This page is part of our Levin information pages.
| Goya serial numbers |
Serial numbers on Goya instruments made by Levin normally consists of four to seven digits,
either hand written or printed on a Goya label. During
1954-1960 that number was a six digit
Levin serial number, and during
1960-1972 several other series was used. However, on some
instruments, a six digit Levin serial number was impressed into the top edge of the headstock.
Those instruments usually says Goya on the headstock but have a Levin label.
| Goya brand name owners |
| Owner | Time period |
| Hershman Musical Instrument Co., Inc. | 1954 - Dec. 9, 1963 |
| Goya Guitars, Inc. / Goya Music Corporation | Dec. 9, 1963 - Jul. 17, 1967 |
| Avnet, Inc. | Jul. 17, 1967 - Sept. 21, 1970 |
| Kustom Electronics, Inc. | Sept. 21, 1970 - Sept. 6, 1972 |
| Dude, Inc. | Sept. 6, 1972 - Nov. 3, 1976 |
| C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. | Nov. 3, 1976 - Feb. 25, 1999 |
| 1954 - 1957 |
| Six digits hand written on "Made By A.B. HERMAN CARLSON" label. |
Photo by courtesy of Tom M. Short II.  1954 - 1957 |
Photo by courtesy of Russ Kern.  Made for Gretsch 1956 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 303552 - 321200 | 1954 |
| 321201 - 336743 | 1955 |
| 336744 - 350110 | 1956 |
| 350111 - 366295 | 1957 |
| 1957 |
| Six digits hand written on "Made By A.B. HERMAN CARLSON LEVIN", "Distributed By" label. |
Photographer: unknown We need a better photo of this type of label. Please help!  1957 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 350111 - 366295 | 1957 |
| 1957 - 1958 |
| Six digits hand written on "Made By" label. |
Photographer: unknown  1957 - 1958 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 350111 - 366295 | 1957 |
| 366296 - 384905 | 1958 |
| 1958 - 1959 |
| Six digits printed on "Made By" label. |
Photo by courtesy of Magnus Hultin.  1958 - 1959 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 366296 - 384905 | 1958 |
| 384906 - 402016 | 1959 |
| ca 1959 - ca 1965 |
| Four, five or six digits printed on "NEW YORK 10, N. Y." label. |
Photo by courtesy of Russ Kern.  ca 1959 - ca 1965 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 384906 - 402016 | 1959 |
| 2xxx - 9xxxx | ca 1960 |
| 9xxxx - 97xxx | ca 1961 |
| 97xxx - 12xxxx | ca 1962 |
| 12xxxx - 15xxxx | ca 1963 |
| 15xxxx - 24xxxx | ca 1964 |
| 24xxxx | ca 1965 |
| ca 1964 - ca 1967 |
| Six digits printed on "N. Y. 10010" label. |
Photo by courtesy of Top Shelf Music  ca 1964 - ca 1967 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 22xxxx - 24xxxx | ca 1964 |
| 24xxxx - 31xxxx | ca 1965 |
| 31xxxx - 35xxxx | ca 1966 |
| 35xxxx - 38xxxx | ca 1967 |
| ca 1967 - ca 1968 |
| Seven digits printed on "N. Y. 10010" label. |
Photo by courtesy of www.vintage-guitars.se  ca 1968 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 35xxxxx - 37xxxxx | ca 1967 |
| 37xxxxx - 38xxxxx | ca 1968 |
| ca 1968 - ca 1971 |
| Seven digits printed on "GOYA MUSIC" label. |
Photo by courtesy of eBay member canogaslim.  ca 1968 - ca 1971 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 37xxxxx - 38xxxxx | ca 1968 |
| 38xxxxx - 41xxxxx | ca 1969 |
| 41xxxxx - 50xxxxx | ca 1970 |
| ca 1971 |
| Four digits stamped on "GOYA MUSIC" label. |
Photo by courtesy of www.vintage-guitars.se  ca 1971 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 1xxx - 2xxx | ca 1971 |
| ca 1971 |
| Four digits stamped on "THE SPECIAL SOUND" label. |
Photo by courtesy of Garrett Park Guitars  ca 1971 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 1xxx - 2xxx | ca 1971 - ca 1972 |
| ca 1971 |
| No serial number on "THE SPECIAL SOUND" label. |
Photo by courtesy of eBay member canogaslim.  ca 1971 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| No number | ca 1971 |
| ca 1971 - ca 1972 |
|
When Dude, Inc. bought the Goya brand name on September 6, 1972, they also took over the remaining stock of already delivered Goya instruments from Kustom Electronics, Inc. and had them relabled. |
| Four or five digits printed on "DUDE" label. |
Photo by courtesy of Greg Deanda.  ca 1971 - ca 1972 |
| Serial number range | Year |
| 5xxxx | ca 1971 - ca 1972 |