circusmonkey404 Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 So I think I might be the luckiest person in the world. I found this vintage Heritage at a local thrift store for 5 dollars. The bridge is pulling up and there are some cracks. I dropped it off to get an estimate for repairs. I'm just trying to understand exactly what I got here. The Serial I believe is 530791 the Third digit is hard to read the grain of the guitar is really heavy there originally I thought it was a 8, Which I've seen could be Year: 1966, 1968 or 1969 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Info: serial number is stamped on the back of the headstock Trying to figure out if I can exactly what this guitar is. It has just the Single X bracing. Grover Tuners that say Pat Pen. No pickguard. Belly Down. Is it Brazilin or Indian Rosewood? Anyhelp? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieDog Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 (edited) I hate you….. 😆 Living the dream, man. That sure is pretty. have you tried calling Gibson? Might be too far back, but doesn’t hurt. Fwiw, I think it could be a 6 or an 8 You might try dusting some flour or talcum powder over the stamp and gently brushing or blowing it off. Might make the shape more legible. Or use the light paper/pencil rubbing trick. Off to visit our thrift store… Edited September 23, 2023 by PrairieDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieDog Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 Chuckle, found this on Reverb. https://reverb.com/item/69343757-rare-gibson-brazilian-rosewood-back-only-made-for-the-heritage-model-made-in-kalamazoo-probably-1965-68 Every time I drive by some homemade garage or auction sale sign I can’t stop at, I always figure there’s a dusty pre-war J45 marked 10.00 tucked under one of the card tables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 24, 2023 Share Posted September 24, 2023 (edited) All features on your Heritage conform to a 1968 or 1969 build date. The rosewood back & sides are laminated, and this can clearly be seen by comparing the grain lines on the back with those visible through the soundhole. 1965-1967 Heritage models had solid rosewood back & sides and a belly-up bridge. Rosewood used during this period most commonly was Brazilian. Edited September 24, 2023 by bobouz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 While I am not an expert on these later Kalamazoo Gibsons I agree that the inlay down the back seam and lack of tortoise shell trim says 1969. While it may depend on when in the year the guitar was made you might measure the nut as sometime in 1969 Gibson returned to the 1 11/16" width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circusmonkey404 Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 Thanks all!! She is currently at the luthier waiting to get a repair estimate. Can't wait to have her back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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