Members jbandy10 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 A guy is trying to sell me a Gibson Custom Shop that neither of us know that much about. (it's not counterfeit) This instrument is quality. Here's what we KNOW. -serial number is 7 9254 -Has the custom shop stamp on the back. -has a custom shop case with it. -It appears to be a les paul standard. (the truss rod cover is blank though, like all custom shops) -It has a quilted maple top which was obviously custom That's really all we know. Anything else would be assuming. He seems to think it's a 1997 model but I can't find a proper reference with that serial number. Help? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members guitarlady 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 I have a '58 RI Les Paul made in 2005. Its serial number has the following form 8 5--- My '56 RI Goldtop LP also made in 2005 has the following form 6 5--- Are you sure you don't have some of the numbers swapped around? From what you put down it is a '57 RI made this year, 2009. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members jbandy10 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 That's it. No mistake. Couldn't that mean 1999 though? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members guitarlady 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 That's it. No mistake. Couldn't that mean 1999 though? I am not sure. From: http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=274 Hello from the Custom Shop! Since the origin/production date of any given guitar is always a popular topic (as evidenced by the frequency of such questions on this forum), it seems approprite to provide a quick summary of how Custom Shop serial numbers work. Without further ado, here is the info you just can't live without: 1) HISTORIC '50s SOLIDBODIES, EXAMPLE: 7 1001 (1957 Goldtop) -the first digit represents the year being reissued (1957) -the 2nd digit represents the year the guitar was made (2001) -the remaining 3 (or sometimes 4) digits represent the guitar's place in the sequence of '50s solidbodies produced that year. 2) HISTORIC '60s SOLIDBODIES, EXAMPLE: 010018 (1968 LP Custom) -the first 2 digits represent the year of production (2001) -the next 3 digits represent the guitar's place in the sequence of '60s solidbodies produced that year -the last digit represents the year being reproduced (1968) 3) HISTORIC ES MODELS, EXAMPLE: A-38001 (1963 ES 335) -A (or B) designates a historic ES guitar; A=335, B=345 or 355 -first digit represents the year being reproduced (1963) -2nd digit represents the year the guitar was made (1998) -remaining digits represent the guitar's place in the sequence of Historic ES guitars produced that year. 4) CARVED TOP (ORANGE LABLE INSIDE GUITAR), EXAMPLE: 91418009 -1st and 5th digits represent year of production (1998) -digits 2-4 indicate the day of year the guitar was made (the 141st day of 1998) -digits 6-8 indicate the guitar's place in the sequence of carved tops made that day. 5) CUSTOM SHOP MODELS, EXAMPLE: CS10001 -CS is an abbreviation for Custom Shop -1st digit represents the year of production (2001) -remaining digits indicate the guitar's place in the sequence of production. As with any rule, there are exceptions (for example, many Signature Models have a specific serial number system that involve the artist's initials), but for the most part the above notations will tell you as much as we know about your guitar! We hope this little tutorial prooves informative. As always, we welcome your questions or comments. You might go to http://forums.gibson.com/ and inquire there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members jbandy10 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 I'll try. It doesn't seem like much activity goes on over there. It definitely wasn't made this year. It looks like it's at least 7 years old, maybe 10. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members jbandy10 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 bump. Anybody else? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members crawfish 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 post some photos if possible. By the serial number, it should be a R7 from '99 (if you don't think it is brand new). Unless it has CS at the start of the serial number. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members rog951 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 Should be a '57 reissue, but they are usually goldtops. Also, should be an '09 (or possibly a '99) from the s/n you gave. Can you get us some pix? Take a look at the control cavity/wiring; you can tell a lot from that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members jbandy10 0 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 These are the best pics I can get right now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Members paul44 1 Posted January 31, 2009 Members Share Posted January 31, 2009 Try asking over at the Les Paul Forum.Those guys will be able to tell you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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