If you’re lucky enough to have an old Gibson guitar tucked away and would like to know how to tell when it was built, here are some guidelines. Between the years 1902 and 1947, most Gibsons have a serial number written on a white paper label inside either the soundhole or one f-hole. Serial numbers for specific years are no longer available, but you can narrow the year of manufacture down by the following: 1902-1909, the serial numbers run up to 6975; 1910-1919, up to 53800; !920-1929 up to 89750; 1930-1939 up to 96050; 1940-1947 up to 99999. Some models built between 1939-1940 have a special serial number, prefixed by the code “EA.”
