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50th anniversary '59 335 VOS with NO serial number...???

58dutchie

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Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
602
Hi there,

A few days ago I played a GREAT 50th anniversary '59 335 VOS (natural), but the guitar had NO serial number anywhere! It was a custom shop Gibson, for sure, a new one, and it DID have the custom shop logo on the back of the headstock. But NO serial number...not on the back of the headstock and not in the body. No labels/stickers, no numbers, NOTHING! The shop-crew also checked but couldn't find it. I wanted to buy the guitar but now I'm in doubt...if I ever want to sell it...mmm...tricky. The case and everything was there, certificate, etc...
Anyone else who's seen this? My guess is they forgot to put the orange label in there or it just fell off somewhere along the trip...:hmm
 

Chris Swope

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Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
295
Hi there,

A few days ago I played a GREAT 50th anniversary '59 335 VOS (natural), but the guitar had NO serial number anywhere! It was a custom shop Gibson, for sure, a new one, and it DID have the custom shop logo on the back of the headstock. But NO serial number...not on the back of the headstock and not in the body. No labels/stickers, no numbers, NOTHING! The shop-crew also checked but couldn't find it. I wanted to buy the guitar but now I'm in doubt...if I ever want to sell it...mmm...tricky. The case and everything was there, certificate, etc...
Anyone else who's seen this? My guess is they forgot to put the orange label in there or it just fell off somewhere along the trip...:hmm

The label is put in just before the guitar is ticketed in final assembly. I doubt it fell out. I imagine the QC person forgot it. The VOS 59 is one of the few historics that comes out of the Memphis wing of the custom shop, rather than Nashville.
 

John Potter

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Mar 18, 2009
Messages
430
Someone here once said that in order to get something like this straightened out, you have to send the guitar back to Gibson.

You tell the dealer to contact Gibson and get this straightened out. I'm willing to bet that most Forum dealers would be willing to do this.

I know that in the Historic Les Pauls Gibson puts in an identity chip so they can verify the guitars. I'm not sure if that's been extended to the entire line. Hopefully, it has and the dealer can get this oversight fixed and you can buy the guitar with no issues.
 

roadhog96

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Apr 21, 2006
Messages
566
< I know that in the Historic Les Pauls Gibson puts in an identity chip >

As in Micro Chip that can be scanned electronically? How long have they been doing this. Can the guitar be located by satellite if it's stolen? I'm serious, that would be great.
 

ApolloCVermouth

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Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
41
Not to hijack the conversation here, but I had a question perhaps Chris could answer...

Were there two versions of '59 50th Anniversary ES-335 models put out last year? I have one that definitely has the sticker: orange with the 'Memphis, Tennessee' at the bottom. However, I wouldn't say this was V.O.S. at all -- it's very much gloss, if I had to describe it.

I know there are some lengthy posts (and arguments) on the forum about origin of make & manufacture (Nash' vs Mem'), but were there actually two distinct 50th Ann' models put out?

Thanks!

ACV
 

John Potter

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Mar 18, 2009
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430
Answer to one question: I believe that the chip is an RFID. If you get close enough with the appropriate equipment, you can pick up the ID signal.

Answer to other question:

I've seen the original "official limited edition" 50th Anniversary Natural and Sunburst (both available in VOS and Gloss) ES-335s. They are made in Memphis. Serial numbers are A99xxx. The few I've seen have WIRED ABR bridges.

I've also seen ES-335s from this year in Antique Red (VOS and Gloss), that are being billed as 50th Anniversary by the dealers who have them. They are also made in Memphis. Serial numbers are A99xxx. The few I've seen have NON-wired ABR bridges.

NONE of the COAs for these guitars (limited to what I myself have seen) have specified that they are a limited edition (or are Gold, like with the first 500 1959 Les Pauls in 2009). They ALL just have the regular COAs.

My understanding from my friendly dealer, who spoke with his inside rep at Gibson, is that the Red ones were originally slated to go to Japan and... they ended up not having a market for them all.

As a side note: I've seen Gibsons that aren't available in the USA advertised as being for sale in the UK. So... I think the Japan story has some credibility.
 

ApolloCVermouth

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Feb 7, 2009
Messages
41
It was those 'red' anniv' 335s that originally had me confused as to what anniversary versions were being produced. Thanks again John... think I'll go play the damn thing now :)
 

GotTheSilver

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Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
2,433
Getting back to the question in the original post, it seems very odd to me that this guitar would have no serial number on it at all. I can understand the QC person forgetting to put the sticker in the f-hole (although this really speaks volumes about "quality control"), but there should still be a serial number on the back of the headstock. It seems highly unlikely to me that they just forgot to do both of these things. But, then again, this is Gibson.

If this is a brand new guitar being sold by an authorized Gibson dealer, they should be able to sort this out with Gibson. If you really want the guitar, tell them you will give them $X to reserve it for you while they send it back to Gibson to get the serial number put on it.

Without the serial number, I would have serious reservations about buying it even if I really believed it was truly authentic. As you mention, you will probably have problems selling it if you decide to do so down the road. I certainly wouldn't hand over big bucks to some Joe off the street for a "Gibson" guitar without a serial number.

Good luck! And let us know what happens.
 

Uncle Gary

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Oct 15, 2006
Messages
2,431
" but there should still be a serial number on the back of the headstock."

Not in the case of Historic '59 reissues. They have no serial number on the headstock, only an "A" prefix serial number on an orange label, just like original '50s Gibson hollowbodies.
 

Elliot Easton

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Mar 5, 2003
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3,478
one of my lennon casinos had a loose, peeling label. they just sent me a new one, no biggie.
 

GotTheSilver

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Apr 14, 2007
Messages
2,433
" but there should still be a serial number on the back of the headstock."

Not in the case of Historic '59 reissues. They have no serial number on the headstock, only an "A" prefix serial number on an orange label, just like original '50s Gibson hollowbodies.

Ahh, didn't realize!
 

dodona

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Joined
Jun 29, 2016
Messages
1
" but there should still be a serial number on the back of the headstock."

Not in the case of Historic '59 reissues. They have no serial number on the headstock, only an "A" prefix serial number on an orange label, just like original '50s Gibson hollowbodies.
I confirm that. Its true.:yah
 
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