Is this Gibson Hummingbird real?

[Penny]

So I've been looking at buying a second hand Gibson Hummingbird and found a few in my province on Kijiji.  From the pictures they look pretty legit (Grover tuners, 3D pickguard, dark fond serial numbers etc.) and the owners posted pics of the headstock but I'm bothered by the fact that when I look those serial numbers up they can't be found by the engine.  

Both guitars are 2019 models according to the sellers.  The serial numbers are

10729066 and 10789057

I can't imagine somebody would post bogus serial numbers close up but I wonder why I can't find them on the search engines.  I only own one Gibson (a 1986 SG) and play a D28 acoustically so help from the Gibson experts would be appreciated 🙂

 

 

 

[Phil OKeefe]

I'm pretty sure Customer Service can assist you if you are trying to verify a serial number and make sure a guitar is authentic. I'd give them a call and ask, and see if they can help. 

 

Customer Support (US & Canada): 1-800-4GIBSON

[Sgt. Pepper]

2 hours ago, Penny said:

So I've been looking at buying a second hand Gibson Hummingbird and found a few in my province on Kijiji.  From the pictures they look pretty legit (Grover tuners, 3D pickguard, dark fond serial numbers etc.) and the owners posted pics of the headstock but I'm bothered by the fact that when I look those serial numbers up they can't be found by the engine.  

Both guitars are 2019 models according to the sellers.  The serial numbers are

10729066 and 10789057

I can't imagine somebody would post bogus serial numbers close up but I wonder why I can't find them on the search engines.  I only own one Gibson (a 1986 SG) and play a D28 acoustically so help from the Gibson experts would be appreciated 🙂

 

 

 

I typed in the serial numbers to a serial number searcher, and it said they were both 2019 guitars but made in Nashville. Acoustics have been made in Montana for ages now. 

Here is what one showed me:

Year: 2019

Date: Tuesday, March 13

Location: Nashville, TN

Info: The instrument production no. is 066

Edited August 11, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Penny]

Thank you!

I typed it in one that said it could have been the Memphis shop for semi acoustics or something.  I too was under the impression that all the acoustics are made in Bozeman.

[Sgt. Pepper]

3 minutes ago, Penny said:

Thank you!

I typed it in one that said it could have been the Memphis shop for semi acoustics or something.  I too was under the impression that all the acoustics are made in Bozeman.

A 2019 acoustic most certainly was made in Montana.

[Sgt. Pepper]

Just read this:

More than 100 full-time workers are employed at the Bozeman factory, which originally opened its doors in 1989. Since then the facility has been the site of acoustic and acoustic-electric guitar manufacturing exclusively.

Edited August 11, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[DanvillRob]

41 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

I typed in the serial numbers to a serial number searcher, and it said they were both 2019 guitars but made in Nashville. Acoustics have been made in Montana for ages now. 

Here is what one showed me:

Year: 2019

Date: Tuesday, March 13

Location: Nashville, TN

Info: The instrument production no. is 066

Could the serial numbers be from a Les or SG?

[Dave F]

Acoustic serial numbers do not state where they were built. It is assumed that it's Montana. The Gibson USA system is different and did code the plant.

10729066 = 2019

10729066 = 72nd day of the year

10729066 = 66th guitar assigned a s/n on that day

 

[Penny]

Interesting.  Is there a way to  identify where the guitar was made and why would some sites state that it was made in Memphis or Nashville?  

 

[Dave F]

30 minutes ago, Penny said:

Interesting.  Is there a way to  identify where the guitar was made and why would some sites state that it was made in Memphis or Nashville?  

 

You’re looking at the Gibson USA numbering system that only Memphis and Nashville used. You’re mixing Montana numbering system with the Tennessee numbering codes. 

[Dave F]

From the Gibson site. You will note that in 1977 they started using an 8 digit number. In 2005, Gibson USA (not the acoustic division) switched to a 9 digit system. Gibson USA Custom models use a completely different number.  You can read all the details for yourself at Serial Search (gibson.com)

Here's some excerpts from that site. Since your number has 8 digits and shows it was made after 2005, it's a Montana built acoustic.

Hope this helps and quit using those serial number decoder sites.

In 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that we primarily use to this day

YDDDYRRR

The pattern is as follows:
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.
 

Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.

 

NOTE - Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005..
The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The only difference is the addition of this batch indicator.

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by Dave F

[Sgt. Pepper]

Consecutive serial numbers was just to easy for Gibson. They like doing things the hard way.

1 then 2 then 3. No no no we need a system we change every 2 months to keep the consumer on their toes.

Edited August 11, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Dave F]

12 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

Consecutive serial numbers was just to easy for Gibson. They like doing things the hard way.

1 then 2 then 3. No no no we need a system we change every 2 months to keep the consumer on their toes.

I agree. I like Martin's system. I used to like Taylor's system but they got a little goofy too.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

6 minutes ago, Dave F said:

I agree. I like Martin's system. I used to like Taylor's system but they got a little goofy too.

 

I have no clue what Taylor does or did. 

[Dave F]

10 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

I have no clue what Taylor does or did. 

'78-'92 they used the Martin system then they changed to goofy and reinvented the system about every ten years. You need a decoder ring.

Edited August 11, 2023 by Dave F

[62burst]

1 hour ago, Dave F said:

You need a decoder ring.

Put me down for one of those rings.

I found the '057 Cherryburst Hummingbird on Kijiji. Looks totally legit. Maybe if you put a link to the other 2019 HB you might feel better about it being genuine.

[Penny]

Thanks so much for all of your help.  I admit I read that part on the site but also have to admit that I skimmed over it.  Laziness on my part.

I haven't purchased the guitar yet as I haven't played it and have to save up etc.  but wanted to make sure it was legit. 

Loved the ones I played in the store.  I need something to play live and don't want to touch my D28 which doesn't have electronics.  I was thinking of the Epiphone Bird but figured I'd probably love the Gibson bird as much as the D28 so might as well save up.  

 

[Dave F]

2 minutes ago, Penny said:

Thanks so much for all of your help.  I admit I read that part on the site but also have to admit that I skimmed over it.  Laziness on my part.

I haven't purchased the guitar yet as I haven't played it and have to save up etc.  but wanted to make sure it was legit. 

Loved the ones I played in the store.  I need something to play live and don't want to touch my D28 which doesn't have electronics.  I was thinking of the Epiphone Bird but figured I'd probably love the Gibson bird as much as the D28 so might as well save up.  

 

Plenty of quality add on sound hole pickups that don't require modification of the guitar. If interested, you can get a lot of good advice here. Not from me 😉

The only add-on pickup I have is on a vintage guitar and it sounds great.

 

[Penny]

Thanks! I looked into those.  I couldn't find consensus on one but if anyone wants to chime in I could nerd out about this for days!

[Dave F]

 

 

[Skinny Boy Jackson]

3 hours ago, Penny said:

Interesting.  Is there a way to  identify where the guitar was made and why would some sites state that it was made in Memphis or Nashville?  

 

For Gibson acoustics made in Nashville the 6th digit is a 5. For Boseman or Kalamazoo it is a 0.

[Dave F]

13 minutes ago, Skinny Boy Jackson said:

For Gibson acoustics made in Nashville the 6th digit is a 5. For Boseman or Kalamazoo it is a 0.

This is incorrect. Every day they reset the last three digits. I don't know if they start at 000 or 001.

After number 099 it goes to 100 ........

Granted most of the numbers start with 0 since the first 99 have a 0 

The Nashville plant would be using the 9 digits instead of the 8 digits

Here's a Bozeman made guitar I bought last year. The last three digits are 118.

 

[Skinny Boy Jackson]

@Dave F

Sorry, let me rephrase,

with the current 8 digit serial number system the last 3 digits for acoustics built in Bozeman begin with 001-499.

500-999 indicates Nashville production through 1989.

There are exceptions ie. some instruments built in 1994

[PrairieDog]

23 hours ago, Penny said:

Interesting.  Is there a way to  identify where the guitar was made and why would some sites state that it was made in Memphis or Nashville?  

 

I was told by the very helpful fellow at Gibson customer service that those online “serial number searches” are bogus and are as far as he can tell seem to be simply based on imaginary data. Write or call them, they are happy to give you the info they have.   Don’t feel bad about skimming the Gibson guide.  I couldn’t make heads or tails out of the serial number guide on the Gibson website. It seemed more like an incomplete cut and paste doc for various discrete series, but not a comprehensive guide.  I just thought it seemed to be geared toward the electrics.   Much thanks to Dave F above who deciphered it’s not YYDDD at all, but YDDDYXXX.  Now that made total sense with my serial number finally.  I knew mine was a 2017, but the serial started with 11.  I believe the labels inside say where they are made?  Ask for a picture of the sticker.  Good luck. Hope it works out for you!

[Sgt. Pepper]

6 minutes ago, PrairieDog said:

I was told by the very helpful fellow at Gibson customer service that those online “serial number searches” are bogus and are as far as he can tell seem to be simply based on imaginary data. Write or call them, they are happy to give you the info they have.   Don’t feel bad about skimming the Gibson guide.  I couldn’t make heads or tails out of the serial number guide on the Gibson website. It seemed more like an incomplete cut and paste doc for various discrete series, but not a comprehensive guide.  I just thought it seemed to be geared toward the electrics.   Much thanks to Dave F above who deciphered it’s not YYDDD at all, but YDDDYXXX.  Now that made total sense with my serial number finally.  I knew mine was a 2017, but the serial started with 11.  I believe the labels inside say where they are made?  Ask for a picture of the sticker.  Good luck. Hope it works out for you!

So we can’t trust the internet? I hope I haven’t been looking at fake porn.