Dating a gibson les paul classic

Les Paul Classic: This model features an ink stamped serial number with no " MADE IN USA" (just as we used on the original Les.
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My guess is to hinder counterfeiting, among other things.

If you're a scammer and you don't know the Gibson protocol, you can't just make up a number thinking nobody will notice. I typed mine into the damn, just forgot - is it guitarfinder? The link's in several threads on this forum - Tim A, help and it told me mine was made in the 60's. If it's got a 6 digit number then the first two refer to the year of manufacture. Follow Tim's link as well. Most will be 5 to 6 digits in length, but the earliest examples feature 4 digit serial numbers. There should be a space after the 1st digit with the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers, and no space with the 6 digit numbers.

Classic serial numbers

The 1st and 2nd indicate the year of manufacture for the 6 digit serial numbers which we've been using since The link's in several threads on this forum - Tim A, help and it told me mine was made in the 60s. Maybe Gibson have been a bit too authentic, or they're just out to keep us all occupied. That has been very helpful. Mine's obscure enough Gibson cannot give me an exact build date.

Late or early is the best they can do. There were only about 47 made, possibly in only two batches. Except for the prototype which was cherry sunburst , most were painted in a ruddy reddish-brown color.

Gibson Brands Forums: How do the Les Paul Classic serial numbers work? - Gibson Brands Forums

The wood for the tops of these guitars was carefully selected by Guitar Trader. Most Guitar Trader LPs have exquisite quartersawn flame tops, except for the prototype, which was quilted. The backplates for the control cavity and switch are black. These guitars sport the narrow binding in the cutaway and have the large tortoiseshell side dot markers. They tended to be a bit lighter in weight than the Heritage 80s, have a more accurate cutaway carve and headstock, and many of the parts were replaced by Guitar Trader to be closer to vintage specs.

The guitar has excellent fit, finish, tone, and playability. There is much confusion in the collector community over authentication of a Guitar Trader. These guitars had cherry sunburst tops, wireless ABR-1 bridge, one-piece mahogany neck, more accurate headstock shape, large tortoiseshell side dot markers, thin binding in the cutaway, and other accurate parts, as well as a long neck tenon, which none of the Gibson-produced LPs had at the time.

After receiving a cease-and-desist order from Gibson, Guitar Trader stopped making these bootlegs. Besides the bootleg serial number 9 pictured here which weighs 9 pounds, 9 ounces , another bootleg appears in the Burst Gang book under Guitar Trader replicas, with a serial number very close to the guitar shown. Approximately were made, with at least half going overseas. All had breathtaking flame tops, most in Cherry Sunburst, although some were done in Honeyburst, and a goldtop was available, as well.

The Kalamazoo-made Leos have large tortoiseshell side dot markers, a medium-sized one-piece mahogany neck, white Shaw reissue PAFs, single-collar Kluson-style tuning gears with no writing on the back, and thin binding in the cutaway.

Unboxing My 2019 Gibson Les Paul Classic Ebony

These guitars are of medium weight, play very well, have excellent fit and finish, and great tone. Leos can be easily identified because the first digit of their serial number is an L. The model serial number 8 has black backplates for the control cavity and switch, large tortoiseshell side dot markers, and weighs 9 pounds 9 ounces. The model serial number 0 has brown backplates, large black side dot markers, and weighs 9 pounds 2 ounces. The Les Paul Standard 82 was made in Kalamazoo. The example here weighs 10 pounds.

He invites anyone with additional information or questions about the history of pre-reissue Les Pauls or any other Gibson model to contact him at MikeSlub aol. So double check the serial numbers. In the earlier years at Gibson, guitars were.

Help dating a Gibson Les Paul Classic | My Les Paul Forum

Thus, the older Gibson guitars may have a serial. The F O N may indicate the year, batch number, and the ranking order of production. This system is useful in helping to date and authenticate instruments. There are three separate groupings of. The numbers are usually stamped or.

Help dating a Gibson Les Paul Classic

F O Ns for the years usually consisted of the batch number, a letter for the year and the. Code Letter F O Ns were discontinued after , and any instruments made during or right after World.


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In , a four digit F O N was used, but not in conjunction with any. From , the F O N scheme followed the pattern of a letter, the batch number and an instrument. The F O N is the only identification number. Higher grade models such as the Super , L-5, J, etc. When both numbers are present on a higher grade model, remember that the F O N was assigned at the.


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There are still some variances that Gibson uses on some instruments produced today, but for the most part. For the most accurate identification you would need to. The pattern is as follows: Prior to when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers continued to indicate Nashville production through