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1991 or 1994

KOinKY

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May 22, 2019
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If you cannot read the serial here it is:
94040457
Any help would be much appreciated.
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
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20,854
What kind of guitar is it? there is no picture. If it's a Les Paul it isn't MT. It's Nashville.
 

Wilko

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Also I read something about 94’s starting with a 94, but this must not hold water. Had you ever heard that before?
Gibson serials from late 70sthrough 2000s all have the year as the first and fourth digit. (unless it's a Historic with vintage style serial
 

Wilko

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Gibson serials from that period all have the year as the first and fourth digit.
here's the full info:

The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.
Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989.


Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.


Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.


82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.
 

KOinKY

New member
Joined
May 22, 2019
Messages
9
here's the full info:

The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.
Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989.


Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.


Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.


82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.
Thank you all
 

Thunder Dump

Active member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
293
Only problem with this is DDD in the serial is 404. Only 365 days in the year. So either something is amiss or the 94s didn't follow the serial number pattern.
 

MVM57

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Joined
Nov 6, 2022
Messages
2
If you cannot read the serial here it is:
94040457
Any help would be much appreciated.
8 DIGITS: 9 4 0 4 0 4 5 7 = 40th day of 1990. [February 9, 1990 (Fri)] 457th guitar stamped that day. Made in Nashville, TN.
 

Arch D. Bunker

Active member
Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
255
Also I read something about 94’s starting with a 94, but this must not hold water. Had you ever heard that before?
Actually - this 'something' IS correct. Because of Gibson's centennial they decided to use 94 as first digits for the serial numbers on many (if not all) standard USA models during that year. I bought a new Special in 1994 which was serialized accordingly. I also own another '94 Studio LP which the seller originally assumed was a '91.

This was another unfortunate 'stroke of genius' by Gibson - so the best way to make out the year of any guitar with a serial # starting with 94 is to look at the pot codes.

Not sure what the pot codes indicate on the OPs guitar - but he may have left the building...
 
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