Can a r9 serial # start with a 3?

[TimeTraveler]

GUy on reverb is selling a "r9 historic" the serial is 3 01xx it is a burst. Am i wrong in thinking that it is a 1983 standard? and not the historic r9 he claims it is? or am i wrong?

 

[mudface]

More likely a 1993 Classic.... depends on the font of the serial.

This is 1993 Classic.

Looks like a Historic,... but it ain’t.


Or maybe a prehistoric.... need pics.

 

[TimeTraveler]

Pics of it

 

[BigJim]

Looks like an 80s to me..

 

[mudface]

Pics of it

I would suspect its a 1993 Classic with Shaw pickup rings at the very least.... the MOP Gibson logo is a later design.... not 1983.

1983 the logo was a closed b and o this is of later 90’s version of the open b and o.

For example this is a ‘80s Heritage 80 headstock logo.

 

[judson]

dam.......how have i been here for a few years and didnt know that

this is the place for knowledge....no other place like it

thanks mud...

edit: just noticed the rings so that would thrown a red flag for me...but still didnt know about the serial number...did they do that any other years or are all classics like that?

 

[DEMENTED]

I disagree and believe that is a 1983 "Pre-Historic" les Pau Standard. Compare to this one that was at Gruhns, logo, pickups, serial number font...all match up. https://guitars.com/inventory/eb6587-1983-gibson-les-paul-pre-historic

 

[JeffH66]

Well, that one at Gruhns certainly matches the pics of the guitar the OP posted. Regardless, it ain’t an R9. I’ll be interested to see if the experts here determine whether it’s a Classic or Pre-Historic.

 

[mudface]

I disagree and believe that is a 1983 "Pre-Historic" les Pau Standard. Compare to this one that was at Gruhns, logo, pickups, serial number font...all match up. https://guitars.com/inventory/eb6587-1983-gibson-les-paul-pre-historic

Winner winner chicken dinner..... I have been proven wrong..... this could very well be a prehistoric..... most certainly not a R9,... though depending which model could make it pricier than a run of the mill R9.

 

[DEMENTED]

Well, that one at Gruhns certainly matches the pics of the guitar the OP posted. Regardless, it ain’t an R9. I’ll be interested to see if the experts here determine whether it’s a Classic or Pre-Historic.

No, not a R9 but Gibsons early attempt at one. They have a following and prices are up there. And it’s NOT a Classic.

 

[mudface]

dam.......how have i been here for a few years and didnt know that

this is the place for knowledge....no other place like it

thanks mud...

edit: just noticed the rings so that would thrown a red flag for me...but still didnt know about the serial number...did they do that any other years or are all classics like that?

Classics used the inked serial number from 1989 to 2014 i believe.... i could be wrong.

In 2007 and later they added the "made in usa" to the headstock.

 

[mudface]

No, not a R9 but Gibsons early attempt at one. They have a following and prices are up there. And it’s NOT a Classic.

Funny thing about these Norlin era prehistorics is that each of these versions were created for a number of different dealers...each with different build specs.....Leo's were made for Leo's music of Oakland Ca.....Jimmy Wallace had some made....Strings and Things took semi finished versions and modded them themselves....Guitar Trader had bootlegged versions and later had Gibson build them for them after a bit of legal issues....and there are more.

The headstock inlays for the most part remained like most Norlin era models....the Leo's were stock Norlin type....Guitar Trader butchered the stock ones to look vintage (the bootlegged ones were custom made to look like the original '50s design)...So there will be very few made that look like the Norlin prehistoric model like the OP's pictured.... and to add the Tim Shaw PAF sticker ringed pickups should narrow the field to what model this is. I have never seen any myself with this type of PAF sticker ring on a Prehistoric. My Leo had Shaw's but not that ring. Neither did Guitar Trader or Jimmy Wallace models.

Removing the control cavity cover will expose another serial number on the ledge the cover sits.... if it does it's a Kalamazoo made instrument.....if not it's a Nashville made.

Even though these Norlin prehistorics do not have many of the Custom Shop Historic features like long tenons and other build specs.... they do ask a premium in price,... i would assume it's their limited numbers. For the right price it would be a great score.

 

[Slater529]

As others have said, that's an '83 Les Paul Reissue... "pre-historic" is actually a nickname that started after the Historic series began in '93.

Here's my '85:

And here is the 1985 Gibson Price List showing the Reissue nomenclature...

 

[mudface]

As others have said, that's an '83 Les Paul Reissue... "pre-historic" is actually a nickname that started after the Historic series began in '93.

Here's my '85:

View attachment 503225

View attachment 503226

And here is the 1985 Gibson Price List showing the Reissue nomenclature...

View attachment 503227

I can see the tuners are the bolt type Kluson style..... My Leo and the other dealer models used the old bushing style Kluson tuners.... I paid $1200 for my Leo in 1982 and that was a lot of money in those days.... I couldn't imagine paying $1600 for one.

 

[Slater529]

I can see the tuners are the bolt type Kluson style..... My Leo and the other dealer models used the old bushing style Kluson tuners.... I paid $1200 for my Leo in 1982 and that was a lot of money in those days.... I couldn't imagine paying $1600 for one.

The only guitar I ever bought brand new was a '76 Martin HD28... I paid $600 for it, and that was a ton of money for me back then.