I have a guy offering me a great deal OM a 2014 Les Paul Standard. It's Brilliant Red, and it has had the Pickguard installed. My first question, Is the Pickguard installed at the factory? Second question, with all of the Chibsons out there, how would a proper 2014 Serial Number read? Also, if anyone knows.

Years 1961-1975 (This is a little confusing as some numbers are duplicated and inconsistent) 100-9999 1961 - 1963 199 1963 - 1967 200 1964 - 1965 399 1965 - 1969 699 1966 - 1969 099 1967 099 1970-1975 (from 74 to 75 a prefix of C, D, E, F was used) 1977 Forward - finally a standard serial number was used. The first and fifth numbers are the year, for example 8997653 = 8997653 or 1986 Gibson Hollow Body Serial Numbers Gibson Prefix and Suffix Model Codes ES (Electric Spanish - hollow body with fixed pickup(s) T - Thinline D Double - 2 Pickups C Cutaway or Cherry Finish 3/4 - 3/4 side and short scale SV - Stereo and Veritone wiring option Please keep in mind that Serial numbers show approximate date of manufacture. For all dates, you will need to look at the construction technique and components used to get a more precise date of manufacture.

DATING GIBSON GUITARS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS Gibson has used various methods of numbering from 1900, so it is not simply based on the serial number to identify the year of manufacture. From 1902 to 1976, Gibson instruments have a serial number or a FON (Factory Order Number) or both. However, in the beginning this was not done consistently, so that there are also be instruments without identification.

Where to find the serial number The serial number is stamped or punched on the back of the headstock. If you want to know the production year of your Gibson guitar, you can calculate it with the serial number decoder, or find it in the tables below. Factory Order Numbers (FON) with a letter from 1935 to 1941. FON consists a batch number of usually four digits, followed by a one letter (sometimes prefixed by a space) followed by one or two digits (ranking). • 1935-1937: Letter between the batch number and the order number. 0123 A5 • 1938-1941: Two or three letters before batch number.

The first letter is the year. If there is a second character follows it is the code for the type of the instrument. (G = Gibson, K = Kalamazoo, W = Recording King (Montgomery Wards). If follows there is a third letter E, it stands for Electric. • Exceptions: Some high-end models and lap steels from 1939-1940 have been added the letter A, to the prefixes D, E or F. 1st Letter PRODUCTION YEAR A 1935 B 1936 C 1937 D en DA 1938 Ex (x = any letter) 1939 F en FA 1940 E (no sequel letter) 1941 G 1941 H 1942 Factory Order numbers with a letter from 1952 to 1961. The letter preceding the batch number in the FON, and indicates the year of production.

The batch number, the first four digits of the FON, followed by a one or two-digit number. This letter shall stand before the FON lot number. Y1234 23 This were used from 1952 to 1961 on archtop models and stamped on the inside of the F-hole. On flat tops it became the neck block stamped. FON PRODUCTION YEAR Z 1952 Y 1953 X 1954 W 1955 V 1956 U 1957 T 1958 S 1959 R 1960 Q 1961 Gibson serial numbers 1952 to 1961, solidbody model.

An ink-stamped number from the back of the headstock. Gibson released solidbodies in 1952. No serial numbers were used, Gibson just started therewith in 1953.

The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. If the stamped number consists 5 digits, there is a space between the first and second digit (a separation between the last digit of the year and the actual serial number). When a six-digit serial number is concerned, there is no space, because the highest number in four digits (9999) has been exceeded and so fills the space. This was the case in the years 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1960. In 1955, Gibson forgot to put back the serial number range to 0001.

So they had just put the year from 4 to 5. For this reason, the array of four-digit serial number was exceeded after 9999. Thence 5 digits and no space between the year (5) and the serial number. (After 5 9999 came 510 000) Evidently the production was high in 1956 because '6 9999' is exceeded.

Also in 1959 and 1960 there was a high production, '9 9999' is exceeded for '932 000' or higher. Therefore, the production in 1959 may be a '1', '2' or '3' in the second digit. Gibson stopped the stamped serial numbers at the end in 1960, although there are a few guitars 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 autumn from 1958, where a some Les Paul Juniors and Specials had a four-digit serial number. 1st digit PRODUCTION YEAR None 1952 3 1953 4 1954 5 1955 6 1956 7 1957 8 At the end of 1958 had some LP Juniors/Specials a four-digit serial number without prior year digit. 1958 9 1959 0 1960 1 (rare) 1961 Gibson serial numbers, early to mid seventies. From 1970 to 1975, the 6-digit serial numbers randomly generated.

In a random sequence numbers were stamped on the back of the headstock. For some instruments, preceded by a letter. In 1970, the orange labels in the body of acoustic guitars were replaced by white with orange rectangular labels.

The electrical models were provided with a rectangular with black and purple triangle. It was also from 1970 'MADE IN USA' stamped on the back of the headstock. Some instruments from the fifties also had been such a stamp. Gibson serial numbers, 1970-1975. At serialization in the 70s a random method was used. Guitars got six digits in any order, and in some cases they were preceded by a letter that none seemed to have no smeaningful sense.

Note that the series of between 1970 and 1975, may be an overlap from production in 1964 and 1965. The table below shows the years in which the numbers could relate. Seral number range PRODUCTION YEAR 000000 - 0 100000 - 1 - 1975 200000 - 2 - 1975 300000 - 3 - 1975 400000 - 4 - 1975 500000 - 5 - 1975 600000 - 6 - 1972 and 1974 - 1975 Serials 1977-2013. The most sustainable numbering system Gibson was launched in 1977, an eight-digit number.

The first and fifth digit representing the year of manufacture. The three intermediate digits, the day of that year. The digits to six to eight gave the serial number. After opening of the new factory in Nashville, in the sequence numbers were also included the production site.

001 to 499 appeared on the instruments built in Kalamazoo, 500 to 999 built in Nashville. Even after the closing of the factory in Kalamazoo in 1984, this process was continued until 1989 in Nashville. In 2005 the system was upgraded to first digit at the end of the batch number was inserted. Swf N Slide Pro Serial. The sequence numbers were 500 to 699, after which the batch number 1 was increased, and the number returned 500. Serial numbers 2014 to present. Gibson's most simplest system was introduced in 2014. A nine-digit serial number stamped.

The first two digits indicate the year, the rest is a serial number for all guitars produced that year. Gibson serial numbers, from February 1961 until 1970. For all models, the serial number on the back of the headstock is stamped. Some serial numbers are duplicated from 1963 to 1969.

From this period, the 5-digit and 6-digit numbers can be confused easily and gives the wrong date. Serial PRODUCTION YEAR 0100 - 42441 - 61450 - 64240 - 71041 - (some 1963 en 1964) 96601 - 000001 - 0 (all 6-digit numbers starting with 0.