[geochem1st]

For Historic Models Serial Numbers:

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.