Another GAD serial number thread

[PTC Bernie]

Hi all!

I'm looking at a GAD F40 and trying to determine when it was built but the serial number is throwing me. I read that the first two digits indicate the year, the next two the month, then numbers that refer to Guild order numbers or something like that. This number isn't like that at all.

It's GAD41584. Can anyone help me decipher that S/N?

Thanks,

B

 

[Neal]

Hi, Bernie.

The use of the Julian calendar in ordering Guild serial numbers only applies to USA-made Tacoma and New Hartford guitars.

I have absolutely no clue as to what GAD serial numbers represent, and I have been unable to find the equivalent of the Dating Your Guild pdf for the GAD's.

Neal

 

[PTC Bernie]

GAD Dating

Hi, Bernie.

The use of the Julian calendar in ordering Guild serial numbers only applies to USA-made Tacoma and New Hartford guitars.

I have absolutely no clue as to what GAD serial numbers represent, and I have been unable to find the equivalent of the Dating Your Guild pdf for the GAD's.

Neal

Hi Neal!

That's been my experience too. As they've been around for a few years I'm surprised the info isn't out there somewhere. I may call FMIC and see what they say as it was their product at the time, but I have a feeling that'll just slough me off to the current owners.

I'll update the thread if I come up with any reliable info.

Thanks,

 

[PTC Bernie]

I was able to get in touch with FMIC who confirmed that there really is no date code or other logic to the GAD serial numbers that would help in determining date of manufacture. There is a production database and the SN's are merely sequential.

Serial Number 41584 was manufactured in May of 2009.

Maybe someone can start a list?

 

[SFIV1967]

Serial Number 41584 was manufactured in May of 2009. Maybe someone can start a list?

Sorry to say but there is absolutely no relationship between that GAD41584 number and year 2009 that you can use in a serial number list. You actually don't need a serial number list for GADs! It's all printed inside the GAD! The real manufacturing date is actually coded in the manufacturing number that is internally stamped on the base of the heel block! So you need to use a lamp and a mirror most probably.
FMIC's hotline just doesn't know that...We actually discussed this quite a few times here already.

The GAD manufacturing info is not on the label (that's just a factory number) but on the neck block inside the body!
All GAD instruments are stamped with a 10 digit internal manufacturing number located inside 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.

Let us know what the number in your guitar is, so we can cross check if the info is correct. If your guitar is from May 2009 the 10 digit number should start with 0905xxxxxx.

Ralf

 

[Mr. Pale]

Let us know what the number in your guitar is, so we can cross check if the info is correct. If your guitar is from May 2009 the 10 digit number should start with 0905xxxxxx.

Ralf

I believe you are correct, Ralf, and thanks for explaining that.

As further proof of what you said...

My M-120 (GAD):

Serial (neck): 1103360076 (Mar. 2011 -- which lines up with the included pass certificate stamped 2011-03-05)
Serial (label): 52358

The March, 2011 certainly lines up with the fact that I bought it new in April 2012.

Hope that helps you or anyone else documenting these things.

The GAD series should be documented, too!

I love mine.

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG Mr.Pale! Thanks for the feedback! I don't know if FMIC kept and handed over to the new Guild owners a good list of all GAD serial numbers vs manufacturing date. So I think the date on the neck block manufacturing number is the only reliable identification of GAD manufacturing year and month.
Ralf

 

[adorshki]

Sorry to say but there is absolutely no relationship between that GAD41584 number and year 2009 that you can use in a serial number list. You actually don't need a serial number list for GADs! It's all printed inside the GAD! The real manufacturing date is actually coded in the manufacturing number that is internally stamped on the base of the heel block! So you need to use a lamp and a mirror most probably.
FMIC's hotline just doesn't know that...We actually discussed this quite a few times here already.

The GAD manufacturing info is not on the label (that's just a factory number) but on the neck block inside the body!
All GAD instruments are stamped with a 10 digit internal manufacturing number located inside 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.

Let us know what the number in your guitar is, so we can cross check if the info is correct. If your guitar is from May 2009 the 10 digit number should start with 0905xxxxxx.

Ralf

This should be a sticky since as you said, it's come up before.

 

[SFIV1967]

This should be a sticky since as you said, it's come up before.

Right, the only thing I would correct today is when I said "there is absolutely no relationship between that GAD41584 number and year 2009" because I am 100% sure FMIC used to have a list/records that also showed that GAD serial number on the label in relation to the built date. Because they told users who asked them about their guitar's serial number when it was made. However if that list is still somewhere and where is questionable. Also who would take the task to publish it and where? CMG should take care to get such a list updated and published on the Guild webpage! Hans had previously mentioned he isn't interested in publishing about foreign made Guilds or related brands like Burnside, Madeira, DeArmond,... At least that was my understanding. Hence I had referred to the manufacturing number on the internal neck block as the number that includes a year and month.
And for the MIK NS and MIC WC models I think we discussed the possible dates (at least the year) visible in the serial numbers as well, but it is not officially confirmed so far and there were too many exceptions to the rule already, at least in 2013 and 2014...
Ralf

 

[chazmo]

I'll be happy to sticky this, but not in the A/E section. Any objections if I move this to the FAQ section and sticky it there? I'll wait the day to see if anyone objects.

(post or PM objections only.... thanks)