Godin is a Canadian guitar company founded by Robert Godin in 1972 in Quebec.
Godin guitars have used serial numbers since the first production years in the late 1980s. The format changed over time. Early guitars can have short serial numbers. Later guitars use more structured systems, including 7-digit, 8-digit, and 12-digit formats. A serial number can help date your guitar.
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Where to Find Godin Serial Number
On many Godin guitars made after 1993, the serial number is engraved on the back of the headstock.
On earlier guitars, especially acoustics, the serial number is stamped or printed on the paper label inside the body near the soundhole.
Early Godin Serial Number 1987-1993
Most early Godin serial numbers are 4 digits or 5 digits long. They are usually stamped into the wood on the back of the headstock. A short number usually means the guitar was made before 1993.
A short early Godin serial number is a simple sequential number. It is not a date-coded. That means you cannot read the year directly from the digits.
Early Godin serial numbers do not have a reliable chart that lets you turn each number into one exact year.
Most known 4-digit Godin serial numbers point to 1987-1991.
Most known 5-digit Godin serial numbers point to 1992-1993. In many cases, a 5-digit serial is the quickest sign that the guitar was made in the early 1990s.
There is one important exception. Some very early 1994 Godin guitars, especially first-period Multiac examples, can still have a 5-digit stamp on the back of the headstock.
7-Digit Godin Serial Number
Godin started using 7-digit serial numbers in early 1993. A 7-digit Godin serial number usually appears on the back of the headstock.
A 7-digit Godin serial number is read like this:
- the first digit shows the production year in the 1990s.
- the next two digits show the production week.
- the fourth digit shows the production day.
- the last three digits show the production number for that week.
Godin uses a production year that starts on August 1. Because of that, the serial year does not always match the calendar year. A guitar with a serial that starts with 3 belongs to the 1993 production year, but it could have been built between August 1, 1992 and July 31, 1993.
Example: 3064123.
How to read:
- 3 = 1993 production year.
- 06 = week 6 of that production year.
- 4 = day 4 of that week.
- 123 = the 123rd guitar in that weekly count.
In practical use, a 7-digit Godin serial number usually points to a guitar from 1993 or 1994.
8-Digit Godin Serial Number
The 8-digit serial number is the main format used on many Godin guitars from the mid-1990s until the late 2007.
An 8-digit Godin serial number is read in four parts.
- The first 2 digits show the production year. Godin‘s production year starts on August 1 and ends on July 31.
- The next 2 digits show the production week.
- The 5th digit shows the day of the week. Godin counts 1 = Monday, 2 = Tuesday, 3 = Wednesday, 4 = Thursday, 5 = Friday.
- The last 3 digits show the production number for that week.
Example: 05034148.
The 05 means the 2005 production year.
The 03 means week 3.
The 4 means day 4, or Thursday.
The 148 means it was the 148th guitar counted in that production week.
Since the 2005 production year begins on August 1, 2004, this example points to a guitar built in August 2004, not calendar year 2005.
12-Digit Godin Serial Number
Godin switched to a 12-digit serial number format in late 2007. This format does not include the production date. You cannot date the guitar directly from this serial number alone. The serial number may be on a label instead of the headstock.
How to read:
The first 6 digits are the model code.
The 7th digit shows factory second status (0 means regular production. 9 means factory second).
The last 5 digits are the running count for that model.
For example, a serial number 123456000321 means model code 123456, regular production, and the 321st guitar of that model.
In practical use, a 12-digit Godin serial number is better for model identification than for dating. If your guitar has this format, it means it was made in late 2007 or later. The exact year usually has to be confirmed another way.
Godin Family Brands And Their Serial Numbers
Godin is a whole family of brands. They generally share the same serial number system as Godin itself. However, some brands have their own unique features:
La Patrie.
La Patrie started in 1982 as a small luthier shop in La Patrie, Quebec. Its serial numbers are generally treated the same way as Godin serial numbers.
Simon & Patrick.
Simon & Patrick was introduced in 1986. It was founded by Robert Godin and named after his sons. Its serial numbers follow the same system as Godin‘s.
Art & Lutherie.
Art & Lutherie appeared in the mid 1990s as a Godin-family brand. It used the standard 8-digit and 12-digit Godin serial number formats.
Richmond.
Richmond was introduced in 2008 as a Godin brand. It stands out from many other later Godin-family acoustics because Richmond used an 8-digit serial number engraved on the back of the headstock. The first 2 digits show the production year. That makes Richmond a useful exception to the more common later 12-digit pattern seen on many other Godin instruments.
Seagull Serial Number
Seagull is a later Godin brand. Robert Godin launched the first Seagull guitars in 1982.
On early Seagull guitars, the serial number is usually stamped on the paper label inside the soundhole. On pre-1993 guitars, these numbers are 4, 5, or 6 digits long. They are not date-coded, so you cannot read the exact year directly from the number alone.
The short serial number on the label indicates that the guitar was made in the 1980s or early 1990s.
You can use this table of serial numbers for Seagull guitars from the 1980s to early 1990s. However, these numbers are approximate. There is no official data on these serial numbers.
| Year | Serial Numbers |
|---|---|
| 1982 to 1985 | 0001 to 8940 |
| 1986 | 8941 to 10251 |
| 1987 | 10252 to 14386 |
| 1988 | 14387 to 17893 |
| 1989 | 17894 to 23893 |
| 1990 | 23894 to 33151 |
| 1991 | 33152 to 46661 |
| 1992 | 46662 to 61323 |
| 1993 | 61324 and later |
Some early Seagull guitars are missing the label, and some guitars has no serial number at all. If there is no serial number, check the full label, headstock logo, tuners, and other original features before trying to date the guitar.
Starting in 1993, Seagull used the same shared serial number system as Godin. If your Seagull has a 7-digit serial number, it belongs to the 1990s, and the first digit shows the production year in that decade. If your Seagull has an 8-digit serial number: the first 2 digits show the production year.
At the end of 2007, Seagull, like Godin, switched to a common 12-digit format. This serial number does not show the build year.
Norman Serial Number
Norman is a Quebec acoustic guitar brand founded in 1968 by Normand Boucher. Robert Godin was involved with Norman from the early years as its distributor, and he acquired the company in 1989.
Norman is older than the Godin brand itself. The earliest Norman guitars date from 1969 to 1970. Many guitars from these first years do not have a serial number at all. On very early Norman guitars, the label inside the body is often more useful than the serial number.
From 1971 to 1979, each model had its own serial number sequence, and each sequence started at 1001. That means two different Norman models can have the same serial number from this period. For example, a B20, B30, and B50 can all exist with serial number 2223. Because of that, the serial number alone is not enough. You also need the model name and the label style.
From 1980 to 1989, Norman moved to a single serial number sequence across the line.
Many guitars from 1980 to 1988 also show a B-prefix.
Norman also changed the label. The 1980 to 1989 label shows Normand Boucher working on a guitar, with a border of yellow maple leaves. If your guitar has that label, it belongs to the 1980s.
The label is the best dating clue for 1971 to 1989 Norman guitars:
- A small red label with a central maple leaf points to 1971 to 1973.
- A white label with red text points to 1974 or 1975, depending on the model.
- A large red label with a white maple leaf and the bilingual line Fabrique au Canada – Made in Canada points to 1974 to 1980.
Later Norman guitars used the same shared serial number systems as Godin.
If Your Guitar Has No Serial Number
If your guitar has no serial number, or if the number cannot be dated, look for other factory clues on the instrument itself.
On some Godin bolt-on electric guitars, removing the neck can reveal a handwritten or stamped date on the neck heel. When that date is there, it is one of the best clues you can use.
On electric Godin models, check the volume and tone pots if the electronics still look original. Potentiometers are stamped with markings that usually include the manufacturer’s name, as well as the week number and year. They do not tell you the final date, but they can give you the earliest possible build period for the guitar.
On Godin synth-access models, the electronics can help too. Some guitars with RMC systems have a date code on the internal board. For example, 120517, read as 2012-05-17. That does not always date the whole guitar by itself, but it can confirm the period of the electronics and help you spot a later replacement part.
The model name can also set an earliest year. Godin guitars were established in 1987. The Acousticaster was introduced in 1988. The Artisan series started in 1992. The Multiac line followed in 1995. The 5th Avenue appeared in 2008, and the Montreal Premiere in 2014. If your guitar matches one of these lines, it cannot be older than that launch year.
Godin’s Multiac guide gives date ranges for older versions such as Multiac Steel SA 1994 to 2009, Multiac Jazz 2002 to 2011, and ACS-SA USB 2010 to 2012. It also explains feature clues that help identify a period, such as SA models with a 13-pin synth system, Grand Concert models with a 2-inch nut and a 12th-fret neck joint, and Slim models with a 1.7-inch nut.
On acoustic guitars, neck construction can also help. Pre-2006 Seagulls use bolt-on necks, while post-2006 Seagulls use epoxied neck joints.
If the guitar still cannot be dated, use the exact model details as your next step. Bridge type, pickup layout, onboard electronics, and neck specs often changed when a model line changed.
You can also contact Godin‘s support. They have some information about serial numbers that isn’t publicly available.