Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
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Sprinter
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
Early to mid 70's Gibson's are hard to date using the serial number. Does the guitar still have the original pots in it? If it does, you can date it by using the pot date codes. Also someone over at the Les Paul forum could probably help you date it. www.lespaulforum.com
Sprinter
Early to mid 70's Gibson's are hard to date using the serial number. Does the guitar still have the original pots in it? If it does, you can date it by using the pot date codes. Also someone over at the Les Paul forum could probably help you date it. www.lespaulforum.com
Sprinter
Innocent_Bystander
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
Does it have "Made in the USA" stamped below the serial number? That would date it after 1969.
Based on that serial it could be a 1970-1972 or 1974-1975.
Does it have "Made in the USA" stamped below the serial number? That would date it after 1969.
Based on that serial it could be a 1970-1972 or 1974-1975.
WeatherReport
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
In many cases its the first and fifth of the serial number. Need more info to say for certain but yours could potentially be a '67. There was a period in the 60's though were they weren't making LP's and 67 very well could be a year they weren't in production. I'm not sure. More research is needed.
In many cases its the first and fifth of the serial number. Need more info to say for certain but yours could potentially be a '67. There was a period in the 60's though were they weren't making LP's and 67 very well could be a year they weren't in production. I'm not sure. More research is needed.
Innocent_Bystander
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
Then it's definitely later than a '69. Try giving Gibson a call at 1-800-444-2766 and see what customer service says. They may have some sort of record of when the guitar shipped.
Then it's definitely later than a '69. Try giving Gibson a call at 1-800-444-2766 and see what customer service says. They may have some sort of record of when the guitar shipped.
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
This might not help this time but I have gone here to trace lots of serial #'s, http://www.guitarnucleus.com/serial.html here's what the Gibson page says Gibson Serial Numbers
1977 to Present (Identifying the Year)
This info is from Gibson's website
Gibson started using it's current method of serializing it's guitars back in 1977. This was an update to the previous system which had been modified several times over the last 100 years.
The current system utilizes an impressed eight digit number that includes a serial number and a date. Here's how the pattern works :
YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank
Since 1989, acoustic guitars built at the Bozeman, Montana facility are ranked from 001-499. Electric Guitars built at the Gibson USA plant in Nashville are ranked from 500-999. Prior to 1984, the numbers 001-499 show Kalamazoo production, 500-999 show Nashville production. The serial numbers from the Custom, Art, and Historic division vary depending on the line. The historic reissue guitars feature historically accurate serial numbers.
Examples:
70108276 = the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.
82765501 = the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.
More detailed info on serial numbers before 1977 are available from Gibson's website in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for download here. http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/GibsonSERIALNUMBERS.pdf
This might not help this time but I have gone here to trace lots of serial #'s, http://www.guitarnucleus.com/serial.html here's what the Gibson page says Gibson Serial Numbers
1977 to Present (Identifying the Year)
This info is from Gibson's website
Gibson started using it's current method of serializing it's guitars back in 1977. This was an update to the previous system which had been modified several times over the last 100 years.
The current system utilizes an impressed eight digit number that includes a serial number and a date. Here's how the pattern works :
YDDDYPPP
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank
Since 1989, acoustic guitars built at the Bozeman, Montana facility are ranked from 001-499. Electric Guitars built at the Gibson USA plant in Nashville are ranked from 500-999. Prior to 1984, the numbers 001-499 show Kalamazoo production, 500-999 show Nashville production. The serial numbers from the Custom, Art, and Historic division vary depending on the line. The historic reissue guitars feature historically accurate serial numbers.
Examples:
70108276 = the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.
82765501 = the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.
More detailed info on serial numbers before 1977 are available from Gibson's website in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for download here. http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/GibsonSERIALNUMBERS.pdf
Last edited:
bryvincent
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
there can't be 574 days in 1967.
anyways, lots of info here:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html#serial
mainpage:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/
there can't be 574 days in 1967.
anyways, lots of info here:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html#serial
mainpage:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/
3th3r
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
Why not email Gibson Customer Service? They are very good at answering this type of question.
Why not email Gibson Customer Service? They are very good at answering this type of question.
T
TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
First and fifth is accurate for some era's.
First and fifth is accurate for some era's.
Hellion
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
By the way, what did you find out? Just curious....
By the way, what did you find out? Just curious....
Bludave
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
If my memory serves me right I believe the way Gibson serial numbers work is the 3rd number represents the decade and the last number represents the year. If that is correct you have a 1972.
If my memory serves me right I believe the way Gibson serial numbers work is the 3rd number represents the decade and the last number represents the year. If that is correct you have a 1972.
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
Hmmmm..... Some of my friend suggest to look at the curve top of the Les Pual. If the curve =is slop to the age it should be later than 70s but if it is like an bow, I mean the rim is a bit higher than 1-2 inchs inner serface, the guitar should be made before 70s.
Look like my guitar is made before 70s.
Hmmmm..... Some of my friend suggest to look at the curve top of the Les Pual. If the curve =is slop to the age it should be later than 70s but if it is like an bow, I mean the rim is a bit higher than 1-2 inchs inner serface, the guitar should be made before 70s.
Look like my guitar is made before 70s.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
Aside from that there were no LPs in 67.
If it says Made In USA it's later than Mid-1969.
I've seen the "non-dished" top carve on instruments from 1970.
Prior to the 1977 scheme it's difficult as numbers have been reused and you need to go off features.
Aside from that there were no LPs in 67.
If it says Made In USA it's later than Mid-1969.
I've seen the "non-dished" top carve on instruments from 1970.
Prior to the 1977 scheme it's difficult as numbers have been reused and you need to go off features.
Voxman
New member
Re: Hi how can I identify the year of my Gibson Les Pual?
In 1961 Gibson introduced a new serialization system for all instruments.These numbers were supposed to be allocatedin a strict sequeence,but this did`nt happen in practice-and the fun started.Many instruments from the 60`s carry duplicated serial numbers,used not only twice but sometimes as six or seven times on different guitars.
Simular problems affected manufacture for the first five years of the 70`s, with numorous duplications of sequences appearing on both60`and 70`s guitars.
In 1961 Gibson introduced a new serialization system for all instruments.These numbers were supposed to be allocatedin a strict sequeence,but this did`nt happen in practice-and the fun started.Many instruments from the 60`s carry duplicated serial numbers,used not only twice but sometimes as six or seven times on different guitars.
Simular problems affected manufacture for the first five years of the 70`s, with numorous duplications of sequences appearing on both60`and 70`s guitars.
