bowkey Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I own a 70's Les Paul, and would like to find out what type & year it is. Any help is appreciated ! It says 'Pro' on the trussrod-cover, which doesn't look original though... S/N is 617731, with MADE IN U.S.A. below it. It has a 2 piece mahogany body. It lives in this gibson case : Could it to be it's a Deluxe with one mini humbucker moved to the middle position, and the bridge position routed out to fit a regular size humbucker ? The added full-size humbucker is a Dimarzio btw... Electronics appear to be (partly) non original 70's, probably changed because of the added pickup. If more info is needed, I'm more than happy to supply it ! Thanks, Bowkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Could it to be it's a Deluxe with one mini humbucker moved to the middle position' date=' and the bridge position routed out to fit a regular size humbucker ?[/quote'] That'd be my guess; I've never seen another LP with that configuration. Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 ...3 pickups? I guess it is a Fender Stratocaster! Very nice guitar man! You have any more pics of the body? I don't know which model it is, but a while ago a member showed us pics of his goldtop that had those pickups... and I think in other forum someone posted pics of one of those but with 3 pickups (dont know if they were aftermarket or original to the guitar tho...). So, how does she play and sound? Must be really nice guiding by her looks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 That guitar lookslike it has bags of character... Nice :) :) :) Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingMetalHeart Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Hi and welcome. Ok looking at my data it looks like it's a '77 Deluxe,the 77 was the only year the 2-pc mahogany body replaced the 3pc mahogany/maple body. However it indicates that the Deluxe came with 2 mini humbucking pick ups. Looking at the pics you have provided it appears that your LP has been modified and possibly a cavity was routed in the middle position of the body for the the bridge mini to be installed and the original cavity for the bridge mini was routed bigger to allow a normal covered humbucker to be installed at the bridge position. The pick guard appears to have been cut/sanded down to allow it to be fitted for the modified pick up configuration. (straight cut on left side) I could be wrong,and by no means am I certain but this is just what it looks like to me. I will watch this post with enthusiastic eyes in the hopes that perhaps your beauty was ordered or produced from the factory as it appears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynadude Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Hi and welcome.Ok looking at my data it looks like it's a '77 Deluxe' date='the 77 was the only year the 2-pc mahogany body replaced the 3pc mahogany/maple body. However it indicates that the Deluxe came with 2 mini humbucking pick ups. Looking at the pics you have provided it appears that your LP has been modified and possibly a cavity was routed in the middle position of the body for the the bridge mini to be installed and the original cavity for the bridge mini was routed bigger to allow a normal covered humbucker to be installed at the bridge position. The pick guard appears to have been cut/sanded down to allow it to be fitted for the modified pick up configuration. (straight cut on left side) I could be wrong,and by no means am I certain but this is just what it looks like to me. I will watch this post with enthusiastic eyes in the hopes that perhaps your beauty was ordered or produced from the factory as it appears.[/quote'] That sounds right. A friend of mine had a '77 LP just like this one, but it only had the two mini hums. Nice guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpgumby62 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Hi bowkey, nice looking Les Paul and a pickup combination I haven't seen before. Anyway, based on my limited knowledge and given the pics and serial number, I'd say your LP is pre 75. The 6xxxxx range of serial numbers was used in 1970, 71, 72, 74 & 75. Also the serial number was stamped into the back of the headstock in the period 1970-75 and "Made in U.S.A." was stamped below the serial number. From sometime in 1975 through to 77, Gibson changed to an 8 digit serial number which was applied as a transfer. Prior to 1970 serial numbers were inked onto the back of the headstock. You could also remove the access panel at the back and check the pots. These can also help in dating a guitar. If they are original they may well have a number on them which indicate their date of manufacture. If they are CTS pots they will have a 7 digit number on them as follows 137YYWW, where YY=year (eg 71 for 1971) and WW=week of the year (eg 10 for the 10th week). For example, the pots on my 74 SG Special have the number 1377412 (1974, 12th week) and those in my 70 Les Paul have the number 13769xx (1969), the last digits are covered in solder, which can happen. Other makes of pots were also used, and I did find a site which listed how to read the numbers for those too. I will put a link up if I can find it. Hope all this helps, and wasn't too confusing. And welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakehaus Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 . . >>Gibson Serial Numbers<< Based on the above link, my guess is '74... just a hunch. Pickup config seems mod'd as suggested earlier. Do the pot code to decipher exactly what year, assuming the pots are original and the code not fully soldered over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowkey Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 Thanks for all the replies ! Here's some more info on the electronics : The mini-humbuckers appear to be from a different year : The routing for the middle mini-humbuckers appears to be a non-original, but professional, addition. Electronics are probalby changed when the pickup configuration was changed : One of the volume pots has a six digit number as far as I can see :137762 The Tone Pot says : CTS Type TV-082 UndLAB IncList TV2 Could it be a Les Paul Pro where they changed the P90's to minihumbuckers & added the extra pickup ? Any ideas of it's value ? Thanks again ! Bowkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_HEWC Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I'm sorry I can't help you date your guitar, I just wanted to drop by and compliment you on such a fine Les Paul. That pickup configuration sure looks interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Beautiful What does the Truss-Rod cover say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowkey Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 The truss-rod cover says 'Pro' but I'm not sure it's original... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynadude Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Are you sure you got the pot number correct? The results don't add up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingMetalHeart Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 It's strange that there is red paint showing on the cavity sides once you removed the cover plates....????? It's possible that your LP was originally a sunburst/wine red/cherry(or at least the back of your guitar was once red) according to the paint showing in both the control cavities,I researched your LP by the words written on the tuners and figured that they might be original,the pick up configuration led me to believe that the pots would be non original. However when I serial searched, it implemented the belief that it was pre 74. It appears that the serial # is inked and not stamped, ydddyppp does not apply in your case but Kalamazoo plant still used old serialization up to 1979. I'm sticking to what I posted before,my guess is that it's a 77 Deluxe(only year made with a 2-pc mohagany body) the color was once a cherry sunburst and when the pick up configuration was re modified the owner also had the guitar re-done to a natural finish......the back of the guitar does appear to be in excellent shape leading me to believe it was re-finished as well as the front of the body. Again these are only my estimates......it's easy for me to believe that electronics could be replaced with non-original parts, but tuner wise I think they could be original. I hope the fellas here can help you.......... this is why these forums exist and again I hope that your guitar was made originally as it appears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd_artist Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 1977 would be incorrect for the dating of this guitar in 77 Gibson was using the serial code of : Decade, the next three digits would be the day of the year, the next would be the year in the decade and then the plant code and number of manufacture for that day. His guitar does not follw that format so it would be before 1976. The rest of the opinions would be correct this was a Deluxe that the bridge mini humbucker was moved to the middle and a full sized bucker put in the bridge. I would be very intersted to hear the tone of this guitar it must sound sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingMetalHeart Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 1977 would be incorrect for the dating of this guitar in 77 Gibson was using the serial code of : Decade' date=' the next three digits would be the day of the year, the next would be the year in the decade and then the plant code and number of manufacture for that day. His guitar does not follw that format so it would be before 1976. The rest of the opinions would be correct this was a Deluxe that the bridge mini humbucker was moved to the middle and a full sized bucker put in the bridge. I would be very intersted to hear the tone of this guitar it must sound sweet.[/quote'] http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/GibsonSERIALNUMBERS.pdf If you read down you'll see that Kalamazoo still possibly was using old serialization up to 1979,(6 digits) if this LP was made at Kalamazoo it's possible that it didn't get the new serial#'s It is the BOLD statements right before the section of FON numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd_artist Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 If I remember correctly, the Kalamazoos were designated with a KM truss rod cover and a plastic plate on the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingMetalHeart Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 If I remember correctly' date=' the Kalamazoos were designated with a KM truss rod cover and a plastic plate on the body.[/quote']The "KM" LP was the only LP that had km on the truss rod cover plate and displayed a custom made plate below the tailpiece. (I own one) With Bowkeys guitar that is pictured we know 3 things. 1. It has a 2 pc mahogany body. 2. It has Kluson tuners with plastic double ring buttons. 3. It has 2 mini humbuckers. The only guitar that was made with these options unless it was custom ordered appears to be a Deluxe which should have Deluxe on the truss rod cover plate,however the trc was stated to probably not be original and the pick up configuration as well. Assuming that the tuners are original on this guitar,it must be a Deluxe and with a 2pc mahogany body. According to the Blue Book of Guitars the only Deluxe model that was made with a 2 pc body was a 1977 model. This guitar shows 6 digits for the serial number and does not coincide with the serialization of a typical 1977. However the 6 digit numbering system appears to have been used in the Kalamazoo factory up to 1979 which would mean that if this guitar was made in 1977 at the Kalamazoo factory, the old serial numbering system could have still been used. If it was made in Nashville it probably would have sported the 8 digit serial number.....they implemented the new numbering system in 1975. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverLesterStd Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 In my opinion, this is obviously a 197X LP Deluxe that has been moded with kewlness and tast to something that is AWESOME! I would love to here her bark! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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