My Les Paul Deluxe

[tooloud]

my Buddy had this guitar since the late 80's he never played it he liked shredder guitars so its been in a case since he got it. now it is mine.
I think it is a 73. it is awesome

 

[jb_abides]

Nice one, congrats!

 

[Tollywood]

That’s great that it’s been tucked away nearby, just waiting for you. Congrats, it is beautiful. I love the fretboards and inlays from those days.

 

[Grog]

Great Guitar!! Being an oval decal with a number starting with “00”, it should be a 1976.

 

[tooloud]

It is stamped not a sticker

 

[charliechitlins]

Sweet

 

[bobalu]

That is so freakin' awesome!

 

[Grog]

It is stamped not a sticker

If you look at it close, you will see the outline of the oval decal. They only used these three years roughly. The decal also had the guitar model on it like yours has. In 1977 they went to a more logical stamped serial number, 8 digits with the 1st & 5th designating the year.

 

[dwagar]

Looks great, nice score.

Yes, it's a '76. A '73 would be 6 digits stamped (impressed into the wood).

From Gibson:

From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows:

99 = 1975
00= 1976
06 = 1977

A '73 would have a serial number that looks like this (I stole this off the net):

 

[tooloud]

1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, sounds good. The guitar plays great and sounds awesome I am very happy with it.

 

[Midnight Blues]

Cool! Congrats, HNGD

and play her in good health!

 

[cincyguitar]

Congrats...I have a 1973 LP Deluxe and it still plays great

 

[charliechitlins]

Mine is buggered...badly routed for humbuckers (butt crack showing), mini toggle, Schallers...a guy tried to sell it to me and I just played it to be polite before declining.
Well...it turned out to be one of a small handful of the most amazing guitars I've ever played.