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Les Paul Custom year 68'-70'. Can anyone pin the year it was made?

Dlmlong

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Jun 10, 2018
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Myhusband and I bought this guitar in 2001 from a local pawn shop. We live in acity that is known for live music every night so there are many guitars in pawnshops. This guitar was advertised as a 1964' Les Paul Gibson. However, after wepurchased it, I researched and found out they didn't make this guitar in thatyear AND Gibson used recycled serial numbers at this time. I found out manypeople date them by the different features found on the guitar. I know somealso say to look at the pots for dates. I was just wondering if anybody withknowledge and experience could give their input as to what they think the yearit was made as knowing the year can make a difference of the value.

The serial number is 176909 or 176009. As you can see,someone had changed the tuning pegs to Schlagg and the Schlagg pegs say"Made in West Germany" so they did this in the 70s or 80s. I heardthat does not effect the value much as this was popular thing to do. I alsowant to note that whoever changed the tuning pegs had it professionally done asyou can not see the holes left by the original ones. I am sorry if the image link is not here. I am trying to learn how to do this.

iJgklVn


https://imgur.com/a/iJgklVn
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fernieite

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Jan 3, 2010
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609
Is there a Made in USA stamped into the back of the headstock?

Is there a volute (bump) at the bottom of the back of the headstock, where it meets the neck?
 

Dlmlong

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Jun 10, 2018
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Is there a Made in USA stamped into the back of the headstock?

Is there a volute (bump) at the bottom of the back of the headstock, where it meets the neck?

There isn't a "Made in the USA" stamped on the back and yes there is a volute.
 

Bruce R

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Mar 2, 2007
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1,029
Schlagg tuners? I did a quick search and didn't find anything like that. Look like Schallers to me. Late 60's to early 70's control knobs. Brass gold-plated saddles. Aftermarket brass jack plate, but very practical.

The guitar looks very nice!!
 

fernieite

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There isn't a "Made in the USA" stamped on the back and yes there is a volute.

The volute first appeared in late 69/early 1970, I think. (First as a "baby" bump and then as a bit larger)

Made in USA stamp appeared somewhere in early to mid 1970?

The earliest your guitar could have been made (IMO) is late 1969. It may more than likely be an early to mid 1970 though.

You could email Gibson Customer Service to request a date from the shipping Ledgers. I think they have them for 1969, but not 1970. Just email them your serial number and model.

Yes, pot dates could help as well...

Have you seen this website? :dude:

http://www.latesixtieslespauls.com/
 
Last edited:

guitplayer

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Mar 8, 2008
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2,114
#s look restamped. Black paint under black paint.

Looks like a 1973, if the numbers are original to the guitar. Pic of the control cavity will help
 

Dlmlong

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Jun 10, 2018
Messages
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Schlagg tuners? I did a quick search and didn't find anything like that. Look like Schallers to me. Late 60's to early 70's control knobs. Brass gold-plated saddles. Aftermarket brass jack plate, but very practical.

The guitar looks very nice!!

Yes, I made a mistake. You are correct the tuners are called Schallers. Do you think the original owner changed them to Schallers by someone other than Gibson or did Gibson do special changes for customers if they requested it?
 

Dlmlong

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Jun 10, 2018
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#s look restamped. Black paint under black paint.

Looks like a 1973, if the numbers are original to the guitar. Pic of the control cavity will help

I think the numbers look restamped because they probably were restamped. The tuning pegs were changed from the stock ones to Schlager tuning pegs. You can see where there used to be holes for the original tuning pegs but barely. You have to put it up to the light and move it back and forth. Somebody probably had a professional change them because I've seen when someone did a homemade job. You can still see the holes and they leave it like that or they put paint over it that really doesn't match the original. My question is if Gibson would have done this for the original owner because the paint matches so well. I just don't know if the company did things like this.
 

guitplayer

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if you get a chance, post a pic of the control cavity. Wiring channel location will
say alot. :)
 

Dlmlong

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Jun 10, 2018
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if you get a chance, post a pic of the control cavity. Wiring channel location will
say alot. :)

Here are the pictures. https://imgur.com/a/51CRE9a

I took many pictures of the cavity. I looked up the pot code and it appears to be made in 1973. The missing "Made in the USA" on the back of the headstock is what was throwing us off. That's why we thought it was a 68 or 69.
 
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