1957 7
1958 8
1959 9
1960 0
1958 1959
Note : The details given hereafter are valid for Flying Vs but may not be accurate for othe Gibson Models
1957 to 1960
Ink stamped number on back top of the
headstock.
The ink stamped number consists of 5
digits,
where there is a space between the first digit (representing the last
digit
of the year) and the following 4 (chronologic serial number). If there
is a 6 digit ink stamped number, there is no embedded space as the
serial
number has exceeded 9999 and now occupies the place where the space
existed
in numbers 9999 and lower. No space and 5 digits following the year
only occured in 1959 and 1960.
Production
in 1959 and 1960 was in excess of 9999 instruments so "9 9999" was
reached
and the six digit scheme can be found as follows : "93nnnn" It is
assumed
that they reached approx."93200".
Note : Although the first FlyingV
prototypes
were produced in 1957, the ones having surfaced so far hold 1960 or
later
numbers.
| Year
First
Number
1957 7
|
1958 1959 |
1961 to 1969
From 1961 to 1969 Gibson went several
times round the "6 digits", the numbers were stamped in on the back of
the headstock.
All "1967" Flying V's would have numbers
starting with "00", the lack of "Made in USA" denoting a pre 1970
numbering.
Serial Numbers, Feb 1961 to 1969.
All models, stamped in back top of
peghead.
Note many numbers are duplicated from 1963-1969:
Range
Year
0100 to
42440
1961
42441 to
61180
1962
61450 to
64222
1963
64240 to
70501
1964
71180 to
96600
1962
96601 to
99999
1963
000001 to 099999 1967
(all 6 digit numbers starting with "0" are 1967)
100000 to 106099 1963,
1967
106100 to 106899 1963
109000 to 109999 1963,
1967
110000 to 111549 1963
111550 to 115799 1963,
1967
115800 to 118299 1963
118300 to 120999 1963,
1967
121000 to 139999 1963
140000 to 140100 1963,
1967
140101 to 144304 1963
144305 to 144380 1964
144381 to 149864 1963
149865 to 149891 1964
149892 to 152989 1963
152990 to 174222 1964
174223 to 176643 1964,
1965
176644 to 250335 1964
250336 to 305983 1965
306000 to 310999 1965,
1967
311000 to 320149 1965
320150 to 320699 1967
320700 to 329179 1965
329180 to 330199 1965,
1967
330200 to 332240 1965,
1967, 1968
332241 to 348092 1965
348093 to 349100 1966
349121 to 368638 1965
368640 to 369890 1966
370000 to 370999 1967
380000 to 385309 1966
390000 to 390998 1967
400001 to 400999
1965-1968
401000 to 438922 1966
500000 to 500999 1965,
1966, 1968, 1969
501009 to 501600 1965
501601 to 501702 1968
501703 to 502706 1965,
1968
503010 to 503109 1968
503405 to 520955 1965,
1968
520956 to 530056 1968
530061 to 530850 1966,
1968, 1969
530851 to 530993 1968,
1969
530994 to 539999 1969
540000 to 540795 1966,
1969
540796 to 567400 1969
555000 to 556909 1966
570099 to 570755 1966
580000 to 580999 1969
600000 to 600999
1966-1969
601000 to 606090 1969
700000 to 700799 1966,
1967
750000 to 750999 1968,
1969
800000 to 800999
1966-1969
801000 to 812838 1966,
1969
812900 to 819999 1969
820000 to 820087 1966,
1969
820088 to 823830 1966
824000 to 824999 1969
828002 to 847488 1966,
1969
847499 to 858999 1966,
1969
859001 to 895038 1967
895039 to 896999 1968
897000 to 898999 1967,
1969
899000 to 972864 1968
 1969 short headstock Flying V |
Vollute
in 1970 Gibson introduced the vollute
to strengthen the neck joint. That first appeared with the Medallion V.
1969 Flying V witout the vollute |
1970 Medallion with the vollute |
1970 to 1975
Serial number is stamped on the top back
of the headstock.
Gibson also introduced the "MADE IN
U.S.A.".
It's also stamped in back top of headstock below the serial number and
the same font size.
At this stage, it appears on two lines
with "MADE IN" above "U.S.A.".
A second numbering plan was used which
displays a letter followed by 6 digits although I have never seen this
on a Flying V (yet).
Number
Year
000000's
1973
100000's
1970-1975
200000's
1973-1975
300000's
1974-1975
400000's
1974-1975
500000's
1974-1975
600000's
1970-1972, 1974-1975
700000's
1970-1972
800000's
1973-1975
900000's
1970-1972
A + 6 digits 1973-1975
B + 6 digits 1974-1975
C + 6 digits 1974-1975
D + 6 digits 1974-1975
E + 6 digits 1974-1975
F + 6 digits 1974-1975
 1975 Flying V |
 1974 "second" |
1975-1977
Serial number on a golden oval decal,
2 digit prefix followed by 6 digits.
These were Limited Edition FlyingV's
Prefix Year
99
1975
00
1976
06
1977
 1975 Limited edition decal |
1977 onwards
8 digit number impressed in back top of
peghead in the following format:
YY (1st and 5th digit) = year
DDD (digits 2-4) = day of the year,
001=Jan 1st, 365=Dec 31st.
NNN (digits 6-8) = rank of instrument
for that day.
Example: 80012005 = 5th instrument made
in Kalamazoo
on the first day of 1982.
Note all Kalamazoo made instruments
(1977-1984)
and Bozeman (1989-present) are numbered beginning with 001 each day.
Instruments made at Nashville are numbered
beginning with 500 each day.
 1980 Flying V 2 |
 1982 |
 1989 V90 Double |
 1998 Limited Edition |
1981 to 1983 Heritage Flying V's
The guiatrs have an inked serial number
preceeded by a letter
Serial Number
Annn 1981
Bnnn 1981 - 1982
Cnnn 1982 - 1983
Dnnn 1983
 1891 Heritage reissue of the 1958 V |
1994 Centennial
This special edition, for Gibson's 100
years anniversary, has a numbering plan from 1894 to 1994 inked with a
separate digit on the right.
 |