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  • Mystery Gibson LP?

    Does anyone know what this is? It is a Gibson. Made in USA is stamped on the back of the Headstock. It is a slab mahogany body with a bolt on neck. Large Headstock with Klusons. No pick guard which seems factory. And... It has a factory installed Moog active tone control circuit board with Zero Center speed knobs. I believe late 70s or early 80s. I was told it was a factory prototype when I picked it up in the late 80s used.
    Serial# 80280065

    Click image for larger version

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  • #2
    If it's a bolt on neck, it may be a LP Studio knockoff...definitely not a prototype. Probably not a Gibson, but a fake.
    Epiphone sold some as a student low end model. Chinese also made them... It's not anything like a real LP...more of a student guitar.
    Heard of these being made in Philippines and sold for $40.
    You say it's a Gibson, I say it's a fake.
    There have been a lot of counterfeit LPs, and they go on ebay for up to $300.

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    • #3
      The Gibson serial number indicates that it was made in 1980, on the 280th day of the year & the manufacturing facility was in Kalamazoo.

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      • #4
        The guy who would know is Tim Shaw who worked for Gibson first in Kalamazoo and then in Nashville for many years, eventually becoming a VP. Tim now works in the Fender/Guild custom shop in Nashville. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this was one of his projects.

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        • #5
          I haven't ever used it much because I find the active tone controls and the switching architecture unwieldy. It is definitely not fake, is a Gibson, and MIA. It plays well though. Gibson made several LP type guitars with a bolt on neck around 1980, but I have just never seen one that matches this one. I have never seen another with a Moog board either.

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          • #6
            SGM... it looks to be in the Gibson Sonex family. They were produced from 1980 -1984. All had bolt on necks, all made in Kalamazoo I believe.

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            • #7
              Sonex didn't have wood bodies, I think they were all "resonwood", but yes, it does seem in that vein. Maybe a prototype before they had any of those bodies made. Invader was similar and all wood, but didn't come out till '85.
              Originally posted by Enzo
              I have a sign in my shop that says, "Never think up reasons not to check something."


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              • #8
                Anything recognizable here? https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...40.m_rU6JOkYlQ

                And maybe a schematic? RD77. http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?ap...ttach_id=12568

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                • #9
                  GK-55 had the flat top and fine tuners like that, but I don't think it had that active package available.
                  Edit: correction, there were GK-55's with the active system.
                  Last edited by g1; 05-07-2014, 02:22 AM.
                  Originally posted by Enzo
                  I have a sign in my shop that says, "Never think up reasons not to check something."


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                  • #10
                    Hello,
                    Possibly custom order, or modified by request.

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                    • #11
                      Thanks for the replies and the leads. Despite the bolt on neck it is vey well built and I get a complements on it. It's an odd duck. I'm going to see if I can match the numbers on the Moog board to some the links provided.

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                      • #12
                        Contact my friends over at Elderly Instruments. If anyone knows old Gibson it would be they.

                        Elderly Instruments - Welcome - Elderly Instruments
                        Education is what you're left with after you have forgotten what you have learned.

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                        • #13
                          Funny you should mention Elderly, one of the GK-55 examples was from their site. Appears to be almost identical except tailpiece, which may have been changed. From what I gather, most of them had the fine tuners.
                          And I stand corrected as it does have the active moog package, so it must have been available as an option.
                          GIBSON GK-55 ACTIVE (1980) (30U-17490) - Elderly Instruments
                          Last edited by g1; 05-07-2014, 02:25 AM.
                          Originally posted by Enzo
                          I have a sign in my shop that says, "Never think up reasons not to check something."


                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by g-one View Post
                            Funny you should mention Elderly, one of the GK-55 examples was from their site. Appears to be almost identical except tailpiece, which may have been changed. From what I gather, most of them had the fine tuners.
                            And I stand corrected as it does have the active moog package, so it must have been available as an option.
                            GIBSON GK-55 ACTIVE (1980) (30U-17490) - Elderly Instruments
                            That's it! Minus the micro tuners. And I bet someone took them off of the Elderly one. I never understood the purpose of the micro tuners on this guitar since it did not have a locking nut. Thanks ! I wonder what it sold for? I have the original case as well and almost never use it.
                            Last edited by olddawg; 05-07-2014, 03:20 AM.

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                            • #15
                              Ask them, they are friendly people.
                              Education is what you're left with after you have forgotten what you have learned.

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