Les Paul serial numbers?

[rspst14]

Hey guys, does anyone know how to tell what year a Les Paul was made, based on the serial number? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ryan

[StratTom]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

Here check this out:

http://www.gibson.com/search/serialnumber.html

[bryvincent]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

i think there's a slight error on the site. in 1990 the montana factory started to use nos.1-299 and the nashville factory starting at 300. ived seen 90s and current les pauls with last 3 digit below 500

[rspst14]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

Wow, sometimes I think those guys at Gibson could screw up a free lunch.
Based on that serial number information, the guitar I'm looking at could be a '65, '68, '74, or '75 model.

Does anyone know if all 70's models had "Made in USA" stamped on the back of the headstocks? According to that site, "Made in USA" was stamped on the back of the headstocks in 1970, but it doesn't say if Gibson kept doing it throughout the 70's.

This is one of those situations where the seller knows nothing about guitars, so they're not going to be able to help me that much. If it happens to be a 60's model, this could potentially be a huge gear score for me at a great price. Are there any other distinguishing features that I could use to determine what year it was made? Thanks for the help.

Ryan

[Ez74]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

if the "i" is dotted on the logo than it is at least a '72

[Grandor]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

if the "i" is dotted on the logo than it is at least a '72

hmm, Ive never heard of that one before

[Norman_T]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

hmm, Ive never heard of that one before

Taken from the Gibson Electrics document - Identifying the Gibson Headstock:

"In 1947, the logo that is still in use today made its debut. This logo has a block styling with the G having a tail, the i dot is touching the G, the b and o are open and the n is connected at the bottom. The logo is still slanted. By 1951, the dot on the i was no longer connected to the G. In 1967, the logo styling became even more squared (pentographed) with the b and o becoming closed and the i dot being removed.

In 1970, Gibson replaced the black tinted piece of wood that had been used on the peghead face with a black fiber that the logo and other peghead inlay were placed into. With the change in peghead facing came a slightly smaller logo lettering. In 1972, the i dot reappeared on the peghead logo. In 1981, the n is connected at the top of the o. There are a few models through the years that do not follow this timeline, ie: reissues and limited editions, but most of the production instruments can be found with the above feature changes".

[Ez74]

Re: Les Paul serial numbers?

i got the info from the newest blue book