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Gibson Serial Number Reliability

jordanhathaway

New member
Joined
Oct 9, 2019
Messages
1
Hey forum,


I have read a lot of the different sites that describe what the serial numbers should be for specific years. But I have also read that the serial numbers were all over the place in certain years.

So my thread discussion is this...

I have what I believe to be a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. The reason I say believe to have is because everything I have read says the serial number starting with a 9XXXXX (the guitar is at home and I can get the actual serial number if anybody thinks it would help the discussion) is for a 1970, 1971, or 1972. In looking at the pot date, 3 of the 4 are original and have 1973 dates. Is it possible that the serial number starting with a 9 is in fact a 1973?


Thanks for your help!
 

mattnew33

New member
Joined
Jul 14, 2016
Messages
138
I had replied to this thread, and it never got posted... dunno



welcome to the forum...

So.. is it possible... short answer is yes, it might have been a leftover started in '72 and finished in '73... etc.... , the serial numbers in this timeframe are screwy. I had 1970 that everytime I talked to someone that "knew" insisted it was a 1972.... pots had been changed so in reality it was anyones guess... I had no reason to think 1970 vs 1972... it wouldn't change the value of the guitar, so I stuck to what the previous owner told me. For you, if the pots appear original and have 73 date codes I would have no problem calling it a '73 unless there are other details of the guitar that might change that. value wise... in my opinion...others may disagree.... '72 vs '73 isn't going to affect anything really so there is no "pressure" either way to call it either year.

pics would help
 

mattnew33

New member
Joined
Jul 14, 2016
Messages
138
if you can move this to the sunburst pub you might get a better answer...
 

guitplayer

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
2,114
Hey forum,


I have read a lot of the different sites that describe what the serial numbers should be for specific years. But I have also read that the serial numbers were all over the place in certain years.

So my thread discussion is this...

I have what I believe to be a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. The reason I say believe to have is because everything I have read says the serial number starting with a 9XXXXX (the guitar is at home and I can get the actual serial number if anybody thinks it would help the discussion) is for a 1970, 1971, or 1972. In looking at the pot date, 3 of the 4 are original and have 1973 dates. Is it possible that the serial number starting with a 9 is in fact a 1973?


Thanks for your help!
Pics? control cavity and serial#
 
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