Vintage Les Paul - Date this guitar

[RVA]

My friend bought this guitar in 1981 as-is and always assumed it was a '54. The serial number points to that direction, but it has HBs and it is a burst. The tuners have obviously been changed, so maybe the pup cavities were routed. I tried some of the usual sites, but they either do not recognize the serial # or give multiple answers. What say you all - what year is this!?

 

[eSGEe]

well you need to send it to me so I can smell, feel and rub my junk on the wood-- after a few years Ill be able to tell you EXACTLY ....

 

[guitarweasel]

Looks like a 54 Goldtop that's been refinished and routed for Humbuckers. What do the backs of the pickups say?

 

[eSGEe]

perhaps '53 or '61 ?????


If I get it right do I WIN the guitar???

 

[67plexi]

Ray looks real to me can you get a control cavity photo

 

[eSGEe]

Gibson Guitar/Mandolin Serial Number Decoder - GuitarInsite

www.guitarinsite.nl

 

[Don O]

Ray, I found this, but cannot verify. Also, have you looked at the pots? They might be date coded.

 

[RVA]

I will see if he can pop the pups and control cavity cover! I do not have the guitar and he is not that good with guitar tech

 

[Clockworkmike]

Judging by the other posts, what i can see and a lil history of Les Pauls in general? Im guessing about a 1953 going by the SN, which wouldve made it a goldtop as the only other color initially offered at that time was black and that was only on the original Black Beauty Customs which would have the custom trims of block inlay, headstock diamond and full binding. Looks like they stripped it and attempted a partial flame on the sunburst near the control side

The wrap around tailpiece is accurate of the time ( this one is most likely aftermarket however), though a few models still carried over the 52 Trapeze tailpiece but rare ( might be able to see any body filler near the base if thats the case but probably not). Obviously, its been routed for humbuckers as they werent available until 1957. As mentioned earlier, a look at the cavity will prove whether its been routed afterwards or not, which helps prove its rough date

 

[RVA]

I got to see this guitar in my office today. I did some much needed cleaning and took some pics. I will get it plugged in and on a bench one day. I am guessing 3 original pots, original jack plate, original switch, original caps

 

[syscokid]

Compare that wiring harness to the following Reverb.com ad:

Gibson Vintage 1954 Les Paul Standard wiring harness - pots, caps, switch, jack 1954 | Reverb

Vintage 1954 Gibson Les Paul Standard wiring harness. All four matching 500K pots (IRC brand, which Gibson used on most 1952-1954 Les Paul goldtops through around 1955 until they switched to Centralab, all four pot codes are all the 8th week of 1954). Includes everything you see in the photos: th...

reverb.com

Me thinks @guitarweasel is the winner...

 

[Jethro Rocker]

So unfortunate it was modified so heavily. Cool guitar though.

 

[RVA]

Compare that wiring harness to the following Reverb.com ad:

Gibson Vintage 1954 Les Paul Standard wiring harness - pots, caps, switch, jack 1954 | Reverb

Vintage 1954 Gibson Les Paul Standard wiring harness. All four matching 500K pots (IRC brand, which Gibson used on most 1952-1954 Les Paul goldtops through around 1955 until they switched to Centralab, all four pot codes are all the 8th week of 1954). Includes everything you see in the photos: th...

reverb.com

Me thinks @guitarweasel is the winner...

Nice find!!

 

[RVA]

So unfortunate it was modified so heavily. Cool guitar though.

I thought about that. It was probably modified long before it was vintage though! They did do a stellar job on the top

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I thought about that. It was probably modified long before it was vintage though! They did do a stellar job on the top

Yeah top does look really good. No one thinks it is gonna become a vintage classic.

 

[gball]

Good chance the refin was done by Gibson. They used to happily accept instruments for refinishing, and I have personally seen at least two '50s Goldtops that were refin'd to a burst in Kalamazoo, with the paperwork to prove it. As for the routing for humbuckers, well, that's an individual choice and I do understand it but of course it would have been nice to remain stock. But, nobody ever thought these things would be worth real money one day, especially the discontinued models.

 

[eSGEe]

DATE this guitar? -- I wanna MARRY IT!!!

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

My friend bought this guitar in 1981 as-is and always assumed it was a '54. The serial number points to that direction, but it has HBs and it is a burst. The tuners have obviously been changed, so maybe the pup cavities were routed. I tried some of the usual sites, but they either do not recognize the serial # or give multiple answers. What say you all - what year is this!?

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It's a 54 but the body top was refinished. The neck looks original finish. They should have kept the original bridge etc.
I would have never refinished the body.
As a result it's worth a lot less compared to original.
But still quite a sweet guitar.

 

[SG John]

Is that really a left handed wood screw on the bass side of that Bad Ass Bridge????


After getting the bridge and action sorted, I would be playing the crap out of that guitar if it were mine.

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

Is that really a left handed wood screw on the bass side of that Bad Ass Bridge????


After getting the bridge and action sorted, I would be playing the crap out of that guitar if it were mine.

Maybe it's a rivet with hammer adjust?