[Identifying Potentially Rare? 63' 355]

2 hours ago, j45nick said:

The label inside an original 1963  ES 335 will say "Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA " on it.  A modern re-issue will either say "Nashville, Tennessee USA" or "Memphis, Tennessee USA" on the label. the labels are all the same shape and same color.

All of the documentation you have there is for a modern re-issue guitar, not a 1963 ES 335.

Thank you very much for this info much appreciated! 

Is there a way using the serial number to work out the exact year? 

[Identifying Potentially Rare? 63' 355]

7 hours ago, jdgm said:

Hello

This is a very nice re-issue, probably from the 90s or early 2000s.  I am not sure how to interpret the serial number.  Bit of a  ding above the upper f-hole.

For a genuine 1963 ES-335, you would almost add another zero to the price!!!

Best wishes.

Hi Jgdm,

Thank you very much for your message! How could you tell it was from the 90s/early 2000s?

From the research I've done it seems like the custom shop reverted back to that style of serial number for the re-issues so that makes sense! 

What made me think it might be an original was that it had naturally aged quite a bit but I guess that could just be because it's still 20/30 years old.

Sounds absolutely amazing to me and I couldn't be happier with it .

[Identifying Potentially Rare? 63' 355]

Hi everyone!

So I am currently living in Japan and went to a second hand shop in Hakodate and saw this beauty of a guitar. I decided to play it in the shop as there were a few amps kicking about and completely fell in love with it. Maybe emotions took over but I knew it was special and pretty much spent all my money on it. I picked it up for around $2500.

I've done quite a bit of research but I'm still not exactly sure what I've picked up. From what I gather it's a 63' ES-335 Figured Sunset Burst. I'm not sure if it's an original or reissue or fake! 

It doesn't have a serial number on the headstock but does inside the guitar. Inside it says 'Gibson: 63 355' 'Serial: A-43027'

Also I'm not sure if the case is the original or what as Custom Gibson Historic wasn't around until the 90'...unless it's a reissue and was made around that time.

It has also come with a load of documents that I will attach.

https://flic.kr/ps/3W3h5p

Thanks in advance for any help! 

[Need Help Identifying 63' 355]

Hi everyone!

So I am currently living in Japan and went to a second hand shop in Hakodate and saw this beauty of a guitar. I decided to play it in the shop as there were a few amps kicking about and completely fell in love with it. Maybe emotions took over but I knew it was special and pretty much spent all my money on it. I picked it up for around $2500.

I've done quite a bit of research but I'm still not exactly sure what I've picked up. From what I gather it's a 63' ES-335 Figured Sunset Burst. I'm not sure if it's an original or reissue or fake! 

It doesn't have a serial number on the headstock but does inside the guitar. Inside it says 'Gibson: 63 355' 'Serial: A-43027'

Also I'm not sure if the case is the original or what as Custom Gibson Historic wasn't around until the 90'...unless it's a reissue and was made around that time.

It has also come with a load of documents that I will attach.

Thanks in advance for any help!