In 2003, Gibson Custom changed the specification for the Historic series Les Paul reissues to include Brazilian rosewood fingerboards. This was the first time that the iconic single cutaway Les Paul was produced with Brazilian rosewood since 1960. In response to complaints from environmental groups, Gibson ceased using Brazilian in May of 2003 in favor of Madagascar rosewood. The company stated they would not use Brazilian in production again. The Historic series Les Pauls produced during the five months have become extremely collectible. However, the Brazilian and Madagascar rosewoods look similar. The only way to discern whether a historic series Les Paul has Brazilian rosewood is based on the serial numbers as reported by Gibson Custom.
The Gibson Custom shop forum moderator received so many requests for serial number verification that they researched the production records and posted the following information which is now taken as the definitive guide to identifying the coveted Brazilian board historics from 2003. It should be noted that there was a very limited production of Brazilian board ’59 reissues in 2001, requested by several of the elite Custom Shop dealers.
2003 Production Serial Numbers, in order of reissue year.
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
1956 Reissue, ranging from 63001-63148
-the only exception here is that number 63126 does not exist as far as I can tell
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
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
1959 Reissue, ranging from 93001-93674
-93001-93006 are prototypes
-93008 has 2002 specs
-3 are korina Flying Vs
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
Gary Rossington SG
-13001-13075 have Brazilian Rosewood
====
TheGearList 