colski Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Hi, sorry for another boring "date my axe" thread, but a pupil brought along his dad's Les Paul for his guitar lesson last week. I'm familiar with the YDDDYPPP system for dating serial numbers, but this one looks like: 5 4044 with spaces between the five and the four. The SN is printed, not stamped. It's a nice sunburst instrument, plays really well, the binding is very orangey, and the inlays aged to a very greenish tone. Cheers in advance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 can you post any pic's back of head stock as well ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colski Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 I'm afraid not. The lettering was black stencilling on red burst, quite hard to read, large space between first and second digits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 A 95 Classic more than likely . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colski Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 A 95 Classic more than likely . Interesting, how do you come to that conclusion? Is there a dating system that matches this serial number? It seems older to me, but it is a well used LP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 is there any other info Made in U.S.A. is it a decal I'm not seeing enough #'s to make an ID Are the inlays on the fret board squares could there have been a # after the 5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 What type of bridge ABR1 or Nashville ? Classics had 5 digit #s until 2000 when they went to 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 dose it look like this ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Gibson Serial Numbers, 1952 to 1961, solid body models. Ink stamped number on back top of peghead. The first year of Gibson solidbodies was 1952, and Gibson didn't use any serial number in 1952. Starting in 1953, the first number is the last number of the year. If the ink stamped number consists of 5 digits, there will be a space between the first and second numbers (separating the last digit of the year from the actual serial number). If there is a 6 digit ink stamped number, there is no embedded space as the serial number has exceeded 9999 and now occupies the place where the space existed in numbers 9999 and lower. No space and 5 digits following the year only occured in 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1960, and the second digit will ONLY be a "1" in 1955 and 1956. In 1955 Gibson forgot to reset their serial number back to #5 0001. Instead they continued the 1954 series, just changing the first digit to a "5" for 1955. For this reason the serial numbers exceeded "5 9999", hence 5 digits and no space following the year had to be used. Apparently production was high enough in 1956 to exceed "6 9999". Production in 1959 and 1960 was also very high, exceeding "9 9999" and going to "932000" or higher (so a "1" or "2" or "3" could be the second digit in 1959). The Ink Stamped serial number stopped at the end of 1960, though a few 1961 instruments were made with a "1" ink stamped prefix. This is very rare, but seen on a few lap steels (pressed in serial numbers started in 1961 for all Gibson instruments) and a few Les Paul models. One other exception to the above rules is in late 1958 where some Les Paul juniors and specials had a FOUR digit serial (no leading year digit). Year First Number ---- ------------ 1952 none 1953 3 1954 4 1955 5 1956 6 1957 7 1958 8 * 1959 9 1960 0 1961 1 (very rare) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 could it be as old as a 50's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 could it be as old as a 50's How sweet would that be !?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Ya !!!!!!! That all I can find that would match that # unless it's a custom shop and I just don't know those Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 My bud has a 94 Classic with the same type #s. The Bridge will tell the tale . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colski Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Cheers mick, it was similar to that photo, although harder to make out. I'd be pretty doubtful it was old as the 50's, the bridge has retaining wire, so ABR? Thanks for the prompt help so far! thhe kid was just interested in his dad's old guitar, he also owns a brand new SG, but the Les Paul is a beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 ! thhe kid was just interested in his dad's old guitar' date='[/quote'] As are We :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 AXE ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I'm not 100%, I think it may be a 95. I wish I could see it ...Those old 5 digi serial numbers were tricky. I doubt it's a 50s--- Norlin ruled out. No such thing as a 65 so I'm thinkin 95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 See if the kid could get some pictures and post them ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Found it Your guitar was made at the Nashville Plant, TN, USA approximately in: 1995 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I still wan't pic's cuz I'm shellfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Oh yeah ! Pics or it didn't happen.:- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colski Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 95 seems more likely than 50's, thanks for the help guys. If he brings it to his lesson this weekend I'll take a couple of snaps. Cheers again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 didn't really think so but it would have been nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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