Like in Years, Not Out to Dinner
The easiest way to date your G&L is to go to the G&L Registry and either search your serial number, or if yours is not listed, search a range of about 100 numbers both ways around your serial number and see what the closest dates to yours are.
The best way to date your G&L is to take the neck off and read the dates written on the inside of the neck and body. However, before doing this, make sure you know how to properly set up and intonate a guitar, as this will change your action and intonation when you put it back together.
The most efficient way to date your G&L is to email your serial number to G&L and they will check the log and tell you what day your guitar was marked as finished in their logs. It may take a few days, but they’re very good at responding eventually.
The following is General Dating Information for All US-made G&L Guitars, 1980 until present. These guidelines are constantly evolving as new guitars and data are discovered, and there are always outliers.
-Leo Era 1980-1991, George & Dale Era 1992-June 30th, 1997
1980-June 30th, 1997 (Leo Era, George & Dale Era)
All G&L Guitars in this period will have a three-bolt neckplate on the back.
1980-1983 (Early Leo Era)
All G&L Guitars in this period will have the serial number on the bridge starting with G, with a blank 3-bolt neckplate. (Serial numbers starting with B denoted the bass guitars.)
1984-1991 (Later Leo Era)
All G&L Guitars in this period will have a three-bolt neckplate with a small gold sticker on it. The serial number will be on the neckplate starting with G. However, sometimes that sticker will have fallen off over the years.
1992-June 30th, 1997 (George & Dale Era)
All G&L Guitars in this period will have the three-bolt neckplate with the serial number starting with G, but without the gold sticker.
Broadcaster 1985-1986
The Broadcaster (869 made) has its serial number on the back of the 3-bolt neckplate starting with “BC00”.
George Fullerton Signature Model (1995-2007)
The George Fullerton models have their serial numbers starting with “GF”. 1995 thru June 30th, 1997 have the serial number on the back of the 3-bolt neckplate. July 1st, 1997 thru 2007 have the serial number on the back top of the headstock.
Outlier B Guitars 1997
There was a small batch of guitars produced around April and May of 1987 right before the switch to 4-bolt neckplates that had serial numbers starting with B, even though they were not bass guitars.
-Buffalo Brothers Era July 1st, 1997-2004 (US Made), BBE Era (US Made) 2005-now
July 1st, 1997-present (Buffalo Brothers Era & BBE Era)
All G&L Guitars in this period will have the serial number on the back of the headstock, with a blank 4-bolt neckplate.
July 1st, 1997-1998 (Early Buffalo Brothers Era)
All US-made G&L Guitars in this period will have the serial number printed on the back of the headstock near the top starting with CL, with a blank 4-bolt neckplate.
1999-2010 (Later Buffalo Brothers Era & Early BBE Era)
All US-made G&L Guitars in this period will have the serial number printed on the back of the headstock near the top starting with CLF, with a blank 4-bolt neckplate.
2011-2016 (Mid BBE Era)
All US-made G&L Guitars in this period will have the serial number on the back of the headstock on a screwed in chrome plate starting with CLF, with a blank 4-bolt neckplate.
2017-present (Current BBE Era)
All US-made G&L Guitars in this period will have the serial number printed on the back of the headstock near the middle starting with CLF, with a blank 4-bolt neckplate.
-Tribute & Placentia (Japanese & Korean & Indonesian & Chinese) Models
2000-2003 G&L Tribute (Made in Japan)
The very first overseas mass-produced G&L guitars were made in Japan for just a couple of years, and there were very few of them. I’ve only ever seen a couple. They will say “Tribute” on the headstock, and oddly enough, used the skunk line construction methods on the necks (which G&L hadn’t used since about 1983) and Gotoh tuners (very Japanese guitar), and a printed serial number on the back of the headstock in larger, bolder numbers than any other G&L you’ve ever seen. They also sound pretty good because well, 2000’s Japan. They were produced sparingly from 2000 to circa 2002 or 2003. I have seen some with the “Tribute” scraped off and being sold as “relic’d” USA models, due to the “Tribute” moniker being quite small underneath the “G&L”. Look for the skunk stripe, the Gotoh tuners, and the very large serial numbers. Those three things are the giveaways that it’s a Japanese Tribute G&L, not a US-made G&L.
2003-2006 G&L Tribute (Made in Korea)
The first ramped up full production Tribute models (G&L’s budget line) were made in Korea from 2003-2006. These have “Tribute” in large letters across the front of the headstock, and a serial number printed on the back top of the headstock in numbers only. All current G&L models could be made as Tributes. Always make sure to check the headstock carefully before buying a G&L, especially if it’s being sold to you as “US-made.” Make sure it is. That being said, these early Korean builds were the best of the Tributes (alongside the very rare Japanese ones). The pickups and electronics for the Korean models were still made in the US, just less quality woods were used and they were assembled overseas.
2007-present G&L Tribute (Made in Indonesia)
These Tribute models (G&L’s budget line) were and currently are, made in Indonesia. They are now harder to recognize as the budget line at first glance, as they now say in fine print below the “G&L” moniker: “Tribute Series.” They also have a circular print on the back of the headstock that has the serial number in all numbers, and “Indonesia” printed as well. I would not recommend these guitars especially when the US-made G&L’s can be had used for just a few hundred more if you’re patient on the used market. That being said, if you’re going to go the budget route, these are some of the best budget overseas guitars. All current G&L models are still made as Tributes.
2022-present G&L Placentia (Made in China)
The Placentia models are made in China, and they are denoted by a small “Placentia Series” on the front of the headstock underneath the “G&L”, a silver printed serial number in all numbers on the back of the headstock, and a “Made in China” sticker on the back of the headstock. The production quality is very low, and I would urge you that if you’re going to spend $300 on a Placentia Series, save another $100 and spend $400 on a Tribute Series. The Placentia’s usually have a silverburst finish and a black headstock and are very noticeable. I would love for some beautiful music to be played on them, but they really do not look like they will last and the price point is not low enough to be worth it. Most current G&L models can be made as Placentia’s.