Faxton Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Hi everyone! I recently purchased a vintage Gibson ES335 in a walnut finish. I'm having some trouble when it comes to putting a specific date on it though. The serial number on the back of the headstock (896500) indicates that it was made in 1968, but the body is in walnut which was only made available beginning in 1969. Also the sticker inside the F hole is rectangular, not oval. Can anyone help me figure out when this guitar was made? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Hi everyone! I recently purchased a vintage Gibson ES335 in a walnut finish. I'm having some trouble when it comes to putting a specific date on it though. The serial number on the back of the headstock (896500) indicates that it was made in 1968, but the body is in walnut which was only made available beginning in 1969. Also the sticker inside the F hole is rectangular, not oval. Can anyone help me figure out when this guitar was made? Thanks! The rectangular label would pretty much guarantee a Norlin era guitar, late-1969/early-70 or after. Can you see the neck tenon extending into the pickup cavity when you remove the neck pickup? A guitar made in 1968 would have the longer tenon. By the end of '69, the tenon was changed and no longer can be seen in the cavity. Also, the shape of the headstock inlay changed around that time, changing from shorter to longer outer "leaves". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon S. Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Welcome to the forums!! Is there a "Made in USA" stamp on the back of the headstock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faxton Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Welcome to the forums!! Is there a "Made in USA" stamp on the back of the headstock? yes there is, right below the serial number on the headstock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 yes there is, right below the serial number on the headstock OK, now you're up to 1970+. Post 1970 the 800000 serial numbers were used in '73, '74, and early '75. The ONLY way you're going to date this instrument is by potentiometer codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Rayba Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 If your neck has a "volute", it is a 70's model. The "volute" is an extra small addition to the back of your neck, in other words it isn't smooth to the headstock. If you don't understand what I'm talking about, I'm sure you find pics on the web. I have a mid-70's ES-345, and it has the "volute". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustymars Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 According to: Blue Book of Electric Guitars, Sixth Edition,,Gibson, Serialization; Edited by S.P. Fjestad An ES-335 with S/N 896500 is a 1968 job (1968 895039-896999). My ES-335 TDC was purchased by me in 1966: S/N: 805807 and has an oval sticker. Gibson's serial numbering system is confusing to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 According to: Blue Book of Electric Guitars, Sixth Edition,,Gibson, Serialization; Edited by S.P. Fjestad An ES-335 with S/N 896500 is a 1968 job (1968 895039-896999). My ES-335 TDC was purchased by me in 1966: S/N: 805807 and has an oval sticker. Gibson's serial numbering system is confusing to say the least. Gibson used some numbers in multiple years, and yes, that's always been a little confusing. But we've already established that this guitar dates somewhere in the 1973-1975 range. It's confusing, but it's not that confusing. Does the Blue Book not include some of the info that's been discussed here? If not, I wouldn't try to use it as a serious reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faxton Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 thanks for the help everyone! Although im slightly disappointed that it's not a 1968, im still pretty content with a '74 and I can't argue with the tone! Also the fact that I got it for 1800 is also a bonus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I can't argue with the tone! Exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.