- A serial number ending in 501 could be the first instrument made at factory #5 that day, or it could be the 501 st instrument of the day. Looking for Gibson Guitars? There you have it! There are many exceptions, and of course many other brands out there, but now you can tell how old most Fenders or Gibsons are within seconds.
- Y ou may have heard of Epiphone as Gibson’s budget brand of guitars, but before Gibson bought out this competitor, the brand produced budget brand guitars under the moniker of “Kalamazoo.” From 1933 to 1942, Gibson produced archtop and flattop acoustic guitars, lap steels, banjos, and mandolins under the Kalamazoo name. During the guitar boom of the late 60’s when Rock ‘n’.
The Recording King brand was applied to the stencil-line guitars made by several American manufacturers to be sold by Montgomery Ward. In their 1939 catalog, Wards promoted these instruments by appealing to thrifty customers looking for quality at a cut rate: 'Same quality sold by music stores . . . at Wards you save $2 to $66. Here’s the reason why: three of the best known makers of fretted instruments in the country made the models on these pages. They’re made of the same costly materials as those guitars which bear the makers’ own names. When you buy them by the mail at Wards, you pay no costly selling expenses or salesmen’s commissions. You buy direct! Remember, these are Brand New Instruments—not to be confused with reconditioned or studio-used models frequently sold at these low prices.'
Gibson guitar serial numbers are, like a lot of serial number systems from guitar manufacturers, a complicated beast. But with a little bit of research you should be able to find out when your Gibson was built and in some cases where.
The Recording King Jumbo guitars, endorsed by Ray Whitley and available with rosewood or mahogany backs, represented an extraordinary value for a high-quality Gibson. The rosewood model shared the proportions and batwing-style bridge of Gibson’s own J-55, and sold for a mere $29.95 (with 'usually $80' noted nearby in the catalog) compared to the $55 Gibson-brand Jumbo, which had a lower-grade mahogany back. The mahogany-backed Recording King cost even less—only $19.95 ('usually $37.50,' according to Wards catalog, the price of Gibson’s J-35).
To clinch this phenomenal deal, Wards' final selling point boasted that 'Recording King Jumbo Guitars have the full endorsement of Ray Whitley, Hollywood screen guitarist. Each has a flat top and back with a wider, deeper body, which means deep tones; just right for accompaniments. The following points are found on both Jumbos: celluloid bound rosewood finger board with inlaid pearl markers; rosewood bridge; vertical type peghead; hooks on end of body for cord.'
Randall Sinnamon, Southern piano bird, circa 2004, mixed media including piano keys, height 65 cm, ex. Robin Gibson
American twelve string acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model B-4512 serial number 121068, Michigan, circa 1961, Gibson decal to headstock with mother-of-pearl inlay, 'Deluxe' tuning keys, the serial number impressed to verso of headstock…
American archtop guitar, by Gibson, model ES175, serial number a 23352, Kalamazoo, circa 1956, the Gibson logo inlaid with mother-of-pearl to headstock and to the fingerboard, mounted with a scratch plate, 105 cm long Solidworks torrent pirate bay.
American acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model L5, serial number a 18517, Kalamazoo, circa 1954, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to the headstock and insets to the fingerboard, with 'Custom' engraved to the truss rod cover…
American century acoustic guitar, by Gibson, serial number 37, Kalamazoo, circa 1930, the Gibson logo inlaid to headstock, the fingerboard veneered in a celluloid plastic (pearloid) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl…
American century sunburst acoustic guitar, by Gibson, serial number 623, Kalamazoo, circa 1933, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to headstock, the fingerboard veneered in celluloid plastic (pearloid) and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, 102 cm long
American sunburst acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model L12, serial number Ea 5098, Kalamazoo, circa 1939, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to the headstock and inset to the fingerboard, the serial number stamped verso to the headstock…
American acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model L7, serial number 95282, Kalamazoo, circa 1938, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to headstock, and to the fingerboard, and paper label to interior, 106 cm long
American sunburst 'Charlie Christian' guitar, by Gibson, model ES150, serial number Eg 8465, Kalamazoo, circa 1939, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to headstock and serial number stamped to verso…
American acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model L5, serial number 87040, Kalamazoo, circa 1928, 'The Gibson' logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to headstock, 'Patented July 19.1910' engraved to tailpiece, and paper label to interior, 103 cm long
American acoustic sunburst guitar, by Gibson, model L5, serial number 88986, Kalamazoo, circa 1929, 'The Gibson' logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to the headstock, and inset to the fingerboard, 'Patented July 19…
American super 400 acoustic guitar with original fittings, by Gibson, serial number 94202, Kalamazoo, circa 1937, the whole in a sunburst finish…
American acoustic sunburst guitar, by Gibson, model L5, serial number 93168, Kalamazoo, circa 1936, the Gibson logo inlaid to the headstock, fingerboard inset with mother-of-pearl, model number impressed to the tailpiece, and paper label to interior…
American acoustic guitar with extra set tuners, by Gibson, model L5, serial number 92035, Kalamazoo, circa 1934, the Gibson logo inlaid to headstock, the fingerboard inset with mother-of-pearl, and paper label to interior, 105 cm long
American acoustic sunburst guitar, by Gibson, model L7, serial number 91856, Kalamazoo, circa 1934, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of -pearl to head stock and to the fingerboard, mounted with a faux tortoiseshell pick guard, and paper label to interior…
American acoustic sunburst guitar, by Gibson, model L10, serial number 95771, circa 1938, the Gibson logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to the headstock and to the finger board, inlay to the edges with a pierced metal tailpiece, and paper label to interior…
American acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model L7, serial number a 505, Kalamazoo, circa 1935, the Gibson logo inlaid with mother-of-pearl to the headstock and to the finger board, paper label to interior, 107 cm long
American acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model L1, serial number 31425, Kalamazoo, circa 1916, 'The Gibson' logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to headstock, patent stamps to tailpiece, pick guard mount, and pick guard, and paper label to interior, 98 cm long
American O style acoustic guitar, by Gibson, serial number 42111, circa 1918, with an intricate ring of marquetry to the sound hole, the headstock inlaid with a mother-of-pearl fleur de lis…
American super 400 sunburst acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model A1798, serial number 94202, Kalamazoo, circa 1937, the Gibson logo inlaid with mother-of-pearl to headstock, the pierced metal tailpiece engraved 'Super 400', Kluson tuning keys…
A rare American limited edition acoustic guitar, by Gibson, model J2000, serial number 91342022, circa 2000, finely inlaid with abalone shell to edges, around sound hole and fingerboard, with decorative parquetry inlay to verso…
American tenor acoustic guitar, by Gibson, Kalamazoo, circa 1950s, the spruce front in a sunburst finish, the sides and back crafted from rosewood. Horsham computer repairs drivers. Gibson decal to headstock, 108 cm long
American archtop tenor hollow body guitar, by Gibson, Kalamazoo, circa 1950s, the spruce front in a sunburst finish, the sides and back crafted from rosewood. Gibson decal to headstock, 102 cm long
American flat top tenor guitar, by Gibson, model Tg-25N, serial number 159705, Kalamazoo, circa 1964, the Gibson decal to headstock with the serial number stamped to verso, paper label to interior, 96 cm long
American harp guitar, by Gibson, Orville model, Kalamazoo, circa 1910s, 'The Gibson' logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl to the headstock, the oval sound hole has a decorative ring of mother-of-pearl diamonds in black mastic, paper label to interior…
American pumpkin top mandolin, by Gibson, model A1, serial number 6987, Kalamazoo, circa 1915, painted decal to headstock and impressed mark to tailpiece, paper label to interior, 68 cm long
American mandocello, by Gibson, serial number 2763, circa 1912, inlaid 'The Gibson' to headstock with Fleur de Lis in mother-of-pearl. Paper label to interior, 98 cm long
Australian F hole archtop acoustic guitar, by Stephen Gilchrist, model 18, serial number 94275, circa 1980s, with abalone shell inlaid detailing to the fingerboard and headstock which also bears the 'Gilchrist' logo…
American ukulele, by Gibson, Michigan, circa 1930s, parquetry inlaid around the sound hole. Mother-of-pearl inlay to fingerboard, 53 cm long
American ukulele, by Gibson, style 2 model, Michigan, circa 1930s, stamped Dg-2900 / made in the Us', to the verso of headstock, 53 cm long
American ukulele banjo, by Gibson, Ub-1 model, Michigan, circa 1920s, 'The Gibson' decal to headstock, 49 cm long
Jeff Thomson, Gibson', 'Sculpted Corrugated Iron Guitar', approximately life-size, vintage paint remaining, strung with six strings. Signed, dated 2014 and inscribed to the reverse 'George Harrison' 'Gibson Les Paul'. Length 117.5 cm.
Vintage Gibson American acoustic guitar probably 1960s Gibson acoustic guitar, marked, 'Made in U.S.A' and to verso of headstock and interior label 'Made in the U.S…
Gibson SG timber guitar, having a mahogany body and neck and a rosewood fingerboard and 24 frets, length 100 cm
Gibson S1 Guitar in case, having a maple body, neck and fingerboard with three single-coil pickups, dot inlays, two control knobs, three-way pickup selector, white pickguard, stopbar tailpiece and tune-o-matic bridge, triangular headstock, length 101 cm
A Gibson L4CES 'Black' electric guitar, 1992, American made, serial number 91352494, six gold plated 'Kluson Deluxe' machine heads, bound laminated maple body, mahogany neck…
A Gibson Es-150 'Sunburst' electric guitar, 1955, American made, serial number 53128, nitrocellulose 'Sunburst' finish, hollowbody construction, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard and 'Dot' pearl inlays…
A limited edition Gibson Elvis Presley 'The King' J-200 'Black' acoustic guitar, no…
A Gibson SST-6 Chet Atkins 'Cherry Red' acoustic/electric guitar, 1990, American made, serial number 92750526 'Promotional not for resale' stamped to rear of headstock, six 'Mini Schaller' die-cast machine heads, gloss cherry finish, solid spruce top…
A Chet Atkins SST twelve-string natural acoustic/electric guitar, 1989, American made, serial number 83429548 'Promotional not for resale' stamped to rear of headstock, twelve 'Mini Schaller' die-cast machine heads, natural gloss finish, solid spruce top…
A Gibson Les Paul custom ebony electric guitar with OHSC, 1969, American made, serial number 565197 stamped to rear of headstock, six gold 'waffle back' machine heads, deluxe bound mahogany body and neck, ebony fretboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays…
A Gibson ES-335 'Cherry' electric guitar, 1968, American made, serial number 873256 stamped to rear of headstock, 'Orange Oval' printed maker's label to interior inscribed with model and serial numbers, six nickel 'Kluson Deluxe' machine heads…
A Gibson ES-340 Blonde electric guitar with OHSC, 1969, American made, serial number 563266 stamped to rear of headstock, 'Orange Oval' printed maker's label to interior inscribed with model and serial numbers, six nickel 'Kluson Deluxe' machine heads…
A Gibson ES-335 'Cherry' electric guitar, 1972, American made, serial number 752661 stamped to rear of headstock, 'Norlin' white rectangular printed maker's label to interior inscribed with model and serial numbers…
A Gibson SG electric guitar, 1972, American made, serial number 700432 stamped to rear of headstock, six chrome plated machine heads, mahogany body and neck with walnut lacquer finish, East Indian rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays…
Gibson Kalamazoo Guitar Serial Numbers
Les Paul Gibson Deluxe Guitar USA impressed stamp '399018 made in USA'. In original hard case, length 99 cm
Cased Gibson Junior mandolin. Label to interior indicates maker as Gibson mandolin Guitar Co., Kalamazoo. Mich USA. Style A-Jr. #84355.
Gibson long necked banjo, purchased in Syndey in 1962 from an American draft dodger, in original hard case. Provenance: The Alex & Annette Hood Collection, NSW
Gibson Les Paul Custom 1988 electric guitar, manufactured in Nashville U.S.A. with original hard case. One piece mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and block mother of pearl inlays. Mahogany body with carved maple top in an Ebony finish…
Gibson Kalamazoo Guitar Serial Numbers Free
Gibson Custom Barney Kessel Hollowbody electric guitar
A 1970s 'Made in Japan' Yamaha AE18 hollow body arch top electric guitar. Spruce top, beech back and sides, two piece figured maple neck with ebony finger board, mother-of-pearl inlays, AE18 Humbucking Pick-ups. In vintage gold plush lined hard case…
A Gibson semi-acoustic six string guitar, style Cl-35 Deluxe, in original purple velvet lined case