The Chetboard

This is my first Chet Atkins guitar, and I'm not sure what the year is?. I know how to tell the year on the regular CE's, but not the studio CE. Can someone please tell me, here is a link to the pictures. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&hash=item1c1686d798&item=120637020056&nma=true&pt=Guitar&rt=nc&si=K7UFVYl60eeuWecyHYSPK1R3cMo%253D

Thanks,

I think this is still accurate...



The pattern is as follows:
YDDDYRRR
YY is the production year
DDD is the day of the year
RRR is the factory ranking/plant designation number.

Prior to 1984 when the Kalamazoo, MI factory was closed, the numbers 001-499 indicated Kalamazoo production. Ranking numbers 500-999 continued to indicate Nashville production through 1989.
Since 1989, all Gibson acoustics are built in Bozeman, MT and all Gibson electrics are built in Nashville or Memphis. Ranking numbers for Bozeman start each day at 001 and the electrics may start as low as the 300s.


Examples: 70108276 means the instrument was produced on Jan. 10, 1978, in Kalamazoo and was the 276th instrument stamped that day.

82765501 means the instrument was produced on Oct. 3, 1985, in Nashville and was the 1st instrument stamped that day.

Photo of this guitar's serial number from Ebay - doesn't follow Gibson's usual format - ???

That is an odd serial. My understanding is that Gibson standardized its serial numbering in 1977.

Best i can make out STCE010
Well, StudioCE? But the nut width makes it a CEC, right?

Heck of a price, if it is authentic. I would be interested to know what other Montana studio owners think about the serial and if the owner finds out from Gibson what the story is, sharing it.

So are you guys saying this is a FAKE!? Ok, now im nervous. does anyone have a Studio CE, to take a pciture of the serial number so I can see what it says?

Not a fake, just one of the newer Studio CE's. They are good guitars just not the most desirable like the older ones. Go to youtube and type in spencer1162 and listen to a great picker that plays one like yours.

Roger Pratt wrote:Not a fake, just one of the newer Studio CE's. They are good guitars just not the most desirable like the older ones. Go to youtube and type in spencer1162 and listen to a great picker that plays one like yours.

Funny that you mention Spencer, I've been chating with him. Maybe I should ask him about the serial number?

Ok everyone, I have some great news!. I called Gibson Acoustic in Bozeman MT, got the number from google, and spoke with a gentleman about the serial number, and he told me that it is a 2004 CE, and it left Bozeman, MT in 2004. So now I have an idea that its not a FAKE Lol. thanks to everyone who helped


Chet 4 Life...

Never said it was a fake, just stated that the serial seemed to not follow Gibsons standardization.

Heck of a deal for a studio. congrats

[quote="tacomamanguy"]This is my first Chet Atkins guitar, and I'm not sure what the year is?. I know how to tell the year on the regular CE's, but not the studio CE. Can someone please tell me...

Hi 'Tac',

Jay's info is correct to the best of my knowledge.

You have one of the 're-issue' Gibson Studio guitars. Gibson stopped making the Studio Classics for several years after Chet passed away, and then came out with a re-issue with a few design changes including the opening (hole) in the back of the guitar, a relocation of the controls, and the discontinuance of internal individual string volume controls.

Here's a few pictures of the original version of the CA Studio Classic guitar. My Studio was made in Nashville in 1993.

David

[img]Headstock


[img]Studio Front