Free tool · Bros Guitars, NYC
Martin Serial Number Decoder
Look inside the sound hole toward the neck. Enter the serial number stamped on the neck block.
Understanding Martin Guitar Serial Numbers
Decoding Martin Guitar Serial Numbers: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you curious about the production date of your Martin guitar? This guide will help you decode your Martin guitar's serial number to uncover its manufacturing year and other essential details. Martin guitars have been using a straightforward, sequential serial number system since 1898, making it easy to determine the age of your instrument.
Bros Guitars builds custom Martins — and drives you to Nazareth to pick them up.
The only NYC shop that turns a Martin order into a road trip to the factory.
How to Find the Serial Number on Your Martin Guitar
To find your Martin guitar's serial number, look inside the sound hole towards the neck. You will see both the model and serial numbers imprinted on the neck block. The model number is located above the serial number. This simple step will give you the information needed to decode your guitar's production date.
Martin Guitar Serial Number Decoder
We provide a tool that allows you to easily decode your Martin guitar's serial number. Simply enter the serial number in the form below, click “Check,” and our decoder will reveal the year your guitar was manufactured and the country of origin.
Bros Guitars is an official Martin Service Center. Once you know your guitar’s year, we can set it up, appraise it, or help you think about the next one. Questions? Call us: 646-559-8771 — or see what we do with Martin’s Custom Shop →
Martin Guitar Serial Number List
Since the late 19th century, Martin has been renowned for producing some of the best flat-top acoustic guitars. The company has been numbering its guitars sequentially since 1898, starting from serial number 8000. This list will help you find the production year of your Martin guitar based on its serial number.
Serial Number to Year Chart
| 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 – 2934930 | 2020 |
| 2934931 – 2576415 | 2021 |
| 2576416 – 2711440 | 2022 |
| 2711441 – 2829083 | 2023 |
| 2829084 – ……. | 2024 |
Serial Number Database for E-18, EM-18, EB-18 Guitar Models
The serial number system for Martin's electric solid-body guitars, including the E-18, EM-18, and EB-18 bass models, produced from 1978 to mid-1980, is an exception to the usual sequence.
| Serial Numbers | Year |
|---|---|
| 1000 – 1099 | 1978 |
| 1100 – 2831 | 1979 |
| 2832 – 3645 | 1980 |
Little Martin (LX) Guitars Database
This database includes serial numbers for Little Martin (LX) guitars, which have been popular since their introduction.
| 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
Martin Backpacker guitars have a unique serial numbering system. Here's a look at the serial numbers and corresponding years.
| 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 |
Know what you have.
Now build what you’ve always wanted.
Bros Guitars is an Authorized Martin Custom Shop Expert Dealer on the Upper East Side. We design your guitar spec-by-spec — then drive you to Nazareth, PA to pick it up at the factory where it was born.
Design It
Wood, neck, inlay, finish. Every detail on the Martin spec sheet. At our shop on 84th Street.
We Build It
~4 months in Nazareth. Monthly check-ins so you’re never in the dark.
Road Trip
Van leaves 84th Street at 7 AM. Private factory tour. You meet the people who built it.
Take It Home
Ride back with the guitar beside you. Free setup. Lifetime relationship.
Tell us what you’re imagining.
No commitment. We follow up within one business day.
Want the full story first? See the complete Custom Shop experience →
Authorized Martin Custom Shop Expert Dealer · Upper East Side, NYC · 646-559-8771
Conclusion
Decoding your Martin guitar's serial number can provide valuable insights into its history and origins. With this guide, you now have the tools and knowledge to determine the production date of your instrument. For more detailed searches, you can browse Martin catalogs or forums for additional information.
And if knowing your Martin’s story has you thinking about the next one — the Custom Shop door is open. Bros Guitars builds custom Martins from scratch, and we’re the only shop in NYC that drives you to Nazareth to pick it up.
For further assistance or questions about your Martin guitar, contact us through our website or call 646-559-8771. Happy guitar decoding!
I recently was given a Martin Backpacker Mandolin, SN 146-349. It was made in Mexico. I can’t find a data base for the Backpacker Mandolins and I am curious as to the date of manufacture. My other Mandolin is a Kentucky KM-272 but I really like this little Backpacker. It is my “recliner mandolin”.
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Serial # 1753673. Please text info to 1 951-365-4351. Lettering and numbers hard to find. I need the information. Scott Waller
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