dbarreda Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I just got an explorer with the following number: 94007299 - Made in U.S.A. It looks very authentic, the case, it doesn't come with the Gibson pickups installed (got some EMGs) but on the case there are two Gibson U.S.A. pickups, someone can help me with this? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbarreda Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 I forgot to add some photos, apparently is a Gibson from 1994, reissue of the '76 Explorer. The 'original' pick guard is white and I have it too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V-man Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 The serial number looks problematic to me If I recall correctly: Digit 1 = decade of manufacture Digits 2-4 = date of man. (e.g., 032 = 32nd day or Feb. 1st) Digit 5 = year of manufacture Digits 6-8 batch number (e.g. 125 = 125th guitar made that day) This interpretation jives with my Gibsons ranging from '88-'07 Thus, your guitar would have been made in 1997, not 1994, but it was made on the 400th day of the year, which clearly doesn't make sense. So, unless my interpretation is somehow wrong, or that series was somehow numbered specially, you have something funny going on there. Speaking of which, my Vs and Explorers all have the SN stamped and painted over in the guitar's color. What's with the contrasting white SN on yours? That's how my my Epi was stamped. If the SN isn't stamped (along with "Made in USA") you certainly have a fake Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 The serial number looks problematic to me There was a period when Gibson changed the serial number system on certain models (or certain years) such that the first two digits WERE the year of manufacture. This issue has come up before and Gibson Customer Service was kind enough to chime in. Hopefully they will again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V-man Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Hopefully that is the case, because I didn't see fretmarkers on the board from the small pic on my phone (another eyebrow raiser when coupled with rosewood). Edit: nevermind the fretmarker comment, thumbnail finally loaded and I see the dots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbarreda Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 The serial number looks problematic to me If I recall correctly: Digit 1 = decade of manufacture Digits 2-4 = date of man. (e.g., 032 = 32nd day or Feb. 1st) Digit 5 = year of manufacture Digits 6-8 batch number (e.g. 125 = 125th guitar made that day) This interpretation jives with my Gibsons ranging from '88-'07 Thus, your guitar would have been made in 1997, not 1994, but it was made on the 400th day of the year, which clearly doesn't make sense. So, unless my interpretation is somehow wrong, or that series was somehow numbered specially, you have something funny going on there. Speaking of which, my Vs and Explorers all have the SN stamped and painted over in the guitar's color. What's with the contrasting white SN on yours? That's how my my Epi was stamped. If the SN isn't stamped (along with "Made in USA") you certainly have a fake Gibson. "In 1994, for Gibson’s Centennial, they used a special serialization. Every serial number started with 94 followed by six digits, which were the production dates and number (YYNNNNNN)." I am really confused :( some extra photos: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 "In 1994, for Gibson’s Centennial, they used a special serialization. Every serial number started with 94 followed by six digits, which were the production dates and number (YYNNNNNN)." I am really confused :( What's to be confused about, you have answered your own question. You're right, he's wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbarreda Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 What's to be confused about, you have answered your own question. You're right, he's wrong! But still I don't know if it is real or not :(, updated my post with some photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.