Characteristics: Exactly 8 digits, no spaces, no letters. This is the most common format on Godin electrics (Freeway, Session, Progression, Radius) and acoustics (Seagull S6, etc. — but note: the Godin brand acoustic uses similar codes).
Decoding Rules (The “YMMDDXXX” Hypothesis): After years of research by Godin owners and dealers, the consensus is that most 8-digit codes break down like this:
Let’s re-examine 04515287:
But that’s needlessly complex. The simpler, reliable method: godin guitar serial number lookup
Standard 8-digit decode:
Thus, a “Godin serial number lookup” for 04515287 would return: Assembled in late December 2004.
Pro tip: If the 3rd and 4th digits are between
01and53, they represent the week of the year. If between01and12, they likely represent the month. Test both. Characteristics: Exactly 8 digits, no spaces, no letters
| Serial Number | Year | Day (Julian) | Actual Date |
|---------------|------|--------------|--------------|
| 04051234 | 2004 | 051 | Feb 20, 2004 |
| 15300123 | 2015 | 300 | Oct 27, 2015 |
| 22001001 | 2022 | 001 | Jan 1, 2022 |
Characteristics: 5 to 7 digits, stamped vertically or horizontally. No letters. Usually found on early Godin electrics like the Radiator, LG, or SD.
Decoding Rules:
Lookup result for
865123: This guitar was likely made in 1988 (#65,123th produced that fiscal year? Not exactly—Godin’s early records are spotty. More reliably: 1988).
Limitation: These early numbers are often inconsistent. If you have a pre-1995 Godin, the serial is best used to confirm the model’s era, not a precise month.
In the last decade, Godin has moved toward standardizing the rear of the headstock, just below the tuning pegs. Look for an etched or laser-printed number. Let’s re-examine 04515287 :
You cannot perform a lookup if you cannot find the number. Unlike a Martin (on the neck block) or a Fender (on the headstock), Godin is inconsistent.