For most Historic Reissues (Standard, Goldtop, Custom), the serial number is stamped into the back of the headstock. While it looks like a random vintage number, the indicates the year of production within the reissue era.
= Production year; RRRR = Ranking; M = Reissue year digit (e.g., 1 for '61). Historic ES (Label) A-MYRRR
= Year being reissued (e.g., 9 for '59); Y = Production year; RRR = Ranking. 1960s Reissue (Impressed) YRRRRM gibson cs serial number lookup
A serial number alone does not guarantee authenticity. Fakers can stamp "9 1234" on a headstock just as easily as the factory can. Here is how to perform a proper lookup.
Decoding a serial number requires identifying which of several specific formats your instrument uses, as they differ significantly from standard production Gibson USA guitars. Quick Lookup Guide by Format For most Historic Reissues (Standard, Goldtop, Custom), the
For vintage Custom Shop models or ambiguous serial numbers, you must open a support ticket with Gibson.
Most modern CS serial numbers follow this pattern: Historic ES (Label) A-MYRRR = Year being reissued (e
Guitars reissuing 1960s models, such as Standards, often have a 6-digit number impressed into the wood. Format : YRRRRM Y : Last digit of the production year. RRRR : Sequential ranking number. M : The reissue model year (e.g., 1 = 1961, 2 = 1962, etc.). 4. Historic ES Models
Gibson maintains a registry called the "Gibson Guitar Gallery." While this is primarily for newer USA models, many Custom Shop guitars are logged here. You can enter your serial number on the official Gibson website to see if specs pull up.
These follow the vintage-accurate or M YRRRR format found on models like the '59 Reissue (R9). First Digit (M) : The year being reissued. 4 = 1954 7 = 1957 8 = 1958 9 = 1959 0 = 1960