Gibson Les Paul Serial Number Information
Any serious guitarist or guitar collector will tell you that the Gibson Les Paul is one of the most famous and coveted guitars ever made. Although this instrument is still being manufactured, old and new models alike are priced highly and valued by their owners. Due to the accessibility of the Internet and its increased selection of both old and new guitars, many people are now purchasing their Les Pauls online. However, it is important to ensure that the instrument is indeed a real Les Paul before committing to the purchase and a great way to find out is by looking at the Gibson Les Paul serial information.
This guitar is a solid body electric guitar. It was originally created in the 1950s by Les Paul, a famous guitarist, and Ted McCarty. Today, the guitar is still regarded as one of the best of all time and Gibson still manufacturers them in several different models.
Many people wish to own this guitar because of its reputation, the musicians who use it, and because of its design. Some famous musicians who use this model include Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Beck, Slash, and Eric Clapton.
The Les Paul produces an incredibly warm tone. This is due to its signature humbucking pickups. These pickups also help reduce noise produced by the instrument, which leads to a cleaner sound.
Although this instrument has been around for many years, its price is still quite high. The lowest priced model is the Les Paul Studio and is priced around $800. The higher end models, which many professionals use, are all within the thousands and tens of thousands range.
Since its inception, many other brands have come out with their own takes on the Les Paul guitar. Oftentimes, these versions are more affordable, but there are noticeable differences within the sound quality. Additionally, some independent guitar luthiers have made their own versions.
Because of the many knockoffs, it is important to inspect any guitar to ensure that it is the real thing. Many people will try to create replicas that fool the average consumer and garner a high price as a result. People oftentimes get away with selling these because they do so over the Internet and do not leave a trail or the consumer never wises up to the con.
In order to find out if you are about to purchase the real thing, you should take a close look at the serial number information. There are tons of websites that provide detailed information about where to find this number on different models. They also provide clues that help you figure out if the number is for real.
If you are considering a Les Paul Classic, here is what you should look for. It should be stamped in ink on the instrument. Also, there should not be any text reading Made in the USA. Most numbers will be either five or six digits long, but some of the earlier models do feature four digit numbers.
Gibson Les Paul Serial Number Examples:
9 xxx = 1989
0 xxxx = 1990
9 xxxx = 1999
00xxxx = 2000
05xxxx = 2005
The 1st and 2nd digit indicate the year of manufacture and xxx-xxxx represent the serial number.
Before you commit to purchasing any Gibson Les Paul, you should ask for a photo of the serial number. Once you receive this, search the Web for your specific model and check that the number follows Gibson's standards.