On Gibson site
"Gibson USA 2014 to present – These serial numbers cannot be dated to a specific day of the year.
...
The pattern is as follows:
YYRRRRRRR
YY is the model year
RRRRRRR is the number in product for the model year (starts at 0000001)"
The serial number font IMO looks different from the one used by Gibson
I wrote to the Seller, he answered : "It's not fake at all! I bought it from a reputable store and have the relevant paperwork". I asked
If he could reveal which "reputable store" sells this kind of Gibsons. He answered "Lol are you the fbi?".
The Messenger discussion lasted a little longer, but the seller remained with his opinion about SG authenticity - he sent me a photo of the potentiometer cavity and the pots looked original, although the shot does not ensure that this is the cavity of this guitar. I didn't find the "reputable store" name, although I asked it a second time.
Is my knowledge of Gibson serial numbers outdated or have I wrote to an cheater?
Comments
It's possible they changed the serial number system again last year when the new management took over but haven't updated that page on the website yet.
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The seller's reticence to disclose where he got it from might just be that you put his nose out of joint by immediately suggesting his guitar was fake...
I do know that Gibson have used other ways of numbering ,which can lead to confusion, the pics look ok, but if it is being sold as a 'Historic' RI, ie--custom shop, you would be looking at the wrong kind of serial number for a start.
USA standards, all have the same format 9 digit serials, 'Historic' models have 5 or 6 digit ink stamps, and they are very different guitars.
It certainly looks like a nice neck, but need to see the rest to be sure,
Then again the serial of the ones at GuitarGuitar do start with 19 as per the post-2014 numbering system so....no idea.
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As I understand things, pre 2014, serials were 9 digits, 1 and 5 denoted year, 234 denoted day, and last ones were production run.
According to the Gibson statement above-things changed in 2014, and now we have another change in 2019.
Calling a guitar a reissue, used to mean it was a historically accurate model, which came from the custom shop, with a historically accurate 5 or 6 digit ink stamped serial, and completely different build quality.
The recent names that are being used, should be clearer, ie '61 STYLE standard' and not '61 REissue', but it is easy to see how the seller of this particular guitar might get it wrong.
In his mind, it is a '61 Standard', which is a Gibson USA modern version of the SG, but it is NOT a reissue, as that implies a historic model, and the serial number only confuses things further, could be a 2011, could be a 2019?
If he bought it new, last year, it is highly unlikely to be a 2011, and the specs would have been completely different then anyway.
The last few years have been confusing for Gibson, and they haven't done themselves any favours with these changes IMHO>