[Mark Allin]

I recently bought a 2014 Custom Shop Dove that has the cherry red back and sides and is in "near mint" condition. Based on the serial number I can tell it's a 2014 that was made in November, 2014 and was the 71st headstock stamped that day. It came with a Gibson Factory case (Made in Canada) and it is really blemish free beyond a very faint swirl on a tiny part of the pickguard.
I love the guitar, but, I paid $2K for it and can't find a Custom Shop version online to compare it against from a price perspective, so I'm curious if I overpaid, got a fair deal, or underpaid.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

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[j45nick]

Seems like a good deal to me.

[buddyw]

Mark Allin, on 06 January 2019 - 05:08 PM, said:

I recently bought a 2014 Custom Shop Dove that has the cherry red back and sides and is in "near mint" condition. Based on the serial number I can tell it's a 2014 that was made in November, 2014 and was the 71st headstock stamped that day. It came with a Gibson Factory case (Made in Canada) and it is really blemish free beyond a very faint swirl on a tiny part of the pickguard.
I love the guitar, but, I paid $2K for it and can't find a Custom Shop version online to compare it against from a price perspective, so I'm curious if I overpaid, got a fair deal, or underpaid.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

How did you date your guitar, I used guitardaterproject.org and I think they were off on two guitars. One I found out for fact it was build on 11/1994 and was sold 04/1994 guitar dater said 2010 it was made, the other the person I bought a guitar from said 2009 and guitar dater said, 1981, 1991, 2001 it could have been made. I am still searching.

[j45nick]

buddyw, on 06 January 2019 - 07:40 PM, said:

How did you date your guitar, I used guitardaterproject.org and I think they were off on two guitars. One I found out for fact it was build on 11/1994 and was sold 04/1994 guitar dater said 2010 it was made, the other the person I bought a guitar from said 2009 and guitar dater said, 1981, 1991, 2001 it could have been made. I am still searching.

You don't need a dater for a Gibson acoustic built after 1976. Here's the formula:

Gibson Serial Numbers, 1977 to present.
All models, 8 digit number impressed in back top of peghead in the following format:
YY (1st and 5th digit) = year
DDD (digits 2-4) = day of the year,
001=Jan 1st, 365=Dec 31st.
NNN (digits 6-8) = rank of instrument for that day.
Example: 80012005 = 5th instrument made in Kalamazoo
on the first day of 1982.
Note all Kalamazoo made instruments (1977-1984) and Bozeman (1989-present) are numbered beginning with 001 each day. Instruments made at Nashville are numbered beginning with 500 each day.

[JuanCarlosVejar]

Wow 2k is a super deal.
Maple is my favorite.


Enjoy!


JC

[E-minor7]

~ ! Congratulations ! ~




Doves are incredible

[FZ Fan]

Score

[Jinder]

I'd say that was a deal and a steal. CS instruments will always command a premium over standard models, I paid £2200 for my Custom Shop J180 secondhand and in my experience CS models are always an easier guitar to sell on the secondhand market.

Enjoy the Dove-I love them. Have owned a couple but was unlucky with build quality on the two I owned. I'm sure a Custom Shop build will have no such issues though! I will own another one day.

[Cougar]

Mark Allin, on 06 January 2019 - 05:08 PM, said:

....so I'm curious if I overpaid, got a fair deal, or underpaid.....

As mentioned, 2 grand for a used Dove in excellent condition? That's a great deal!

[EuroAussie]

I dont see anything custom about it, looks identical to my 2008 Dove.

Having said that, thats a great price, less than what i paid for mine, and its also fabulous guitar.

I actually prefer it to my Hummingbird, even though it cost significantly more.

Heres a pic of mine, pretty much identical, aint it ?

[FZ Fan]

Those guitars new list for 4500. How would you ever think one at over half off was getting taken?

This post has been edited by FZ Fan: 07 January 2019 - 08:54 AM

[blindboygrunt]

It’s the bridge
I just can’t like the bridge

Was watching a stones concert from ‘72 over the Xmas holidays and seen Keith with his while they played sweet Virginia

Think mick Taylor was playing a Martin but couldn’t see his properly

[FZ Fan]

blindboygrunt, on 07 January 2019 - 08:52 AM, said:

It's the bridge
I just can't like the bridge

Was watching a stones concert from '72 over the Xmas holidays and seen Keith with his while they played sweet Virginia

Think mick Taylor was playing a Martin but couldn't see his properly

Which one were you watching ? Ladies And Gentleman? I just watched The Stones In Exile documentary. Seen it a few times. Now I'm gonna listen to Exile in a day or two.

[blindboygrunt]

FZ Fan, on 07 January 2019 - 08:56 AM, said:

Which one were you watching ? Ladies And Gentleman? I just watched The Stones In Exile documentary. Seen it a few times. Now I'm gonna listen to Exile in a day or two.

Yeah. Was ladies and gentlemen

[EuroAussie]

blindboygrunt, on 07 January 2019 - 08:52 AM, said:

It’s the bridge
I just can’t like the bridge

Was watching a stones concert from ‘72 over the Xmas holidays and seen Keith with his while they played sweet Virginia

Think mick Taylor was playing a Martin but couldn’t see his properly

I would have preferred a simple straight bridge, but youi know what, you get used to it.

[docr]

Mark Allin, on 06 January 2019 - 05:08 PM, said:

I recently bought a 2014 Custom Shop Dove that has the cherry red back and sides and is in "near mint" condition. Based on the serial number I can tell it's a 2014 that was made in November, 2014 and was the 71st headstock stamped that day. It came with a Gibson Factory case (Made in Canada) and it is really blemish free beyond a very faint swirl on a tiny part of the pickguard.
I love the guitar, but, I paid $2K for it and can't find a Custom Shop version online to compare it against from a price perspective, so I'm curious if I overpaid, got a fair deal, or underpaid.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Mark,

Congratulations to the nice Dove. The price is very good, I was glad to find a new Dove ("Limited Edition", no Custom Shop) for 2.800€ last year as the "normal" price is over 4.000 € here in Germany. I think the 4 years age does not matter if the guitar is in the perfect shape as you describe. The first scratches and dents will follow anyhow. I like my Dove, it sounds different to the Hummingbird or J45, I like the longer scale. It looks very good due to the red maple back /sides / neck and the contrast to the top - and it still smells good when I take it out of the case. And the bridge is huge, but individual.

[MissouriPicker]

I paid $2-grand for my Dove from GC. It is a KICK-*** guitar. When it comes to guitars, Doves are kind of in a world of their own. You've got a great guitar.

[BigKahune]

Love maple. Beautiful guitar.

Congrats and enjoy.

.

[Mark Allin]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I feel much better now, although I have to say even if I overpaid I wouldn't care, the guitar is just right for me. :-)
There is something magical about it...

[Mark Allin]

EuroAussie, on 07 January 2019 - 08:19 AM, said:

I dont see anything custom about it, looks identical to my 2008 Dove.

Having said that, thats a great price, less than what i paid for mine, and its also fabulous guitar.

I actually prefer it to my Hummingbird, even though it cost significantly more.

Heres a pic of mine, pretty much identical, aint it ?

Well, I guess the only difference is the guys who made it. I've been told that the Custom Shop Guitars are Gibson's best efforts made by their best Craftsmen/Luthiers. I know that in my business (historical home renovations) when I put my top guys on special projects they turn out, well, "magical". ;-)