Mid 70s LPC with no pancake?

[lats667]

Hi. I just scored a 1976 sunburst custom. Maple neck, t-tops, 8 digit serial starting with 00. Pots also seen to be original. 3 piece Maple cap. I was surprised that there is no middle seam on the body, no pancake. Neck tenon is the short type. I thought all bodies were pancake in this period?

 

[LP Traditional]

My 77 custom is not a pancake either.

 

[mudface]

We need pics..... and pics of the pots.

 

[mudface]

My 77 custom is not a pancake either.

The pancake body ended in mid ‘77 and there are a few one piece back with the decal serial number that started 00.... but there are no stamped serial numbered ‘77s with pancake bodies.

 

[lats667]

We need pics..... and pics of the pots.

I will comply. However, need to get back to my computer so that I can resize images

 

[lats667]

Some pics

 

[Oranjeaap]

Late 76 pots .. could make it a mid 77

 

[mudface]

Yup... 50th week ‘76 pots..... make this a ‘77 build..... there’s your answer.

My 1978 Custom has a stock 1976 dated T-Top in the neck position.... carry over parts are common even a year or two apart.

 

[lats667]

Thanks, so the serial is not a definitive marker for dating the guitar? I guess this is a good thing. Although pancake bodies don't bother me, it could be a plus if reselling.

Does this also mean the gen 3 chainsaw case the guitar came in could be original for this guitar?

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

The serial tells you when the neck was stamped....marking a guitars is a long process....therefore multiple points are needed Such as pot dates and features.

was that neck made in 76, yes......was that body, no.

 

[lats667]

I see. I thought the body and neck were glued before any staining/spraying was done, and that the stamp is put on just before the clearcoat. But then the burst/color was put on before they glued in the neck, and then put on the clear coat?

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

No, necks are stamped in large batches well before...they are bare when stamped, which is one of the reasons that dark, solid colors tend to fill up the indentions and make the serial numbers hard to read.

theres a video on YouTube that shows the entire process, it is a good watch.

 

[Daniel.S]

Pull the cavity plate out. There should should be some more information to help you out.
Edit: found a pic of mine.

 

[lats667]

No, necks are stamped in large batches well before...they are bare when stamped, which is one of the reasons that dark, solid colors tend to fill up the indentions and make the serial numbers hard to read.

theres a video on YouTube that shows the entire process, it is a good watch.

Yes, but this has the decal, no indentations.

 

[lats667]

Pull the cavity plate out. There should should be some more information to help you out.
Edit: found a pic of mine.

Thanks. Will have a look if the knobs are easy to pull.

 

[ARandall]

Yes, but this has the decal, no indentations.

Which of course has no date related information on it fullstop.

HCT was really talking about the 8 digit method that came in later, as that was the first ever time that a day of the year (to narrow things down) was included in the serial number.

 

[lats667]

I understand. I thought the 00 were unique to 76. But I just watched a Trogly episode with a 76 natural (I think serial 0012xxxx like mine) which also has the one-piece body and decal serial. One of these days I will pull the pots

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

00 prefix on a decal is unique to 1976....who says otherwise?

 

[mudface]

00 prefix on a decal is unique to 1976....who says otherwise?

I do.....the decal maybe a '76 decal,...doesn't mean it wasn't used on a guitar processed into 1977..... the same with late '76 pots would end up on a '77..... I have seen 00 and 06 serial decals used on '77 LPs.

It's one of many reasons i don't trust the serials during the Norlin period.

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

oh, I absolutely get that....we have discussed it many times, multiple points are needed for that very reason.

I thought he meant that the Trogly said it (double 00) was used for during another time period etc.....of course, I never bothered to watch his video.




question: Didn't we decide that the decal is UNDER the clear coat?