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One of my doctors is thinking of selling his SB ES175 and I told him I'd try to get a ball park value. He's pretty sure it's a 69-71 (pre Norlin) orange label and is in minty condition but may have a slight bump at the neck joint but plays well as is. Local tech has been taking care of it and told him that it's real good right now but could maybe be better with the right work (I'm guessing planing the fretboard). He doesn't play it much since he bought a Strat and a Martin 000-28EC a couple years ago and he's a bedroom player at best. Was a music major at Penn State back in the day but switched to psychology. Anyway, nice guy and I'd like to get him a little info. I don't want it because I just don't bond with archtops very well although I keep buying and selling them. I haven't seen it in person yet, so this is all I know from our conversation. Thoughts?
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12-03-2023 02:55 PM
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There's a difference in value between a 69 and 71, for example, is it a late 69 w wide nut or early 69 w narrow. Pics would help largely.
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69-71 is most definitely Norlan era. Maybe 3400-4200 if it's truly minty.
Originally Posted by Skip Ellis
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See the Blue Book of Guitar Values for valuations.
You can buy a "subscription" for $7 for one month to get the info you need. Also includes a description of what adjectives like "mint", "very good", &c mean with respect to condition. I use this moderately often, but not often enough to buy a year's subscription. When I need it, I subscribe and then close the subscription before the end of the month - just a small cost of doing business.
You can probably establish the age of the guitar via the serial number.
See Gibson Serial Number Lookup. Gives you the place it was built, along with the date (month, day, year) and the daily ordinal number of when it was serialized. It's worked correctly for me for the four or five guitars I've put through it. The last three digits, the "production number" in this app's response, ***>contains 1 digit that represents the factory and then two digits that represent its place in the instruments that were serialized on that day - e.g, 537 means it was built in Nashville and was the 37th guitar serialized on that day.<***
2023 12 03 revision:
That last part between ***> and <*** isn't quite right. According to Gibson, numbers 500-999 indicate a guitar made in Nashville, and the number above 500 is the ordinal number in which the guitar was serialized. See Gibson's own Serial Number Search. The numbering scheme varies somewhat by the year the guitar was made.
Also see the Reverb Gibson dating page. Gives lots more process info, but doesn't have the automatic decoding feature.Last edited by dconeill; 12-04-2023 at 12:03 AM.
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Norlin took over ownership from Chicago Musical Instruments at the very end of December 1969.
FWIW, Vintage Guitars Price Guide says $3500-4500 if 1970s, somewhat more for ‘67-‘69. That’s for excellent condition instruments. Anything less than excellent the guide would value as less. They can be off more or less depending on the models, but it’s probably fairly accurate in this case.
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Need more info:
Yellow or Purple lined case?
Which tailpiece?
Nut size?
All original? If not, what has been changed?
Which sunburst (Iced Tea, Cherry or Three-tone) ?
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Thanks for the answers! I'll be seeing him in a couple weeks and hopefully get more info and pics.
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