Les Paul serial number

Harborne_Blue

Apart from on the headstock, do Gibson put the s/n anywhere apart from the headstock? I've had my LP std for over 20 years and when it had the headstock repair a while ago, the s/n disappeared under the (lovely) mustard finish which had to be re-done.

I believe it's a 77 but would like to date it simply for my own benefit and because my mate did it for his SG and is being smug about it... 

WezV

Some of Gibson’s serial numbers are next to worthless., certainly in the early 70’s.  I am less sure about the second half of the decade

ICBM

The serial number isn't anywhere else, but you can date it from the pot codes if they're original - and assuming they're not all covered with solder.

Each pot has a code which should read 137yyww, where yy is the year of manufacture and ww is the week. The guitar will have been made within a few weeks or months after the pot dates.

Funkfingers

Gibson lost its way somewhat under Norlin. The LP Heritage 80 model was their attempt to get back on track.

Harborne_Blue

Cheers guys - numbers look like 137 81 50 so probably an 81 model.

ICBM

Harborne_Blue said:

Cheers guys - numbers look like 137 81 50 so probably an 81 model.

1982. The pot was made in the third last week of 1981, it's very unlikely it would be shipped to Gibson, fitted and the guitar finished in two weeks over Christmas .

hotpickups

ICBM said:

Harborne_Blue said:

Cheers guys - numbers look like 137 81 50 so probably an 81 model.

1982. The pot was made in the third last week of 1981, it's very unlikely it would be shipped to Gibson, fitted and the guitar finished in two weeks over Christmas .

Same year as mine. Love it

Harborne_Blue

Love mine too. Only problem is that it's so flipping heavy - but I guess that's what 0% finance is for ;-)