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Okay, guess I can do 3 more. 2015 Flying V Made for Japanese market 2015 Firebird V. A real work of art! 2015 ES-175D '54 ES-175D Ltd in Jim Dickinson Burst. One of 50.

Thanks. I'm embarrassed to admit that was just part of the haul.

Here's 3 of them. All 2016s from CME Gibson '64 ES345 Reissue, one of 60. Gibson BB King Lucille Gibson ES335 Premiere Figured Faded Light Burst. One of 200.

I'm lucky. When they had the CME Gibson Memphis Warehouse Blowout sale about 5 years ago now, I saw my retirement coming up and decided to go overboard on that sale along with a few other purchases to complete not only my Gibson bucket list, but other guitars too. I bought to the point that there was no need for me ever to buy another one again. Now I'm more than happy I did. Seemed a bit crazy at the time.

I don't know where you get the ending in 704 means Memphis, because you can't tell where it was made by the end of the s/n. And I see in the other thread you found it was indeed made in Memphis. Furthermore, there should be a sticker inside that says where it was made.

I presume you mean ES models? If so yes, if made during the Memphis years.

Agree that it *shouldn't* affect the value, but to have the "authenticity", I would email Gibson with the serial number. They will tell you exactly what is. Keep a copy of that with the guitar. Problem solved.

Congrats. The Trad-Pros have always been a solid value for the Les Pauls. Good workhorses!

Exactly. The crack coming from the nut is long enough to be a concern, even if it is a finish crack. The one going lengthwise is really odd looking. To me, it looks like it could be natural and in the wood, but I doubt it. Never seen anything like that one. All considered, I'd not take any chances and send it back.

Sometimes and sometimes not. But sometime the Studio is basically (like construction) the same and sometimes it is not. In the case of a (2016 in particular) ES-335 Studio, it is basically the same. In the case of Firebird Studios, not so much.

As always, contact Gibson and see what they can tell you. I agree that the the TRC does not look like Gibson issue. What does the sticker inside look like? Please let us know what Gibson says.

I don't know the "why", but I have a 2015 V and it also has a grenadillo finger board. It doesn't show up on the Gibson website because it was a "made for Japan" model. FWIW, I love it and have no problem with it having that fingerboard.

None taken. You earned my respect long ago.

Not sure why you would say that. By the time I actually bought it, I knew exactly what I was getting. Long story, but it was languishing in the back of the CME warehouse (after probably languishing in the back of the Memphis warehouse). This was at the end of the CME sale and almost everything from the Gibson warehouse was sold and gone. I was sniffing around with my CME guy to see if there were any deals left, possibly one returned for cosmetic defects. He said there was a '59 ES-175 put aside in the warehouse apparently because it was damaged. If I was interested, he'd have brought up and they'd take a look at it. I said sure. He shortly got back to me, sent me a pic and said it was not a '59 ES-175, and it was not damaged. I did some quick research and determined it was a '54 reissue. Actually one of "50 made for worldwide distribution". When I got back to him, they had come to the same conclusion as to what it was. When I asked how much, he said I could have it for $1845.00. That was no tax and free shipping. I couldn't give him my cc numbers fast enough. It has a bonus feature of a MEMPHIS truss rod cover. Never seen on on any Memphis guitar including this model. The one word I would use to describe it is "exquisite". Quite honestly, I rather have this than a '59 ES-175. I already have an EPI ES-175 Premier, so I already have one with humbuckers.

One would think so, but I don't think they will. As part of the great CME Gibson Memphis warehouse blowout sale, I bought a Gibson 2015 1954 ES-175D Dark Burst. The "paperwork" identified it as a 2016 1959 ES-175 Vintage Burst VOS, including the box labels, the shipper to CME, and the COA. The serial number *is* the same. So it is the right guitar, just identified incorrectly by Gibson. When I contacted Gibson asking what I had giving them the serial number. Note that the Axxxxx serial number format is the same for both models, and both models were being made at roughly the same time. After sending them detailed pics of the guitar, they admitted the mistake. But even though they admitted the mistake, they refused to give me a correct COA because the guitars were sold without a Gibson warranty. Sounds like a bizarrely irrelevant reason and they would want to correct a "lying" COA, but not so. Really makes no difference to me, because I have the emails to "authenticate" what I have. But this all illustrated the Gibson can make some pretty big boo-boos. And are not always willing to make it right!

You just proved it works.

I haven't heard of one like that either. My be a dealers ordered model, but those are usually know about. You can start by contacting Gibson with your s/n and they can at least tell you how it started life. That will tell you if the pups are are original. How do you know it is a Studio?

I'm no help in helping you find one, but you have a good idea there. I have a number of Gibson ES guitars, one being a 2016 ES-335 Studio. Yes, they sold for considerably less and I can tell you they are well worth the money. They gave all the build features and overall quality of standard ES-335. Just less trim. It is surprisingly much closer to a standard ES-335 than a LP Studio is to a standard LP.

That pretty much sums it up both in question and answer. When the reissues came out with the original MHS pups, there was criticism about the reissues not being bright enough, Mostly was the pups, partly the nylon saddles. But the truth is, they really were vintage accurate. The "critics" were not happy because of their preferences, not because they were vintage inaccurate. So much for misplaced criticism. The MHS II pups were then used to appease those critics. But they are not more historically accurate. So make you choice according to what you really like.

You can't talk about DA guitars like they are all the same. There are US made ones, and 3 other series. Deluxe, Excel, and Premier. All 4 listed top to bottom. You often can get the same model from all 4. Most Premiers are Chinese, and can be bought cheap. DAs are known for having way too high "regular" prices and are often on sale new for 50% off. A decent sale, but not as great as it sounds due to the high regular prices. I have a DA Deluxe SS. Excellent Korean made Semi hollow with an ebony fretboard. Flawless fit and finish with a fair amount of bling. Excellent electronics, plays like a dream and sound great. But that's 2 series above a Premier.

The Sprints were a late year model for those that didn't like some of the regular 2015 features like the auto-tuners, wide neck, and LP signature.

Why are the questions being asked after sending it back? It is pretty well know that especially with ES models, there are (simply) good ones and not so good ones. And to send back a potentially good one for something like that is unthinkable to me. I'd be far far more concerned about that than knob heights. But that's just me.

I think you'll find the negative reviews of the 2015s to be from mass hysteria about insignificant details from afar, not from those that actually put one in their hands. And notice you will find more recent reviews are positive. You don't see ones saying "I just got a 2015 and it sure is crap". I have one of those SG Specials I bought new for dirt cheap because of that hysteria. I have a 2013 SG so I was more just curious about the 2015, thinking I check it out and resell it before long. I still have it. Lots up deluxe feature for being a Special. Great quality, fit and finish. The '61 zebra pups are really good and do bring something different to the table than the the 490s in my 2013. The wide neck is strictly a matter of preference, and is fine with me. So it plays great. The robo tuner still work fine, but I won't hesitate to replace it with standard tuner is that becomes a problem. Not an issue for me. To me, it is as good as most SG Standards.

I think that is just being passive aggressive if that is truly the case. Not liking the aesthetic? That signature is Les Paul if you don't like it, that's disrespectful. Nobody says you has to like it. But to speak negatively about it and make fun of it is just wrong. That is holding one's opinion of how it looks in higher regard than that signature. That is a terrible display of self importance. That is disrespectful. There is no way to whitewash that.

Sure, and that is supposed to make you feel better? Do you say that every time you hear the truth? You must have really enjoyed being part of the 2015 hysteria. It has been discussed many times since then objectively and 2015 are truly great ones. So you can quit banging that drum.