When Baldwin took over, serials became date-coded from 1967 - 1981.Ĭlick on the links here to jump directly to the serial number style that matches your instrument:
#SEAGULL GUITAR SERIAL NUMBER DATING 12 DIGIT SERIAL NUMBERS#
Gretsch serial numbers were sequential (a la Martin) from 1939 - 1966. Before 1949 there were no labels and serials were written in pencil inside the guitar. Some models from 1962 - 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). On most modern (post-1989) Gretsch guitars, you'll find it on the back of the headstock. To find the serial number on your Gretsch, start by looking at the headstock. In terms of raw playability, the made-in-Japan models of the last decade are regarded as high-quality instruments that avoid some of the flaws of the mid-20th century designs on which they're based. Specimens from 1967 - 1981 are mostly considered player-grade, non-collectible guitars, though some models like the Atkins Axe and Super Axe have a strong following. In the eyes of collectors, late '50s and early '60s models are most desirable, particularly specimens with the same features as those played by Harrison or Atkins.
Model ranges expand and quality improves even further, with standard models produced in Japan and budget models produced in China, Korea or Indonesia. Fender buys Gretsch with complete control. Production begins in Japan's Terada plant, mostly re-creating classic models.įender Era: 2002 - present. Gretsch (great grandson of the founder) buys back the company. Quality and worker morale drop in the wake of new management and two factory fires. Production moved to Baldwin/Burns factory in Arkansas. Gretsch is bought by Baldwin as a second choice after failing to buy Fender. This was the original Golden Age for Gretsch, particularly the late '50 and early '60s, when they enjoyed the endorsement of Chet Atkins and George Harrison.īaldwin Era: 1967 - 1981. Gretsch is family owned, growing to major distribution. It's also one more piece of evidence to pair with the serial number to corroborate the actual year. This will give you an approximate idea of the era during which your guitar was manufactured. If you have absolutely no idea whether your Gretsch is old or new, a good place to start is the model number. The guide for that is much simpler: be nice, ask questions, offer whiskey. Getting the correct year is one thing, but getting the story behind a guitar is the fun part. 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. Just make sure it's not modified or a partscaster before screaming from the Gretsch-pert mountaintops.
And there's always the possibility of discovering a specimen that completely upends common knowledge about what was produced when. 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. 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. The Norman models seem to fit between the Art & Lutherie and Simon & Patrick (Robert Godin's sons' names) lines but there's not a lot that distinguishes them from either of the others.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. It appears that Godin doesn't give Norman as much respect as their other brands, so you may be onto something about eventually discontinuing that line. Oddly, the Norman web site is not as complete and thorough as the A&L, S&P and Seagull sites. Except for the fact that Norman appears to be a popular brand in Europe, I'm also surprised that they still use that name. Boucher guitars are still made by Norman's son and nephew. They had a falling out and Norman Boucher passed away 11 years ago. In fact, Norman is the first name of Robert Godin's original partner. I don't have a direct email address, but he seems to answer everything sent to "info".īTW, note that the name LaSiDo no longer appears anywhere on the LaSiDo web site.īill, I recently read a suggestion that "Norman" was somehow a spin on the name "Martin". I was recently considering a certain used Simon & Patrick and sent several emails to Each time, Michel responded to my questions within a day or two, sometimes late at night. So if you have a 25-year-old Seagull, it's one of the earliest made. According to that, Seagulls were first produced in 1982, 26 years ago. Here's a good article on Godin/LaSiDo guitars.
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