Custom Shop '63 serial number - HELP!

[rohan]

I have just put a deposit down on a Custom Shop 335. Faded Cherry.
And now I'm jittery. Here's why -

I'm buying from a very respected dealer. I'm told it is a '63 reissue. It is used, which would explain the ripping price - 3 grand US. It is in lovely condition - plays great, sounds great.

But the serial number worries me. In every serial number directory I can find, it says that Custom Shop reissue serial numbers have letters in them to distinguish between models. I always thought most custom shop guitars had a 'CS' stamped on the headstock. But this guitar has a 'normal' looking Gibson serial number - 03419XXX. At least I know it is an '09.

More puzzling is the model number inside the f-hole. It reads - ESDY335.
Huh? What does 'DY' mean?

I don't want to be worried about this one. It feels right, but . .
They assure me it is a '63 reissue. A guy returned it recently. It still has the protective coating on the scratchplate. The truss rod cover was missing, but I'm assured it will be there when I come to pick it up.

Can anyone help?
Cheers,
Rohan

[Blaze]

I have just put a deposit down on a Custom Shop 335. Faded Cherry.
And now I'm jittery. Here's why -

I'm buying from a very respected dealer. I'm told it is a '63 reissue. It is used, which would explain the ripping price - 3 grand US. It is in lovely condition - plays great, sounds great.

But the serial number worries me. In every serial number directory I can find, it says that Custom Shop reissue serial numbers have letters in them to distinguish between models. I always thought most custom shop guitars had a 'CS' stamped on the headstock. But this guitar has a 'normal' looking Gibson serial number - 03419XXX. At least I know it is an '09.

More puzzling is the model number inside the f-hole. It reads - ESDY335.
Huh? What does 'DY' mean?

I don't want to be worried about this one. It feels right, but . .
They assure me it is a '63 reissue. A guy returned it recently. It still has the protective coating on the scratchplate. The truss rod cover was missing, but I'm assured it will be there when I come to pick it up.

Can anyone help?
Cheers,
Rohan

Try this link

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx

[rohan]

Thanks Blaze.

I tried that, but it says it does not support custom shop models.
Cheers for your imput.
Rohan

[FrankenFretter***]

You probably already found this info, as I see you've also posted your question on the Gibson forum, but here it is anyway:

"Historic ES MODELS (since 1995):
(A or B)-MYRRR
M is the model year being reissued
Y is the production year
RRR indicates the guitar's place in the sequence of Historic ES production for that year.
Reissue model codes:
2= ES-295
3= 1963 ES-335 (block inlays)
4= ES-330
5= ES-345
9 with an "A" prefix = 1959 ES-335 (dot inlays)
9 with a "B" prefix= ES-355

Example: A-38005 is the 5th '63 ES-335 Reissue produced in 1998.
Carved Top models (serial number on orange label)
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR indicate the guitar's place in the sequence of carved tops made that day.
NOTE - as of 2000, 1st digit will be a "2"

Examples:
91418009 is the 9th carved top produced on the 141st day of 1998.
20045002 was the 2nd carved top stamped on the 4th day of 2005.

Custom Shop regular production models
CSYRRRR
CS stands for "Custom Shop"
Y indicates the production year
RRRR indicates the guitar's place in the sequence of production"

From Gibson support dot com.