Media in category 'Serial numbers of guitar' The following 47 files are in this category, out of 47 total. Aria Pro II LS-700 BK (SN 012082) - headstock back with serial number. Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Serial Number (SN 897292).jpg 3,888 × 2,592; 6.13 MB. Aria Les Paul Serial Numbers. I've got one recently that looks the same. In addition came with a guarantee from. Should have a date too.!!
more... Gear • Gear Blog • Solidbody • Humbucker-equipped • LP-Style • Trash or Treasure • Solidbody • July 2010 • IbanezHey Zach,
I have owned this Ibanez “lawsuit” guitarfor over 25 years and I’d like to know a littlemore about it. The serial number on the neckplate is K7709XX and as far as I know, it is alloriginal except for the missing pickup cover.Can you tell me more about Ibanez’s lawsuitguitars and how much this is worth today?
Thanks,
Chris Natale
NYC
Many Japanese-copied “lawsuit era” guitarsunder names like Greco, Aria, Tokai, andIbanez have taken on an almost cult-like statustoday among many guitar collectors. Whilemost readers understand what a “lawsuit era”guitar refers to, others may not and I’ll try tosummarize the term.
In the early 1970s, American guitar manufacturers (particularly Gibson, Fender, andMartin) were experiencing a steady declinein production quality while more Japanese-built guitars were showing up in the Americanmarket. By the mid-‘70s, these Japaneseguitars consisted of mostly blatant copies ofpopular American designs and the quality wasmuch better than people wanted to admit. In1977, Gibson sued the Elger Company (thedistributor of Ibanez instruments in the U.S.at the time) and demanded they stop producing copies of their instruments, specificallytheir headstocks. Japanese-built guitars thatare copies of American designs before theGibson lawsuit are commonly referred to as“lawsuit era” guitars today.
Ibanez was certainly guilty of copying Gibson,Fender, and Martin models, among others, butthey were also one of the most proactive companies when it came to introducing originaldesigns. Between 1975 and 1977, Ibanez introduced several original designs including thepopular Iceman and the Artist Series. In fact,by 1977 when Elger signed an agreement tostop building copies, their entire line consistedof almost all original instruments anyway.
Your guitar appears to be a Les Paul Customcopy that Ibanez labeled Model 2391.According to the serial number, it was built inNovember 1977, which is considered a transitional period. The Gibson/Elger lawsuit wasfiled on June 28, 1977, and was resolved nottoo long after. By September 1977, Ibanez wasready with their entire new line of instrumentsand copies were essentially a thing of thepast. However, there was a transitional periodwhere models were still produced with bothcopied and original designs. Your guitar clearlyhas a Les Paul body shape, but it has Ibanez’soriginal headstock design, a large adjustablebridge, and an elaborate tailpiece, which areall original Ibanez designs.
The Model 2391 was loosely based on aLes Paul Custom and featured a mahoganybody, maple top, and clear “See-Thru” finish. Just like a Les Paul Custom, this guitarhas multiply body and headstock binding,fancy headstock pearl inlays (another Ibanezoriginal design), and a “Custom” truss rodcover. However, the most notable difference between this guitar and a real Gibsonis the bolt-on neck. The pickguard has beenremoved, as well as the bridge pickup cover.The volume and tone knobs have rubberinserts around them for a better grip, whichIbanez called Sure-Grip knobs. There is somebelt buckle wear on the back along with somehardware oxidation, but overall the guitarappears to be in excellent condition.
Based on the condition and missing originalparts, your Ibanez Model 2391 is worth between$475 and $550 today. If this guitar was in mintcondition with all original parts in place, it wouldbe worth between $600 and $700. In comparison, a mid-‘70s Les Paul Custom is currentlyworth between $2500 and $3000. The Model2391 probably retailed between $300 and $400originally while the Gibson Les Paul retailed forbetween $850 and $950 in 1978. Other IbanezLes Paul Custom-based guitars include theModel 2335, Model 2341, Model 2350, Model2386, Model 2393, and Model 2398.
The question many of you may be asking iswhy the disparity in value between a real LesPaul Custom and a copy if the quality is comparable? No question, there is a lot of value ina name and Gibson is the most valuable namein the guitar world. Bolt-on neck guitars areusually considered inferior to set necks, whichalso attributes to a lesser value on the copy.For most copy, budget, and value instrumentsfrom the 1960s and 1970s, I’ve noticed thatthey raise and lower in value proportionally tovintage and collectible instruments, which isthe case for this Ibanez.
Copies of American guitars propelled Ibanezas a guitar company in the 1970s, but Ibanezreally established their own trademark withunique designs, a commitment to quality, andtheir relationships with artists. While not veryexpensive, I challenge you to find an Ibanezthat isn’t a treasure!
Source: Ibanez, The Untold Story by PaulSpecht, Michael Wright, Jim Donahue, andPat Lefferts.
Zachary R. Fjestad is the author of the Blue Book of AcousticGuitars, Blue Book of Electric Guitars, and the BlueBook of Guitar Amplifiers.Questions can be submitted to:
Blue Book Publications
Attn: Guitar Trash or Treasure
8009 34th Ave. S. Ste #175
Minneapolis, MN 55425
bluebookinc.com
[email protected]
I have owned this Ibanez “lawsuit” guitarfor over 25 years and I’d like to know a littlemore about it. The serial number on the neckplate is K7709XX and as far as I know, it is alloriginal except for the missing pickup cover.Can you tell me more about Ibanez’s lawsuitguitars and how much this is worth today?
Thanks,
Chris Natale
NYC
Many Japanese-copied “lawsuit era” guitarsunder names like Greco, Aria, Tokai, andIbanez have taken on an almost cult-like statustoday among many guitar collectors. Whilemost readers understand what a “lawsuit era”guitar refers to, others may not and I’ll try tosummarize the term.
In the early 1970s, American guitar manufacturers (particularly Gibson, Fender, andMartin) were experiencing a steady declinein production quality while more Japanese-built guitars were showing up in the Americanmarket. By the mid-‘70s, these Japaneseguitars consisted of mostly blatant copies ofpopular American designs and the quality wasmuch better than people wanted to admit. In1977, Gibson sued the Elger Company (thedistributor of Ibanez instruments in the U.S.at the time) and demanded they stop producing copies of their instruments, specificallytheir headstocks. Japanese-built guitars thatare copies of American designs before theGibson lawsuit are commonly referred to as“lawsuit era” guitars today.
Ibanez was certainly guilty of copying Gibson,Fender, and Martin models, among others, butthey were also one of the most proactive companies when it came to introducing originaldesigns. Between 1975 and 1977, Ibanez introduced several original designs including thepopular Iceman and the Artist Series. In fact,by 1977 when Elger signed an agreement tostop building copies, their entire line consistedof almost all original instruments anyway.
Your guitar appears to be a Les Paul Customcopy that Ibanez labeled Model 2391.According to the serial number, it was built inNovember 1977, which is considered a transitional period. The Gibson/Elger lawsuit wasfiled on June 28, 1977, and was resolved nottoo long after. By September 1977, Ibanez wasready with their entire new line of instrumentsand copies were essentially a thing of thepast. However, there was a transitional periodwhere models were still produced with bothcopied and original designs. Your guitar clearlyhas a Les Paul body shape, but it has Ibanez’soriginal headstock design, a large adjustablebridge, and an elaborate tailpiece, which areall original Ibanez designs.
The Model 2391 was loosely based on aLes Paul Custom and featured a mahoganybody, maple top, and clear “See-Thru” finish. Just like a Les Paul Custom, this guitarhas multiply body and headstock binding,fancy headstock pearl inlays (another Ibanezoriginal design), and a “Custom” truss rodcover. However, the most notable difference between this guitar and a real Gibsonis the bolt-on neck. The pickguard has beenremoved, as well as the bridge pickup cover.The volume and tone knobs have rubberinserts around them for a better grip, whichIbanez called Sure-Grip knobs. There is somebelt buckle wear on the back along with somehardware oxidation, but overall the guitarappears to be in excellent condition.
Based on the condition and missing originalparts, your Ibanez Model 2391 is worth between$475 and $550 today. If this guitar was in mintcondition with all original parts in place, it wouldbe worth between $600 and $700. In comparison, a mid-‘70s Les Paul Custom is currentlyworth between $2500 and $3000. The Model2391 probably retailed between $300 and $400originally while the Gibson Les Paul retailed forbetween $850 and $950 in 1978. Other IbanezLes Paul Custom-based guitars include theModel 2335, Model 2341, Model 2350, Model2386, Model 2393, and Model 2398.
The question many of you may be asking iswhy the disparity in value between a real LesPaul Custom and a copy if the quality is comparable? No question, there is a lot of value ina name and Gibson is the most valuable namein the guitar world. Bolt-on neck guitars areusually considered inferior to set necks, whichalso attributes to a lesser value on the copy.For most copy, budget, and value instrumentsfrom the 1960s and 1970s, I’ve noticed thatthey raise and lower in value proportionally tovintage and collectible instruments, which isthe case for this Ibanez.
Copies of American guitars propelled Ibanezas a guitar company in the 1970s, but Ibanezreally established their own trademark withunique designs, a commitment to quality, andtheir relationships with artists. While not veryexpensive, I challenge you to find an Ibanezthat isn’t a treasure!
Source: Ibanez, The Untold Story by PaulSpecht, Michael Wright, Jim Donahue, andPat Lefferts.
Zachary R. Fjestad is the author of the Blue Book of AcousticGuitars, Blue Book of Electric Guitars, and the BlueBook of Guitar Amplifiers.Questions can be submitted to:
Blue Book Publications
Attn: Guitar Trash or Treasure
8009 34th Ave. S. Ste #175
Minneapolis, MN 55425
bluebookinc.com
[email protected]
Gibson serial numbers 1952 to 1961, solidbody model.
An ink-stamped number from the back of the headstock.
Gibson released solidbodies in 1952. No serial numbers were used, Gibson just started therewith in 1953.
The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. If the stamped number consists 5 digits, there is a space between the first and second digit (a separation between the last digit of the year and the actual serial number).
When a six-digit serial number is concerned, there is no space, because the highest number in four digits (9999) has been exceeded and so fills the space. This was the case in the years 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1960.
In 1955, Gibson forgot to put back the serial number range to 0001.
So they had just put the year from 4 to 5. For this reason, the array of four-digit serial number was exceeded after 9999.
Thence 5 digits and no space between the year (5) and the serial number. (After 5 9999 came 510 000)
Evidently the production was high in 1956 because '6 9999' is exceeded. Also in 1959 and 1960 there was a high production, '9 9999' is exceeded for '932 000' or higher.
Therefore, the production in 1959 may be a '1', '2' or '3' in the second digit.
Gibson stopped the stamped serial numbers at the end in 1960, although there are a few guitars made in 1961 with a '1' as a prefix. Some lap steels and Les Paul's from 1961 have such a serial number.
Another exception to the above rules is in the autumn from 1958, where a some Les Paul Juniors and Specials had a four-digit serial number.
Gibson released solidbodies in 1952. No serial numbers were used, Gibson just started therewith in 1953.
The first digit of the serial number is the last digit of the year. If the stamped number consists 5 digits, there is a space between the first and second digit (a separation between the last digit of the year and the actual serial number).
When a six-digit serial number is concerned, there is no space, because the highest number in four digits (9999) has been exceeded and so fills the space. This was the case in the years 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1960.
In 1955, Gibson forgot to put back the serial number range to 0001.
So they had just put the year from 4 to 5. For this reason, the array of four-digit serial number was exceeded after 9999.
Thence 5 digits and no space between the year (5) and the serial number. (After 5 9999 came 510 000)
Evidently the production was high in 1956 because '6 9999' is exceeded. Also in 1959 and 1960 there was a high production, '9 9999' is exceeded for '932 000' or higher.
Therefore, the production in 1959 may be a '1', '2' or '3' in the second digit.
Gibson stopped the stamped serial numbers at the end in 1960, although there are a few guitars made in 1961 with a '1' as a prefix. Some lap steels and Les Paul's from 1961 have such a serial number.
Another exception to the above rules is in the autumn from 1958, where a some Les Paul Juniors and Specials had a four-digit serial number.
1st digit | PRODUCTION YEAR |
None | 1952 |
3 | 1953 |
4 | 1954 |
5 | 1955 |
6 | 1956 |
7 | 1957 |
8 At the end of 1958 had some LP Juniors/Specials a four-digit serial number without prior year digit. | 1958 |
9 | 1959 |
0 | 1960 |
1 (rare) | 1961 |
Gibson serial numbers, early to mid seventies.
From 1970 to 1975, the 6-digit serial numbers randomly generated.
In a random sequence numbers were stamped on the back of the headstock. For some instruments, preceded by a letter.
From 1970 to 1975, the 6-digit serial numbers randomly generated.
In a random sequence numbers were stamped on the back of the headstock. For some instruments, preceded by a letter.
It was also from 1970 'MADE IN USA' stamped on the back of the headstock. Some instruments from the fifties also had been such a stamp.
Gibson serial numbers, 1970-1975.
The same confusing six-digit serial system of the sixties was maintained until 1975. This means that instruments with the same serial number can be from the 60s or 70s.
Guitars got six digits in any order, and in some cases they were preceded by a letter that none seemed to have no smeaningful sense.
Note that the series of between 1970 and 1975, may be an overlap from production in 1964 and 1965.
The table below shows the years in which the numbers could relate.
The same confusing six-digit serial system of the sixties was maintained until 1975. This means that instruments with the same serial number can be from the 60s or 70s.
Guitars got six digits in any order, and in some cases they were preceded by a letter that none seemed to have no smeaningful sense.
Note that the series of between 1970 and 1975, may be an overlap from production in 1964 and 1965.
The table below shows the years in which the numbers could relate.
![Aria Les Paul Serial Numbers Aria Les Paul Serial Numbers](http://cs301409.userapi.com/u111422678/153051665/z_d198b632.jpg)
Seral number range | PRODUCTION YEAR |
000000 - 099999 | 1973 |
100000 - 199999 | 1970 - 1975 |
200000 - 299999 | 1973 - 1975 |
300000 - 399999 | 1974 - 1975 |
400000 - 499999 | 1974 - 1975 |
500000 - 599999 | 1974 - 1975 |
600000 - 699999 | 1970 - 1972 and 1974 - 1975 |
Serials 1977-2013.
The most sustainable numbering system Gibson was launched in 1977, an eight-digit number. The first and fifth digit representing the year of manufacture. The three intermediate digits, the day of that year. The digits to six to eight gave the serial number.
After opening of the new factory in Nashville, in the sequence numbers were also included the production site. 001 to 499 appeared on the instruments built in Kalamazoo, 500 to 999 built in Nashville.
Even after the closing of the factory in Kalamazoo in 1984, this process was continued until 1989 in Nashville.
In 2005 the system was upgraded to first digit at the end of the batch number was inserted. The sequence numbers were 500 to 699, after which the batch number 1 was increased, and the number returned 500.
The most sustainable numbering system Gibson was launched in 1977, an eight-digit number. The first and fifth digit representing the year of manufacture. The three intermediate digits, the day of that year. The digits to six to eight gave the serial number.
After opening of the new factory in Nashville, in the sequence numbers were also included the production site. 001 to 499 appeared on the instruments built in Kalamazoo, 500 to 999 built in Nashville.
Even after the closing of the factory in Kalamazoo in 1984, this process was continued until 1989 in Nashville.
In 2005 the system was upgraded to first digit at the end of the batch number was inserted. The sequence numbers were 500 to 699, after which the batch number 1 was increased, and the number returned 500.
Gibson closed the Memphis plant in April 2019.
The production of the 'USA made' solid body guitars is now only produced in Nashville.
The production of the 'USA made' solid body guitars is now only produced in Nashville.
Serial numbers 2014 to present.
Gibson's most simplest system was introduced in 2014. A nine-digit serial number stamped. The first two digits indicate the year, the rest is the serial number for all guitars produced that year.
Every year starts with serial 0000001.
Gibson's most simplest system was introduced in 2014. A nine-digit serial number stamped. The first two digits indicate the year, the rest is the serial number for all guitars produced that year.
Every year starts with serial 0000001.