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Those are great guitars! I have one I got in 2016 when they were blowing out the 2015s. I also got a Junior at the same time. The Junior is amazing with its well earned reputation. I thought this LP Special would be pretty much the same thing but a little more versatile with the second pup. But it really seems to be a different animal.

Just for future reference for you or anyone else looking for specs for years previous to 2015, I've had some pretty good luck digging up old Gibson web site pages using the Way Back Machine. Way Back Machine

See this thread for what a "2011 custom es335 from the memphis" really means. Too bad you got someone at Gibson that was less than helpful. 2011 Memphis

We are still paying for the shenanigans Gibson played circa 2011 in Memphis. For a couple years, they intentionally mislead customers by using "Custom" and "Custom Shop" on some of the Memphis 335 models. Even putting the words "Custom Shop" right on the neck. And using "Gibson Custom" COAs. Problem was, there never was a Custom Shop in Memphis. Why did Gibson do such a misleading thing? It was a marketing ploy. These particular guitars were all regular production guitars that Gibson all but secretly admitted were "Custom Shop Series" models. So it was Custom or Custom Shop in name only. Pretty shameless marketing there knowing it would be misunderstood. And still having to be explained today and forever. The real shame is Memphis quality was really good and they really didn't need the deception to sell what are really good models anyway. Pretty easy to tell what. If the label inside says Memphis, it was not made in the Custom Shop. The Custom Shop is and always has been in Nashville. There never was a Custom Shop in Memphis. Absolutely not true. The vast majority of Memphis 335s did *not* have "Custom" on the case. Only *some* of the ones I mentioned above had those cases.

Must be a dealer model as they are not shown on the Gibson site. Do you know the specs? Hard to know what yours is just from your description.

I'm by no means an expert, so I can't say anything for sure. But it looks spooky to me too, I would certainly contact Gibson. Too many things I question here.

I can't speak from personal experience with new Custom Shop ES models, but I really don't think there would be any appreciable difference. They should be very comparable. Should come down to what feels and sounds better to you.

You said "From the serial number we can tell that it is a Custom Shop Guitar" . No, it was not a Custom Shop Guitar. The Custom Shop is in Nashville. There was never a Custom Shop in Memphis. The serial number is a Historic/Reissue number.

Twang, I don't think you are correct about where it was made. I think you are right about the date, but the ad says Memphis and I think the orange label inside the body will confirm that it was made in Memphis, And that would also confirm that it is not a Custom Shop model. Which is by no means a bad thing. Because of the difficulty of otherwise identifying these models, the seller *should* show a legible pic of the COA and the orange label. And if they gave it, the inspection tag. That would clear up a lot! Not much of the skilled labor actually left Memphis before the closure, so I've seen no drop off in quality of the last of production there.

I I don't know what grain you think it is following.

So you say. You can try learning now yourself. This was just posted on this very forum. https://forum.gibson.com/topic/173736-re-adam-jones-les-paul-standard-broken-headstock/

Normally, I don't get excited by finish cracks. They happen. But that crack is in exactly the right place and the right shape for a headstock break.

Interesting story, and well told. Unfortunately, I just traded away the perfect guitar for you, and they are not that easy to find. A 2015 ES-175D '54 Reissue VOS. A real beauty, and it sings. It won't be easy to find one because they only made 50 for worldwide distribution. Ironically, I traded it for a 2015 ES-335 '59 Reissue in Natural. I'm not really a jazz box guy, so that was a good trade for me. FWIW, I still have an EPI ES-175 Premium which is really decent in its own rights.

Write to Gibson or call. Give them the s/n and they will give you the specs.

Congrats. But you may have to wait until number 37,

Not show as such in the specs. Specs

^^^This^^^ Finally a voice of reason. And not the typical chest pounding "send it back" mentality.

Sure there is a criteria. All (Nashville) Custom Shop get COAs. All Memphis after a certain date got COAs. Don't recall when that was, maybe 2009?

Absolutely. The only "problem" with them is they are not Banjo tuners. They are worthy replacements though as far as concerned. Banjo tuners are not better tuners.

Maybe not $7K, but I think you've got the right idea, It will be undoubtedly be Custom Shop. Now that they have set precedent splitting up Memphis models with the higher end models going to the Custom Shop. I really believe Gibson's strategy will be to run as much though the Custom Shop as possible. More or less making Custom Shop models regular production models. Increase gross sales $$ and theoretically increase profits. As long as they can sell Custom Shops at Custom Shop prices they will, They already have plenty of guys willing to have them beat up guitars before buying them. "Affordable" is not part of the plan. Yeah, probably over $7k the more I think about it.

Another good time to remind guys to keep the labels from the original shipping boxes. They contain the model number and s/n (like on a COA) and more.

That's essentially what Gibson is doing right now like I said in an earlier post.

For sure. The only switches I've replaced (2) were on otherwise decent EPIs. Fortunately a easy fix. Yes it is CROWB8's fault. But you still owe us a review when you get it!

I don't know if you are serious or not, but but no, they are not the new USA models. But as I said earlier the Custom Shop is becoming more of a production line for Gibson. There are still new USA Firebird models. Except you can't get one right now.

Sure, because they are all Custom Shop models. USA ones are what can't be found.