Neonlite

Its a stamped in number. From the look of the guitar, I would say it is early to mid-seventies from photos I've seen of different Flying-V collector sites.

Thanks for trying to help, John. The problem is, the first number is the only number I can't read. I have no hope of looking up the serial number without the first one. Why couldn't it be the last one! Perhaps you or someone else knows of a way to clean the paint out of the serial number so I could read it without destroying the serial number?

I have a 70's Gibson Flying V that had a broken headstock twice and was repaired by a Gibson tech twice. In the process, the serial number on the headstock was covered over and is not legible. All but the first number can be determined and this seems to be the most important one in figuring out the exact year it was made which is my goal. Any suggestions on the best way to clear away the paint without ruining the serial number stamp? I plan to refinish the entire neck and headstock due to a problem with the paint peeling and gumming up on me. So I'm not concerned about the appearence of the headstock at this point. Thanks in advance!

Thanks, Brian for the info. I have recently began hanging it on the wall by a hanger since I finished my home studio and want quick access to all my guitars and basses. However, it sat in its velvet hard-shell case for the last 20 year when I wasn't playing it. The peeling is occurring in the middle of the neck, worse at around the 9th fret and spreading about 3 inches in either direction. I have never refinished a guitar neck. Are there any good articles/tutorials for doing this out there? I would like to try doing it myself. Thanks again.

Hi, I have an old black and white Gibson Flying V I have had for 20 years and bought second hand. I was told it was a 1972, but do not know how to verify this. I love the guitar and it plays like a dream... or I should say played like a dream. Here is what happened. In 1987, I broke the headstock by talking the guitar on a plane and forgetting to relieve the string tension. They through it around because in spite of my original hard-shell case, it snapped. I had it repaired by what was supposed to be a registered Gibson dealer/repair shop in Delaware. Its been fine since then for the most part except for my current problem. The repair shop must have painted the back of the neck when they refinished the headstock. I don't know what they used or if they didn't strip it first, but it is coming off in layers and getting gummy. This is not conducive to quick motion around the neck when playing it. Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing this problem? If I need to refinish the neck is there a tutorial or site that can give me information on this? The neck is black with a rosewood fretboard. I love this guitar and it is like an old friend so I want to do it right. Thanks in advance for any help/advice. -Scott