Vintage Gibson Guitar Identification Explained

By Lyndon Ogden

Vintage Gibson guitar identification is easy if you know what to look for. Serial numbers are not always the complete answer. Better to look for a combo of serial numbers, factory order numbers and any design features specific to the time.

Factory Order Numbers (FON's) were used by Gibson to track batches of instruments in the early days when they made guitars normally in batches of forty. Therefore early Gibson Vintage Guitars may have both a FON and a serial number. The FON will even provide what number in the batch of forty guitars your instrument was.

There are three groups of numbers which are used for their accuracy. The numbers are often stamped or written on the back of the instrument and seen through the lower f-hole or round soundhole. They may also be impressed on the back of the headstock.

Code Letter FONs were stopped after 1941 and any instruments made during or right after World War II do not bear any FON codes. In1949, a four digit FON was used, but not in conjunction with any code letter.

From 1952-61, the FON's scheme followed the pattern of a letter, batch number, and instrument ranking number. The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models like the ES-125, ES-140 etc.) which do not feature a paper label. High grade models (such as the Super 400, L-5 etc.) have both a serial number and a FON. When both numbers are present on a high grade model, please remember that the FON was assigned at the beginning of the production run, while the serial number was recorded later (before shipping).
The serial number would be the best indication of the actual date of the guitar.

For detailed information plus a list of serial numbers you may want to visit my website as there is too much information to share in a single article.

Lyndon is a collector of Gibson vintage guitars. His website is http://www.vintagegibsonguitar.com where you will find articles, information and useful links about vintage Gibson Guitars

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