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Serial Numbers : What is the production date of my guitar?

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Axilla

Axilla

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5Stringer said:
Axel, I did a little more research (just call me a snoop dog) and this is what I found:

We made only one guitar ever with the exact specifications you listed -

Silhouette Special SSS/tremolo in Pearl Lavender, maple neck, plain headstock, white pg

And it was shipped to a dealer in - you guessed it - Canada. The correct serial number for your guitar, I am certain, is G13205. The production date is December 27, 2000.

Some sorry bum has an EVH with a Silhouette Special's serial number.

Hope that helps!

Dan
Click to expand...

Thank you so very much for your help Dan !

I'm sorry if I disappoint you, but having the guitar disassembled it shows the following serial no. inside the body:
SiloSpecialPearlLavenderBodySerNo.jpg


Am I mislead or was this body produced in 2002 ?
The pickguard with the electronics has a tag saying it was from something like August 2001, so I guess or fear it could not have been produced in 2000.

The neck however does not seem to be retraceable and apparently was originally belonging to sort of a purple Silhouette Special (according to the color marks):
SiloSpecialPearlLavenderNeck2.jpg


I guess it will be almost impossible to say which guitar that body originally belonged to and what the original features (PUs & Co.) were ?

Oh my, what a pitty people do things like that (taking apart selling pieces) to such awesome instruments.
I'll give the restored guitar a good home - promised !
 
5Stringer

5Stringer

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Axilla said:
Thank you so very much for your help Dan !

I'm sorry if I disappoint you, but having the guitar disassembled it shows the following serial no. inside the body:

Am I mislead or was this body produced in 2002 ?
The pickguard with the electronics has a tag saying it was from something like August 2001, so I guess or fear it could not have been produced in 2000.

The neck however does not seem to be retraceable and apparently was originally belonging to sort of a purple Silhouette Special (according to the color marks):

I guess it will be almost impossible to say which guitar that body originally belonged to and what the original features (PUs & Co.) were ?

Oh my, what a pitty people do things like that (taking apart selling pieces) to such awesome instruments.
I'll give the restored guitar a good home - promised !
Click to expand...

Axel, it's OK, you do not dissapoint me, in fact you have proven my point. The numbers inside the neck cavity are never the serial numbers (which are assigned as the instrument reaches completion) but instead are the work order number, and more importantly, the build code. The 9-digit build code represents, in number sequence:

1. The first 3 digits are the type of instrument that it is, in this case a (545) Silhouette Special tremolo SSS.

2. The next two digits represent the finish - in this case (13) means pearl lavender.

3. The next two digits represent the type of neck that is on the guitar - in this case, the number 10 means a maple fretboard, no matching headstock.

4. Last and least, the last 2 numbers represent the pickguard, in this case, 02 means white.

To make my point, here is a partial list of the options: http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/color_chart/available.html Of course the finish number 13 is not on there under Color Options, being discontinued, but you see my point.

The neck is the right neck from all accounts, although it may have been replaced, it is still the same type as it originally left the factory with. Why there is purple finish on the inside of the neck pocket area is hard to know. It could not have come from the factory that way as that is not how our painting process works. It seems someone could have used it as a "paddle" to paint a body, which of course would be disgraceful and something that is never done at our factory. (We use paddles in the painting process, of course, but would never use a neck as one.)

Regarding the electronics, that may have been replaced or partially replaced at some point under some sort of warranty issue.

So I stand by my original statement - and as I said, you are the owner of the only one of these ever made exactly like this one! Enjoy!
 
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Axilla

Axilla

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Apr 26, 2007
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5Stringer said:
Axel, it's OK, you do not dissapoint me, in fact you have proven my point. The numbers inside the neck cavity are never the serial numbers (which are assigned as the instrument reaches completion) but instead are the work order number, and more importantly, the build code. The 9-digit build code represents, in number sequence:

1. The first 3 digits are the type of instrument that it is, in this case a (545) Silhouette Special tremolo SSS.

2. The next two digits represent the finish - in this case (13) means pearl lavender.

3. The next two digits represent the type of neck that is on the guitar - in this case, the number 10 means a maple fretboard, no matching headstock.

4. Last and least, the last 2 numbers represent the pickguard, in this case, 02 means white.

To make my point, here is a partial list of the options: http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/color_chart/available.html Of course the finish number 13 is not on there under Color Options, being discontinued, but you see my point.

The neck is the right neck from all accounts, although it may have been replaced, it is still the same type as it originally left the factory with. Why there is purple finish on the inside of the neck pocket area is hard to know. It could not have come from the factory that way as that is not how our painting process works. It seems someone could have used it as a "paddle" to paint a body, which of course would be disgraceful and something that is never done at our factory. (We use paddles in the painting process, of course, but would never use a neck as one.)

Regarding the electronics, that may have been replaced or partially replaced at some point under some sort of warranty issue.

So I stand by my original statement - and as I said, you are the owner of the only one of these ever made exactly like this one! Enjoy!
Click to expand...

I just don't know how to say thank you in an appropriate way here, Dan.
As I stated in the original thread for this guitar http://www.ernieball.com/forums/mus...-tending-bounce-how-proceed-6.html#post375090 you just made me the happiest Axilla there is in the world right now.
I was sure about buying another beautiful Silhouette Special guitar, but surely did not expect THAT much of a lucky circumstance.

Thank you so much again and again for being just what you are. The greatest people in the way greatest company in the guitar business today. I cannot imagine anyone else investing the same patience and service in their customers as you do.

EBMM - the only choice for me.

Love, peace & all that twang !

Axel (currently on cloud no. 9)
 
Sweat

Sweat

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Texas Finally!
Hey Dan,

My latest Ball, a SUB1, serial number X12057, a DOB wold be appreciated since it was not on the box, thanks as always and hope you and your Dogs are well.

Keith
 
roburado

roburado

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This is the best place to ask. Someone will probably get to it on Monday or sometime next week. No one is in the office over the weekends.
 
5Stringer

5Stringer

Ernie Ball Customer Service
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fingbeagles said:
Hey Dan,

My latest Ball, a SUB1, serial number X12057, a DOB wold be appreciated since it was not on the box, thanks as always and hope you and your Dogs are well.

Keith
Click to expand...

Keith,

My beagle and chihuahua are both doing very well thanks! Your SUB1 completion date is 9/28/04. Congrats on your new guitar!

Dan
 
Sweat

Sweat

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Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
7,324
Location
Texas Finally!
5Stringer said:
Keith,

My beagle and chihuahua are both doing very well thanks! Your SUB1 completion date is 9/28/04. Congrats on your new guitar!

Dan
Click to expand...

Thanks as always Dan, that SUB is alot older thanI thought, but it was in perfect condition, glad your pups are well mine just ate something in the yard and is well sickly to be nice, Beagles will eat anything LOL.
 
ernie1966

ernie1966

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Messages
1,271
The man that is Dan,

I just picked up another one of those first 100 Pets signed by Mr. Petrucci, serial # 15260. DOB? Pretty please? You told me my other one #15300 was one of the first 5 made, how about this one?

thank you kind sir!
 
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