Serial number on Gibson L-48
 

Hi,
First time posting! I just bought a Gibson L-48 and the seller said he couldn’t find the serial number. When I get it, where would I look? I would imagine in one of the F holes?
Thanks

Welcome to the AGF! :)

IME older lower-line Gibsons such as your L-48 had factory order numbers (FON) and rack numbers, but no serial numbers until the early-60's. On an archtop guitar these are located inside the back (the flattops I've seen had them on the neck block), and may be seen by looking inside one of the f-holes; FYI many of these had a letter prefix that would help you narrow down the year of production, as follows:

Z-1952
Y-1953
X-1954
W-1955
V-1956
U-1957
T-1958
S-1959
R-1960

Later guitars would have had both a label (inside the upper f-hole) and a stamped serial number on the rear of the peghead - both of which would be readily visible - so I'm certain yours is a pre-1960 model.

Be advised that the ink used to stamp the FON numbers often fades with time, so you may have to do a little careful searching to find it (a pocket flashlight like the Mini-Mag would be helpful here)...

Hope this helps... :guitar:

Follow up question
 

Thanks Steve. I thought this might be the case. One other question you might be able to help with, the guitar has some varnish lose from holding/playing it. What might be the best way to repair this? Also, I’m assuming it has an oil base varnish, am I correct.
I was going to add a picture but haven’t quite figured that out yet. 😏

Actually it's a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, and unless it's really bad (meaning it looks like Jimi Hendrix' Strat after Monterey Pop :eek: ) I'd either get a light overspray (have this done by a pro) or just leave it alone...

Gibson L-48?
 

Hi,
I just received my Gibson L-48 and am looking for serial numbers. Inside the right F hole I see the blue ink stamped numbers 4269 20. Any ideas as to its age?
Thanks

Sound hole picture
 

Guess I haven’t figured out posting pictures yet! ��

Welcome, Peabody. Check this thread and see if it helps you with pictures. PM me if I can assist.

Hopefully this works

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0ebY...A3-RvQdZg#Home

Gibson support
 

I called Gibson support and the young man there looked up my L-48 and said by the FON (factory order number) 4269 20, it was made between 1952 and 1954.
I sure love it, you strike a string and it tones for almost a minute. 😎