How accurate are serial numbers?

[JordanHathaway]

Hey forum,

I have what I believe to be a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. The reason I say believe to have is because everything I have read says the serial number starting with a 9XXXXX (the guitar is at home and I can get the actual serial number if anybody thinks it would help the discussion) is for a 1970, 1971, or 1972. In looking at the pot date, 3 of the 4 are original and have 1973 dates. Is it possible that the serial number starting with a 9 is in fact a 1973? 

Thanks for your help!

[kidblast]

there is some info here you might find interesting.

https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-gibson_eng.php

 

[pippy]

23 hours ago, JordanHathaway said:

...everything I have read says the serial number starting with a 9XXXXX......is for a 1970, 1971, or 1972...... Is it possible that the serial number starting with a 9 is in fact a 1973?

 

Hi Jordan.

According to Ian C. Bishop's book "The Gibson Guitar from 1950" (published way back in 1977) the approximate serial number range is as follows (I quote directly from the volume);

"1971 : 635001-765000.

1972 : 765001-897000.

In 1973 the number 999999 was reached again and this time they returned to 000001 and this is the series that is in use at present; therefore

1973 : 897000-999999 and 000001-031000..."

One fairly important caveat is that Mr. Bishop has been known to be mistaken over a few things through the years but, putting that small detail aside, as the serial number info from which he must have sourced his numbers was actually very recent when his text was written and as it  matches in with your pot codes I'd say there's not much doubt about it being a 1973 example.

Probably......

Pip.

Edited October 10, 2019 by pippy