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ES-355, no serial number, no custom shop logo

Omega

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
319
I am looking at a 2005 ES-355. Apparently made in the Nashville custom shop (I called and confirmed with Gibson; actually they told me it was technically a CS-355, denoting that it was made in the Nashville CS).

What I find strange is that there is no custom shop logo on the back of the headstock.

Also, while the COA and sticker inside the F hole indicate the serial number (beginning with B), there is no serial number on the back of the headstock.

The store pulled it down and confirmed, nothing on the headstock.

Is this common because I've never seen this?

Any concerns with there being no CS logo and no serial number? Why wouldn't they put that on there?
 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,870
The ES's I have seen have the SN on the sticker and that's it. The CS sticker went away well before 2005.
 

mdubya

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,017
Historic Reissues don't have a Serial No. or Made In the USA stamped on the back of the headstock. Just the label in the F hole. The COA should list the model which tells more. What did the label say? It usually denotes Memphis or Nashville. And until just recently, all modern ES guitars originated in Memphis. Some got Nashville branding, but what got them the Nashville label is unclear.

My ES 330 VOS has nothing but an ink stamped Serial No. in the lower F hole.

Need photos!
 

wmachine

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
303
Historic Reissues don't have a Serial No. or Made In the USA stamped on the back of the headstock.
Some, but not all. Some have just a 5 digit s/n, and some a 5 digit s/n with an "A" prefix, trying to be "true to the originals".

As usual, tough to use absolutes about what they did. Too many "depends on......".
 

J.D.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,025
I am looking at a 2005 ES-355. Apparently made in the Nashville custom shop (I called and confirmed with Gibson; actually they told me it was technically a CS-355, denoting that it was made in the Nashville CS).

What I find strange is that there is no custom shop logo on the back of the headstock.

Also, while the COA and sticker inside the F hole indicate the serial number (beginning with B), there is no serial number on the back of the headstock.

The store pulled it down and confirmed, nothing on the headstock.

Is this common because I've never seen this?

Any concerns with there being no CS logo and no serial number? Why wouldn't they put that on there?

This is consistent with 2005 Nashville historic spec ES-335s.
 

mdubya

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,017
Some, but not all. Some have just a 5 digit s/n, and some a 5 digit s/n with an "A" prefix, trying to be "true to the originals".

As usual, tough to use absolutes about what they did. Too many "depends on......".


Too true! :yah
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,947
I have a 1998 Nashville 345 which only has the orange sticker and nothing on the headstock (and back then they did not do COA's). That is the way the old ones were so I see no problem.
 

viper007

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Messages
1,631
I have a 2016 Custom Shop 335. No custom shop logo or serial nr back on the headstock, just the orange sticker.
 
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