Meast21 Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Yeah Bought a 1974 Gibson and It has a serial # which makes it a 1974 but has no made in the USA by the serial #, whats up with that ?? ...... Also has a "2" above the serial #. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sellen Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Could be wrong but i think i read here that they had a oval sticker with Made In USA sometime in the '70s. Again speculation could the 2 be a factory second, a guitar with a small blemish. Anyway do you like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Yeah Bought a 1974 Gibson and It has a serial # which makes it a 1974 but has no made in the USA by the serial #, whats up with that ?? ...... Also has a "2" above the serial #. The 2 does mean its a second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Could be wrong but i think i read here that they had a oval sticker with Made In USA sometime in the '70s. Well not wrong, but not specific enough to be useful. The serial number stickers were used in 75, 76, 77, and the 8-digit number were formatted with a 2-digit prefix code for the year, with the MIA and model listed. If the OP thinks he has a '74, it must have a 6-digit number. The problem with the 6-digit number system is that with duplications and such, it is virtually useless in dating instruments, especially of the late-60s/early 70's. As the SG underwent many changes from 66-73, there is much more info required just to put a date on them, but the "era" is pretty easy to determine. Potentiometer codes are also very useful, and many times required. As for the no "Made In USA", sometimes they were impressed very shallow and hard to see, and if the guitar was refinished it might have been sanded off. Also a '74 would have a headstock "volute" which would instantly identify it as a 1970+ instrument. Anyway... this is all to say that if it IS a 1974 instrument, it DID (or DOES) have the "Made In USA" stamp. Oh, and the "2" means it was a factory "second" (deemed to have some imperfection when it left the factory), what that REALLY means has been debated for 50 years. The legend is that "seconds" had a finish flaw. I've seen many "seconds", even hanging in stores when new, and have never been able to point to something and say "there, that's why it's a "second". I think Gibson just wanted to put a few discounted instruments on the market. How about some photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Hello Meast, welcome here, I guess it's all good with your SG but confirming this will take... some pictures, please! Just love those 1970s SGs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meast21 Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Well not wrong, but not specific enough to be useful. The serial number stickers were used in 75, 76, 77, and the 8-digit number were formatted with a 2-digit prefix code for the year, with the MIA and model listed. If the OP thinks he has a '74, it must have a 6-digit number. The problem with the 6-digit number system is that with duplications and such, it is virtually useless in dating instruments, especially of the late-60s/early 70's. As the SG underwent many changes from 66-73, there is much more info required just to put a date on them, but the "era" is pretty easy to determine. Potentiometer codes are also very useful, and many times required. As for the no "Made In USA", sometimes they were impressed very shallow and hard to see, and if the guitar was refinished it might have been sanded off. Also a '74 would have a headstock "volute" which would instantly identify it as a 1970+ instrument. Anyway... this is all to say that if it IS a 1974 instrument, it DID (or DOES) have the "Made In USA" stamp. Oh, and the "2" means it was a factory "second" (deemed to have some imperfection when it left the factory), what that REALLY means has been debated for 50 years. The legend is that "seconds" had a finish flaw. I've seen many "seconds", even hanging in stores when new, and have never been able to point to something and say "there, that's why it's a "second". I think Gibson just wanted to put a few discounted instruments on the market. How about some photos! Ok will come with the pictures later tonight... I am looking to sell this guitar too because I don't play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Ok will come with the pictures later tonight... I am looking to sell this guitar too because I don't play. Perhaps this guitar could be a reason to start playing ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meast21 Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Ok I can't upload files on here cause it says the files are to big so below is a craigslist link were I posted pics. LOOKING TO SELL !! http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/4238757681.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Colour seems to be Tobacco Sunburst, like my 1978: Yours looks real so far, but a picture of the peghead's back can be important for potential buyers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meast21 Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Colour seems to be Tobacco Sunburst, like my 1978: Yours looks real so far, but a picture of the peghead's back can be important for potential buyers. I checked my serial number and its either a 73 or 74. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I checked my serial number and its either a 73 or 74. A picture of the back is still useful. There can be lots of proof in it if it's legit. Same is valid for details on electronics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsinla Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Colour seems to be Tobacco Sunburst, like my 1978: Yours looks real so far, but a picture of the peghead's back can be important for potential buyers. It has that old style bridge and chainsaw case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meast21 Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 Ok I can't upload files on here cause it says the files are to big so below is a craigslist link were I posted pics. LOOKING TO SELL !! http://rochester.cra...4238757681.html What you think this guitar is worth ?? Trying to sell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus1 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Well not wrong, but not specific enough to be useful. The serial number stickers were used in 75, 76, 77, and the 8-digit number were formatted with a 2-digit prefix code for the year, with the MIA and model listed. If the OP thinks he has a '74, it must have a 6-digit number. The problem with the 6-digit number system is that with duplications and such, it is virtually useless in dating instruments, especially of the late-60s/early 70's. As the SG underwent many changes from 66-73, there is much more info required just to put a date on them, but the "era" is pretty easy to determine. Potentiometer codes are also very useful, and many times required. As for the no "Made In USA", sometimes they were impressed very shallow and hard to see, and if the guitar was refinished it might have been sanded off. Also a '74 would have a headstock "volute" which would instantly identify it as a 1970+ instrument. Anyway... this is all to say that if it IS a 1974 instrument, it DID (or DOES) have the "Made In USA" stamp. Oh, and the "2" means it was a factory "second" (deemed to have some imperfection when it left the factory), what that REALLY means has been debated for 50 years. The legend is that "seconds" had a finish flaw. I've seen many "seconds", even hanging in stores when new, and have never been able to point to something and say "there, that's why it's a "second". I think Gibson just wanted to put a few discounted instruments on the market. How about some photos! It could be a similar situation to what they used to do in the computer industry. When a manufacturer would put out a particular model of computer, they would have a predetermined number computers with certain processors, like 200Mhz, 350mhz, 500Mhz etc... Sometimes they would run out of a particular speed of processor, say the 200Mhz for example and would just slap a 350Mhz cpu in there and use the motherboards jumper settings to underclock the processor to 200Mhz. (Which was great for someone who knew to check it, after I learned of the practice I checked my own computer and this exact thing I described happened to me.) Maybe it was sort of a marketing thing, and if there weren't enough factory defects, they'd just slap a "2" on it and ship it out trying to get gibsons into more peoples hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 It could be a similar situation to what they used to do in the computer industry. When a manufacturer would put out a particular model of computer, they would have a predetermined number computers with certain processors, like 200Mhz, 350mhz, 500Mhz etc... Sometimes they would run out of a particular speed of processor, say the 200Mhz for example and would just slap a 350Mhz cpu in there and use the motherboards jumper settings to underclock the processor to 200Mhz. (Which was great for someone who knew to check it, after I learned of the practice I checked my own computer and this exact thing I described happened to me.) Maybe it was sort of a marketing thing, and if there weren't enough factory defects, they'd just slap a "2" on it and ship it out trying to get gibsons into more peoples hands. Well, that's in fact an interesting thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meast21 Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Ok say this guitar is worth $1000 usd, how much would the factory second take off the price ??? Or before if someone was willing to pay 1000 what would they pay now ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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