Odd Gibson Headstock Data:

[Inspector #20]

Saw an old Les Paul tonight that Mom's steel guitar player pulled out. My phone was dead, so I missed the photo op, but it had a serial number arrangement I had never seen before.

Here's a couple ofbnternet photos I found of a similar markings:





I've always seen stamped numbers or a tag.

What date range was this used???

 

[shreddy bender]

Not sure of exact years but from what I think I remember 1976 or 77ish?

 

[kevinpaul]

I couple of years ago I wrote for All Experts. Questions and topics both were apart of my writing.
I found date of manufacturing and several other things in the mystery numbers they put on all guitars tell a story. I have books and web sites to pin an answer on those common questions. I could do many off the top of my head. Now I am back to fumbling.

 

[ChasFred]

Saw an old Les Paul tonight that Mom's steel guitar player pulled out. My phone was dead, so I missed the photo op, but it had a serial number arrangement I had never seen before.

Here's a couple ofbnternet photos I found of a similar markings:

View attachment 13243

View attachment 13244

I've always seen stamped numbers or a tag.

What date range was this used???

I would think 1999 for the second one and 2000 for the first.

 

[Inspector #20]

Both are 1970's era Gibson's

 

[BlackSG91]

^
Then they are made in the 1970's...case solved!


;>)/

 

[Inspector #20]

^
Then they are made in the 1970's...case solved!


;>)/

Not exactly, as I am trying to find the correct date range for these markings

 

[ivan H]

'76 was when they finished up using the transfer type serial number etc on the rear of the headstock. '77 was stamped in, though it is possible some early '77s had the transfer type. I was looking at one recently, I think it was @gball that clued me up on the headstock markings/year. Cheers

 

[Inspector #20]

'76 was when they finished up using the transfer type serial number etc on the rear of the headstock. '77 was stamped in, though it is possible some early '77s had the transfer type. I was looking at one recently, I think it was @gball that clued me up on the headstock markings/year. Cheers

It looks like an oval clear decal, Ivan....

 

[ivan H]

It looks like an oval clear decal, Ivan....

Yes, this is the one I looked at

Note what appears to be a crack at the top of the join on one of the wings. Cheers
Edit; not sure if everyone can see the whole pic, on my phone it looks like only the top half uploaded (apologies if so), but the oval transfer can still be seen. Cheers

 

[ivan H]

I tried again to upload the whole headstock pic but, appears there's a glitch in the matrix. Cheers

 

[gball]

They are normal for early '70's, up to 1976. In 1977 they switched to the embossed 8-digit YDDDYSSS system.

 

[Inspector #20]

They are normal for early '70's, up to 1976. In 1977 they switched to the embossed 8-digit YDDDYSSS system.

Thanks for the clarification!