Martin guitars are legendary instruments, revered for their rich history, exceptional craftsmanship, and unparalleled sound. For owners and enthusiasts alike, understanding the age of a Martin guitar can unlock a deeper appreciation for its story and value. Fortunately, C.F. Martin & Co. has employed a straightforward serial number system for over a century, making it possible to pinpoint the year your guitar was crafted. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of locating and decoding your Martin guitar’s serial number, allowing you to discover its manufacturing date and connect with its heritage.
Finding Your Martin Guitar Serial Number
The first step in your quest to uncover your Martin guitar’s age is locating its serial number. This is typically a simple process.
- Locate the Soundhole: Look at the large circular opening in the body of your guitar – this is the soundhole.
- Look Towards the Neck: Peer inside the soundhole and direct your gaze towards the neck of the guitar, where the neck joins the body.
- Identify the Neck Block: You’ll see a small wooden block attached to the inside of the guitar, just beneath the fretboard extension. This is the neck block.
- Find the Imprinted Numbers: Both the model number and the serial number are imprinted on this neck block. The model number is usually positioned above the serial number.
Once you’ve located these numbers, the serial number is your key to unlocking your guitar’s production year.
Serial number location on a Martin guitar neck block inside the soundhole
Understanding Martin Serial Numbers: Your Guitar’s Birth Certificate
Since 1898, Martin guitars have been sequentially numbered, starting from serial number 8000. This consistent system provides a reliable method for dating these instruments. The company’s commitment to this sequential numbering allows us to trace the lineage of Martin guitars through the decades. By comparing your guitar’s serial number to established charts, you can confidently determine the year it was made.
Martin Guitar Serial Number Chart: Pinpointing the Year of Manufacture
The following chart provides a detailed list of serial number ranges and their corresponding production years for standard Martin guitars. To use this chart, simply find the serial number range that includes your guitar’s serial number. The adjacent year will be your guitar’s year of manufacture.
| Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|
| 8001 – 8349 | 1898 |
| 8350 – 8716 | 1899 |
| 8717 – 9128 | 1900 |
| 9129 – 9310 | 1901 |
| 9311 – 9528 | 1902 |
| 9529 – 9810 | 1903 |
| 9811 – 9988 | 1904 |
| 9989 – 10120 | 1905 |
| 10121 – 10329 | 1906 |
| 10330 – 10727 | 1907 |
| 10728 – 10883 | 1908 |
| 10884 – 11018 | 1909 |
| 11019 – 11203 | 1910 |
| 11204 – 11413 | 1911 |
| 11414 – 11565 | 1912 |
| 11566 – 11821 | 1913 |
| 11822 – 12047 | 1914 |
| 12048 – 12209 | 1915 |
| 12210 – 12390 | 1916 |
| 12391 – 12988 | 1917 |
| 12989 – 13450 | 1918 |
| 13451 – 14512 | 1919 |
| 14513 – 15484 | 1920 |
| 15485 – 16758 | 1921 |
| 16759 – 17839 | 1922 |
| 17840 – 19891 | 1923 |
| 19892 – 22008 | 1924 |
| 22009 – 24116 | 1925 |
| 24117 – 28689 | 1926 |
| 28690 – 34435 | 1927 |
| 34436 – 37568 | 1928 |
| 37569 – 40843 | 1929 |
| 40844 – 45317 | 1930 |
| 45318 – 49589 | 1931 |
| 49590 – 52590 | 1932 |
| 52591 – 55084 | 1933 |
| 55085 – 58679 | 1934 |
| 58680 – 61947 | 1935 |
| 61948 – 65176 | 1936 |
| 65177 – 68865 | 1937 |
| 68866 – 71866 | 1938 |
| 71867 – 74061 | 1939 |
| 74062 – 76734 | 1940 |
| 76735 – 80013 | 1941 |
| 80014 – 83107 | 1942 |
| 83108 – 86724 | 1943 |
| 86725 – 90149 | 1944 |
| 90150 – 93623 | 1945 |
| 93624 – 98158 | 1946 |
| 98159 – 103468 | 1947 |
| 103469 – 108269 | 1948 |
| 108270 – 112961 | 1949 |
| 112962 – 117961 | 1950 |
| 117962 – 122799 | 1951 |
| 122800 – 128436 | 1952 |
| 128437 – 134501 | 1953 |
| 134502 – 141345 | 1954 |
| 141346 – 147328 | 1955 |
| 147329 – 153225 | 1956 |
| 153226 – 159061 | 1957 |
| 159062 – 165576 | 1958 |
| 165577 – 171047 | 1959 |
| 171048 – 175689 | 1960 |
| 175690 – 181297 | 1961 |
| 181298 – 187384 | 1962 |
| 187385 – 193327 | 1963 |
| 193328 – 199626 | 1964 |
| 199627 – 207030 | 1965 |
| 207031 – 217215 | 1966 |
| 217216 – 230095 | 1967 |
| 230096 – 241925 | 1968 |
| 241926 – 256003 | 1969 |
| 256004 – 271633 | 1970 |
| 271634 – 294270 | 1971 |
| 294271 – 313302 | 1972 |
| 313303 – 333873 | 1973 |
| 333873 – 353387 | 1974 |
| 353388 – 371828 | 1975 |
| 371829 – 388800 | 1976 |
| 388801 – 399625 | 1977 |
| 399626 – 407800 | 1978 |
| 407801 – 419900 | 1979 |
| 419901 – 430300 | 1980 |
| 430301 – 436474 | 1981 |
| 436475 – 439627 | 1982 |
| 439628 – 446101 | 1983 |
| 446102 – 453300 | 1984 |
| 453301 – 460575 | 1985 |
| 460576 – 468175 | 1986 |
| 468176 – 476216 | 1987 |
| 476217 – 483952 | 1988 |
| 483953 – 493279 | 1989 |
| 493280 – 503309 | 1990 |
| 503310 – 512487 | 1991 |
| 512488 – 522655 | 1992 |
| 522656 – 535223 | 1993 |
| 535224 – 551696 | 1994 |
| 551697 – 570434 | 1995 |
| 570435 – 592930 | 1996 |
| 592931 – 624799 | 1997 |
| 624800 – 668796 | 1998 |
| 668797 – 724077 | 1999 |
| 724078 – 780500 | 2000 |
| 780501 – 845644 | 2001 |
| 845645 – 916759 | 2002 |
| 916760 – 978706 | 2003 |
| 978707 – 1042558 | 2004 |
| 1042559 – 1115862 | 2005 |
| 1115863 – 1197799 | 2006 |
| 1197800 – 1268091 | 2007 |
| 1268092 – 1337042 | 2008 |
| 1337043 – 1406715 | 2009 |
| 1406716 – 1473461 | 2010 |
| 1473462 – 1555767 | 2011 |
| 1555768 – 1656742 | 2012 |
| 1656743 – 1755536 | 2013 |
| 1755537 – 1857399 | 2014 |
| 1857400 – 1972129 | 2015 |
| 1972130 – 2076795 | 2016 |
| 2076796 – 2161732 | 2017 |
| 2161733 – 2258889 | 2018 |
| 2258890 – 2366880 | 2019 |
| 2366881 – 293493 | 2020 |
| 293494 – 2576415 | 2021 |
| 2576416 – 2711440 | 2022 |
| 2711441 – 2829083 | 2023 |
| 2829084 – ……. | 2024 |
Exceptions to the Rule: Serial Numbers for Electric, Little Martin, and Backpacker Models
While the sequential system is the standard for most Martin acoustic guitars, there are a few notable exceptions for specific models.
Serial Number Database for E-18, EM-18, EB-18 Guitar Models (Electric Models)
Martin’s foray into solid-body electric guitars in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including models like the E-18, EM-18, and EB-18 bass, utilized a distinct serial number sequence. If you own one of these rarer models, refer to the chart below:
| Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|
| 1000 – 1099 | 1978 |
| 1100 – 2831 | 1979 |
| 2832 – 3645 | 1980 |
Little Martin (LX) Guitars Database
The popular Little Martin (LX) series also features its own serial number range. Use this chart to date your Little Martin:
| Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|
| last number 41279 | 2005 |
| 41280 – 54016 | 2006 |
| 540167 – 69850 | 2007 |
| 69851 – 85266 | 2008 |
| 85267 – 98332 | 2009 |
| 98333 – 115197 | 2010 |
| 115198 – 129934 | 2011 |
| 129935 – 145612 | 2012 |
| 145613 – 172822 | 2013 |
| 172823 – 205052 | 2014 |
| 205053 – 236580 | 2015 |
| 236581 – 263886 | 2016 |
| 263887 – 284726 | 2017 |
| 284727 – 319828 | 2018 |
| 319829 – 344677 | 2019 |
| 344678 – 361282 | 2020 |
Martin Backpacker Guitars Database
For owners of the ultra-portable Martin Backpacker guitars, here is the specific serial number chart:
| Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|
| last number 178146 | 1992-2006 |
| 178147 – 188539 | 2007 |
| 188540 – 195761 | 2008 |
| 195762 – 203818 | 2009 |
| 203819 – 211612 | 2010 |
| 211613 – 220586 | 2011 |
| 220587 – 229812 | 2012 |
| 229813 – 239535 | 2013 |
| 239536 – 249963 | 2014 |
| 249964 – 260267 | 2015 |
| 260268 – 267880 | 2016 |
| 267881 – 274525 | 2017 |
| 274526 – 280524 | 2018 |
| 280525 – 288018 | 2019 |
| 288019 – 293493 | 2020 |
Unlocking Your Martin’s History
Decoding your Martin guitar’s serial number is more than just determining its age; it’s about connecting with the legacy of this iconic brand. Knowing the year your guitar was made can enhance your appreciation for its craftsmanship and place it within the rich timeline of Martin’s history.
For enthusiasts seeking even deeper insights, exploring vintage Martin catalogs, engaging with online guitar forums dedicated to Martin instruments, or consulting with reputable appraisers can reveal further details about your guitar’s specifications and historical context.
If you encounter any challenges or have further questions about dating your Martin guitar, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to assist you in uncovering the unique story of your instrument. Happy searching, and may your Martin guitar continue to inspire your musical journey for years to come!
