Spunt Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Hi all, I discovered this piece in a local shop and wondering what it is. The serial number does not seem to follow the scheme for ES reissues. The shop tag claims it's a 1959 ES-175 Custom Shop Reissue. It only has one pickup. No number stamped on the head. It comes with a certificate: Serial number: A05457 Other "id" on the certificate: ES75VBNHI Hi-res photos: http://xhost.cz/~spunt/es-175/IMG_20160503_174642.jpg http://xhost.cz/~spunt/es-175/IMG_20160503_174655.jpg http://xhost.cz/~spunt/es-175/IMG_20160503_174707.jpg http://xhost.cz/~spunt/es-175/IMG_20160503_174714.jpg http://xhost.cz/~spunt/es-175/IMG_20160503_174741.jpg http://xhost.cz/~spunt/es-175/IMG_20160506_161751.jpg Thanks a lot everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Hello and welcome to the Forums! It's a 1959 ES-175 Reissue from around 2012(?). A truly beautiful guitar! The serial format, and the rest of the details correspond to a genuine Gibson guitar. The customer service can confirm that for You. Please contact: service@gibson.com Bence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 The "A" number reissues were the highest level of "Historic Series" guitars when they were built. Unfortunately there is no code to the SN (that I know of), so it is no help in putting a mfg date to the guitar, or year/model being recreated. From the SN, photos, and the shop tag info, I see no reason to doubt the information you have. Along with the COA, the paperwork with the guitar would have originally included a warranty pamphlet, on the back of which would be a "Pre-Pack Checklist". This would included the date of final inspection and release for shipment. This date is generally regarded as the "born on" date of these guitars. During Gibson's "Golden Years", hollow body guitars did not have the serial number stamped on the back of the headstock, it was ONLY listed on the paper label glued inside the guitar, so this feature is one of the "historically accurate" features of this reissue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spunt Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 Thanks, guys, you're great :) Yes, the guitar looks and sounds great. I don't have a reason to doubt its origin, was mostly trying to figure out the exact parameters to be able to tell whether the price is adequate (they sell it for $4500). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Well...the European prices. These are the specs: •Vintage Burst Finish •3-Ply Maple and Poplar Top •3-Ply Maple and Poplar Back •Mahogany Neck With Traditional Maple Spline •Dark Rosewood Fretboard •24.75" Scale Length •12" Fretboard Radius •1.687" Nut Width •’59-Style Thin Frets •’57 Classic Humbucker Pickup - 500k CTS potentiometers with “Bumble Bee” tone capacitors. •Master Volume and Tone Controls •Compensated Rosewood Bridge with Original Spec “Zig Zag” Tailpiece •Kluson Tulip Tuners •Vintage-Style Nylon Nut •Nickel Plated Brass Hardware Bence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spunt Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Wow, thanks! :) Yeah, it's expensive. I'm sure I could buy it cheaper in the states, but this one's here, it's well made, it sounds great. Will probably take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo Casagni Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 I renew this old thread to tell you how good and responsive the Gibson Customer Service is! A couple of weeks ago I bought as used the same kind of guitar (with the difference that mine has 2 pickups, model number is ES7DVBNH1) but the seller was not able to tell me which was the year of production, so i wrote to service@gibson.com and they replied after only 2 minutes, providing me with the info i required (year is 2012)! I also asked them which is the criteria to associate serial number with year of production for those kind of guitars and they replied "This is from internal records. The serial number scheme from this model does not decode specifics such as the year/date made." So ... if you own one of these CS beautiful guitars, the only way to know when it was built is to ask them, they'll be glad (and prompt!) to reply! 😉 Paolo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 On 5/9/2016 at 5:33 AM, L5Larry said: During Gibson's "Golden Years", hollow body guitars did not have the serial number stamped on the back of the headstock, it was ONLY listed on the paper label glued inside the guitar, so this feature is one of the "historically accurate" features of this reissue. As it pertains to this reissue of a 1959 guitar, yes, it's accurate to have no number stamped on the back of the headstock. However, the above statement is a bit misleading (wrong, I would argue). I think most people would agree that Gibson's golden years included the 1960's (or at least the first half of the 60's, depending on who you ask), and serial number stamping on the back of the head (on all models) was done starting in 1961. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaszs Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 I have one of these with 2 pickups also, but it is a sunburst color. The serial number sticker inside mine looks identical to yours (different number of course) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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