Most solid-body electrics featured a stamped number on the back of the headstock. The first digit represents the year (e.g., 7XXXX is 1957).
Since 1977, Gibson has used a relatively consistent format for most electric and acoustic models. This is the system you will most likely encounter. The pattern follows : gibson sn lookup
Custom Shop serial numbers are designed to mimic vintage formats, which can lead to confusion if you aren't looking for them. Most solid-body electrics featured a stamped number on
It is vital to note that Custom Shop models do not follow the standard rules. Decoding Gibson Custom Shop Serials 7XXXX is 1957). Since 1977