How many Historics were made in 2003?

[richlespaul]

As the title says... mines 8 3509 - R8/2003/509
How many do they churn out a year?

[loaded six string]

I thought it was a relatively small number. But I think Gibson really cranks out a lot of them out, just like the regular prod models. I have a 6 digit serno on my r8

[lamotte]

In 2003, just for brazilian fretboards manufactured from january to may :

163 R0
674 R9
256 R8
707 R7
148 R6
150 R4

[dwagar]

I read an article where in '01 they were forced to limit the R9 run, due to shortage of maple I think, to 1000, 500 domestic, 500 export.
So that gives you an idea, if they normally make thousands of R9s, how many of the other models they must produce.

[delawaregold]

Gibson rarely gives modern day production totals.
After months of work, Rod (SKATTERBRANE) did manage to
get the exact number of 2003 Brazilian Les Pauls out of them.


2003:

1954 Reissue, ranging from 43001-43150
-within this range of numbers, 37 are '54 Black Beautys
-43001-43006 are 1-pickup '54 Goldtops that went to
Dave's Guitar in WI. i am assuming these got BR.
113 Total - R4

1956 Reissue, ranging from 63001-63148
-the only exception here is that number 63126 does
not exist as far as i can tell.
147 Total - R6

1957 Reissue, ranging from 73010-73707
-numbers below 73010 either have 2002 specs
(73001, 73005, 73006, 73007), are prototypes
(R7:73004; LP Junior: 73002, 73003) or do not exist
-within this range, 231 are 2 or 3 pickup '57 Black Beautys
-26 are LP Juniors
-73431-73438 do not exist
439 Total - R7

1958 Reissue, ranging from 83001-83256
-83001-83008 are prototypes (83001-83004, 83007, 83008),
and 2 of these are LP Juniors (83005, 83006).
83009 is a quilt top R8 that went to Guitar Center.
-within this range 29 are LP Juniors.
-1 is a korina explorer.
-83046, 83047, and 83087 do not exist.
214 Total - R8


1959 Reissue, ranging from 93001-93674
-93001-93006 are prototypes.
-93008 has 2002 specs.
-3 are korina Flying Vs
664 Total - R9

1960 Reissue, ranging from 03001-03163
-03001-03010 are prototypes
(except for 03007 (not a proto) and 03002 (2002 specs)),
and 2 of these are LP Specials.
-it appears that 03007 DOES have BR
-within this range, 21 are LP Specials
-48 are non-Historic GC '60 LPs, none of which have BR
85 Total - R0

Total 2003 Brazilians: 1662
That was just LP’s, January thru May

[Mike60]

in '03 over 2000 R8's went out the door and over 3000 R9's went out the door...

Gibson will not divulge anyways,so everything is pure speculation and is like picking next week's winning lottery numbers.

[jkinnison90]

Dang that's a lot of guitars. Does the custom shop put out about the same amount of guitars a day like Gibson USA?

[lou2]

Does anyone know how many Braz board Oxbloods were made in 2003?

I heard that 10 were made but I have no proof.

Anyone ?

[Danelectro]

I have never seen a Historic serial number in the 2000 range. In 2003, I do recall seeing numbers into the 1500's. I searched through my saved photos and 931451 was the highest number I came across.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...LPF/03R913.jpg

[richlespaul]

They really pump them out that's for sure.
I've seen one on The Historic Les Paul Database with a serial 731839

in 2002 they made about 300 R9s, even LESS than in 2001. (promising AAA Maple, but not using Western maple, like they did in the 90s made it difficult for them, so begining in 2003 they allowed themselves to use AA maple)