Martin guitar serial number lookup.

How Martin dates its instruments

C. F. Martin & Co. numbers its instruments in sequence, and publishes a quick-reference table, "Dating Your Martin", that lists the last serial number used in each year. Because the numbers only go up, a single comparison tells you the year. Martin's table runs from 1898 (last serial 8,348) to 2025 (last serial 3,043,480).

Worked example

• Serial 2500000, Martin guitar: 2020 ended at 2,454,224 and 2021 at 2,576,415, so the guitar is from 2021 (serials 2,454,225 to 2,576,415).
• Serial 100000, Little Martin: 2009 ended at 98,332 and 2010 at 115,197, so it is a 2010 Little Martin. The same number on the main guitar table would be 1947, which is why the instrument line matters.
• Serial 5000000: higher than the last serial on the table (3,043,480), so the page says so rather than guessing.

Which table applies

Martin keeps separate numbering for several lines. Standard guitars and ukuleles made in Nazareth, Pennsylvania share one table. Little Martin (LX) and Backpacker each have their own, as do the solid wood and HPL ukuleles built in Navojoa, Mexico. Picking the wrong line gives the wrong year, often by decades.

Limits of a serial-year lookup

• The result is the production year. Martin does not publish a day-by-day record on this page, so a guitar finished near New Year can sit at the edge of a range.
• It does not identify the model, wood, originality, repairs or value.
• Mandolins and SO ukuleles have their own Martin tables, with a few irregularities, and are not included here.
• The table can lag behind current production. A serial above the last row cannot be dated here; use Martin's lookup.

Who this is for

Buyers checking a used listing, owners filling in an insurance schedule or registration, and anyone with a guitar from a relative who wants to know roughly when it was made.

Why the check stays on your device

The lookup is a comparison against a fixed table that loads with the page. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the year of my Martin guitar?

Find the serial number (stamped on the neck block, visible through the soundhole), then match it to Martin's table of the last serial number used each year. A guitar belongs to the first year whose last serial is equal to or higher than yours. This page does that comparison for you.

Where is the serial number on a Martin?

On most Martin guitars it is on the neck block inside the body, visible through the soundhole. Martin's own lookup page and registration page are linked in the sources.

Why does the answer say a range of serial numbers?

Martin publishes only the last serial number used each year. The range shown is the previous year's last number plus one, up to that year's last number. A guitar finished near a year-end can be stamped with a number from either neighbouring year, so a result is a production year, not a build date.

Do Little Martin, Backpacker and ukuleles use the same table?

No. Martin publishes separate tables for Little Martin (LX), Backpacker, solid wood ukuleles and HPL ukuleles. Ukuleles made in Nazareth follow the same serialization as standard guitars. Choose the right line in the form.

What about Martin mandolins and SO ukuleles?

Martin publishes tables for those too, with a few irregularities (for example, 1976 and 1991 overlaps). This page does not cover them. Use Martin's own page.

Does this prove my guitar is authentic or give its value?

No. It maps a serial number to a year using Martin's table. It says nothing about model, originality, condition or price. For a vintage instrument, ask a dealer or Martin.

Does Martin's table include every number?

No. Martin notes that its main table does not include serial numbers 900001 to 902908, which were used on Sigma-Martins in 1981-1982.

Sources

• C. F. Martin & Co., Dating Your Martin: A Quick Reference (read 2026-11-01)