Serial number location on hollow bodies

[GlennW]

Why would a guitar have a sticker inside the body with no serial number on it when there's a space for it, but have what looks like a decal number on the back of the headstock?

 

I've seen pictures of serial numbers in both locations, but it makes no sense to leave a blank spot on the sticker.

 

Some numbers on headstocks look like decals, some are stamped.

 

Is it a factory thing?

[poverty]

the only info my "inside sticker" has is the make, colour and left hand.

other then that I would say the serial # is on the back of the head stock like every other epi?

[Ron G]

Why would a guitar have a sticker inside the body with no serial number on it when there's a space for it' date=' but have what looks like a decal number on the back of the headstock?[/quote']

 

Because

[carverman]

Why would a guitar have a sticker inside the body with no serial number on it when there's a space for it' date=' but have what looks like a decal number on the back of the headstock?

 

I've seen pictures of serial numbers in both locations, but it makes no sense to leave a blank spot on the sticker.

 

Some numbers on headstocks look like decals, some are stamped.

 

Is it a factory thing?[/quote']

 

It may have something to do with the production methods and product flow at the

particular factory. The sticker may be glued on earlier and even though it has a

space for a serial number, the final number would be decided by someone, perhaps

in QC (Quality Control/Inspection) or even after that by the serial number records

keeper.

 

Gibsons (and Epiphones made in the 60s in Kalamazoo) had their serial numbers stamped on

the back of the headstock. Elitists still do, but others have stickers or decals with

the SN and some Asian made Epis have no labels at all inside .

[GlennW]

Thanks. I asked because I'd read something in a post here about a guitar being made without something (I forget what) and then re-numbered after it already had a number.

[carverman]

Thanks. I asked because I'd read something in a post here about a guitar being made without something (I forget what) and then re-numbered after it already had a number.

 

That might have been "Gibson/ Epiphone "assets disposal" type of sticker we were talking about on Epis being sold

as "USED". The stamped sn or sticker sn would be obliterated and a substitute sticker affixed to

the back of the headstock start with 311xxxxxx. The guitar is then sold individually or in a lot

to seller that could then offer it for sale on E-Bay.

[byrds1965]

Different factories did had their own way it seems. Peerless, every one I have seen, had the serial number on the sticker inside while the rest had them on the back of the HS. Now the China plants seem to be doing a combination so who knows.

[iansmitchell]

I have mine on both the sticker and headstock

[GlennW]

This is weird; been looking at pictures on ebay and have seen it done both ways from the same factory during the same year. I guess they put them where they feel like it at the time.

[PP_CS336]

Why would a guitar have a sticker inside the body with no serial number on it when there's a space for it' date=' but have what looks like a decal number on the back of the headstock?

 

I've seen pictures of serial numbers in both locations, but it makes no sense to leave a blank spot on the sticker.

 

Some numbers on headstocks look like decals, some are stamped.

 

Is it a factory thing?[/quote']

 

Glenn, I asked the same question when I go my Sheraton II NA over two years ago, as mine had the Serial Number

missing form the sticker on the inside as well, but had it on the headstock. I had seen a used Epi Emperor II

in my friend's shop and it had the Serial Number on both the headstock and the sticker inside. I sent an email to

the people at Gibson along with my Serial number. They said my guitar was legit and that in some factories they

put it on the label and in some they don't. Someone else mentioned in the thread that when they put the stickers

on the inside it's probably done before they glue the back and top to the sides. In that case the sticker will already

have the guitar type (Sheraton II, Casino, Emperor II, etc) and finish (NA, VS, HS, etc), but the serial number winds

up being on the headstock of the neck they fit onto the guitar at a later part of the building process and at that point

it's a little hard to print the number on the label through the f-hole](*,) . Maybe they figure if they screwed up the body somehow and have to trash it, they haven't wasted a Serial Number from the batch and either have to scap it or make it a 2nd. The important thing is that your guitar is a legitmate one and not a fake, as there seems to be quite a bit of that going around now, which is too bad.

[L1Picker]

When I refinished my Dot in lacquer I imprinted the SN into the back of the headstock while it was stripped down, and penned it in on the inside label.