Numbers beginning in 99 are from 1975, numbers beginning in 00 are from 1976, and numbers beginning in 06 are from 1977. Check the back for a stamped-in eight-digit serial number. If your Gibson Les Paul has an eight-digit serial number stamped on the back of the headstock, you're in luck. Get the best price on Gibson Hummingbird at Guitar Center. Most Gibson Hummingbird are eligible for free shipping. The Gibson serial number decoder Date a Gibson guitar by serial number From 1977 to 2013 Gibson have used an 8 digit serial number on all of their guitars. This can be easily decoded to show the exact day that the guitar was manufactured along with the location of the Gibson factory. Gibson Serial Number Information Corrections and additions to this section will be made as necessary. Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, Gibson Memphis From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows. Gibson stopped the stamped serial numbers at the end of 1960, although a few instruments were made in 1961 with a 1 as a prefix. Some lap steels and Les Paul's from 1961 have such a serial number. Another exception to the above rules is in the fall of 1958, where some Les Paul Juniors and Specials had a four-digit serial number.
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Vintage Guitars Info's
Gibson Flat top Model Descriptions.
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Gibson General Info.
Gibson Flattop Bracing: X-braced vs. Ladder braced.
Especially on low-end Gibson models, how the top is internallybraced is a huge deal in regard to collectibility and sound.There are two styles of bracing Gibson used, Ladder and X-braced.Ladder bracing is just how it sounds, the braces go across the toplike the runs of a ladder. X-brace is also just like it sounds,the underside bracing forms an 'X'.
Gibson and Kalamazoo models used Ladder bracing on all their inexpensive guitars.It is generally thought that ladder braced guitar don't soundnearly as good as X-braced. For this reason most ladder bracedmodels will have little collectibility.
Note Gibson flat tops (and arch tops) were made for other lesser manufacturers during the1930s to 1950s. These budget brand guitars weren't as good as their equivalentGibson models (lesser woods, ladder bracing, etc.), but are still somewhat cool.Brands like Kalamazoo, Kel Kroydon, National, Bellson, Forbes, Joe C Sapp, Levy Page, Oriole, Cromwell, Ambassador, Capital, Carson Robison, Fascinator, Francis Day & Hunter, Grinnell, Hayden, Martelle, Marshall Special, Henry L. Mason, Mastertone Special, Mitchell Brothers, Old Kraftsman (Spiegel), Recording King (Montgomery Ward), Reznick Radio, S.S. Stewart, Trujo – Truett, Washburn, and Werlein Leader. Gibson also made guitars as well as supplied guitar bodies for National (Valco Mfg.)
View of the inside top of two guitars, back of guitars removed.
NOTE on L-0, L-00 and L-1 Gibson Flat Top Models:
The L-0, L-00 and L-1 models are very similar, and oftendifficult to tell apart. Because of this, it may be easierto use the chart after these three model's specs.
Also the L-0, L-00 and L-1 models were very lightly constructedguitars. They were inexpensive at the time (and still are!), and had light bracing, thin woods, and thin finishes. This made themsound great! But it also meant they broke easily. Putting heavystrings on one of these pre-war L-0, L-00 or L-1 guitar willliterially make it come apart at the seams. These models are notbuilt for heavy strings!
L-0 Flattop
Available: 1926 to 1942
Collectibility Rating: 13.5' wide models: D, 14.75' wide: C+.
The 1931 to 1942 models I feel are nice small bodied flat tops.Very comparible to the L-00.
- 1926 L-0 introduction specs:
- $35 list price, 13.5' wide, 12 frets clear of body, spruce top with amber brown stain,round lower body shape, slightly arched topand back, brown stained birch back and sides, b/w/b/w/b soundhole rings (varies), ebony bellybridge with pyramids at ends and black pins, white bound top and back,dot fingerboard inlays at 5th, 7th and 9th frets,ebonized unbound fingerboard, no pickguard, 25' (approximately) scale length, 3-on-a-plate tuners usually with white buttons(or sometimes black buttons), 'The Gibson' angled peghead logo in white paint.
- 1928 L-0 specs:
- 13.5' wide, natural/amber finish mahogany top,mahogany back, and sides, b/w/b/w/b soundhole rings (varies).Bottom belly bridge with raised center area (though late modelshave a rectangle bridge with a spare white bridge pin below other black pins), unbound rosewood fingerboard, dot fingerboard inlays at 5th, 7th, 9th frets, 3-on-strip tuners.
- 1929 L-0 specs:
- No belly to bridge, no extra bridge pin.
- 1930 L-0 specs:
- 14.75' wide lower bout (same body shape as the L-2), body more square at bottom, natural finish mahogany top, b/w/b/w/b soundhole ring, mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,rectangular rosewood with angled saddle, unbound fingerboard withdots at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets,3-on-strip tuners.
- 1932 L-0 specs:
- 14.75' wide, top and back now flat, 14 frets clear of the body, natural finish mahogany top,mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, tortoise pickguard,retangle bridge, unbound fingerboard, 24.75' scale, dots at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets,3-on-strip tuners, some with 'Gibson' painted logo (no 'the').
- 1933 L-0 discontinued.
- 1937 L-0 re-introduction specs:
- 14.75' wide, 14 frets clear,spruce top with black finish, mahogany back and sides,bound top and back, fire-striped tortoise grain pickguard retangle bridge with black bridge pins and end pin, dots at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets,3-on-strip tuners. List price reduced to $25.
- 1942 L-0 discontinued.
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Available: 1926 to 1937 (note available earlier as an Archtop model).
Collectibility Rating: 13.5' wide models: D, 14.75' wide: C.
The 1931 to 1937 models I feel are nice small bodied flat tops,very comparible to the L-00.
- 1926 L-1 introduction specs:
- $50 list price, 13.5' wide, 12 frets clear of body, round lower body shape and narrow waist, slightly arched spruce top with amber stain or natural, b/w/b/w/b/soundhole rings (with black outer ring), carved birch or maple back and sideswith brown dark stain, bound top and back (though some have anunbound back), unbound ebony square end fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th frets. Fixed ebonybridge with pyramids at ends and black pins, 25' scale length, 'The Gibson' straight peghead painted logo. Bracing pattern could be X,H or A.
- 1928 L-1 specs:
- 13.5' wide, spruce top with stained shaded finish,mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,b/w/b/w/b/soundhole rings (no black outer ring),bottom bellow rosewood bridge with raised center, 3-on-strip tuners,bound rosewood fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
- 1929 L-1 specs:
- 13.5' wide, spruce top with stained shaded finish,mahogany back and sides, bound top and back,bottom bellow rosewood bridge with raised center and extra bridge pin(though later models had a rectangle bridge), 3-on-strip tuners,bound rosewood fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
- 1930 L-1 specs:
- 14.75' wide, body more squared at bottom,12 frets clear of body, spruce top with stained shaded finish,mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, 3-on-strip tuners,longer modern type rectangle bridge, unbound fingerboard withdots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
- 1932 L-1 specs:
- 14.75' wide, 14 frets clear of thebody, 24.75' scale length, small sprayed sunburst finish,mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, fire striped tortoise pickguard, retangle bridge, unboundfingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets. Individual tuners, 'Gibson' peghead logo (no 'the'), reduced $37.50 list retail price.
- 1937 L-1 discontinued.
Gibson Guitar Serial Numbers And Value
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Available: 1932 to 1945
Collectibility Rating: B.
Gibson Hummingbird Serial Number Lookup Yellow Pages
I believe these are the nicest of the small bodied Gibson flat tops.
- 1932 Gibson L-00 guitar introduction specs:
- Actually introduced between 1929 and 1931 (but first catalog appearance in 1932),$25 list price. 14.75' wide, spruce top with black finish,12 frets clear of body, mahogany back and sides,white bound top only (unbound back), white pickguard (no pickguardon later models), rectangle rosewood bridge with black bridge pins, unbound ebonized fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets. 'V' shaped neck, 3-on-a-plate open back strip tuners, tapered peghead, can have either 'the Gibson' or 'Gibson' peghead logo in white paint.
- 1933 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- 14.75' body, 14 frets clear of body,spruce top with small sized yellow sprayed sunburst, Scalloped X bracing,mahogany back and sides, bound top only (though occasionally a bound back too), fire-striped tortoise pickguard (or sometimes amocking style tortoise pickguard), rectangle bridge,unbound fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets. Also now has a 'Gibson' peghead logo (no 'the'), $27.50 list retail price.
- 1935 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- spruce top sunburst changesa bit with medium sized yellow sprayed sunburst,
- 1936 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- bound top only (though some do have a bound back now.)
- 1937 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- spruce top sunbrust changesyet again with a larger sized yellow sprayed sunburst.List price $30, all have back bound now. A few 3/4 scale L-00 models sold.
- 1941 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- Natural finish available. List price now $36.75 for sunburst,$42 for natural.
- 1943 Gibson L-00 guitar specs:
- A few L-00 models made with 'Only a Gibson is Good Enough' banner peghead logo. This model is rarely seen after 1942,since the LG series of guitars replaced the L-00.
- 1945 Gibson L-00 guitar discontinued.
Note Gibson also sold a model called the HG-0 and HG-00 model. These are like a HawaiianL-00 models but with heavier bracing, a straight bridge saddle (no slant), a more squarish neck, usually sunburst finish (sometimes black), and 12 frets clear of the body. Made from 1937 to 1942.
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Left: 1937 style L-0 with a firestrip pickguard.
Right: 1937 style L-00 with a 'large' sunburst.
Notice these two guitar models are very similar,
and are often confused (the black L-0 has a bound back).