Gibson Serial Number Records

[retrobob]

Would Gibson still have old serial # records ?
IOW If I have the original owners/purchacers name, model of guitar, and year purchaced, could they tell me the ser. #?

 

[MapleFlame]

Would Gibson still have old serial # records ?
IOW If I have the original owners/purchacers name, model of guitar, and year purchaced, could they tell me the ser. #?

Call them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't hurt

 

[MikeSlub]

No. They have some old shipping ledgers from the 50's and early 60's, but they simply list the model and serial number, and in some cases the dealer it was shipped to. No solid body records from '58 onward (ledgers were "lost"). They do not have records with purchaser names.

 

[retrobob]

No. They have some old shipping ledgers from the 50's and early 60's, but they simply list the model and serial number, and in some cases the dealer it was shipped to. No solid body records from late '58 onward (ledgers were "lost"). They do not have records with purchaser names.

Bummer! I wish I knew what the ser# was on my LPC.
I'm the second owner. the original owner has passed and the family doesn't have any further info on the guitar.

So, is there a method to the last part of the ser#? Such as # 8 5200
8=58
5200 = the 5,200th instrument built that year?

The pots date to the 8th month of 58, so I assume mines from 58.

 

[MikeSlub]

Bummer! I wish I knew what the ser# was on my LPC.
I'm the second owner. the original owner has passed and the family doesn't have any further info on the guitar.

So, is there a method to the last part of the ser#? Such as # 8 5200
8=58
5200 = the 5,200th instrument built that year?

The pots date to the 8th month of 58, so I assume mines from 58.

Was the serial number removed from the guitar? The pots are a good indication of the year. I assume when you use the initials LPC that you mean Les Paul Custom. :hank

 

[retrobob]

Was the serial number removed from the guitar? The pots are a good indication of the year. I assume when you use the initials LPC that you mean Les Paul Custom. :hank

Yes the guitar is a Les paul Custom 3 pickup. Pots are the 8th week of 1958.
but the ser# was removed when it was refinished back in the 60s.
I'm just trying to gather some info for the restoration. Would like to put the original # back on but, ???

 

[MikeSlub]

Yes the guitar is a Les paul Custom 3 pickup. Pots are the 8th week of 1958.
but the ser# was removed when it was refinished back in the 60s.
I'm just trying to gather some info for the restoration. Would like to put the original # back on but, ???

OK. I don't think you're going to have any luck finding the original serial number. It's too bad they didn't keep the serial number intact. Sorry I can't help more. :hank

 

[JIMI55LP]

Have you looked in all the cavities and under the guard and all plates and covers, sometimes people scratch or write the # in those places? If the guitar wasn't stripped it may still be under the refin, try polishing with 1000 grit wet sand paper to probe for it before you strip it for your restoration.

 

[MikeSlub]

The original hang tag may have also had the serial number on it, but I'm guessing that isn't with the guitar. :hank

 

[retrobob]

No, Its probably still in the original case which I don't have either. :rolleyes

Have you looked in all the cavities and under the guard and all plates and covers, sometimes people scratch or write the # in those places? If the guitar wasn't stripped it may still be under the refin, try polishing with 1000 grit wet sand paper to probe for it before you strip it for your restoration.

I thought of that & did look, but I can't find anything. The original finish is long gone. they re-did it in natural.

 

[MapleFlame]

Well we know it starts with 8 :rofl :lol

I would ask for pot codes on some guys 58's and also look at some serials base on those codes. The 58 Standard LP's too. Being that it's a very early production pot code, it could be a lower number for sure Something Like,

8 1348.

 

[retrobob]

Well we know it starts with 8 :rofl :lol

I would ask for pot codes on some guys 58's and also look at some serials base on those codes. The 58 Standard LP's too. Being that it's a very early production pot code, it could be a lower number for sure Something Like,

8 1348.

Exactly! Anyone have info to share on 1958 ser#s with early pot code dates?

 

[MikeSlub]

Exactly! Anyone have info to share on 1958 ser#s with early pot code dates?

Pot codes can help approximate the year a guitar was made, but they are an imprecise way to date the serial number range within a year. I've seen early '58 pots in geetars with a '59 serial number, for example. :hank

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

Pots were bought in large batches and got used up over a few months. I get the feeling that Gibson bought pots ~4-5 times a year (less? more?).

IMO the best you can do is say that your guitar was probably made in the first 4 months of 1958.

:salude

 

[MapleFlame]

Pots were bought in large batches and got used up over a few months. I get the feeling that Gibson bought pots ~4-5 times a year (less? more?).

IMO the best you can do is say that your guitar was probably made in the first 4 months of 1958.

:salude

I think you nailed it.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Bummer! I wish I knew what the ser# was on my LPC.
I'm the second owner. the original owner has passed and the family doesn't have any further info on the guitar.

So, is there a method to the last part of the ser#? Such as # 8 5200
8=58
5200 = the 5,200th instrument built that year?

The pots date to the 8th month of 58, so I assume mines from 58.

No, they definitely did not use an order to their serial numbers in this way. What you need are serial numbers and matching pot codes from 1958 LP Customs [and not other models].
But, be very careful making up a number for this guitar, as it is likely to be a number that was actually used on another guitar, and might create a huge problem if the made up number turns out to still be in existance.
This is why I numbered my 59 refin as 1959 [and not 9-1959 or similar], so it could not possibly have the same number as another Burst.

 

[RickN]

Yes the guitar is a Les paul Custom 3 pickup. Pots are the 8th week of 1958.

Based on the pot codes you posted in your other thread, those are Stackpole pots, and those aren't native to Gibsons in that era. At least that I've ever seen. (If someone can absolutely, positively show me an unmolested Gibson of that era with original Stackpole pots, I'll retract this statement.)

Since those likely came from somewhere else (in my opinion), I wouldn't put too much weight on the date codes of those pots having anything to do with the age of the guitar itself... :hmm

 

[MapleFlame]

Based on the pot codes you posted in your other thread, those are Stackpole pots, and those aren't native to Gibsons in that era. At least that I've ever seen. (If someone can absolutely, positively show me an unmolested Gibson of that era with original Stackpole pots, I'll retract this statement.)

Since those likely came from somewhere else (in my opinion), I wouldn't put too much weight on the date codes of those pots having anything to do with the age of the guitar itself... :hmm

Well that sinks the ship. Thanks Rick for clearing this up.:salude

 

[RickN]

I need to give credit where it's due - there was more than one 'detective' involved. I hadn't read the other thread until just earlier today. Rev.WillieVK had the original :hmm and discussed it with me on the phone this morning. I just verified the pot manufacturer code for my own purposes and stole the Rev's thunder by posting it first! :hee :spabout

 

[retrobob]

Based on the pot codes you posted in your other thread, those are Stackpole pots, and those aren't native to Gibsons in that era. At least that I've ever seen. (If someone can absolutely, positively show me an unmolested Gibson of that era with original Stackpole pots, I'll retract this statement.)

Since those likely came from somewhere else (in my opinion), I wouldn't put too much weight on the date codes of those pots having anything to do with the age of the guitar itself... :hmm

Thanks Dr. I'll have to check that prefix again to make sure.
They look exactly like the ones on your site.

[/QUOTE]
No, they definitely did not use an order to their serial numbers in this way. What you need are serial numbers and matching pot codes from 1958 LP Customs [and not other models].
But, be very careful making up a number for this guitar, as it is likely to be a number that was actually used on another guitar, and might create a huge problem if the made up number turns out to still be in existance.
This is why I numbered my 59 refin as 1959 [and not 9-1959 or similar], so it could not possibly have the same number as another Burst.[/QUOTE]

Thankyou! This is what I want to avoid, taking another number in existance.
Thats why I was hoping for a way to find the original #.