Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I am looking at a guitar in an estate sale. It appears to be an ES 345 and has a serial number 020055566. Does not have any paperwork, has no sticker inside the body, and has a Bigsby which does not look exactly like any at the Bigsby website. It is supposed to be from the year 2005 - which does not match to that serial number. How do I know it is real or fake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 (edited) It is a 2005, and the serial number does match the year. The way Gibson did the serial number back then was from the left the first 5 numbers are the day it was stamped. With the serial 0200555666 you take the first (0) and fifth number (5) and that is the year. Then the three numbers in the middle (200) are the Julian Date so it was stamped July 19th, 2005. Plus I don't think someone would make a fake with a Bigsby and a Varitone on it. The other numbers mean stuff too. Edited September 12, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 thanks for the fast response! I will make a bid on this guitar 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Patgiff said: thanks for the fast response! I will make a bid on this guitar 🙂 I thought 345's had parallelogram inlays? But it is a Custom. Edited September 12, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I'd still be careful here. The telltale test is what's under that truss rod cover. The right answer is a 5/16 hex bolt. If there's an Allen Wrench socket there instead, it's not a USA Gibson. Check THAT before you proceed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 5 minutes ago, kidblast said: I'd still be careful here. The telltale test is what's under that truss rod cover. The right answer is a 5/16 hex bolt. If there's an Allen Wrench socket there instead, it's not a USA Gibson. Check THAT before you proceed. Yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 Thanks, will do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Patgiff said: Thanks, will do! What are you going to bid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 4 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: What are you going to bid? $800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Patgiff said: $800 If its a real 345 those go for over 3k new and vintage ones are 5 grand to over 5 digits. Good luck if its real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 the people selling all the gear just want to get rid of it, the guy was a Guitar Messy and had guitars, amps, pickups, pedals. in every corner of his little house. My friend bought 4 guitars for $6100 including 3 with all the paperwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Patgiff said: the people selling all the gear just want to get rid of it, the guy was a Guitar Messy and had guitars, amps, pickups, pedals. in every corner of his little house. My friend bought 4 guitars for $6100 including 3 with all the paperwork. Nice. What is a Guitar Messy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 He has a couple of Fender amps, a Marshall, an Orange... just to mention the ones I remember. He has a 12 String Les Paul! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Nice. What is a Guitar Messy? A messy is a person who lives in a big uncontrollable mess. I just made up the term Guitar Messy after I saw that house 🙂 Some hanging on the walls, some in cases, some in the wrong cases...I wondered where he slept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Patgiff said: A messy is a person who lives in a big uncontrollable mess. I just made up the term Guitar Messy after I saw that house 🙂 Some hanging on the walls, some in cases, some in the wrong cases...I wondered where he slept. Oh a horder. If you gotta horde something at least it was guitars and gear. Some people have 100's of cats and garbage all over. Edited September 12, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 amen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 57 minutes ago, Patgiff said: $800 for a USA made 345, that would be a steal, and would be clear sign that whoever is managing the estate sale has no idea what they are doing. If anyone is paying attention that might not fly, but, heck, what's the harm in asking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Any Martins there let me know. I'll snatch up any USA made Martin for $800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AldoMcD1 Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 This has 355 appointments as opposed to a 345. Could be wrong, but a few things don't look right to me on this one..... I would email Gibson customer services the serial number (along with the picture) and ask if they can help verify it for you before you fork out any $$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 What's with the mini dip switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 2 hours ago, SteveFord said: What's with the mini dip switch? I think it is missing a know on that one volume pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 (edited) Yes and right below the Tone Suck Device it looks like there's a mini dip switch. I had an old 335 with a coil splitting switch but it was a full sized toggle, not a mini one. Edited September 13, 2022 by SteveFord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 15 minutes ago, SteveFord said: Yes and right below the Tone Suck Device it looks like there's a mini dip switch. I had an old 335 with a coil splitting switch but it was a full sized toggle, not a mini one. Should the jack plug socket not be on the face of the guitar like on a 335? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 Thanks for all the great analysis. I think the attached photo solved the riddle. 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patgiff Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 15 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Any Martins there let me know. I'll snatch up any USA made Martin for $800. There was a Gibson SJ200 but who knows if it is real! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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