General Information/Serialization

Martin has produced three general styles of mandolins besides their Backpacker series. The first style is the bowlback style, which have very deep bowls and a bent top. These were the first models with the G-prefix, followed by Style numbers. The second style is the flat-back series, which models are designated by a letter (A-E), The third style is the carved top and back series. These models have strict numbers for designations. They also made mandolas and mandocellos.
Martin mandolins featured their own serialization system separate from guitars until 1991. From 1991 to 2002, the same serialization system was used on all instrument ranges that Martin produces in the U.S.A. In 1976, Martin also stamped some mandolins with guitar serialization. Backpacker mandolins have their own serialization system as well. The following chart indicates the last number used for each year since 1895 on U.S.-built mandolins.
Year Last number
1895 - 23
1896 - 112
1897 - 155
1898 - 359
1899 - 577
1900 - 800
1901 - 881
1902 - 1171
1903 - 1348
1904 - 1507
1905 - 1669
1906 - 2026
1907 - 2357
1908 - 2510
1909 - 2786
1910 - 3098
1911 - 3431
1912 - 3847
1913 - 4162
1914 - 4462
1915 - 4767
1916 - 5007
1917 - 5752
1918 - 6370
1919 - 7237
1920 - 8761
1921 - 9627
1922 - 10196
1923 - 11020
1924 - 11809
1925 - 12520
1926 - 13359
1927 - 13833
1928 - 14170
1929 - 14630
1930 - 14892
1931 - 15290
1932 - 15476
1933 - 15528
1934 - 15729
1935 - 15887
1936 - 16156
1937 - 16437
1938 - 16580
1939 - 16747
1940 - 16957
1941 - 17263
1942 - 17405
1957 - 22985
1958 - 23111
1959 - 23262
1960 - 23512
1961 - 23663
1962 - 23938
1963 - 24139
1964 - 24339
1965 - 24439
1966 - 24564
1967 - 24639
1968 - 24839
1969 - 24989
1970 - 25039
1971 - 25139
1972 - 25289
1973 - 25339
1974 - 25679
1975 - 25895
1976 - 26045 (Also 259996-260020)
1977 - 26101
1978 - 26101
1979 - 26112
1980 - 26156
1981 - 26215
1982 - 26225
1983 - 26247
1984 - 26254
1985 - 26263
1986 - 26273
1987 - 26279
1988 - 26281
1989 - 26281
1990 - 26291
1991 - 26297 (Also 509122)
1992 - 522655
1993 - 535223
1994 - 551696
1995 - 570434
1996 - 592930
1997 - 624799
1998 - 668796
1999 - 724077
2000 - 780500
2001 - 845644
2002 - 916759