bob_amos

Nope not me either. I have a 1994 Epi Les Paul Studio. Love that thing.. Wife just purchased for my birthday, an Epi Les Paul Special II (Both lefty guitars) and this less expensive instrument plays like a dream. My only complaint is the Special II came with lefty pots and righty knobs. Gibson says they do not have black lefty speed knobs. Funny thing, that Studio came with righty pots and knobs to match. For a mere $5 I can fix the wrong knobs though. Love both guitars but not too impressed with Gibson's answer to my problem. But.. I love these so much I will be purchasing more in the future.

Peter, No letters at all. My info came from that site link that is in my post. I questioned its accuracy and that is why I ask here. I had a Douglas Shadow Gold Top that looked and played EXACTLY like the Epi I just purchased. Some of the guys over at the Agile forum said that Epiphones and Douglases were made in the same plant. That I could believe because the two are so much alike. I am still wondering about where this is made. The year seems likely to be mid 90's according to the guy I bought it from. My daughter found on the Gibson web site something pertaining to the Epiphones year and month but no factory code. With this info mine would have been made in March of 1994. The info we did find shows that Japan was the only one that may not have had a letter code. They stopped production in Japan in 1993 and moved to Korea for the 1994 run. Again, I am in doubt as to where it was made but with this info I would think Korea. Perhaps early in the Korean run and using what was left of metal plates from Japan, if they had started stampings for the upcoming 94 year? Ya think? Probably not but it is something to consider. I find it interesting, and fun, tracking things like this down.

Just purchased a used Epi LP lefty from about the mid 90's. The owner said that he's had it about 15 years. The serial number is 9403209. From what I found at this site... http://fuq.encycmet.com/questions/379/ ...it's a Nashville built instrument from 1994. It is a bolt on neck and has a truss cover that has Gibson on it. All black with no binding. Since web site information can be wrong at times I figured that someone here would have the straigh skinny on this serial number. It's a nice guitar with electric problems that I will be sorting out soon and where and when it ws made is not too important as the guitar is what it is. I'd just like to know. Thanks and I hope to be contributing here soon. Bob