Serial number dating / G&L
G&L serial number lookup
Find the year a G&L was built, read from G&L’s own numbering scheme.
Can't read a digit? Type ? in its place. Looked-up serials are kept, never tied to you. How it works
Type the serial or code from the instrument. We read it as you type.
Cross-check with a pot code
The number stamped on a potentiometer inside the guitar. It dates the part, not the whole instrument.
Example G&L serials and how they read
Made-up serials in each of G&L’s formats, read by the dater above.
| Serial | Reads as | Format |
|---|---|---|
| CLF1901234 | Jan 2019 | USA laser-etched date code (Feb 2017-2025) |
| 180123456 | Jan 2018 | Indonesian Tribute |
| 03041234 | Apr 2003 | Korean Tribute |
| L09101234 | Oct 2009 | China Tribute |
How G&L serials date
- USA laser-etched date code (Feb 2017-2025)
- China Tribute
- Indonesian Tribute
- Korean Tribute
- Placentia series (China, ~2021+)
More on G&L serial numbers
Where to find the serial
1980-1997: the bridge or neck plate; 1997+: the back of the headstock (laser-etched into the wood from Feb 2017). Tribute imports: the headstock.
How sure is it
Every result carries its confidence. Treat the year as a strong guide, not proof: a serial can be replaced, a neck and body can be from different years, and reissues copy old numbering. For anything that matters, confirm the year against the neck date, the pot codes and G&L's serial FAQ.
Other brands
This is one of many brands the serial number dater covers.