What Year is My Martin?
How to Read Martin Guitar Serial Numbers
So you have a vintage Martin guitar in your possession? Wonderful news: Martin steel string flat-top guitars from the 1930s through the 1960s are not only national treasures, they can sell for large sums of money due to high-demand by musicians and collectors alike. Here at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, TN, Music City U.S.A., we have established a reputation for transparency and ultimately helping vintage Martin guitar owners sell their instruments for their maximum value; our consignment program is the most competitive in the industry!
Your first question is probably: What year is my Martin guitar? Martin guitar serial numbers are found stamped on the wooden neck block, visible inside the soundhole. Your next question is probably: What model is my Martin guitar?, that’s that group of numbers and/or letters above the serial number: i.e. 000-18, D-28, 00-18E. We here at Carter Vintage Guitars are experts in vintage Martin guitar authentication and offer hands-on and online vintage guitar appraisal packages. That being said dating a vintage Martin guitar can be done with the following Martin serial number chart:
The serial number found in the last guitar built that year that is listed:
- 1920 15848
- 1921 16758
- 1922 17839
- 1923 19891
- 1924 22008
- 1925 24116
- 1926 28689
- 1927 34435
- 1928 37568
- 1929 40843
- 1930 45317
- 1931 49589
- 1932 52590
- 1933 55084
- 1934 58679
- 1935 61947
- 1936 65176
- 1937 68865
- 1938 71866
- 1939 74061
- 1940 76734
- 1941 80013
- 1942 83107
- 1943 86724
- 1944 90149
- 1945 93623
- 1946 98158
- 1947 103468
- 1948 108269
- 1949 112961
- 1950 117961
- 1951 122799
- 1952 128436
- 1953 134501
- 1954 141345
- 1955 147328
- 1956 153225
- 1957 159061
- 1958 165576
- 1959 171047
- 1960 175689
- 1961 181297
- 1962 187384
- 1963 193327
- 1964 199626
- 1965 207030
- 1966 217215
- 1967 230095
- 1968 241925
- 1969 256003
- 1970 271633
- 1971 294270
- 1972 313302
- 1973 333873
- 1974 353387
- 1975 371828
- 1976 388800
- 1977 399625
- 1978 407800
- 1979 419900
- 1980 430300
We love vintage Martin Guitars and regularly sell 1930s and 1940s D-28s, 000-28s, and D-18s between $30k- $200k. The sky can be the limit for some rarer examples with a sunburst finish or pearl appointments. The 1950s and 1960s Martins are equally big hits with the singer-songwriter community in Nashville and sell for higher prices here at Carter Vintage Guitars than anywhere else in the country. Contact us if you have a vintage Martin guitar you would like to sell!