Al Jones Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 I have a guitar that I inherited, and I'm having a hard time getting the correct age and model. I haven't seen one like this one with the pick-up accessory (factory install), and I'm not able to verify it by the number stamped in the body. The number stamped is: S6958-27 I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with this type of number and what year it was made. I'll add a picture of the number in another post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Jones Posted April 29 Author Share Posted April 29 Here is the number stamp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 Looks like a 1959 J-160E to me! (the S prefix would indicate 1959 in that particular era’s version of Gibson’s serial number system) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 Nice Gibson J160e. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 Do you remember The Beatles? John & George played them… From what I’ve read it’s the only Beatles Guitar that appears on every Beatles Album… 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 25 minutes ago, Larsongs said: Do you remember The Beatles? A treat to see early Abbey Road studio with the vintage electronics and the Lads with the gear the song was recorded with. Never noticed Paul enjoying playing the bass line there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Jones Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 Thanks so much for the input!! I need to get an appraisal - so good to know what I have... Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 Best place to look is Reverb sold records Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 3 hours ago, Al Jones said: Thanks so much for the input!! I need to get an appraisal - so good to know what I have... Al Are you selling it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyDanley Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Hi all, I bought a Gibson guitar from an Indiana pawn shop in 1978 for $100 with the intent to learn how to play -- it sat in its case ever since (I always meant to learn). When I pulled it out a couple years ago, thinking I would finally learn, I discovered the tuners were disintegrating, so I took it into a guitar shop for replacement, and the guy said it was a 1963 J-160E. He said it was somewhat valuable, and if I was wanting to learn, I should get another, cheaper guitar. He said the serial number is '56938 _18__', and I always wondered what the '_18__' meant, but I could never find any reference on those added numbers and haven't seen them elsewhere. Now, I see the added numbers here on Al Jones' Guitar. Two questions: 1. What do those added numbers mean? 2. Do you think my first number is an 'S' instead of a '5' and 1959 had those added numbers? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 Vintage Guitars Info - Gibson collecting vintage gibson guitars (guitarhq.com) http://www.guitarhq.com/fonnum.jpg Factory Order Numbers with a Letter, 1952 to 1961. This letter preceeds the batch number within the Factory Order Number (FON), and denotes the year of manufacturer. Remember, the batch number is the first 4 digits of the FON, followed by a 1 or 2 digit sequence number (within the batch). This letter should be before the FON batch number. This was used on archtop models (ink stamped inside treble F-hole) and on flat top models (ink stamped on the neck block), from 1952 to 1961: Year Letter ---- ------ 1952 Z 1953 Y 1954 X 1955 W 1956 V 1957 U 1958 T 1959 S 1960 R 1961 Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 On 4/29/2024 at 11:58 PM, Larsongs said: Do you remember The Beatles? John & George played them… From what I’ve read it’s the only Beatles Guitar that appears on every Beatles Album… Does that mean we hear the 160 on Across The Universe and fx the jabs on Polythene Pam. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 1 hour ago, SkyDanley said: Two questions: 1. What do those added numbers mean? 2. Do you think my first number is an 'S' instead of a '5' and 1959 had those added numbers? Thanks The S means 1959. The 6958 is the factory order number, which has no significance; that is to say there is no hidden information in it. They made many of their models in lots of 40; yours was #18 of that lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyDanley Posted May 27 Share Posted May 27 When comparing mine to AL's serial number, my 3rd number is also a 5. So that's very interesting: my guitar was made 9 guitars before Al Jones' guitar! I'm assuming 6958 was the group/lot number of the 40 guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 6 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Does that mean we hear the 160 on Across The Universe and fx the jabs on Polythene Pam. . It appears on every Album.. Not necessarily on every song with an Acoustic Guitar.. They used Martins, Gibsons, Epiphones, Hootenanny’s & others too.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 I believe Abbey Road did not use the 160. George was into his J200 at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 14 hours ago, Larsongs said: It appears on every Album.. Not necessarily on every song with an Acoustic Guitar.. They used Martins, Gibsons, Epiphones, Hootenanny’s & others too.. Yes yes, , , and I gave my bids. Don't believe Across the Universe featured the 28. 8 hours ago, Dave F said: I believe Abbey Road did not use the 160. George was into his J200 at that time. Still think the 3 Pam-jabs were the 160. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 (edited) 3 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Yes yes, , , and I gave my bids. Don't believe Across the Universe featured the 28. Still think the 3 Pam-jabs were the 160. George wasn’t the only one that played Guitars in “The Beatles”. George & John both had J-160’s.. George did play a J-200 on “Here Comes the Sun”. But, likely there are other songs with other Acoustics on Abbey Road including the J-160E. Here is a Source if you want to read it.. Meet the Beatles Guitars | GuitarPlayer Oct 25, 2021 · “To my knowledge, the J-160E is the only guitar that was played on every Beatles album, from Please Please Me right to Abbey Road. Edited May 28 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 53 minutes ago, Larsongs said: George wasn’t the only one that played Guitars in “The Beatles”. George & John both had J-160’s.. George did play a J-200 on “Here Comes the Sun”. But, likely there are other songs with other Acoustics on Abbey Road including the J-160E. Here is a Source if you want to read it.. Meet the Beatles Guitars | GuitarPlayer Oct 25, 2021 · “To my knowledge, the J-160E is the only guitar that was played on every Beatles album, from Please Please Me right to Abbey Road. Thx - the page misses out a lot a guitars, fx the ES-335 Harrison briefly had in 1965/66. Here's the Polythene Pam passage in the new mix. Wiki says it's Lennon on 12-string - doesn't really sound like a 12er to me. As mentioned perhaps the 160 double-tracked then thinned at the desk. Could of course also be the stripped Epiphone C miked up from the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted May 29 Share Posted May 29 Here's the list of instruments on Abbey Road per Beatle WIKI. I've read other accounts that an accurate list the instruments that used was not kept. Abbey Road (album) | The Beatles Wiki | Fandom Instruments Gibson Les Paul Standard Fender Stratocaster Epiphone 230TD Casino Rickenbacker 4001S Hofner 500/1 Fender Jazz Bass Fender VI Gibson J-200 Martin D-28 Fender Rosewood Telecaster Framus Hootenanny Ludwig Hollywood drum kit with Jazz Festival snare drum, calfskin heads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted Wednesday at 01:52 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 01:52 AM (edited) 23 hours ago, Dave F said: Here's the list of instruments on Abbey Road per Beatle WIKI. I've read other accounts that an accurate list the instruments that used was not kept. Abbey Road (album) | The Beatles Wiki | Fandom Instruments Gibson Les Paul Standard Fender Stratocaster Epiphone 230TD Casino Rickenbacker 4001S Hofner 500/1 Fender Jazz Bass Fender VI Gibson J-200 Martin D-28 Fender Rosewood Telecaster Framus Hootenanny Ludwig Hollywood drum kit with Jazz Festival snare drum, calfskin heads This link debunks the idea of a 160 on Abbey Road. Besides claims Across The Universe was recorded on the 28. https://leftyguitarist.music.blog/2020/02/16/did-the-beatles-use-a-gibson-j-160e-on-every-album/ Never heard A T Univers as a Mart. dread - must listen again. Edited Thursday at 12:19 AM by E-minor7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted Wednesday at 02:45 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 02:45 AM (edited) 57 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: This link debunk the idea of a 160 on Abbey Road. Besides claims Across The Universe was recorded on the 28. https://leftyguitarist.music.blog/2020/02/16/did-the-beatles-use-a-gibson-j-160e-on-every-album/ Never heard A T Univers as a Mart. dread - must listen again. What strings did they use? What about mics and studio monitors to listen to it back on? Who made John’s glasses? What sticks did Ringo play with? Who made Paul’s shoes he wore when foot tapping on Blackbird? You can debate it all you want. Speculate all you want. Unless there is video evidence, it’s just a guess. I just listen to their albums and enjoy them, and don’t put them under the microscope to the n’th degree. Edited Wednesday at 02:50 AM by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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