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1959 355 FON

McCarthy

Active member
Joined
Sep 30, 2015
Messages
107
I just picked up this 1959 355 factory mono w/ bigsby, and was wondering if you guys could help me with FON/serial number questions...

How do I read these?? :)

S 7625 9
A31109

rYZVwrG.jpg
 

marshall1987

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Nice guitar. Very rare with the Mono option. That kicks up the value a whole lot. I don't know if I can help you with deciphering the numbers. BTW...is that the guitar that was featured on Norman's guitar of the day video with Mark A?
 

McCarthy

Active member
Joined
Sep 30, 2015
Messages
107
Thanks!! Looks like this one is from the second-earliest rack, perhaps?
 

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
Nice guitar. Very rare with the Mono option. That kicks up the value a whole lot.

I'm not sure where the "mono = rare" started. In 1959, Gibson shipped the following ES-355s:

Mono: 177
Stereo: 123

Definitely more desirable. But not rarer.
 

marshall1987

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
I'm not sure where the "mono = rare" started. In 1959, Gibson shipped the following ES-355s:

Mono: 177
Stereo: 123

Definitely more desirable. But not rarer.

You don't think 177 ES-355 mono guitars built in 1959 constitutes rare? Okay. What does rare have to be?

I'll just say this..... try to find another one in that condition.
 

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
You don't think 177 ES-355 mono guitars built in 1959 constitutes rare? Okay. What does rare have to be?

I'll just say this..... try to find another one in that condition.

1. It's all good man, I was simply making the point that '59 ES-355 in Mono were more common than Stereo. Not many people know this and are often misinformed.
2. I know that guitar and the OP. All '59 ES guitars are amazing, and certainly including that one.
3. I have a 1959 with less than 10 made. Pretty rare. Not bragging, but since you asked :rofl
4. Cheers and rock on :dude:
 

VamboRool

Active member
Joined
Nov 25, 2015
Messages
424
Get the Gibson Electrics book, has a serial number break down by month. The "A" number is the serial number, aka "Artist" serial number. I can you the info in a couple of days if nobody else here does.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,950
I love it and would give serious body parts for one like that!
 

ourmaninthenorth

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Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119


+1.

Gorgeous guitar. Hearty congratulations.

Mr Gelber is a member here, I hope he comes in with his expertise in these matters.

Here's a direct lift quote from the link above which is interesting -


.... " The FON of the first 345’s from February is T7303. The earliest of the “first rack” 345’s is S8537-months later. The FON of the earliest 355 stereo in my database is S7624 which is one of the earliest in 1959. I just went through my archives and found another 355 with a short leg PAF but not the shallow rout. That was from the next rack S7625. The others (5 of them) from S7624 that I’ve had were all monos. So this might be the only rack with 355’s with these features. I think I can assume there are others like this, a rack is 35 guitars and I only have 6 from this rack and this is the only stereo and one of two stop tails in the rack. I can assume there are more stereos like this but probably not another stop tail stereo. That likely makes this one a unique example. Geeky stuff for sure. Geeky is what I do. "


:salude

 

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
+1.

Mr Gelber is a member here, I hope he comes in with his expertise in these matters.


The OP has spoken to Charlie already I believe about the guitar. You're right though, Charlie is the best - Has the best ES guitars, knows everything about them, and super honest and helpful! Cheers all! :biggrin:
 

JimR56

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
Must be a different "Gibson Electrics" book than the one I have. Could you please give more details on this book? :hmm
In Duchossoir's first edition (the one with the white cover), the monthly breakdown (pages 184-5) is more limited, but in the early 90's second edition (orange cover), there's a full month-by-month breakdown on pages 250-51.
 

Little Jake

Member
Joined
May 15, 2004
Messages
196
I just picked up this 1959 355 factory mono w/ bigsby, and was wondering if you guys could help me with FON/serial number questions...

How do I read these?? :)

S 7625 9
A31109


A31109 shipped mid-September 1959, between the 14th-17th.
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
In Duchossoir's first edition (the one with the white cover), the monthly breakdown (pages 184-5) is more limited, but in the early 90's second edition (orange cover), there's a full month-by-month breakdown on pages 250-51.

I don't know how I missed that. I'll check both books tomorrow at the shop. :salude
 
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