Any Gibson Serial # Experts around here?

[cmatthes]

This is clearly a ‘70s Ripper Bass, but the serial # is throwing me, and I’m usually really good with those!  Any input?

[crunchee]

I'm no expert, but I've heard before that 70's Gibson serial numbers were all over the place, with no particular method (or pattern) to the madness.  Maybe this article will help?

Dating A '70s Les Paul - Premier Guitar

[cmatthes]

5 hours ago, crunchee said:

I'm no expert, but I've heard before that 70's Gibson serial numbers were all over the place, with no particular method (or pattern) to the madness.  Maybe this article will help?

Dating A '70s Les Paul - Premier Guitar

Thanks, man!  I know most of the numbering schemes they used from the early 50s to now, but this isn’t landing for some reason!

[Tortious]

What Crunchee posted is pretty much it. 1970-75 are the most difficult era to identify. The serial numbers are basically worthless, except that if they don't conform to any known earlier or later coding system, it's probably from those years.

After that, it's potentiometer dating (hopefully at least one is still original) then going by model and what known years they were produced.

What is it, an LP bass?

[cmatthes]

Ripper.

[The Shark]

Pots changed?  If not, that's as good a way to date it as any.  A buddy of mine has one with an alder body in sunburst and it weighs about two pounds less than the maple body models.  He had both and the alder one sounded much better acoustically and he sold the maple one.  It was a '74.  I always loved the look of those.

[mudshark]

https://reverb.com/news/how-to-date-a-gibson-using-serial-numbers-fons-and-logos

 

[velorush]

This was interesting: in the Gruhn Guide (3rd Edition), the entry for Ripper says "see L9-S."  Never heard of an L9-S, but it was introduced in 1973 and was renamed Ripper in 1974.  Discontinued 1982.  About the only anomaly that might help narrow it down is the sunburst finish was discontinued in 1975 and was replaced with an optional ebony finish with ebony fretboard that year.

At any rate, the Serial Number chart for 1970-1975 places 109807 between 1970-1975.  Since we know the model started in 1973 and the end of the 100000 serial numbers was 1975, we can at least narrow it down to the three years of 1973-1975.  Also, if it says "Ripper" anywhere on it (control cavity, neck pocket), that would reduce the range to 1974-1975.  If, instead, there is a L9-S marking somewhere that might mean 1973.

IF serial numbers were sequential (don't know), finding out production numbers from the 70's might provide a clue of the specific year [that's one big IF and a MIGHT].

[cmatthes]

It’s definitely pre-‘75 because it doesn’t have the alder body nor the later 1974/early ‘75 sharper contours.  It does have “The Ripper” on the TRC, but I’ll have to check the lot codes (assuming original) when I get it in my hands.