Hello...i have a black gibson les paul custom. Serial number 00117886. what year is it and would this be considered a black beauty? any idea of value too?

The term 'Black Beauty' has been well overused by now. It was originally the 1957 black Les Paul Custom model, but by now is any black Les Paul Custom. In addition Gibson themselves are cashing in by doing reissues, finished to look older.

So if it is a black Les Paul Custom, then yes, it is a Black Beauty, according to someone somewhere. On top of that, Gibson has reused serial numbers, in different years for different models.

If the serial number is stamped on the headstock with 'Made In USA' the guitar was made at the Kalamazoo or Nashville Plant, in 1976.

Those guitars are worth US$3000-4000 depending on condition.

Otherwise it was made at the Nashville Plant, TN, on January 11th, 2007.

Those newer reissue guitars sell for similar prices.
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