo Basic model made in USA 1981 will trade for Gibson or Fender or other quality Guitar of equal value or cash either way up or down prefer made in USA models will consider others ...
Deering 5 string Banjo Trade for Guitar - $750 (Moundsville WV)
Deering 5 string Banjo Basic model made in USA 1981 will trade for Gibson or Fender or other quality Guitar of equal value or cash either way up or down prefer made in USA models will consider others ...
Deering 5 string Banjo Trade for Guitar - $750 (Moundsville WV)
Deering 5 string Banjo Basic model made in USA 1981 will trade for Gibson or Fender or other quality Guitar of equal value or cash either way up or down prefer made in USA models will consider others ...
Deering 5 string Banjo Trade for Guitar - $750 (Moundsville WV)
Deering 5 string Banjo Basic model made in USA 1981 will trade for Gibson or Fender or other quality Guitar of equal value or cash either way up or down prefer made in USA models will consider others ...
Deering 5 string Banjo trade for Guitar - $750 (Wheeling Area)
Have a Deering Basic model 5 string Banjo will trade for a Gibson or Fender guitar of equal value or cash up or down either way other makes considered mostly interested in USA made guitars but will consider others if they are quality grade instruments don't need beginners guitars ...
Deering 5 string Banjo trade for Guitar - $750 (Wheeling Area)
Have a Deering Basic model 5 string Banjo will trade for a Gibson or Fender guitar of equal value or cash up or down either way other makes considered mostly interested in USA made guitars but will consider others if they are quality grade instruments don't need beginners guitars ...