Ronhawker Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 I have just gotten a Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute model that seems to be from 2004 based on the serial number look up. What has changed in the model since it was made in 2004? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iankinzel Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 The Tribute line didn't come out until 2009/2010. I've attached a screen shot of the Epiphone site as it existed in 2004, with a full list of the Les Paul models Epiphone was putting out at the time (other than the Elitist line). The serial dater website is not a database; it's not like they have a list of all the serial numbers out there. Instead, the site is coded to recognize certain serial number patterns, and then translate those patterns into information: year, month, factory etc. However, the website is incomplete, and it's missing several patterns - most notably the pattern for the entire Tribute line, including the 1960 Tribute model. As an example, I went to the Sweetwater website to find a brand-spanking-new Epiphone Les Paul Tribute (so 2017 or 2018) with a "Made in China" sticker on it. I took that serial number, entered it into the serial dater website, and got "made in Fujigen, Japan in 2003." That's clearly wrong, as this was a guitar made in China in the last year or so. Here is a more complete resource on Epiphone serial numbers: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/139846-epiphone-serial-number-decoding/ Here is the section from that post that is relevant to you: F-Serial Numbers on Les Paul Standard '59/'60 Models and Tribute/Plus Models The latest serial number system used by Epiphone has not yet been completely deciphered. The new "F" models are made in China. The new system seems to be just continously running model numbers rather than a dedicated code for year, month, and place of manufacture. F300000 = late 2009 used on LP Std'59/Std'60/Tribute models Continued around F310650~F311050 in spring 2012 on Tribute-Plus models Continued around F305000 in 2011 Continued around F310000 in 2012 Continued around F317000 in 2013 Continued around F324000 in 2014 Continued around F330000 in 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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