Gibson changed serial number format on historics?

[Mickey_C]

I know that gibson changed the serials on usa production line, but did they change the format on historics too?

For example... I am looking at a nicely topped R8, serial number (putting XX for the last two) is

8429XX

My understanding with the old number system is that/s a

8 --- 1958 reissue
4 --- 4 thousands
2 --- year ending with a 2 (in this case ostensibly 2012)
9 --- 9 hundreds
X --- 10s decimal place
X --- 1s decimal place

However, the seller is stating it's

8 --- 1958 reissue
4 --- 2014 year
2 --- 2 thousands
9 --- 9 hundreds
X --- 10s decimal place
x --- 1s decimal place

So, did they change the serial number format, and when did they do it?

 

[sputnik]

8 429xx
8 = 1958
4 = 2004/2014/year it was made
And it was the 2,9xx '58 Reissue made that year.

I'm pretty sure Gibson has always used this format for Reissue serial numbers.

 

[Mickey_C]

8 429xx
8 = 1958
4 = 2004/2014/year it was made
And it was the 2,9xx '58 Reissue made that year.

I'm pretty sure Gibson has always used this format for Reissue serial numbers.

I thought the space between the reissue model number and year receives the thousands digit if they run over 999. If that's incorrect, thanks for letting me know.

EDIT:

The gibson pages shows that you are correct. I don't remember that page having that information last time I looked, but I guess it's been about 10 years. I always preferred the guitars with a space in the middle of the number. I know that's silly.

Gibson serial number page shows (as you posted):

1952-1960 Les Paul, Explorer, Flying V, and Futura reissues (since late 1992):
M YRRR or MYRRRR
M is the model year being reissued
Y is the production year
RRR(R) indicates the guitar's place production for that year. NOTE: This number includes all models for a particular reissue year - so, for example, a 1958 Reissue serial number may include '58 Reissue LP Standard and '58 Explorer production.

 

[grayd8]

Then you aren't going to like the standard historics serial. It goes R8 429xx using your provided serial as an example.

 

[Sct13]

yep...I hate it...

 

[Left Paw]

The original system worked well, but only because Gibson changed/updated the specs so that it was easy to discern the differences. Once the Historics become compelteley homogenous, it will be more difficult to discern individual years.

 

[BigDipper15]

It was just another way to trick people into thinking true historic were so much better.

 

[goldtop0]

And it could be a 1994.....pretty sure they started 8 4XXX back then?
Were COAs around in those early days?

 

[jlb32]

The system is changing more now for 2016. You have the TH's and now the 2014 style Historics with a "R" to start the serial number.

 

[jamman]

It all started last year (2015). There were HS (many more, are/were in Japan), TH's and others . Except the R8's series kept using the 2014 sequence numbering . And the CS R line guitars ran for 1 year ...

Now it's ,,,, R's (2014 spec'd Historics) , TH, HS , CC's ,Sigs and standard CS built guitars. Confused YET ????
That's the point ......
I'm sure I missed something .... Oh yeah ,,,Burnt guitars ,which are still to come this year

I gave up trying to follow it all .... Pointless , unless your looking to buy 1 (or more ) of each

 

[Sct13]

Exactly...I dont care anymore...

I like what I have...