Gibson A-Model Serial Number ID

[Litsinger]

I recently purchased a Gibson A4 and it is in great shape for it's age. I am however having more than a little trouble discerning the serial number.

I can easily read the factory number (#11342) but for the life of me I can't make out the serial number, even when using a bright flashlight- is there a trick to deciphering a faded serial?

I've read some of the older posts about looking under the bridge and under the pickguard and neither of these are winners for me.

FWIW, the mandolin does not appear to have a truss rod, and the original bridge was non-adjustable, so I assume it might be an early 23 model?

I've attached a few photos for reference.

Thank you all for your help and input!

Russ

[MikeEdgerton]

I recently purchased a Gibson A4 and it is in great shape for it's age. I am however having more than a little trouble discerning the serial number.

I can easily read the factory number (#11342) but for the life of me I can't make out the serial number, even when using a bright flashlight- is there a trick to deciphering a faded serial?

I've read some of the older posts about looking under the bridge and under the pickguard and neither of these are winners for me.

FWIW, the mandolin does not appear to have a truss rod, and the original bridge was non-adjustable, so I assume it might be an early 23 model?

I've attached a few photos for reference.

Thank you all for your help and input!

Russ

11343 is a 1920 FON date in Spann's Guide. Not all FON's are listed.

[Litsinger]

11343 is a 1920 FON date in Spann's Guide. Not all FON's are listed.

Thank you, Mike! I sincerely appreciate your help!

Russ

[Ray(T)]

Whilst the FON, as Mike says, points to 1920, the Serial Number may well be a year or so later.

In my (limited) experience, it isn’t only the brightness of a light which enables you to read a faded serial number. Try reading it under different types of light - daylight, tungsten, flourescent, LED etc. As any phtographer will tell you, colours change depending on the light source.

The number may well be written underneath the label but you probably don’t want to go there!

[j4music]

The serial number may not be readily visible, but is it relevant. The FON gives a 1920 manufacturing date and that's usually the information sought. As Spann points out, the FON is assigned at the time of manufacture; the serial number is assigned when the instrument leaves the factory, and that can be the same year or any number of years later. Seems like you have a great looking 1920 A4. And those A4s usually sound pretty good, too. Congrats on a great acquisition.

[Litsinger]

Whilst the FON, as Mike says, points to 1920, the Serial Number may well be a year or so later.

In my (limited) experience, it isn’t only the brightness of a light which enables you to read a faded serial number. Try reading it under different types of light - daylight, tungsten, flourescent, LED etc. As any phtographer will tell you, colours change depending on the light source.

The number may well be written underneath the label but you probably don’t want to go there!

Ray: Thank you for your reply. I sincerely appreciate it! I've tried a couple different light sources and even brought in a couple sets of younger eyes to give it a look to no avail yet. But I will keep trying. Might just get desperate enough someday to lift the label .

Thanks again for your feedback!

Russ

[Litsinger]

The serial number may not be readily visible, but is it relevant. The FON gives a 1920 manufacturing date and that's usually the information sought. As Spann points out, the FON is assigned at the time of manufacture; the serial number is assigned when the instrument leaves the factory, and that can be the same year or any number of years later. Seems like you have a great looking 1920 A4. And those A4s usually sound pretty good, too. Congrats on a great acquisition.

J4: Thank you for the intel- I really appreciate it! The mando definitely has a wider nut and the deep V neck. I've always wanted a nice oval to use as an accompaniment instrument when I am singing- and with flatwounds on it, this mandolin does have a nice mellow sound with lots of sustain.

Being that the guitar was my first love, I do appreciate the wider neck too- makes those 4 finger chord shapes a lot less crowded.

Thanks for your help and kind words.

Russ

[rcc56]

Try wiping the dust off the label with a dry q-tip. Sometimes that's enough to make the number readable if you get the light right.
I don't advise pulling off the label. If it doesn't come loose cleanly, it will de-value the instrument. If you do get it off cleanly, you might find it's not so easy to put it back in just the right position. You already have a factory order number to identify the year of manufacture.

[MikeEdgerton]

Another suggestion. If you have a decent camera on your phone or otherwise digital, take a picture of the label. If again you have it available, put the image into some editing software and change the contrast a bit to darken, lighten, whatever and the serial number may become readable.

[Jim Garber]

These serial numbers were often written with pencil and the graphite dust may flake off after a hundred years or so. I can't see most of the serial numbers on the label of my '23 snakehead. That doesn't make me love it any less.

[Litsinger]

Try wiping the dust off the label with a dry q-tip.

Another suggestion. If you have a decent camera on your phone or otherwise digital, take a picture of the label. If again you have it available, put the image into some editing software and change the contrast a bit to darken, lighten, whatever and the serial number may become readable.

These serial numbers were often written with pencil and the graphite dust may flake off after a hundred years or so. I can't see most of the serial numbers on the label of my '23 snakehead. That doesn't make me love it any less.

This is a great community- I sincerely appreciate the advice and suggestions. I am going to give these great non-destructive suggestions a try this weekend, and I resolve not to try peeling off the label- a little mystery never heart anything…
Thank you all for the great input- I am grateful!
Russ