Help identifying this acoustic

[Mrevolver]

Hi! I bought this Gibson off eBay over ten years ago. I have guessed it's model from L03 to a B type model but I'm not sure. Someone scratched out the serial number on the back of headstock decades before I ever received possession, so it's impossible to look it up. I also am unsure if it's a 50's or 60's in year. Any help would be much appreciated. Here is a link to the album containing photos of the guitar.

Thanks!

http://tinypic.com/a/abqvmd/4

[ksdaddy]

This is a model B-20, which was made between 1971 and 1974. I believe there were only about 500 made.

[Mrevolver]

Really? Wow, only 500. Why so few produced? I appreciate the help!! I never knew what it was exactly but it was never super important because I loved playing it. Lately I have been thinking of selling it and getting another Gibson, but maybe I shouldn't sell it then?

[Holiday Hoser]

Nice little Gibson the one I had was mellow sounding but I was told a "student" model and worth about 400 back then

fast forward and 1000 maybe if you got lucky. traded for a strat and some cash (mine)

[Mrevolver]

Thanks, yeah It's a cool little guitar. I never assumed it would bring huge money, nor did I care but 1 out of only 500 in anything that Gibson made adds a value to it. This completely explains why I've had such a tough time identifying it through pictures over the years. It is hard enough to see a picture now that I know what it is. It looks like many people mis-identify theirs as a B-20 unless there were a few variations in them. This is one of the few that I can find to be a dead ringer for mine. https://reverb.com/item/3470815-gibson-vintage-b20-excellent-condition-rare-1969

I was considering getting a 69 Blue Ridge that I picked up in a store and fell in love with, even though it's a little beat up. Now knowing this guitars backstory a little makes me think I should just hang on to it. Ever since the day I got the guitar and saw the serial number scratched off, I always knew it might be a harder sell someday. That implies (to me at least) that it was probably stolen from someone decades ago, but I received it on a random ebay bid, back when ebay was a little more of the wild west. I would say the guitar passed through several owners over a few decades before getting to me. I got it pretty cheap so I couldn't complain. Any info on the B-20's, I am happy to hear. Not much out there I have found. Thanks!

[ksdaddy]

I'm seeing a little conflicting information. I had gotten the 1971-74 production dates from the "Gibson's Fabulous Flat Tops" book. Yours is clearly 1971 or later because of the neck volute, no headstock face overlay, and "Made in USA" stamp, but the B20 that you linked was being sold as a '69. I'm wondering if what they were selling was actually a late LG0. LG0 models traditionally had mahogany tops, sides and backs but in the late 60s began making them with spruce tops, although I bet not 100%. In addition, some had pinless bridges like the J-40 as opposed to the pin bridge on yours.

 

The LG0 was supposedly continued until 1974, so if that is true, the LG0 and B-20 were made at the same time. They look pretty much identical but I believe all LG0s had ladder bracing and all B20s had X bracing. So a quick peek inside will tell for sure which one you have.