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DATING GRETSCH GUITARS BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS
From toGretsch serial numbers are sequential, but the manner and placement of the serial numbers on the guitars varies quite a bit. Toward the end ofBaldwin took over the Gretsch Company. These serial numbers were also either 5 or 6 digit numbers, depending on the month of production.
The numbers were once dating gretsch guitars located on the back of the headstock and would have been printed in Gold, Black or White depending on the color of the guitar. Obviously, with the change of the decade, there is plenty of room for confusion in interpreting the numbers. The numbers for the months, October 10November 11and December 12can also be interpreted as 10 January11 January and 12 January The dating gretsch guitars way to be clear, is to have an understanding of the feature sets of the instruments from the era.
In aboutdating gretsch guitars, Gretsch began to use another version of dating gretsch guitars Orange and Grey label on F-Hole instruments. and serial No, dating gretsch guitars. It was used until Inthe 2nd iteration of the Baldwin era Gretsch label was introduced. As an example, would be February 23. In January of the serial number scheme changed from the system previously used by Gretsch Guitars. The first two digits identify the year of production and the second two digits identify the production month.
The remaining numbers identify the sequential yearly factory unit number, and include all instruments, dating gretsch guitars, in all models, built in that factory, in that specific year. The last four numbers are sequential for the given year all models combined and are broken into two categories as follows:. By signing up for Gretsch e-news, dating gretsch guitars, you'll be among the first to learn of our new product launches, exclusive Gretsch Giveaways, discounts, and special offers!
Gretsch respects your privacy and we do not share our subscriber list with any dating gretsch guitars. Because we hate spam as much as you do! Support Product Dating. Inserial numbers were first penciled in on the inside back of the bodies on the higher end Synchromatics. InGretsch began impressing serial numbers into the top edges of the headstocks, beginning with some of the lower end guitars.
InGretsch began gluing labels to the inside of guitars. These labels replaced the method of penciling the serial number on the inside back of the guitar, dating gretsch guitars. This form of labeling continued till In at numberthe label was changed to an Orange oval on a Grey and White background. Electrotone and solid body instruments made from toonce again used the impressed serial number method. Some Viking, Falcon and Country Gentlemen guitars made from tohad the serial number impressed onto the nameplate on the headstocks.
The table identifies Gretsch serial numbers used from to YEAR Serial Number Range to s to 1,s to 2,s 4,s, 5,s s to 1,s 5,s to 6,s 6,s, 7,s, 8,s 9,s, 10,s, 11,s, 12,s 13,s, 14,s, 15,s, 16,s 17,s, 18,s, 19,s, 20,s, 21,s 21,s, 22,s, 23,s, 24,s, 25,s, 26,s 26,s, 27,s, 28,s, 29,s, 30,s 30,s, 31,s, 32,s, 33,s, 34,s 35,s, 36,s, 37,s, 38,s, 39,s 40,s, 41,s, 42,s, 43,s, 44,s, 45,s 46,s, 47,s, 48,s, 49,s, 50,s, 51,s, 52,s 53,s, 54,s, 55,s, 56,s, dating gretsch guitars, 57,s, 58,s, 59,s, 60,s, 61,s, 62,s, 63,s 63,s, 64,s, 65,s, 66,s, 67,s, 68,s, 69,s, 70,s, 71,s, 72,s, 73,s, 74,s, dating gretsch guitars, 75,s, 76,s, 77,s, 78,s 78,s, 79,s, 80,s, 81,s, 82,s, 83,s, 84,s, 85,s.
The first, and or, first and second number identifies the numerical month of production. For example, 2 dating gretsch guitars stand for February, 11 would stand dating gretsch guitars November etc, dating gretsch guitars. The second or the third number, 7, 8 or 9, depending on whether the month number is one or 2 digitsidentifies the year of production as eitheror etc. As an example, serial number would break down as: 6: June 8: Unit number As an example, serial number would break down as: November 9: Unit number Obviously, with the change of the decade, there is plenty of room for confusion in interpreting the numbers, dating gretsch guitars.
Another odd artifact of these 5-digit numbers is that the Electrotone hollow-body guitars from this same time period have numbers from the same sequential series impressed on the upper edge of the headstock. There is still some discussion as to why Gretsch may have used this non-conforming numbering scheme during this period on these instruments. After In January of the serial number scheme changed from the system previously used by Gretsch Guitars.
For example, serial number JT would break down as: July Production 4,rd guitar dating gretsch guitars in all models combined from that factory The last four numbers are sequential for the given year all models combined and are broken into two categories as follows: through Reserved for prototypes, samples, one-offs.
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To find the serial number on your Gretsch, start by looking at the headstock. On most modern post Gretsch guitars, you'll find it on the back of the headstock. Some models from - late '60s also had serial numbers on the top of the headstock or on the model plate, but for most vintage specimens you'll be looking for a label, either visible through the F-hole on hollow bodies or in a control cavity for solid bodies in which case you'll need some tools.
Before there were no labels and serials were written in pencil inside the guitar. Gretsch serial numbers were sequential a la Martin from - When Baldwin took over, serials became date-coded from - Click on the links here to jump directly to the serial number style that matches your instrument:.
In the early years, Gretsch began with sequential serial numbers, written by hand usually in pencil directly on the inside of the guitar body.
As such, many of these serials will be faded, nearly illegible or erased completely. At the very least, if you only see three hard-to-read numbers, you can be fairly confident that it's a pre-war instrument. This era saw the transition from hand-written penciled serial numbers to official labels in , though the numbering system remained the same. Keep in mind that the ranges below are best consensus approximations. In general, a higher number means the guitar was produced later in the year or transitioned into the range for the overlapping year.
Notice the uptick in production in This era continued the same sequential numbering scheme. The only difference is that the number of guitars produced and thus serial numbers got higher. A funny thing happened, however, in A batch of nearly a thousand serial number labels were misplaced, only to be rediscovered - and used - in A confusing but known anomaly. Thankfully, guitars made in had different features. See the end of our article if you're unsure whether your guitar is a '57 or a ' With the imminent Baldwin buyout and yearly production topping , guitars, Gretsch switched to a date-coded system in August of ' Some specimens oddly have these serials stamped into the thin top of the headstock, while others have it on the back.
Starting in June of '67, the words "Made in the USA" were stamped next to the serial number. Here is the date-code breakdown:. Example: A serial number showing would indicate a guitar made in November 11 of 8 that was the th down the assembly line that month. These guitars are a bit easier to identify, since they are the only Gretsch specimens with a hyphen or a space after the first one or two digits.
The meaning of the numbers remained the same. Example: A serial number of would indicate the 1st guitar made in April of When Gretsch the great-grandson regained control of the company, there was a solid decade of Japan production with a xxxxxx-xxx type serial number. These serial numbers include year, month, model number and production order info. Example: A serial number of tells us this guitar was made in during the month of August 8 and is a G model , the th to be produced during the Revival Era.
Starting in , Gretsch began producing budget-level Electromatic, Synchromatic and Historic Series guitars in Korea. Unfortunately, these guitars followed no clear numbering system. Worse yet, the serial numbers were put on a simple sticker on the back of the headstock, ensuring that they would be lost immediately.
Fender eventually corrected this when they took over in , but there remains a batch of made-in-Korea Gretsch guitars from - that have no serial number. Brand new Gretsch guitars seen hanging in shops today are the result of Fender's respect for the company's loyal fan base, an understanding of the Gretsch aesthetic and tight quality control.
Thankfully, regardless of the series or point of manufacture, Fender decided to use a single serial number system for all post guitars. The final numbers are the sequential order of the model made during the lifespan of the model not that year.
Lower numbers will always appear on earlier guitars, higher numbers on later guitars. Remember that and guitars will, of course, not begin with a 9. Also, on guitars built in October, November or December, the third AND fourth digits denote the month.
Serial numbers on Korean made guitars in this era were printed on a sticker affixed to the back of the headstock. This sticker, along with the "Made in Korea" sticker, went missing almost immediately — sometimes before the guitar even left the store.
In addition, these guitars followed no known numbering scheme. As of July , the current thinking is that the first digit probably denotes the year, while the following numbers remain a mystery. This only pertains the pre-Fender Korean-made guitars. The Fender-era 51xx guitars follow the normal Fender numbering scheme. When Fender took over production in January the serial number scheme changed again, and Fender-era serial numbers have a two-character originating factory code, followed by year and month, and finally a sequential ordering number.
Of those, JT is by far the most common on the pro-line instruments. However, other Japanese facilities have been used, so it's not particularly unusual to see JD and JF prefixes.
Most Electromatic hollowbodies carry a KS designation, although KP was fairly common prior to about The last four numbers are sequential for the given year all models combined and are broken into two categories as follows:. So, JT would be made at the Terada factory in July and would be the 14th of something special that year all special models combined. Unlike the pre-Fender codes, specific models are no longer designated within the serial number.
In the beginning, Gretsch simply wrote serial numbers inside the guitar in pencil. These pencilled-in numbers often fade and become illegible, or even disappear. After World War II, some guitars had a serial number embossed on the head, but reliable numbers didn't really appear until the advent of the first labels, around Early labelled Gretsches will usually have a printed serial number and a handwritten model number.
On hollowbodies, the label is usually visible through the f-hole. On other models such as solidbodies, it should be inside a control cavity. The serial number will probably be printed in red, and the model number written in blue or black.
The label has a fairly ornate border around it, but the "Gretsch" is usually printed in a plain font. However, some have "Gretsch" printed as the familiar logo. Gretsch respects your privacy and we do not share our subscriber list with any party. Because we hate spam as much as you do! Support Product Dating. In , serial numbers were first penciled in on the inside back of the bodies on the higher end Synchromatics.
In , Gretsch began impressing serial numbers into the top edges of the headstocks, beginning with some of the lower end guitars. In , Gretsch began gluing labels to the inside of guitars.
These labels replaced the method of penciling the serial number on the inside back of the guitar. This form of labeling continued till In at number , the label was changed to an Orange oval on a Grey and White background.
Electrotone and solid body instruments made from to , once again used the impressed serial number method. Some Viking, Falcon and Country Gentlemen guitars made from to , had the serial number impressed onto the nameplate on the headstocks.
The table identifies Gretsch serial numbers used from to YEAR Serial Number Range to s to 1,s to 2,s 4,s, 5,s s to 1,s 5,s to 6,s 6,s, 7,s, 8,s 9,s, 10,s, 11,s, 12,s 13,s, 14,s, 15,s, 16,s 17,s, 18,s, 19,s, 20,s, 21,s 21,s, 22,s, 23,s, 24,s, 25,s, 26,s 26,s, 27,s, 28,s, 29,s, 30,s 30,s, 31,s, 32,s, 33,s, 34,s 35,s, 36,s, 37,s, 38,s, 39,s 40,s, 41,s, 42,s, 43,s, 44,s, 45,s 46,s, 47,s, 48,s, 49,s, 50,s, 51,s, 52,s 53,s, 54,s, 55,s, 56,s, 57,s, 58,s, 59,s, 60,s, 61,s, 62,s, 63,s 63,s, 64,s, 65,s, 66,s, 67,s, 68,s, 69,s, 70,s, 71,s, 72,s, 73,s, 74,s, 75,s, 76,s, 77,s, 78,s 78,s, 79,s, 80,s, 81,s, 82,s, 83,s, 84,s, 85,s.
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