Hey guys, cool forum! When I turned twenty in 1982 I bought this SG (SN 187142) as a birthday present for myself. It was my first guitar, I wanted to learn on something good 8) After many years and a transition from guitar to bass and from Metal to Christian rock, I'd like to find the year. Man, early '70's Gibson dating is a mess ... "MADE IN USA" under the serial number. The pots are stamped "1377401". One is stamped "70-028", on the others solder makes them impossible to read. It seems to match an SG Standard between '71 and '75, but it also has a Gibson Bigsby vibrato. The serial number range gives between '70 and '75, and the earliest Bigsby equipped SG I've found is a '71 Deluxe (this one clearly isn't a Deluxe). This sure looks like THE place for SG's. TIA for your help! Peace, Vince <><
Welcome Vince. I can't say for sure, but it looks to me like a 73-75 SG Standard. What I can say, is that someone will be along shortly - that will be able to say for sure :)
Welcome VinceByrne! I don't know if you've owned your SG the longest of anyone here but it's up there! Your SG Standard was made around the spring of '74.The pots date 1st week 1974 from the code 137-YY-WW.Some of the guys here also own '74 Sgs. Just for giggles, do you remember how much you paid for it?
Thanks! I've wondered for years ... I bought it at Guitars Etc. in Seattle (long gone). I was a little shy on the cash, my mom went with me to make up the difference. $400 with case, strap, two sets of strings and a folding crap stand ... probably half a bill more than if I would have had a clue ... I hooked up with some guys who needed a bass player not long after and picked up a Ric 4001 (Geddy, man!) and the guitarist "adopted" it for a few years. Later I moved to a '79 neck-through BC Rich Mockingbird bass with all the switches and knobs and thingies. I'll keep the SG and the Rich until I die, anything else can come and go. Thanks again, Vince <><
I'm almost certain that the didn't use the harmonica bridge till 73. I'd say probably a 73ish since the pots are dated 70.
Welcome VB! Nice axe... Also, great first post: info, pix, story to go with it... Wish they all were like that. 8)
I dunno... I chose the oldest... figuring the newer ones were upgrades..... maybe the older one is a repair
Welcome to ETSG vincebyrne! Cool Axe! Love the Oldies! You are one of the few in the longevity class. I have a 65 Std I bought in 72...... and still play..........! 8) 8) 8)
Quote CevTV,"70-028 is a 300K pot. Since July 1973, all standard production models have 300K volume and 500K tone pots.........as far as I know. " Excerpt from Technical Questions--SG Vol Pots Thanks Cev!
Momma taught me how to duck! Float like a butterfly ... .. and the Gibson tech "support" said by email there was no way to know closer than '70-'75. Schnerb. It's a '74 or possibly but unlikely a '75. I'm gonna roll with that, thanks to all here. Keep it down man, they are watching! The codes are everywhere ... If you were connected you'd know that if you play Geezer Butler's bass solo at the beginning of "N.I.B" backwards at half speed you can clearly hear the coded message "other way, dumb-ass". There's so much of this stuff out there ... This guy knows ... No mind controlling him ... Man, you must be old! Hey, if it works you oughtta stick with it ... Works for me. I guess I wasn't very clear ... All four of the pots are stamped "1377401". 1974, week 1. One of the tone pots was also stamped "70-028", on the other three pots the equivalent stamp was covered by solder. As best I can tell, it's all original. It's good! It's all good! Peace, Vince <><
I am and proud of it.... I'm older then my guitars and they are older then most of the guys I Jam with............
Been there ... The old guy owns the PA, the truck, and roadies the gear while youngster Jack Axx hooks up :wink: :wink: :wink: What's frustrating is when they think Aerosmith is those guys who made it from that song with Run DMC. No history ... Vince <><
.... I hear that, and even worse is when you have to settle their argument as to who originally did "Walkin The Dog"..... Motley Crue or Aerosmith...... by digging out your copy by Rufus Thomas.........!!!
