Current Gibson Date codes

TBird1958 · May 09, 2013, 09:17:56 AM

Did we figure out Gibson's current/recent date code system?

My most recent point of reference is my '08 Nikki Sixx 020080389, then stamped Made in USA 2008, I *think* more recent production is different yet again. Can we discuss?

the mojo hobo · May 09, 2013, 10:20:41 AM

The first and fifth numbers are the year, the second, third and fourth are the day of the year (Julian), and the last four are the production sequence.

TBird1958 · May 09, 2013, 07:10:35 PM

One of the guys on TB posted his lefty's s/n, 13352 then it's stamped Made in USA 2013 Model. A little different. I was wondering what some of the newer purchases on this forum would reveal.

Dave W · May 09, 2013, 10:52:33 PM

Is it from Nashville? I wonder if the Gibson Custom line from Memphis has a different system.

the mojo hobo · May 10, 2013, 06:00:55 AM

The new NR bird I got last November was like that. October 19, 2012 serial number with the 2013 Model Made in USA stamped too.

Denis · May 10, 2013, 12:04:11 PM

My new NR is:
128520329
Made in USA 2013 Model

The G-3 is:
125720327
Made in USA 2012

TBird1958 · May 11, 2013, 12:19:25 PM

Quote from: Denis on May 10, 2013, 12:04:11 PM
My new NR is:
128520329
Made in USA 2013 Model

The G-3 is:
125720327
Made in USA 2012

Hmmmmm...... Is it me or does the NR not make sense.

the mojo hobo · May 11, 2013, 12:24:48 PM

Makes sense to me, they were built starting in October 2012 as 2013 models. That is at least a month after the auto manufacturers started selling their 2013 models.

uwe · May 12, 2013, 04:27:15 AM

Is Gibson's fiscal/business year even running with the calendar year? I'd be surprised. Given that their type of company has its business peak around Christmas, a business year matching the calendar year would make forecasts difficult as only the 4th quarter would decide whether a year is good or bad.

With a deviating business year the "Made in USA 2013" stamp would make perfect sense.

TBird1958 · May 12, 2013, 09:36:52 AM

Maybe that's what I'm not getting..............If the date code says one year and the Made in USA another.

Dave W · May 12, 2013, 10:42:10 AM

I don't see any big issue with the stamping of a model year that's one ahead of the year of manufacture. After all, guitar manufacturers never had model years back in the day, it's only with the rise of the vintage market that people even started talking about the year.

What about that one on TB with the 13352 s/n? Why only 5 digits?

TBird1958 · May 12, 2013, 11:05:27 AM

That's the one I don't understand at all Dave, he may have missed a digit - It's from a lefty Thunderbird
maybe something to denote that? I'm going to ask him to re check it.

FrankieTbird · May 12, 2013, 02:40:31 PM

Quote from: Dave W on May 12, 2013, 10:42:10 AM
What about that one on TB with the 13352 s/n? Why only 5 digits?

It may be a Custom Shop instrument. They don't follow the standard numbering scheme.

the mojo hobo · May 12, 2013, 02:50:19 PM

Quote from: Dave W on May 12, 2013, 10:42:10 AM

What about that one on TB with the 13352 s/n? Why only 5 digits?

Quote from: TalkBass

Interesting. Mine is 13352, but it says, "MADE IN USA 2013 MODEL". I guess that late was considered a 2013 model. Or are guitar models like cars?

It looks like he posted only the date code portion of the serial number, probably from a NR Thunderbird.