One of the most reliable ways to estimate the production period of a vintage Gibson acoustic or archtop guitar is by examining the logo on the headstock.

This paragraph is mostly only relevant if you’re determining the age of a vintage Gibson Acoustic or Gibson Archtop.

Here is an example of a 1944 Gibson J-45 in Sunburst, featuring a “script” logo and the “ONLY A GIBSON IS GOOD ENOUGH” banner.

By the late 1920s, Gibson began to standardize the script, and the slanted logo was replaced with a straight, upright cursive design, with the logo now reading simply “The Gibson”.

Around this time, Gibson started to remove “The” from the logo on certain models, especially flattop guitars.

The 1920s also marked the beginning of Gibson’s move into mass production of acoustic guitars and archtops.

Around 1931, Gibson applied their silver logos using a silkscreen process. This printing method sometimes produced slight variations in lettering, giving the logos a hand-painted appearance. While they may look handwritten, these logos are authentically printed, reflecting the unique charm of vintage Gibson instruments.

Example of an exceptionally clean 1931 Gibson L-0 in Natural finish with silver “The Gibson” logo.

By 1933, Gibson officially dropped “The” from the headstock logo altogether.

The logo now simply read “Gibson” in a cursive script. The original thin script was gradually replaced by a thicker font, beginning with high-end models in the mid-1930s. By the late ’30s, the thicker script had become the standard across all Gibson guitars.

During this period, between 1943 and 1947, Gibson introduced the banner logo. It was a thicker, golden script version of the word ‘Gibson’ with an actual banner across the headstock reading “Only a Gibson Is Good Enough.”

The banner logo was used to emphasize the quality of Gibson instruments and to cement the company’s reputation during a time of wartime shortages and economic strain.

This logo appeared on some of the most iconic models of the era, such as the LG-2, J-45, SJ, and select L-50s.

Example of an original 1934 Gibson L-00-Small Sunburst with script logo.

Example of one of the earliest Gibson Banner J-45 that left the Kalamazoo factory in 1942.

1947 to Present

After World War II, in 1947, Gibson adopted the block logo, a more modern, bold design that would go on to define the look of the company for decades to come. The block logo, with its clean, straightforward font, remained the cornerstone of Gibson’s branding and continues to appear on virtually all of their guitars today.

The block logo remained unchanged until the 1960s, when slight modifications were made to the connections between letters, particularly in the mid-’60s. These subtle changes were a reflection of the era’s desire for sharper, more stylized fonts and logos. Between 1968 and 1972, Gibson stopped dotting the “i” in Gibson on certain models. This was part of a series of small design experiments that reflected the changing tastes of guitarists during the late ’60s and early ’70s. By 1972, most models featured the dot again, completing the logo’s return to its classic form.

From 1981 onward, the block logo was firmly re-established as the brand’s permanent logo, with only minor tweaks to letter spacing and the connection of the “G” and “i”. This consistency in design helped solidify Gibson’s identity as one of the most iconic guitar manufacturers in the world. Even today, the block logo is instantly recognizable and synonymous with high-end craftsmanship, marking the company’s successful evolution from a regional builder to a global leader in musical instrument production.

Example of a 1961 Gibson Les Paul (SG) Standard – Cherry featuring the block logo in its classic variation.

Example of a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior – Sunburst featuring the block logo finished in gold.

Example of a 1952 Gibson Les Paul Standard – Goldtop (All Gold) featuring the block logo where the “G” and the dot over the “i” are connected.

Example of a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Standard – Goldtop featuring the block logo without a dotted “i”.

One of the most precise ways to determine the age of a vintage Gibson guitar is by using the Factory Order Number (FON), which is a unique identifier that Gibson used to track each guitar through its manufacturing process. Understanding how to decode this number can give you an exact or close estimate of when your Gibson was built. This method is especially valuable when the guitar lacks other clear indicators of age, like the headstock logo, or if you are dealing with a more obscure model.

A Factory Order Number (FON) is a unique identifier that Gibson placed on most guitars produced from the 1930s to the 1970s.

This number, stamped on the guitar’s inner label or on the body (typically inside the soundhole for acoustics and in the control cavity for electrics), provides key information about the year and sometimes even the month of production.

The FON is distinct from the serial number, although it is often confused with it. While the serial number is usually the most publicized identifier, the FON is arguably the more direct tool for dating older Gibson guitars.

The Factory Order Number is a combination of letters and numbers, and it varies depending on the year and production methods.

Over the decades, Gibson used different formats for the FON, making it necessary to understand how the numbers changed over time to decode them correctly.

Example of a 1960 Gibson ES-330 TDN – Blonde with factory order number ‘R5322 14’ where the prefix ‘R’ indicates 1960.

The format of Gibson’s Factory Order Numbers changed over the years, but they typically include a series of digits and sometimes letters. Here’s how you can break down these numbers based on when your guitar was made:

To complicate matters further, sometimes a second letter was used from 1938 to 1941, indicating the brand (G for Gibson, K for Kalamazoo, W for Recording King), and sometimes even a third letter was used, indicating “Electric” (the letter E). The year is indicated by the first letter in any series of letters for these years.

1935 – 1942: FON Prefixes

1942 – 1951 FON

1952 – 1961 FON Letter Prefixes

How to read the serial number if it’s placed on the back of the headstock

Serial numbers placed on the back of the headstock can be put into two categories: With or without a “Made In USA” mark alongside the serial number.

1953 – 1970: Without “Made In USA” mark

1953 – 1961: Ink Stamp – 5 or 6 digits

The ink stamp serial number, typically consisting of 5 or 6 digits, is most commonly found on solid-body electric guitar models such as the Les Paul, Explorer, Flying V, and double-neck guitars.

This format is among the easiest to interpret, as the first digit of the serial number corresponds to the last digit of the year of manufacture (e.g., a “6” would indicate 1956).

However, there are several exceptions to this system. Gibson initially used a space between the prefix and the consecutive number, but this practice ended once production numbers for a given year surpassed 999.

Between 1957 and 1961, some Gibsons featured 6-digit serial numbers, a shift likely driven by the growing production volume.

It’s also important to note that some models, such as the 1952 Les Paul Goldtop and 1953 Les Paul Custom, did not have serial numbers at all.

For these models, identifying the year and authenticity may rely on other distinguishing characteristics like the finish, hardware, and other manufacturing details.

Example of a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior – TV Model with a black ink stamp serial number.

Example of a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Junior – Sunburst with an yellow ink stamp serial number.

Example of a 1959 Gibson ES-335 TD – Sunburst with the serial number placed inside the “F” hole.

This change didn’t happen overnight—it rolled out gradually throughout the year. As a result, many 1965 models still feature the wider 1 11/16″ nut, while others, especially from later in the year, have the narrower width.

Neck “Volute”
Another important change introduced in late 1969 was the addition of the neck volute—a small triangular reinforcement where the neck meets the headstock.

This was intended to reduce the risk of headstock breaks, a common issue with Gibson guitars due to their angled headstock design.

Again, this change didn’t happen overnight—it rolled out gradually throughout late 1969 and 1970. As a result, you can find some 1970 models without a neck volute.

Example of the neck volute.

“Pancake” Body
From 1969 and up until 1976/1977 Gibson produced the so-called “Pancake” bodies on their Les Paul models. The term describes the multi-piece body construction containing of thin maple layer sandwiched between two mahogany pieces. This was introduced during the Norlin years to reduce costs and increase stability, but many players criticized it for changing the tone and feel.

3-Piece Neck
In 1969, Gibson introduced the 3-piece neck to cut costs and improve stability, but many players criticized it for altering the tone and feel. The transition wasn’t immediate—it rolled out gradually that year. As a result, many 1969 models still feature 1-piece necks, but you’ll never find a 1968 with a 3-piece neck; they simply didn’t exist before 1969.

Knobs style
Clear Tall Knobs: In the 1940s, as electric guitars began to take form, Gibson introduced clear tall knobs on early models such as the ES-300. These knobs were made from transparent plastic and featured internal numbering, often in gold or silver.

Over time, many of these aged to a warm amber hue due to UV exposure, giving vintage instruments their distinctive, timeworn charm.

Tall “Barrel” knobs: By the early 1950s, Gibson transitioned to what are commonly referred to as tall “barrel” knobs, used between 1950 and 1952 on instruments like the early Les Paul Goldtops.

These knobs, sometimes also called “bonnet knobs,” flared gently at the base and retained the clear plastic look. They were usually a transparent amber color, with gold numbering. These too would often yellow slightly with age, enhancing their vintage appeal.

Example of Tall “Barrel” knobs

Speed knobs: In 1953, Gibson introduced the now-famous speed knobs.

Unlike the taller knobs of the previous era, speed knobs were short, smooth, and easy to grip—designed to allow for quick volume and tone changes during performance.

They were initially produced in transparent amber for guitars like the Les Paul Standard, but soon became available in black with white numbering, which became a staple for models like the Les Paul Custom.

Example of speed knobs

Top hat knobs  / Bell knobs: In 1955, Gibson introduced what became known as top hat knobs, also referred to as “bell” knobs. These knobs had a taller profile with a narrow central body and a flat, brim-like skirt at the base. While they shared some functional similarities with speed knobs, top hats had a more refined look and were commonly found on models like the Les Paul Standard and ES-335.

Color options typically included black or amber plastic with white numbers, and in some cases, gold variants were produced to complement Goldtop finishes. They were discontinued in mid-1960.

Example of black Top hat knobs / Bell knobs

Example of gold Top hat knobs / Bell knobs

Reflector knobs: Introduced in 1960, Gibson introduced reflector knobs, which built upon the top hat design but added a metal cap on top. These caps were often labeled “VOLUME” or “TONE” in contrasting text, serving both decorative and functional purposes. Reflector knobs came in both black and amber plastic bases, with silver or gold reflector tops, depending on the model and year.

Even though the witch hat knobs began to appear during 1966, the reflector knobs were still very much in use during the late 60’s, and even featured in the 70’s on some special models such as the Les Paul Custom.

Example of gold reflector knobs

Example of black reflector knobs

Witch Hat knobs: By 1966, Gibson introduced the witch hat knobs. These knobs were taller with a dramatically flared skirt, resembling the shape of a witch’s hat—hence the nickname.

They became a hallmark of many SGs, Les Paul Deluxes, and ES-series guitars. Most common finish was in black with either silver or gold caps.

70’s Speed Knobs: By 1974, Gibson re-introduced the speed knobs on some models such as the Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Custom and SG Custom.

These reissued speed knobs were not identical to the ones used in the early 50’s – they had flatter tops and were shorter. These came both in black and amber with white numbering.

Example of black witch hat knobs.