Help identifying a '1987' Les Paul Custom

[LP1980LP]

Hi I'm looking to buy what I'm being told is a 1987 Les Paul custom although I'm not actually 100% on it being a 1987 or a custom, it doesn't have typical custom specs; headstock binding, split diamond headstock inlay etc.. so I know its not a custom model, but what it does have is the gold Gibson Custom Shop logo on the lower back of the headstock with a serial number in white which is: 7 9337. Also has a plain black TRC.

That leads me to the next problem I vaguely remember reading on a thread here somewhere that in 1987 there was no 'Gibson Custom Shop' just Gibson USA Custom guitars, (please correct me if I'm wrong!) If it was a custom from this era I always thought it would of had the 8 digit serial number YDDDYMMM format? I have pics to upload later from my PC of the front of the guitar just not the back! Please, help me out haha! All that aside this guitar is hands down the best LP I've ever laid hands on by far and I've definitely played a few! Thanks guys for your help in advance!

 

[ARandall]

........sounds more like an early classic with that ser#

But without pics all speculation is pointless

 

[LP1980LP]

Here is one

 

[LP1980LP]

These are all I have at the minute unfortunately!

 

[charveldan]

Thats not a LPC.

Standard maybe ?

 

[viking]

According to this article the Gibson Custom Shop was formed in 1986. I would venture to guess that the guitar is an early Custom Shop Standard.

 

[stgreg]

It looks like a Classic, definately not a Custom. Hard to tell from the pics, but it looks to have those ugly "knurled" modern day control knobs - seen on some of the new 14 and 15 models.

 

[LP1980LP]

You'll have to excuse my ignorance on the les paul classic guys, so all les paul classics are made in the custom shop? Cause this one has the CS logo on the back of the headstock, and if I were to try and date it from the SN, I'm not sure what it points towards because according to the Gibson website apparently the classic run started in 1989 with SN starting 9 xxx = 1989 then 0 xxxx = 1990.

Also as far as I can remember the guitar has gold speed knobs, it is hard to see in pics (in reply to the last post)

 

[LP1980LP]

Is there any chance it could be an early reissue? One of the ones made between the 70s and 1993? I'll be able to get hold of and post the exact serial number tomorrow

 

[ARandall]

No for during the 70's, and no for the heritage elite (1980). The first run of the classics was almost like a reissue in looks. But if the serial number starts with a 7 then it makes it a 97 I think.

 

[LP1980LP]

No for during the 70's, and no for the heritage elite (1980). The first run of the classics was almost like a reissue in looks. But if the serial number starts with a 7 then it makes it a 97 I think.

So did the early classics come with the custom shop logo on the back of the headstock?

 

[LP1980LP]

Anyone?

 

[goodwater]

So did the early classics come with the custom shop logo on the back of the headstock?

not that I have ever seen

could be some early Custom Shop Standard or Classic but it's not a Custom

 

[ARandall]

If you know where to look Custom shop waterslide decals are available to purchase, as are Gibson pearl logos. It means nothing by itself.

Also, if it is indeed a classic with a 7 as the first digit, then its not an early classic but a slightly later one from 1997, when the custom shop was already up and running.

 

[LP1980LP]

If you know where to look Custom shop waterslide decals are available to purchase, as are Gibson pearl logos. It means nothing by itself.

Also, if it is indeed a classic with a 7 as the first digit, then its not an early classic but a slightly later one from 1997, when the custom shop was already up and running.

Exact serial number is (in white) 7 9336, any ideas? Will have pics of the whole guitar all over this afternoon. Guy also thinks it has the 'chainsaw' style case, but will be confirmed later in pics

 

[LinkLP]

I'm kind of new here so take my post with a grain of salt,
From it's SN it's probably a classic or a reissue, none of it indicate it's a 1987 though

http://bluebookofguitarvalues.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

 

[LP1980LP]

I'm kind of new here so take my post with a grain of salt,
From it's SN it's probably a classic or a reissue, none of it indicate it's a 1987 though

http://bluebookofguitarvalues.com/Info/PDF/EGuitar/ElectricSerialization.pdf

That's what I'm also going on, I'm just not sure.. here are some more pics including rear of headstock, if you guys need any more just let me know! Really appreciate all the help.

 

[Birdseyeview]

Contact Gibson.

 

[LP1980LP]

Contact Gibson.

I have done and still haven't received a reply yet! Will try again later on if I still haven't had one back by the end of the day, last time I emailed them about a different guitar they were fairly quick (a couple of hours).

 

[Donal]

Hi I'm looking to buy what I'm being told is a 1987 Les Paul custom although I'm not actually 100% on it being a 1987 or a custom, it doesn't have typical custom specs; headstock binding, split diamond headstock inlay etc.. so I know its not a custom model, but what it does have is the gold Gibson Custom Shop logo on the lower back of the headstock with a serial number in white which is: 7 9337. Also has a plain black TRC.

That leads me to the next problem I vaguely remember reading on a thread here somewhere that in 1987 there was no 'Gibson Custom Shop' just Gibson USA Custom guitars, (please correct me if I'm wrong!) If it was a custom from this era I always thought it would of had the 8 digit serial number YDDDYMMM format? I have pics to upload later from my PC of the front of the guitar just not the back! Please, help me out haha! All that aside this guitar is hands down the best LP I've ever laid hands on by far and I've definitely played a few! Thanks guys for your help in advance!

There are several exceptions to the serial number fomat. Which could be the case here:

Les Paul Classic: This model features an ink stamped serial number with no "MADE IN USA" (just as used on the original 1952-1960 Les Pauls). Most will be 5 to 6 digits in length, but the earliest examples feature 4 digit serial numbers. There should be a space after the 1st digit with the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers.

The 1st digit indicates the year of manufacture for the 4 & 5 digit serial numbers, these were used from 1989-1999.

So based on the Serial number alone it could be a 1997 Classic