ap1
08-15-2006, 10:58 AM
I'm trying to narrow down the production year of my SG Standard - maybe someone can help. The serial number has 6 digits and no letters, as well as the "Made in USA" imprinted on the back of the headstock. This supposedly puts it between '70 and '75 (1970 was the first year with the USA identification, and the use of only six-digits in the serial number changed in '75). Well, almost:
Apparently, the Kalamazoo plant continued to use the above system on SOME models (don't know which ones, but I think the "higher end" ones) into the late 70's. So your '70 L-5 may well be a '79. I don't believe that an SG Standard would be condidered a "higher end" model, so I can at least probably say that mine was made between '70-'75.
I'd like to narrow it down, though. As far as features that may help out,
it's got the crown logo in the middle of the headstock, no markings on the truss rod cover, and rectangular fret inlays. The pickguard is on the bottom half, and just comes up in between the pickups. The bridge is NOT a Tune-O-Matic, but I'm pretty sure it's not original - there are round indentations around the bottom of the existing pole pieces suggestive of a Tune-O-Matic seating. I can't remember what this type of bridge is called, and I don't know if/when Gibson started using them; it's the rectangular one, though. Those are about the only other identifying features I can think of.
Thanks in advance for any insight here...
Apparently, the Kalamazoo plant continued to use the above system on SOME models (don't know which ones, but I think the "higher end" ones) into the late 70's. So your '70 L-5 may well be a '79. I don't believe that an SG Standard would be condidered a "higher end" model, so I can at least probably say that mine was made between '70-'75.
I'd like to narrow it down, though. As far as features that may help out,
it's got the crown logo in the middle of the headstock, no markings on the truss rod cover, and rectangular fret inlays. The pickguard is on the bottom half, and just comes up in between the pickups. The bridge is NOT a Tune-O-Matic, but I'm pretty sure it's not original - there are round indentations around the bottom of the existing pole pieces suggestive of a Tune-O-Matic seating. I can't remember what this type of bridge is called, and I don't know if/when Gibson started using them; it's the rectangular one, though. Those are about the only other identifying features I can think of.
Thanks in advance for any insight here...