can someone help me with my gibson?

[RG3120]

hi now this is a big problem my lp classic have a 6 digit s/n but acrording to the gibson website it doesnt match, but i went on **** and found a classic with 6 digits. so can anyone tell me why? and give me a website on how to date the les paul cause i know its a really les paul...

[sniperfrommars1]

How do you know its not a fake? Second youll get better help at the lespaulforum. I would assume its a reissue by the serial number but you said its a classic so why not.

[jemke]

can youpost pics of the guitar and s/n?

[eelblack2]

Classics are patterned after 1960's. Although not truly a reissue, they may very well be using slightly wacky serial numbers like on thier reissues. I have 2 at home from different years - Ill see if I can find a rhyme or reason between the two different years when I get home later today.

Lee

[Progdude]

Email this guy he works at Gibson and can date it for you.

Bob.Burns@gibson.com

[red5]

For many many years the last digit in the serial has been then 10s digit of the year, and the first one the ones if I remember it correctly.... ie 123579 would be a 91!

[moore5150]

Hey RG, take a peek at this link.

http://www.gibson.com/Service/Serial...bers%20Search/

It is a page from Gibson's site that explains how the serial number system is set up. Hope this is helpful to you.

[Rotti]

Gibson serial numbers can be hard to decifer. Especialy old ones.

[lhrocker]

Les Paul Classics have 5 and 6 digit serial numbers. The last 4 will be the "serial number" while the first or first 2 will be the year made. All 6 digits start with a 0 so 00 is 2000, 01 is 2001, etc... All 5 digits will start with the last digit of the year (1992 will be 2 and so forth).

Hope this helps.
Pete

[jemaholic]

Those damn Gibson people....I think they sit around with the bong until they figure out another way to screw with the serial numbers (and our heads).

[AlexBLA]

throw the guitar in the garbage... i hate gibson expecially les pauls

[red5]

Originally Posted by lhrocker

Les Paul Classics have 5 and 6 digit serial numbers. The last 4 will be the "serial number" while the first or first 2 will be the year made. All 6 digits start with a 0 so 00 is 2000, 01 is 2001, etc... All 5 digits will start with the last digit of the year (1992 will be 2 and so forth).

Hope this helps.
Pete

They changed it again. For many years it was the last digit was the 10s place of the year and the first is the ones place or the other way around (I honestly can't remember which way for sure!)

My Les Paul Classic is a '95. I got it used for about 3 days and on hold after that in '96. The serial is like 5xxxxx 9 meaning '95.

[Scott Smith]

I like Gibsons current serial number scheme, sans Classics which are pretty screwy. What other manufacturer uses a serial number that lets you date it to the DAY the guitar was made? None of the big ones do, that I know of. So if you know how to read them you can tell if the guitar was made on a Monday or Friday or which ever day of the week. Kinda nice really...

Don't get me started on Gibsons Quality Control...

[JTM45]

The 8 digit Gibson SN's even tell you which particular Gibson factory the guitar was made at as well as the Year and which day of that year and which number of guitar made on that day that yours is.
It's not so relevant these days as they don't have so many factories but it's handy for the pre '85 (ish) models.

[red5]

Originally Posted by Scott Smith

Don't get me started on Gibsons Quality Control...

If you want to buy a Les Paul and be sure to get a good one, you better get a custom shop, or play every non custom shop model in town until you find one you like!