Emetry Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hey y'all. In working on cracking the code on the GG serial number prefix on Epiphones, I've run into a bit of an issue. While the one example I do have on hand (the '05 Dot) turned up a guitar in the registry, the Gibson rep had no record of a GG prefix ever being used or a factory ever using it. Here's my request. Tomorrow, I'm speaking with a product specialist from Epiphone about this, and I wanted to have as much to go on as possible. Is anyone aware of any other GG prefixed Epis? If so, what style, where were they purchased, and do you have the full serial? Please let me know, because if that rep is right, and nobody's used those prefixes, but the guitars are in their systems, and the specialist corraborates, there could be some potentially pissed off (incredibly well made, in house) fake owners. That or owners of some REALLY rare guitars. Who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InsideMan Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Here is an entry from this forum, albeit relating to an Epiphone acoustic. Look for the user name "nicovantonder". Coincidentally (or maybe not) it is also an '05. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Lister Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 "Nicovantonder" (an EJ-200CE serial# GG05090611) and 1 other from either the Gibson forum or the Les Paul forum (I don't recall the model or forum) were the two I had mentioned. Neither were confirmed authentic and I am not aware of any follow-up being done. Back in the '60s with the Coronet, Epi had an agreement with an outlet whereby that outlet's own serial number designation was used. There is an UK outlet known as GigGear ( www.giggear.co.uk ) that is an authorized Epi dealer. In-house they use a GG ____ numbering system. A long shot but could they be the source of the GG designation? Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubstar Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I don't think we've seen any counterfeit EJ-200CEs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emetry Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 "Nicovantonder" (an EJ-200CE serial# GG05090611) and 1 other from either the Gibson forum or the Les Paul forum (I don't recall the model or forum) were the two I had mentioned. Neither were confirmed authentic and I am not aware of any follow-up being done. Back in the '60s with the Coronet' date=' Epi had an agreement with an outlet whereby that outlet's own serial number designation was used. There is an UK outlet known as GigGear ( www.giggear.co.uk ) that is an authorized Epi dealer. In-house they use a GG ____ numbering system. A long shot but could they be the source of the GG designation? Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-" Actually, the guy I'd spoken with brought that up, but couldn't find anything to confirm it. Maybe the Epi Specialist will be able to. It's a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gus² Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 oh god, good luck...please let us know about what was told about this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonb Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Secret code for Genuine Gibson models snuck out of the factory! The myth started here - only kidding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emetry Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 All right guys, here's the skinny on those pesky GG serials. I spoke with a Product Specialist from Epiphone, then a supervisor after that, and here's the deal. There are no records, even in the archives, of a factory ever being given the prefix denotation "GG". HOWEVER! The Natural finish Dot turned up in the system as produced in July of 2005 (no word on the EJ, that one didn't appear in their records). According to the gentlemen at Gibson, this means one of 2 things, it is a guitar that was produced in house at Gibson, registered, and then sold "black market" style to a distributor or individual, or that in 2005, they started using GG as a prefix for serial numbers then rapidly swapped it out for another denotation (either EA or EE, both China made). If you have a "made in" sticker on the guitar, and don't want to think your guitar is a possible "rogue" instrument, then i would say your best bet is either Chine or Korea. He said there's an OUNCE of possibility of them being made in Japan. That said, he did remind me that via serial number alone, they cannot authenticate a guitar. The best bet for anyone wondering is to take high-res photos and e-mail them to support@gibson.com A reminder though, there's no record (even archival) of a GG ever being used. So while I may have generated more questions than I've answered, that's the best I could do without actually HAVING a guitar with a GG serial code. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Lister Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Well then, that is the word from on-high..., until further notice. And for your efforts Emetry, you sir receive an honorable mention as helpful forum member of the day -- and an ice cold one! Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Norm Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hey Steven Lister...What was my surprise when I saw your TREMBLAY beer...I'm drinking one while I read you...It's not a very well known Beer out of Quebec...but taste very good....I'll have my next one for you...Cheers !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eCobb Dot Epi Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Bump- Any further success sourcing the mfg of these GG serial numbers? I (too) have an Epi Dot with "Inspected by Gabor" and "Made in China" stickers; serial GG05090715. All Jon Sutherland at Gibson Customer Service will tell me is that it's "consistent with an Epiphone Dot model in Cherry finish, made in China in September of 2005. We do not release specific factory information, as they are considered our vendors." Sure would like to know more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 I like to follow paths of logic most times. And what logic is indicating after the response from Epiphone is more than likely, they were supposed to have the EE prefix, but something happened and the GG was used initially. Once the mistake was pointed out, the correct prefix was returned to. That's why no history of the prefix. An overseas mistake that got corrected with no record of the serial number. Just my take Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeman Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 That would be my guess as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eCobb Dot Epi Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Makes sense. But further research seems to point to the DW prefix as more likely. I've read Daewon was transitioning to a new China factory about this time. Also, since those that report the GG prefix in their serial numbers seem to also report the "Inspected by Gabor" sticker, maybe the GG, at least temporarily, indicated GibsonGabor? Sure would like to find out what the mfg plant's quality reputation was. Mine seems quite nice with only a very few minor flaws: loose wiring mounts, small points where the red finish over the piping wasn't completely polished out and slightly crooked tuning gears. Wonder how many guitars carry the GG serial number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur A Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Hey guys, i was looking for answers about that mistery, i bought an epiphone EJ200-CE Black and guess what? GG serial - GG06110834. I bought two years ago, i live in Brazil. When i got this guitar i was worried, then i sent an e-mail to Gibson Support and they said thats a genuine epiphone guitar. That's fine, but i wanna know where my guitar was made, that's a joke, a bad one. Shame on you Gibson, shame on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPS1976 Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Hey guys, i was looking for answers about that mistery, i bought an epiphone EJ200-CE Black and guess what? GG serial - GG06110834. I bought two years ago, i live in Brazil. When i got this guitar i was worried, then i sent an e-mail to Gibson Support and they said thats a genuine epiphone guitar. That's fine, but i wanna know where my guitar was made, that's a joke, a bad one. Shame on you Gibson, shame on you. it was probably made in China or Indonesia. why is this a "Shame on you Gibson" situation? Gibson/Epiphone doesn't reveal factories because they don't want one being thought inferior or better than the next. enjoy your guitar. it's not like it's a vintage instrument with a story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert54 Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Was reading this thread I also have to guitars with the GG serial I used this web sight to help me here is the link http://www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx I hope that can help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno99 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Hi guys, I have an Epiphone Dot with a GG serial number. It is a Dot VS (vintage Sunburst) with a full serial of GG05080972 which translates as August 2005 build number 0972. Strange that other GGs seem to be around 2005...significant perhaps? Two stickers on the back of the headstock - 1. FretMusic (a Southampton UK music store) 2. 100% Inspected and Set up in the USA by "5" plus the Epi "E" That's it. I got the guitar off eBay 3 years ago and paid what appeared to be the going rate. The only odd thing was that the tuners on one side were gold and on the other side were silver (They are now all 6 silver) This makes me suspect that it may have been a factory second passed on to a refurbisher maybe. It terms of fit and finish it is clean as a whistle and I have put Seymour Duncan pups on it and it sings. Any info on GG would be welcome. Cheers John In UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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