70's Goldtop... Info appreciated

[essay]

This was given to me by a buddy of mine to take for a test drive. Let me know if you guys have any idea what year. My guess is a 74'. Not sure if it's a Standard or a Deluxe (or what the difference would be?). Pretty slim neck by the nut, then gets thicker by the upper frets. 10Lb. pancake body. Actually, a really nice playing and sounding guitar. Definitely a player, a little more beat up than the pictures show. More info: serial 118XXX, 3 piece neck, stamped Made in USA. Here's my (not so) expert take:

Changed tuners, refret (??), replaced nut, replaced bridge (Gotoh Japan), two really strange plugs between bridge and neck pu's..... no idea what they could be for. Looks like one of the pots dates to 74, so assuming original, that's my best guess. Any other input would be greatly appreciated!!













more pics:
70s Goldtop pictures by whsteve - Photobucket

[SteveGangi]

Because of the way Gibson sometimes did the serial number, 118XXX is not specific enough.

I understand you don't want to give too much info to total strangers, so here are the websites so you can check for yourself.

Gibson Support - Serial Number Search

What You Need to Know About Gibson Serial Numbers

and especially, try this one...

The Guitar Dater Project - Gibson Serial Number Decoder

[essay]

Thanks Steve! No, not worried about the info too much: Ser #118737

One of the sites dated it 68-70 (or something like that), which I'm pretty confident is not accurate. The stickies on this site were pretty helpful to lead me to the 74' conclusion, but I know there's a bunch of experts here that will let me know what looks whacky. The electronics are all jacked up (pun intended, but I didn't mess with them. If i end up buying it from him, I'd definitely do some upgrades.

[kmrumedy]

Oops - Didn't see your last comment on the pots. Nevermind below.

Open up the cavity and have a look at the pots. The number shoudl read 137### the next two numbers will give you the dates of the pots. generally same year or year before. Not exact science but it will narrow it down. I can't see if the neck has a volute or not.

[essay]

kmrumedy-

Yes, small volute. I guess I didn't take pics of that, sorry! Pots were filthy, but looks like the one I can read is 13774XX, so I'm guessing maybe original.

[HOT-BRIT]

is the neck maple

[HOT-BRIT]

hard to see in neck pickup cavity because of the pickup mounting bar but looks like it is a short neck tenon, but could be a trans tenon

[LIBERTYMACHINE]

looks like a maple neck

[essay]

I wouldn't know the difference. See if this helps (and thanks!):

[HOT-BRIT]

don't think the pickups are original

[LIBERTYMACHINE]

it's impossible to post too many pix.
more please.

[essay]

You got it....





I'll take some more pics for you guys. Thank you (sincerely) for the input!

[HOT-BRIT]

looks like a 3 piece mahogany neck

[HOT-BRIT]

take a photo of pickups with the covers off

[HOT-BRIT]

I think it is a 74 Deluxe

[HOT-BRIT]

but has some modifications

[HOT-BRIT]

the frets are not original and I think tuners have been changed, photo of back of the headstock would help, but the plugs in the top baffle me!

[LIBERTYMACHINE]

buy it from your buddy

[dwagar]

Trans tenon, mahogany neck, '74 pot, I'd say you're correct.

I can't imagine what those plugs are either. Maybe someone had a Fender single coil sitting there?

I agree with Libertymachine, buy it.

[essay]

Thanks HOT-BRIT-

I'll try to pop the covers asap. That was my uneducated guess too. I guess the Deluxe truss rod cover disappeared along the way (along w/ a few other things). Nice guitar, although pretty heavy. It sounds great w/ the P-90's. It's my singer's guitar, so I couldn't (in good faith!) get a deal on it, but I'd love to have a (semi) vintage LP in the collection at some point.

[HOT-BRIT]

it would be worth a good price now, a 74 Deluxe with mahogany neck, Kalamazoo built Gold top even in the present condition

[essay]

Sorry for the endless posts....

Just saw the replies while I was answering the other posts. Yeah, weird plugs. Maybe a strange spot for a midi pu? Who the hell knows. You guys rock! I may pull the trigger. If I don't, I'll be sure to pass it on. I think he wants in the low 2k's. I have no idea if that's reasonable, or with the all of the modifications and wear if that's unreasonable in this soft market. It's player's grade by every stretch. Dings and dents all over. Nothing major, but it's been around the block throughout it's lifetime!

[HOT-BRIT]

Originally Posted by essay

Sorry for the endless posts....

Just saw the replies while I was answering the other posts. Yeah, weird plugs. Maybe a strange spot for a midi pu? Who the hell knows. You guys rock! I may pull the trigger. If I don't, I'll be sure to pass it on. I think he wants in the low 2k's. I have no idea if that's reasonable, or with the all of the modifications and wear if that's unreasonable in this soft market. It's player's grade by every stretch. Dings and dents all over. Nothing major, but it's been around the block throughout it's lifetime!

these guitars are going up in value even in this market
depends if the pickups are original but $2000 would be a very fair price as it is, being a non routed early 70's Deluxe Goldtop with some mojo

[chipper]

Can't see the back of the tuners very well but look very similar to my 75. Does it say Gibson Deluxe on them?

Also interesting is that it has an ABR1 bridge, but the posts look like Nashville ones unless I'm mistaken. it's a nice looking guitar.

[essay]

No Gibson Deluxe written on the tuners. The bridge is a Gotoh replacement, and not the ABR1 posts

[sangandongo]

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

I think it is a 74 Deluxe

I don't, unless they modified the ABR and put in Nashville plugs.

Also, that metal bar is a Mini Humbucker mounting piece.

[LPPILOT]

Buy it if it weights less than 10 pds. , put real PU 's in it. Those are most likey P100's ,not true single coil P90s
If I need a axe to gig with ,,

I'd buy 58 reissue for this money.

[69 Goldtop]

Originally Posted by sangandongo

I don't, unless they modified the ABR and put in Nashville plugs.

Also, that metal bar is a Mini Humbucker mounting piece.

Maybe a mahogany neck 75?

[essay]

Appreciate the comments. I talked with the owner tonight, and he said the pickups were definitely replacements from a prior owner (he's had it around 10 yrs or so, I think). He said the guy at the store he was looking to trade it in at thought it was possibly a 70'-72' w/ replaced everything. I'm leaning mid-70's after your guys comments. I think the store probably used the guitar dater site which is showing it as a 70-72. Obviously the serial # isn't the way to go. Regardless, really nice "vibe" on the guitar, if that makes any sense. If I was into slimmer necks, I'd be in heaven! Not sure if I'm gonna jump on it yet. Not that I really need another LP, but it's always tempting when when kinda falls in your lap

Definitely has the Nashville bushings (?) on the bridge. Not the ABR type. Again, I'm more or less learning some of the terms as I go w/ your guys help. Maybe aftermarket. There is some cowboy chord fretwear, and I was leaning towards the re-fret, but a few other pics of early 70's original frets don't look too far off. Who knows.

Re: the P-100 comment, I haven't popped the hood on the pu's yet, but it was pretty quiet when plugged in. I guess if the price is right, I'll probably take it in as a stray and either partially restore it, or leave well enough alone. To upgrade everything would definitely get me past the 56' RI price range, and the RI would have the chunkier neck. Thanks again

fyi- The info on the mini-HB mount would make more sense now....

[HOT-BRIT]

Originally Posted by lppilot

buy it if it weights less than 10 pds. , put real pu 's in it. Those are most likey p100's ,not true single coil p90s
if i need a axe to gig with ,,

i'd buy 58 reissue for this money.

no way to tell if they are p-100's or p-90's with out seeing a photo of them without the covers