Through much of the company`s history, Gretsch guitars were numbered sequentially and/or chronologically, so serial numbers (in addition to the features on the guitar) can give a very accurate idea of when the guitar was made.
That said, there are several tricks to successfully dating your Gretsch guitar. First, note that specs may or may not match up to a particular year, as there was considerable overlap. Second, remember that the specs on that particular guitar may have changed. Bridges, in particular, are often swapped.
It`s also worth noting that Gretsch used several different serial number systems through the years, and you need to make sure you`re looking at the right one. This is particularly tricky in the mid `60s, when some serial numbers may belong to more than one numbering system.
The Serial (number) Bowl Date Your Guitar Or Bass
One last thing to remember is that Gretsch years are similar to model years for cars. They made some guitars early to unveil at the big trade shows and tried to be ready to fill orders immediately, so those guitars would have an earlier-than-expected build date.
On the other hand, some less popular models may have sat on the shelf for years before being sold as new. Technically, they are new, since they`ve never been sold, but the build date could predate the sales date by a substantial amount.In other words, try not to obsess over this stuff too much.
Gretsch began numbering it`s guitars sequentially in 1939, beginning with the better models. They started, sensibly enough, at 001, just writing the number inside the back. After the war that method continued, but some guitars had the serial number embossed on the headstock. With the advent of labels in the late `40s, the serial number is usually found on the label, which is usually visible through the soundhole on hollowbody models. On solidbodies, it`s usually inside the control cavity.
Old Gretsch Synchromatic Archtop
Guitars were usually made in batches of 100, and specification changes can be tied to serial numbers with considerable accuracy (seeCharting the Changes:http://gretschpages.com/serial-numbers/chart/?page=1)
Be aware that these numbers — while considered by most authorities to be accurate — may be substantially off. The coded serial number style began in February or March 1965.(Numbers are consecutive, but all number/year matches are approximate)
(Most numbers are on the back or top of the headstock, and Made in USA is stamped next to the number starting in June 1967).
Guild X160 Rockabilly
Lower numbers will always appear on earlier guitars, higher numbers on later guitars. Remember that 2000 and 2001 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.
When Fender took over production in January 2003 the serial number scheme changed again. Serial number JT03074463, for example, breaks down as:
Beginning in the late 1940`s, Gretsches have labels with 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. From about 1949 to 1957 watch for a white rectangular label that reads:
Dating A Gretsch
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.
was printed in black on an orange shape that vaguely resembles a musical note. This was superimposed on a gray over white label.
On the white part, the serial number is printed, and the model number should be handwritten. This label should be on all guitars after number 25000.
Gretsch Drums G3 Bass Drum Pedal
This would be a good time to note that some models, particularly 1962 -`65 models, had the serial number embossed on the headstock in lieu of a label.
Beginning in 1965, the model number was printed either on top or on the back of the headstock or engraved in the metal model plate on the headstock, and no label was fitted.
In the late `60s the labels returned on most models. For a brief period rarely found labels were used that look like the second-generation labels, except
Custom Gretsch At Agh
In a logo-type font across the top. These labels list model and serial numbers and along the bottom reads Made in U.S.A.From 1939 to 1965, Gretsch serial numbers are sequential, but the manner and placement of the serial numbers on the guitars varies quite a bit.
Toward the end of 1967, Baldwin took over the Gretsch Company. “Made In USA” was added to the serial number stamp and the numbers were date coded in the same way that they had been between ’65 and ’67. These serial numbers were also either 5 or 6 digit numbers, depending on the month of production. The numbers were once again 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 (10), November (11), and December (12), can also be interpreted as (10) January 1970, (11) January 1971 and (12) January 1972. The only way to be clear, is to have an understanding of the feature sets of the instruments from the era.
Gretsch G6120 Dsw Archtop Electric Orange, 2009
In about 1969, Gretsch began to use another version of the Orange and Grey label on F-Hole instruments. This third iteration of the label had “Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co” with lines for the Model No. and serial No., and it said “That Great Gretsch Sound” at the bottom. It was used until 1981. The 5-digit numbers on these labels always begin with 1 or 2 and are sequential, do not follow the “date-coded” convention, and precise dates cannot be determined using the serial numbers.
In 1973, the 2nd iteration of the Baldwin era Gretsch label was introduced. These labels were once again a Black and White rectangle, and had “Gretsch Guitars” printed on them, as well as a line for the Baldwin model number and the date coded serial number. These numbers are interpreted in the same way as the earlier date coded numbers, though a hyphen was sometimes placed between the first and second digits better identifying the month/year designation. As an example, 2-365 would be February (2), 1973 (3).
In January of 2003 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, in all models, built in that factory, in that specific year.
How To Buy A Vintage Gretsch Guitar
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Gretsch respects your privacy and we do not share our subscriber list with any party. Why? Because we hate spam as much as you do!Alongside Fender, Gibson, Martin and Rickenbacker, Gretsch was one of the original American guitar manufacturers. As such, there are a lot of vintage specimens hidden under beds, lurking in closets or parading in plain sight on shop walls (and listings). Half the battle of finding a great deal or pre-empting conflict is accurately dating the guitar in question. The guide below is intended to help you identify the production year of any Gretsch guitar, given the serial number and its location on the guitar. This information has been compiled from multiple sources (cited at bottom). Their collective investigative legwork deserves the respect and gratitude of us all.
Like the other Giants of Original American Guitars (save Martin), Gretsch had its share of corporate hand-offs and resulting serial number inconsistencies over the years. While the situation isn't quite as bad as say, Gibson or Guild, this guide should be viewed as the best available consensus, not gospel. In some cases a serial number may leave you with a fuzzy span of several years, and in others you will know which number your guitar was within a batch during a specific month and year. And there's always the possibility of discovering a specimen that completely upends common knowledge about what was produced when. Just make sure it's not modified or a partscaster before screaming from the Gretsch-pert mountaintops.
Identifying An Electromatic
The best approach is to cross-reference the serial number with known features for the model during different eras and the personal account of previous owners. Getting the correct year is one thing, but getting the story behind a guitar is the fun part. The guide for that is much simpler: be nice, ask questions, offer whiskey.
If you have absolutely no idea whether your Gretsch is old or new, a good place to start is the model number. This will give you an approximate idea of the era during which your guitar was manufactured. It's also one more piece of evidence to pair with the serial number to corroborate the actual year.
My Gretsch was manufactured, you ask? It depends. The bulk of vintage
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