how old is my standard?

[croquet player]

I hope someone can sort this out. I bought this LP standard in the 70's and always thought it was a '69. The serial number is 061849 and pot codes are 70-034 1377546.

I put that number into the guitar dater project and it said 1967 Kalamazoo. It seems there were no LP's of this style made in 67 and the pot codes seem to be later though I never changed them.

The machine heads are not original.

Anyone know for sure? Thanks

[Holmis]

Pot codes tells that they were made week 46, 1975, and the rest of the guitar seems to be from that time too!

[cjsinla]

Are those the original strings? :blink:

[L5Larry]

If it wasn't for the "oddball" serial number, the guitar would clearly be a 1976 Les Paul Standard (which it most likely is, as determined by very late '75 pot codes and other features).

 

Sometime in 1975 Gibson changed their serial number scheme to an eight-digit number that contained a two-digit prefix code for the year. This system continued into 1977. A 0XX,XXX six-digit number on a voluted headstock would have been from around 1973. The finish color, 3-piece top and "Nashville" bridge is also typical of the '75 on production models. I would also assume it has a "pancake" body, maple neck and (I can't really tell from the photo) a five-piece headstock. The original tuners would have been double-ring Klusons.

 

So.... why the odd serial number? With the Nolin era of Gibson, there is probably no definitive way to answer to this question. It could be surmised that it is a left-over neck from the special order run of "Standards" which was done for one the big NYC retailers prior to the reintroduction of the production model "Standard" in 1975. But, of course, this would only be conjecture.

 

In any case, as determined by the pot codes, the guitar could not be represented (in good conscience) as anything other than a 1976.

[croquet player]

thanks. I am surprised as I bought it second hand around then.

 

the strings are not the original ones. I change them every 10 years at least.

(you might have guessed I'm a drummer)

[cjsinla]

thanks. I am surprised as I bought it second hand around then.

 

the strings are not the original ones. I change them every 10 years at least.

(you might have guessed I'm a drummer)

 

I figured you must've changed them at least once when you put on the new tuners.

[Goforthegold]

I have a few 70's ranging from the first week of 1970 to a 1973 Gold top.... From my experience - the Nashville Bridge with the stud inserts into the body to support the Bridge posts is 1974 and up... The larger volume - of the three sizes of volutes used, and the POT date of 1975 - all place it at 1975 or 1976. If it has the original case and pick ups it can sell for a couple thousand - it's not a "dream 59" - buts it's a solid and attractive guitar!

[ESPJDR17]

LOL@ string changes every 10 years.

 

That finish looks awful cracked to only be from the mid '70s, I guess that guitar had a hard life.