Vintage Gibson dating help......?

[Frogman]

I have an old Gibson Flattop that I'm having trouble dating.

The serial # is 3109xx

Cosmetically it looks very similar to a Hummingbird Flattop, but with a black pickguard (same shape).

Any help appreciated.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Vintage Gibson dating help......?

Whats the rest of the SN?

Is it inked or stamped or both?

Whats the tag in the sound hole say?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Vintage Gibson dating help......?

FWIW, I think it's a later square shoulder Country and Western model but I can't be 100% w/o more info.

 

[tonello]

Re: Vintage Gibson dating help......?

I have an old Gibson Flattop that I'm having trouble dating.

Um, tell her how you feel?

 

[Frogman]

Re: Vintage Gibson dating help......?

Whats the rest of the SN?

Is it inked or stamped or both?

Whats the tag in the sound hole say?

There's no "tag" in the sound hole. Only 2 small letters "S. J."


310984 -- looks possibly inked and stamped. No "made in USA".

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Vintage Gibson dating help......?

I'm betting Country and Western for sure which was called the Southern Jumbo at various points.

They went to the Martin type square shoulders in 1963 and went to the adjustable bridge in 1964 and based on the 6 digit SN with no MIA stamp it's a 1965 or 1967.

However 2 things do confuse me a bit...

The blackguards were used on the versions with a natural or blond top while the burst versions got tort guards and the bridge on yours is upside down from what Gibson used during that time period...

Is it possible that your guard is tort and just looks black from the angle the pic was taken??