Dating GUILD GAD Instruments
Guild introduced the GAD instruments in January of 2004. The GAD serial numbers begin with GAD- followed by 5 digits. There are not separate prefixes for each model of guitar, and the serial numbers alone do not provide specific dating information for the instruments.
All GAD instruments are stamped with a 10 digit internal manufacturing number located in the soundhole, at the base of the heel block. This number embodies production information about the instrument. As an example, we’ll use a random number 1104330026.
The first two digits of this number identify the production year. In this case, 11 would stand for 2011.
The second two digits identify the production month. In this case, 04 would stand for April.
The next two digits, 33, are of no significance and are an internal number used by the vendor to identify their order number.
The last four digits identify the unit number of the order. In this case, 26 would stand for the 26th instrument made to the 33rd order.