MelBues Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 I’ve come across a burst glossy ES-335 being sold as a 2018, 1959 Custom Shop guitar. The serial number is a A09xxx, and the A09 confuses me. Can anyone lend help identifying its provenance? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Gibson doesn't even know how their own serial number system works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 It is possible that with the change in Gibson serial number formats a couple of years ago, changes have been made for custom shop re-issues as well. Starting in 1995, the ES-335 Historic models format used to be A-MYRRR, where M was the model year being re-issued, Y was the production year, and RRR was the individual guitar's place in the sequence for that year. My 2009 Nashville-built '59 Historic re-issue, for example, has serial number that is formatted A-99xxx. The xxx is a three digit number that could in theory range from 001 to 999 for any given year. The problem with that format is that numbers could repeat every 10 years, so maybe they've changed the format to address that problem. You may need to contact Gibson customer support. This info used to be available (and may still be) at: Gibson.com/en-us/Support/SerialNumberSearch/ Sorry I don't have the time to search for you right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelBues Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 Thanks. They must’ve abandoned the numbering convention of A-MYRRR, or perhaps for this serial number run they’re using “0” to denote a particular batch of 1959 historical, i.e. A-09YRR. Its anyone’s guess, perhaps. I’ve emailed Gibson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 41 minutes ago, MelBues said: Thanks. They must’ve abandoned the numbering convention of A-MYRRR, or perhaps for this serial number run they’re using “0” to denote a particular batch of 1959 historical, i.e. A-09YRR. Its anyone’s guess, perhaps. I’ve emailed Gibson. The information I quoted above is still what is on the Gibson website, so maybe you'll get some new info from customer service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelBues Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 I got a reply from Gibson. Very fast reply. It’s a 2018 ’59 ES-335 Kalamazoo historic reissue model which was built in Memphis . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 55 minutes ago, MelBues said: I got a reply from Gibson. Very fast reply. It’s a 2018 ’59 ES-335 Kalamazoo historic reissue model which was built in Memphis . Clarification that they have changed the serial number system, yet again. It would be nice to know the new format. I guess all ES production is now in Memphis. That makes sense, but I like the " '59-335, Nashville, Tennessee, USA" label on guitars like mine from the old Custom, Art, and Historic shop in Nashville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wmachine Posted January 1, 2020 Share Posted January 1, 2020 On 12/29/2019 at 7:12 PM, j45nick said: Clarification that they have changed the serial number system, yet again. It would be nice to know the new format. I guess all ES production is now in Memphis. That makes sense, but I like the " '59-335, Nashville, Tennessee, USA" label on guitars like mine from the old Custom, Art, and Historic shop in Nashville. The "new" A09 format is only used for a couple of the reissues, including the '59. No, Memphis has closed with all ES production now in Nashville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSW Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Mine started A-91XXX. 9 for’59 and 1 for 01 or 11, this is a Nashville I only got the hang tags And no COA. ( I heard that year didn’t have one /shrugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wmachine Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 12 hours ago, JSW said: Mine started A-91XXX. 9 for’59 and 1 for 01 or 11, this is a Nashville I only got the hang tags And no COA. ( I heard that year didn’t have one /shrugs Since ES production was "just moved" from Memphis to Nashville, it matters a lot *when* it was made. When was yours made? Should have a sticker that either says Memphis or Nashville, regardless. I've seen no evidence that any ES models are no longer coming with COAs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSW Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 My response disappeared lol. Mine is a Nashville, A-91xxx. 9 for ‘59 and 1 for 2001 or 2011 since Gibson does reuse numbers. I have no COA though I *heard* that COA was a miss in 2001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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