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Topic: 1967 Gibson Century |
Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 23 Jun 2014 4:52 pm |
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I just put down a deposit on this guy and will pick it up this weekend:
I played one of these last year and loved it, but that one was overpriced. This one is considerably less ($500 plus tax), so I pulled the trigger on it. I'm trying to figure out how many of this version were made. I know that 19 Centuries were built in 1966 and 41 in 1967, but the question is exactly when in 1966 was the change made from the old version. Anyone have an exact number?
Also, I figure that I'm paying slightly on the low side for this one. Am I correct? It comes with a case, but I'm not sure if it's original. There's moderate wear, but no obvious replacement parts and no signs of abuse. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2014 6:07 pm
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| Congratulations, Noah. That is a great deal on a very rare bird. I'd expect to pay a lot more than $500.00 for one of the last of the Centuries. The Firebird pickups sound awesome. |
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C. E. Jackson
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Posted 24 Jun 2014 4:31 am
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A beautiful instrument, Noah. It is a 1967 Century v.4, and according to shipping records only 41 were shipped by Gibson. Also, according to my references, the change was probably made in mid-1966. Many collectors that I have talked with are of the opinion that only about 1/2 of the vintage instruments that were shipped have survived. It is a rare and valuable instrument.
_________________
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 24 Jun 2014 5:13 am
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| C. E. Jackson wrote: |
| according to shipping records only 41 were shipped by Gibson. Also, according to my references, the change was probably made in mid-1966. |
This is the source of my confusion. 41 total were shipped in 1967, so if only 41 were built in total, then all the Centuries made after mid-1966 were shipped the following year.
I assume that the shipping records don't distinguish between the V3 and V4 Centuries, and that someone mistakenly assumed that all the V4s were built in '67. |
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Adam Nero
From:
Wisconsin
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Posted 24 Jun 2014 6:30 am
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I am just so jealous. Wow. One of the coolest six string laps I've laid eyes on.
Last edited by Adam Nero on 5 Aug 2014 8:19 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Daniel McKee
From:
Corinth Mississippi
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Posted 24 Jun 2014 11:48 am
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| Never have seen one of those before. |
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Michael Greer
From:
Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jun 2014 11:57 am
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Hi Noah
Great Find
The Century V4 is a beautiful and rare lap steel.
I suspect we are all using the same reference material and perhaps will never know how many of the 19 in 1966 and 41 from 1967 were actually Century V4.
Attached is a picture of one I am happy to have.
Wonder how many are still around ?
 h |
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Richard Shatz
From:
St. Louis
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Posted 26 Jun 2014 9:56 am
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Very nice score. I think I payed more than that at least 10 years ago for mine.
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2014 11:08 am
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| Wow, that's three of 'em! There could be at least 38 more out there somewhere. Where are all the rest? Keep those pics coming, boys and girls... |
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Michael Hogan
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 1:57 am sorry it took so long
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And another one.
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 3:58 am
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Well, if this thread's still going, I might as well post some better pics of mine. It's certainly seen plenty of use, and unfortunately there's a more damage to the finish because it was stored in the case with a coily cable for many years.
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 5:55 am
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| Thanks for the additional photos, Noah. Cool old guitar, and still a helluva deal for $500.00. Is it my imagination, or is the string spacing, especially at the nut, considerably narrower than all previous incarnations of the Century? |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 6:24 am
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| Jack Hanson wrote: |
| Is it my imagination, or is the string spacing, especially at the nut, considerably narrower than all previous incarnations of the Century? |
I don't recall playing an earlier Century, but from photos I think they used the same nut & the same spacing.
| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| How does it sound? I imagine that humbucker sounds quite a bit different than the earlier single coil pickup...? |
It's definitely more of a rock and roll sound than the Epiphones, Nationals and Ricks I usually play. It's brighter, with not much bass (sort of like a '50s Fender). I usually keep the tone control rolled back about 2/3 of the way off, and even all the way down it doesn't get muddy. I had to lower the treble side considerably to get good balance, and even then, the two end strings are slightly weaker than the center ones. However, it's as quiet as you'd expect from a humbucker; I'm now realizing just how much noise is coming from my ancient amplifiers. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 6:33 am
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Cool guitar. I've never seen one in person. It's got a mix of design styles happening.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 6:34 am
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| Noah Miller wrote: |
I don't recall playing an earlier Century, but from photos I think they used the same nut & the same spacing.
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My black version 1 measures approximately 1-27/32" at the nut and 2-15/32" at the bridge.
My blue version 2b measures approximately 1-7/8" at the nut and 2-11/32" at the bridge. |
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 10:54 am
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| The spacing at the nut on mine is just over 2 1/16". There are no slots cut in the bridge, so the spacing there is flexible. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Noah Miller
From:
Rocky Hill, CT
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 12:24 pm
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| I measured to the centers of the slots. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2014 12:39 pm
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| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
| Are you guys measuring the space between the strings or the center to center spacing of the strings (the spacing of the notches in the nut)? |
From the approximate center of the 1st string slot to the approximate center of the 6th string slot at the nut.
Same deal with the bridge -- slot to slot. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Mitch Druckman
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2014 3:27 pm
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| That pickup looks like a mini humbucker from a Gibson Firebird. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2014 3:42 pm
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| Mitch Druckman wrote: |
| That pickup looks like a mini humbucker from a Gibson Firebird. |
That's exactly what it is. |
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John Rymas
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 3 May 2022 12:54 pm
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I know this thread is several years old, but I’m hoping to revive the discussion of this subject.
In particular, I’m hoping that some of you might kindly be willing to share any known serial number info, for known/confirmed examples of ‘66 or ‘67 Centuries.
Any serial number info would be appreciated, and I’d be especially interested if we could confirm any serial numbers outside the 0072xx to 0074xx range.
Additionally, I’d like to hear about any examples that feature original reflector knobs (as opposed to the later witch hat style knobs).
Thank you! |
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