About Guitar Serial Decoder

Guitar Serial Decoder turns a guitar serial number into a build date when a published format allows it, and shows every possible answer when it does not.

Independent

This site is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any guitar maker. Brand names are used only to say which guitars a rule applies to, and belong to their owners.

How the rules are chosen

• Each decoder applies a published serial format. The rule and its sources are shown on the decoder page and next to every result.
• Where a format is described only by community sources, the page says so and the result is labelled "Approximate".
• If a serial could mean several years, every year is listed and none is picked for you.
• If we cannot source a format, we do not decode it.

Decoding runs in your browser. Serials you type are not sent to us. See the privacy policy.

Results are estimates

A serial number gives a build date from a pattern. It does not give a sale date, a value, or proof that a guitar is genuine. For a definitive answer, ask the maker. Official tools exist for some brands, for example Gibson's serial number search (opens in a new tab).

Data and sources

The site does not use a downloaded dataset. The rules in the decoders come from these published pages:

• Gibson 8-digit format: Gibson, Ikebe, The Music Zoo.
• Epiphone 11-digit format: Killer Rig, Gibson forum thread.

Found a mistake?

Tell us the brand, the pattern of the serial (you do not need to send the whole number) and a source for the correction, using the contact page. Read how to read a guitar serial number for the basics. See also the terms of use.