However, the golden era for collectors—and the birth of the modern "decoding" obsession—begins in the 1950s. This is the era of the "FON" (Factory Order Number) and the early serial stamping. If you find a Les Paul Standard from 1959, you aren't just holding a guitar; you are holding a financial asset. The serial number on that instrument is its birth certificate.
The first two digits are the year (e.g., 15xxxxxxx is 2015). 2. Vintage Eras (Pre-1977) gibson guitar serial number
Also: (1999–2004) – first digit = year, then space, then 4 digits. However, the golden era for collectors—and the birth
In the early days, before the rock 'n' roll boom turned guitars into commodities, things were relatively straightforward. From 1902 through the 1940s, Gibson used a simple sequential numbering system. A low number meant an early instrument; a high number meant a later one. These were stamped with a quiet authority in the legendary Kalamazoo, Michigan factory. The serial number on that instrument is its
Usually impressed or ink-stamped on the back of the headstock.
Dating vintage Gibsons is trickier due to overlapping systems and recycled numbers. Gibson Serial Numbers