For owners and admirers alike, CF Martin guitars represent a legacy of craftsmanship and unparalleled sound. One of the fascinating aspects of owning a Martin is understanding its history, and a key to unlocking that history lies in its serial number. If you’re wondering, “When was my Martin guitar made?”, you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of decoding your CF Martin guitar serial number, allowing you to pinpoint its manufacturing year and delve deeper into your instrument’s story.
Locating the Serial Number on Your Martin Guitar
Before you can decode anything, you need to find the serial number. Thankfully, Martin makes this a straightforward process. Simply peer inside the guitar’s soundhole, looking towards the neck. You’ll notice markings imprinted on the neck block, the wooden block where the neck joins the body. Typically, the model number of your Martin guitar will be positioned above the serial number. This area, clearly visible within the soundhole, holds the key information you need to determine your guitar’s age and origin.
Close-up view inside a Martin guitar soundhole showing the neck block with model and serial numbers.
Understanding the CF Martin Serial Number System
C.F. Martin & Co. has been consistently using a sequential serial number system since 1898. Starting with serial number 8000, this system provides a relatively simple way to track the production year of their instruments. For most standard Martin guitars, this sequential system is your primary tool for dating your guitar. However, it’s important to note that there are a few exceptions to this rule, particularly for specific models like electric guitars and some travel-sized instruments, which we will cover later in this guide.
The Definitive Martin Guitar Serial Number Chart: 1898 – Present
To make dating your Martin guitar as easy as possible, we’ve compiled a comprehensive serial number chart. Simply locate your guitar’s serial number and find the corresponding range in the chart below to determine its production year. This chart covers the vast majority of Martin guitars produced from 1898 to the present day.
| 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 |
Special Cases: Serial Numbers for Electric and Little Martin Guitars
While the sequential chart is generally applicable, certain Martin models have distinct serial number ranges. It’s important to be aware of these exceptions to ensure accurate dating.
E-Series Electric Guitars (1978-1980)
Martin ventured into solid-body electric guitars for a brief period from 1978 to mid-1980, producing models like the E-18, EM-18, and EB-18 bass. These guitars have their own dedicated serial number sequence. If you own one of these rare birds, use the chart below:
| Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|
| 1000 – 1099 | 1978 |
| 1100 – 2831 | 1979 |
| 2832 – 3645 | 1980 |
Little Martin (LX) Guitars
The popular Little Martin series, known for its travel-friendly size and robust sound, also employs a separate serial number system. Refer to this chart specifically for dating your LX model:
| 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
Another unique case is the Martin Backpacker guitar. These distinctive, ultra-portable guitars also have their own serial number ranges:
| 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 |
Beyond the Year: What Else Can Your Martin Serial Number Tell You?
While primarily used for dating, your Martin guitar serial number is a unique identifier. It’s linked to records at C.F. Martin & Co. and can potentially provide more detailed information about your specific instrument, although accessing these detailed records might require contacting Martin directly. Knowing the year of manufacture is often the first step in researching your guitar’s history, understanding its potential value, and appreciating its place within the long and storied legacy of Martin guitars.
Conclusion: Unlock Your Martin’s History
Decoding your CF Martin guitar serial number is an essential step in connecting with your instrument on a deeper level. By using this guide and the provided charts, you can confidently determine the production year of your guitar and begin to uncover its unique story. Whether you’re a collector, player, or simply curious about your instrument, understanding your Martin’s serial number opens a window into its rich heritage.
Have you successfully dated your Martin guitar? Explore more about Martin guitars and share your findings in the comments below!
