Need help with manufacture's date of a Les Paul

[bionicmark]

Hello! Anyone here know how to identify a Les Paul's year?

I have the serial # and I'm still having trouble.

Inside the volume/tone pot cavity it says R7 , which I know means a reissue of a 57. There's nothing else inside the cavity... No serial numbers or date.

It's a Goldtop and the serial # is:

731585

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[lespaul6]

..believe that's a 2003, should have a Madagascar rosewood fret board, very nice. Is the fret board really dark?

 

[bionicmark]

Thank you for your help.

I'll take a photo of the guitar so you can get an idea of the neck.

Thanks!

 

[skoora]

Is there a space between the 7 and the rest of the serial? Lespaul6 sounds correct.

 

[bionicmark]

no space between the numbers on the neck (serial number)

photo -

 

[lespaul6]

I'm still going with a 2003, unless the back has that custom shop logo badge on the pickup selector cover? Also, someone changed the tuners? can you confirm.

I think the pickup selector toggle cap has also been switched out for a white one? It should be a burnt orange color. Hardware looks very shiny, either hardly used or chrome plated? if chrome then not original.

Last, looks like speed knobs? if so, not original

 

[bionicmark]

I'm still going with a 2003, unless the back has that custom shop logo badge on the pickup selector cover? Also, someone changed the tuners? can you confirm.

**It didn't come with any badge on the pick up switch on the back.. Just the plain kind that they come with.**

I think the pickup selector toggle cap has also been switched out for a white one?

**I swapped out the original. I still have the original. I just prefer that color.**


It should be a burnt orange color. Hardware looks very shiny, either hardly used or chrome plated? if chrome then not original.

**It is chrome plated. I did swap out the bridge/saddle for Faber ones. I saved the originals.**

Last, looks like speed knobs? if so, not original

**That was me again. I prefer them for volume swells, etc. Since having all original parts and can easily have my tech put them back on, what do you think the value of the guitar is? It's a 9.5/10?**

Thanks again!

 

[errrrrl]

I just picked up a 2004 R7 a couple of weeks ago. I love the super fat neck on it.

The price seems to range between $2200 to 3k when I last looked. Does it come with the Gibson custom shop case too?

 

[bionicmark]

I just picked up a 2004 R7 a couple of weeks ago. I love the super fat neck on it.

The price seems to range between $2200 to 3k when I last looked. Does it come with the Gibson custom shop case too?

Indeed it does... The infamous black w/ the wine velvet interior.

I did a search on eBay/Reverb. It does vary in price. I like mine as well , although I've been eying some other guitars - so I was looking for the date on this one and a decent asking price when the time comes.

 

[lespaul6]

I'm still going with a 2003, unless the back has that custom shop logo badge on the pickup selector cover? Also, someone changed the tuners? can you confirm.

**It didn't come with any badge on the pick up switch on the back.. Just the plain kind that they come with.**

I think the pickup selector toggle cap has also been switched out for a white one?

**I swapped out the original. I still have the original. I just prefer that color.**


It should be a burnt orange color. Hardware looks very shiny, either hardly used or chrome plated? if chrome then not original.

**It is chrome plated. I did swap out the bridge/saddle for Faber ones. I saved the originals.**

Last, looks like speed knobs? if so, not original

**That was me again. I prefer them for volume swells, etc. Since having all original parts and can easily have my tech put them back on, what do you think the value of the guitar is? It's a 9.5/10?**

Thanks again!

I also think you should start out at 2200 for that guitar... nice guitar!