I went through many forum posts here & on other forums on this question first, before posting, which made me more confused.
I own a Gibson “Custom” ES-355 model #ES55AEBBG1 from 2012.
Serial# CS253332
It was made in Memphis, according to the serial #, from what I’ve been told.
In many posts, I’ve seen, people dismiss anything made in Memphis as “not real Gibson Custom Shop Guitars”.
It also seems that no one really has details to what the logistical process was between the different ES Guitars, during the Memphis era?
What was the difference between the bottom of the line ES-335 Satin finished Guitars all the way up to ones considered “Gibson Custom” with a COA?
Those include many different VOS runs, Artist Models, etc.
Did the Memphis factory have a separate area to handle these guitars, that used different construction materials from the current regular ES Guitars?
I’ve even read on this forum, people saying everything made in the Memphis factory was the same & only the “Nashville ones” during the “Memphis Era” in any way “Counted as REAL Gibson Custom”?
Watching a New video on a Gibson factory tour I had a thought that contradicts many things I have seen regarding Gibson Memphis Custom & Gibson Custom Shop Nashville and the ES series guitars.
During the time that the Memphis Factor was making the ES Guitars, the original body presses from the Kalamazoo factory, were at the Memphis factory.
Those presses have now been moved back to Nashville after the closing of the Memphis factory.
Here’s my question, were any “proper” ES series Guitars (with laminate construction) made in the Nashville Custom Shop, during the time that those presses were in Memphis?
Did they press and glue the bodies in Memphis & then ship them to Nashville to finish?
I know they made Carved solid construction ES type Guitars in the Nashville Custom Shop, but how did they make any of the others, without the presses?
Does anyone have any confirmed information on this process from Gibson?
All I‘ve seen trying to research this is a ton of speculation, based on things told to people by dealers & Gibson customer service reps, etc. who may not have the best knowledge to how things were actually done, and often (from my own experience) sound like they are making things up?