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- Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp. But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear. With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and location of the largest well-known brands.
- Also see Headstock Styles and Logo Styles for help determining when your guitar was made (particularly helpful if there is no serial number). Note: Any guitar with a serial number with the prefix 'SI' is Indonesian-made. Note #2: Guitars with no serial number were produced at many different times. Samick branded models did not start using.
- Most guitar manufacturers put a serial number on each instrument they produce. This number can be used to date a guitar and in some cases tell where it was made. Serial numbers tend to be stamped or written somewhere on the headstock or neck joint of the guitar. On some acoustic guitars, the serial number is on the inside of the sound hole.
Serial numbers for Ovation guitars typically appear on paper labels inside the body of the guitar visible through each instrument's sound hole. The labels are small and rectangular. They also often contain the model of the guitar and the location of its manufacture.
Gibson Serial Numbers
Applause Guitar Serial Number Lookup
some data are taken from the 11th Edition of 'Blue Book of Electric Guitars', By Zachary R. Fjestad
When Gibson start the production of solidbody guitars in 1952, a new serial number system was developed.
5 or 6 DIGITS number ink stamped on the headstock back:
Y NNN(N)
Y= last digit of the year (2=1952, 3=1953, 4=1954, 5=1955, 6=1956, 7=1957, 8=1958, 9=1959, 0=1960)
NNN(N)= production numbers in a consecutive order
Y NNN(N)
Y= last digit of the year (2=1952, 3=1953, 4=1954, 5=1955, 6=1956, 7=1957, 8=1958, 9=1959, 0=1960)
NNN(N)= production numbers in a consecutive order
4 2205 = 1954
0 9865 = 1960
NOTES: not used on the earliest instruments produced (those done in 1952), a few of these instruments have three digits stamped on the headstock top.
In 1961, Gibson started a new serial number system. It consisted of numbers that were impressed into the wood. This is generally considered to be the most confusing out of all Gibson’s serial number systems used. There are several instances where batches of numbers are switched in order and duplicated, not just once, but up to four times, and seem to be randomly assigned throughout the decade.
Note: If 'MADE IN USA' is stamped in the back of the headstock near the serial number, the guitar is not from the 1960s, but the 1970s.
100-42440 ---> 1961
42441-61180 ---> 1962
61450-64222 ---> 1963
64240-71040 ---> 1964
71041-96600 ---> 1962, 1963, 1964
96601-99999 ---> 1963
000001-099999 ---> 1967
100000-106099 ---> 1963, 1967
106100-108999 ---> 1963
109000-109999 ---> 1963, 1967
110000-111549 ---> 1963
111550-115799 ---> 1963, 1967
115800-118299 ---> 1963
118300-120999 ---> 1963, 1967
121000-139999 ---> 1963
140000-140100 ---> 1963, 1967
140101-144304 ---> 1963
144305-144380 ---> 1963, 1964
144381-149864 ---> 1963
149865-149891 ---> 1964
149892-152989 ---> 1963
152990-174222 ---> 1964
174223-176643 ---> 1964, 1965
176644-250335 ---> 1964
250336-305983 ---> 1965
306000-310999 ---> 1965, 1967
311000-320149 ---> 1965
320150-320699 ---> 1967
320700-329179 ---> 1965
329180-330199 ---> 1965, 1967
330200-332240 ---> 1965, 1967, 1968
332241-348092 ---> 1965
348093-349100 ---> 1966
349121-368638 ---> 1965
Cached
368640-369890 ---> 1966
370000-370999 ---> 1967
380000-385309 ---> 1966
390000-390998 ---> 1967
400001-406666 ---> 1966
406667-409670 ---> 1966, 1967, 1968
409671-410900 ---> 1966
410901-419999 ---> No Entries
420000-429193 ---> 1966
500000-500999 ---> 1965, 1966,1968, 1969
501009-501600 ---> 1965
501601-501702 ---> 1968
501703-502706 ---> 1965, 1968
![Numbers Numbers](/uploads/1/1/8/1/118154878/160203405.jpg)
503010-503109 ---> 1968
503405-520955 ---> 1965, 1968
520956-530056 ---> 1968
530061-530850 ---> 1966, 1968, 1969
530851-530993 ---> 1968, 1969
Ovation Guitar Serial Number Lookup
530994-539999 ---> 1969
540000-540795 ---> 1966, 1969
540796-545009 ---> 1969
555000-556909 ---> 1966
558012-567400 ---> 1969
570087-570643 ---> 1966
570645-570755 ---> 1966, 1967
570857-570964 ---> 1966
580000-580080 ---> 1969
580086-580999 ---> 1966, 1967, 1969
600000-600998 ---> 1966, 1967, 1968 (LOW END)
600000-606090 ---> 1969 (HIGH END)
700000-700799 ---> 1966, 1967
750000-750999 ---> 1968, 1969
800000-800999 ---> 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
801000-812838 ---> 1966, 1969
812900-819999 ---> 1969
820000-820087 ---> 1966, 1969
820088-823830 ---> 1966*
824000-824999 ---> 1969
![Ovation Ovation](/uploads/1/1/8/1/118154878/717979879.jpg)
828002-847488 ---> 1966, 1969
847499-858999 ---> 1966, 1969
859001-895038 ---> 1967
895039-896999 ---> 1968
897000-898999 ---> 1967, 1969
899000-899999 ---> 1968
900000-901999 ---> 1970
910000-999999 ---> 1968
From 1970 to 1975 the method of serializing instruments at Gibson became even more random. All numbers were impressed into the wood and a six-digit number was assigned, though no particular order was given and some instruments had a letter prefix. In 1970, the words MADE IN USA were impressed into the back of instrument headstocks (though a few instruments from the 1950s also had this).
000000S--->1973
200000S --->1973-1975
400000S --->1974-1975
600000S --->1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975
800000S --->1973, 1974, 1975
6 DIGITS + A --->1970
B + 6 DIGITS --->1974, 1975
D + 6 DIGITS --->1974, 1975
F + 6 DIGITS --->1974, 1975
NOTES: When the Nashville Gibson plant was opened in 1974, it was decided that the bulk of the production of products would be run in the South; the Kalamazoo plant would produce the higher end (fancier) models in the North. Of course, many of the older guitar builders and craftsmen were still in Kalamazoo, and if they weren’t ready to change how they built guitars, then they may not have been ready to change how they numbered them! Certain guitar models built in the late 1970s can be used to demonstrate the old-style, six-digit serial numbers. It is estimated that Gibson’s Kalamazoo plant continued to use the six-digit serial numbers through 1978 and 1979. So double check the serial numbers on those 1970s L-5s, Super 400s, and Super 5 BJBs!
YY= year (99=1975, 00=1976 and 06=1977)
NNNNNN= production number from 100000 to 200000 range.
MADE IN USA was also included on the transfer and some models had LIMITED EDITION also applied.
99XXXXXX 1975
06XXXXXX 1977
NOTES: A few bolt-on neck instruments had a date ink stamped on the heel area.
Between 1997 and late June or early July 2005, Gibson used the same serialization system on all standard-built guitars. This updated system utilizes an impressed, 8 digit numbering scheme that covers both serializing and dating functions.
YY = last two digits of the production year
PPP = plant designation and/or instrument rank:
001-499 --> Kalamazoo production from 1977 to 1984 when the factory closed.
500-999 --> Nashville production from 1977 to 1989.
All currently manufactured Gibsons (non-custom shop) are stamped with a hand arbor, and start at 300 or 500, and continue until production is finished that day. This hand stamp used to be reset daily at #300 or #500
for all the LP style headstocks. The other shapes (Flying V, T-Bird, Explorer, etc.) were started at 700. When acoustic production began at the plant in Bozeman, Montana (in 1989), the series’ numbers were reorganized. Bozeman instruments began using 001-299 designations and, in 1990, Nashville instruments began using 300-999 designations. It should also be noted that the Nashville plant has not reached the 900s since 1977, so these numbers have been
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.
03202652 means the instrument was produced on November 16, 2002 and was the 152nd instrument stamped that day (assuming they started at 500).
NOTES: The Custom/Historic/Art divisions do not use this system. Certain models in the Standard series also do not follow this, either.
YDDDYBPPPB = batch number was implemeted to better keep track of production and allow for more than five hundred instruments to be produced in a day. At the beginning of each day, the sixth digit is reset to 0. Once the last three numbers reach
699, the batch number moves on to 1, and the last three digits are reset to 500.
699, the batch number moves on to 1, and the last three digits are reset to 500.
028360612 stamped on the 283rd day (October 10th) in 2006 and was the 112th guitar stamped that day.
001071520 stamped on the 10th day (January 10th) of 2007 and was the 220th guitar stamped on that day (it was part of the second batch and the 20th guitar of the second batch - first batch was of 200 guitars).
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Back to contentA series of tables and lists that summarise serial numbers, model codes and colors of the Ovation guitars from the beginning to the end of the 20th Century.
Years and models
Original series from 1966
Range | Date | Comment |
006-319 | 1966 | three digits in red ink |
320-999 | 1967 (Feb.-Nov.) | New Hartford; three digits in red ink |
1000- | 1967 (Nov.)-1968 (July) | four digits in black ink, no letter prefix |
10000- | 1970 (Feb.)-1972 (May) | five digits, no letter prefix |
A + three digits | 1968 (July-Nov.) | |
B + three digits | 1968 (Nov.)-1969 (Feb.) | |
B + five digits | 1974-1979 | Magnum solidbody basses |
C + three digits | 1969 (Feb.-Sept.) | |
D + three digits | 1969 (Sept.)-1970 (Feb.) | |
E + four digits | 1973 (Jan.)-1975 (Feb.) | solidbodies |
E + five digits | 1975 (Feb.)-1980 | solidbodies |
E + six digits | 1980 (late)-1981 | some UK IIs (does not reflect production) |
F, G prefix | 1968 (July)-1970 (Feb.) | |
H, I, J, L prefix | 1970-1973 | Electric Storm series |
Ovation: six digits series from 1971
Range | Date | Comment |
000001-007000 | 1972 (May-Dec.) | |
007001-020000 | 1973 | |
020001-039000 | 1974 | |
039001-067000 | 1975 | |
067001-086000 | 1976 | |
086001-103000 | 1977 (Jan.-Sept.) | |
103001-126000 | 1977 (Sept.)-1978 (Apr.) | |
126001-157000 | 1978 (Apr.-Dec.) | |
157001-203000 | 1979 | |
211011-214933 | 1980 | |
214934-263633 | 1981 | |
263634-291456 | 1982 | |
291457-302669 | 1983 | |
302670-303319 | 1984 | Elites only |
315001-339187 | 1984 (May-Dec.) | Balladeers only |
303320-356000 | 1985-1986 | |
357000-367999 | 1987 | |
368000-382106 | 1988 | |
382107-392900 | 1989 | |
403760-420400 | 1990 | |
421000-430680 | 1990 | |
400001-403676 | 1991 | |
430681-446000 | 1991 | |
402700-406000 | 1992 | |
446001-457810 | 1992 | |
457811-470769 | 1993 | |
470770-484400 | 1994 | |
484401-501470 | 1995 |
Adamas: from September 1977
Range | Year |
0077-0099 | 1977 |
0100-0608 | 1978 |
0609-1058 | 1979 |
1059-1670 | 1980 |
1671-2668 | 1981 |
2669-3242 | 1982 |
3243-3859 | 1983 |
3860-4109 | 1984 |
4110-4251 | 1985 |
4252-4283 | 1986 |
4284-4427 | 1987 |
4428-4696 | 1988 |
4697-4974 | 1989 |
4975-5541 | 1990 |
5542-6278 | 1991 |
6279-7088 | 1992 |
7089-8159 | 1993 |
8160-9778 | 1994 |
9779-11213 | 1995 |
Model numbers
The model 4 digit codes for the original models. Everything changed and became sort of messy from the Seventies, so the best way to be shure is using the Ovation Decoder.
- First digit
- 1 – most models born before year 2000
- 2 – contour bowl
- 4 – Japanese Balladeers
- 5 – parlours and some Elites
- 6 -Standard Elites, widenecks, some Adamas
- Second digit is type of guitar:
- 1 Acoustic roundbacks (also semi-hollowbody electrics)
- 2 Solidbody and semi-hollowbody electrics
- 3 Ultra acoustics
- 4 Solidbody
- 5 Acoustic electric cutaway Adamas and II/Elite/Ultra electric
- 6 Acoustic electric roundbacks
- 7 Deep
- 8 Shallow
- Third digit denotes bowl depth on acoustic and acoustic electrics:
- 1 Standard bowl 5 13/16″ deep
- 2 Artist bowl 5 1/8″ deep
- 3 Elite/Matrix electric deep bowl
- 4 Matrix shallow bowl
- 5 Custom Balladeer Legend Legend 12 Custom Legend 12 Anniversary
- 6 Cutaway electric deep bowl
- 7 Cutaway electric shallow bowl
- 8 Adamas 6 1/16″ deep
- Fourth digit denotes model
- 1 Balladeer
- 2 Deluxe Balladeer
- 3 Classic
- 4 Josh White
- 5 12-String
- 6 Contemporary Folk Classic
- 7 Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer
- 8 Glen Campbell 12-String
- 9 Custom Legend (from 1974)
- Color code follows hyphen after model number (but I am not quite sure for all of them):
- 1 Sunburst
- 2 Red
- 4 Natural
- 5 Black H Honeyburst
- 6 White
- 7 LTD Nutmeg/Anniversary Brown/Beige/Tan
- 8 Blue
- 9 Brown
- B Barnwood (gray-to-black sunburst)
- H Honey sungurst
Model Chronology
The dates in this chronology reflect actual appearances of models, determined from price lists and the recollections of sales representatives and dealers. They may differ slightly from the first production or official introduction dates in the text.
Acoustic and Acoustic Electric
1964 | Charles Kaman chose a small team of aerospace engineers and technicians, several of whom were woodworking hobbyists as well, to work to invent a new guitar. One of these was Charles McDonough, who later created the Ovation Adamas model. Kaman founded Ovation Instruments. |
1965 | Engineers and luthiers work to improve acoustic guitars by changing their conventional materials. The R&D team builds and tests prototype instruments. Their first prototype has a conventional dreadnought body, with parallel front and back perpendicular to the sides. The innovation is the use of a thinner, synthetic back, because of its foreseen acoustic properties. The company is moved from the aerospace facilities of Bloomfield to a new location in New Hartford. |
1966 | Balladeer introduced. Has a natural top, Grover Rotomatic tuners, dot fret markers, white-black-white binding, small or thin rosette with figure-8 chain link motif and grape bunch at 4 o’clock position. Less than 100 made before February 1967 move to New Hartford factory. The very early have no rosette, some have extra diamond fret markers at twelfth fret. |
1967 (Feb.) | Deluxe Balladeer introduced. Essentially a Balladeer with diamonds at twelfth fret, Grover Rotomatics (Balladeer now has Kluson tuners), five-ply top binding. |
1967 (Sept.) | Classic introduced. No fret markers, twelve frets clear of body, flat fingerboard. Josh White model introduced. Twelve frets clear of body, wider neck, steel strings, dot markers with diamonds at twelfth fret. Shaded brown sunburst top introduced. Larger floral leaf rosette appears. Model numbers introduced:
|
1968 (Jan.) | Model #5 12-String introduced |
1968 (July) | Semi-hollowbody Electric Storm series introduced Model #6 Contemporary Folk Classic appears in the catalog, but is only produced as a prototype (probably during development of Glen Campbell model), with red, green or blue bowl color option |
1968 (Nov.) | Glen Campbell models and shallow “Artist” bowl introduced. Four-digit model numbers with K prefix introduced:
|
1970 | Josh White model deleted after his death |
1971 (May) | K-1124 Country Artist introduced. Similar to the Josh White but with shallow bowl, fourteen-fret neck, flat fingerboard, and nylon strings, replaces Josh White as the #4 model. Acoustic electric models introduced:
|
1972 (June) | Solidbody electrics introduced. K prefix deleted from model names
|
1974 |
|
1976 | New top finishes introduced: Red, White, or Blue Patriot Bicentennial introduced. Limited run of 1776 guitars, fancy version of Custom Legend with drum-and-flag decal and “1776*1976” on lower treble bout. |
1976 (Sept.) | Adamas introduced in prototype form for artists and select dealers. The first 26 are prototypes; #27-#61 are a non-tooling production run; #62-#76 have a new headstock design and the Kaman bar neck reinforcement. Wooden epaulettes around soundholes change to a photographic Mylar material. Extensive tooling begins Sept. 1977. Dealers receive first production models in Dec. 1977. First production Adamas sold is a Model 1687, #0077-95. Suffix is guitar’s natural frequency resonance. The first Adamas 12-String is #213. Charles H. Kaman signs the labels up to #600. At #600 C.W. (Bill) Kaman II begins signing labels.
|
1978 | 1157 Anniversary and 1657 Electric Anniversary introduced |
1979 | 1587 Adamas cutaway and 1651 Legend Limited (electric only) introduced |
1981 | Adamas II models introduced. Standard Ovation neck and bridge, available as acoustic electric only.
|
1982 | Collectors’ Series inaugurated (see separate listing) and several new models, including cutaway models:
|
1982 (Oct.) | Elite appears on price list; production begins shortly thereafter. First catalog appearance is late 1983. |
1983 | Super-shallowbodies introduced |
1988 | Abalone trim added to Custom Legend and Electric Custom Legend |
1989 | Introduced Optima-3 preamp |
1998 | Introduced the Custom Legend Al Di meola. |
2004 | Introduced the LX series (for Light and X-Bracing) |
Colors
1 | Sunburst |
1Y | Sunburst Flame |
2 | Red |
2WFB | Red Waterfall Bubinga |
3 | Green |
4 | Natural |
4B | Natural Bird Eyes |
4C | Natural Cedar |
4G | Natural Graphite |
4GB | Natural Graphite Burst |
4HF | xNatural w/HEXFX Electronics |
4RM | Recording Model that features Optimax |
5 | Black |
5BQ | Black Blue (Quilted) |
5E | Ebony Stain |
5EY | Ebony Transparent Flame |
5F | Black Flake |
5HG | Black High Gloss |
5M | Birdseye |
5P | Black Pearl |
6 | White – Cream White |
6P | White Pearlescent |
7 | LTD Nutmeg, Anniversary Brown, Tan and Beige, Deep Red |
7QM | Nutmeg |
8 | Blue |
? | Opaque Blue |
8T | Blue Transparent |
8TY | Blue Transparent Flame |
9 | Brown Sunburst |
9FM | Brown Burst Flamed maple |
9B | Brown Burst Bird Eyes |
9Y | Brown Burst Cycamore |
30CM | 30th Anniversary Natural |
AB | Autumn Burst |
AM | Amber |
ANB | Antique Brown Burst |
ANR | Antique Red |
AS | Antique Sunburst Bird Eyes |
ASB | Aspen Blue |
ASW | Angel Step Walnut |
B | Barnwood (Gray-to-Black Sunburst) |
BCB | Black Cherry Burst |
BCBQ | Black Cherry Burst Quilt |
BFT | Blue Flame Top |
BG | Blue Green (Adamas) |
BS | Blue Sparkle |
BSB | Blue Surf Burst |
BTA | Blue Tamo Ash |
BZ | Bronze |
CB | Cobalt Blue |
CBV | Cobalt Blue with VIP Preamp |
CCB | Cherry Cherry Burst |
CCBQ | Cherry Cherry Burst Quilt |
CG | Cadillac Green |
CGB | Cadillac Green Burst |
CRP | Crimson Red Pearl |
CS | Cherry Sunburst |
CTBFA | Cherry Transparent Burst Figured Ash |
DBP | Dark Blue Pearl |
DPQ | Deep Purple Quilt |
DSQ | Deep Black |
DTQ | Deep Turquise (Quilted) |
FKOA | Figured Koa |
FR | Figured Redwood |
G | Burgundy Sunburst |
GQ | Green Quilt |
H | Honey |
HT | Honey Sunburst |
YB | Yellow Burst Flame |
YS | Yellow Burst |
IC | Iced Coffee |
HB | Honeyburst |
LFR | Legend Figured Redwood |
LR | Lusty Red |
M | Mahogany |
NB2 | No-Burst Red |
NB5 | No-Burst Black |
NB8 | No-Burst Blue |
NEB | New England Burst |
NMQ | Nutmeg Maple Quilt |
NWT | Natural Woven Top |
OB | Opaque Burgundy |
OFT | Orange Flame Top |
P | Pewter |
PB | Plum Burst |
PTF | Purple Tribal Flame |
PY | Plumburst on Sycamore |
RB | Rootbeer |
RF | Red Flame |
RG | Ruby Graphite |
RR | Ruby Red |
RRB | Ruby Redburst |
RRBY | Ruby Redburts Flame |
RTD | Red Tear Drop |
RTDB | Red Tear Drop Burst |
RW | Rose White |
RWB | Red Wineburst |
RBBW | Ruby Burst Burled Walnut |
SS | Silver Sparkle |
SSP | Silver Satin Pearl |
T | Turquise |
T5 | Textured Black |
TB | Tobacco Burst |
TG | Teal Graphite |
TDB | Teardrop Burst |
TH | Transparent Honey |
TN | Tangerine |
TPB | Transparent Burgundy |
TQ | Turquoise Quilted |
USA | US Flag |
VOQ | Vintage Orange (Quilted) |
VY | Vintage Flamed Sycamore |
VT | Vintage |
WB | Wine Burst Flame |
WP | White Pearl |
WS | Walnut stain |
Z | All Black guitar |