Help identifying Gibson Les Paul guitar

Serial number 513353
Is this a Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker? Is it from the 60's? 70's? I can tell you this much it's a relic. It's had the tuners upgraded from the Kluson tuners it probably came with. It now has Schaller tuners(I think. It has an S and it says made in Germany). I tried it and it plays fine. There's an incredible amount of wear which leads me to believe this guitar saw some punk or heavy metal use. Serious dig mark right behind the neck pickup which looks like the person really liked their powerchords. Pickups, controls look original. Missing pickguard and even the the tunomatic has either been redrilled or mistakenly drilled in the factory. Lot of fretware. Nice straight neck though and clean fretboard. I don't have anything here to clean the body up. It weighs 8.5 lbs. To me that seems light for a Les Paul, is it the Melody Maker?

After looking a little more I think it was a Melody Maker that had the tunomatic added and the tail moved back. Correct me if i'm wrong.
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q636/psychedelictripper/gibsonlespaul.jpg

Or Les Paul '55 Special from the mid 70's?

I'm sure someone knows much more than me. That won't stop me from guessing. Les Paul Special that has had the wrap around tail piece removed and a tune-o-matic added. I strongly suspect the pick up rings were added after the pickguard was removed. Those old celluloid guards would shrink and warp over time. Don't take that for Gospel, I'm just getting to know my way around Gibson guitars. I know enough to know I don't know enough.

Thanks,

that's good info about the pick up ears. Based upon the the upper wear where no pickguard is ever found the user probably felt it unnecessary because they weren't exactly a strummer.

So far what I can dig up is Gibson re-issued the 1955 Les Paul Special in 1974. According to one source they shipped 1925 of them that year but no more until 1977. "Those had tunomatics and stop tail pieces instead of the wraparound", according to the source.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/historics-reissues/46618-1974-limited-edition-les-paul.html

It looks like someone had the earlier version and had it "upgraded". One thing that is puzzling to me is did they have Kluson tuners on them in 1974? This one definitely had those types because I can see the holes and distinctive outline.

Answered my own question. Ebay has a 1978 RI with Kluson tuners.

The best way to find out is to call Gibson customer service and run the serial number. I always do, it eliminates all questions. Call 24/7 at 1-800-444-2766

Thanks TwangBilly,
They gave me an email to contact. I think I got a match on this guitar though. There's a later model on Ebay with the upgrades the previous owner had done. Funny Gibson produced this in 1974 and released them all save for I guess 2 in 1976. In 1977 they came out with the upgrade someone performed on the guitar. Of course it's always possible this guitar sat on a music store wall for years and was modified later. With the amount of grime on this thing they'll be no trouble dusting for finger prints if not doing a plastic impression mold ;).

I think this guitar has some mojo going on for it. It definitely needs a set up and perhaps fret evaluation and possible a little leveling. However I really like those p-90 pickups. I also think the person was most correct by improving the tuners. I detest Kluson tuners with a passion. One of the 1st upgrades Jimmy Page's Les Paul from Joe Walsh got was tuner replacement. Kluson probably has a home for some people but definitely not string benders. But back to the P-90's I think they are the way to go for a Les Paul to get it to cut through the mix better.

I have an old Epiphone Les Paul Standard and some day it needs such an upgrade along with new frets. Give me Jumbos any day.