Has anyone had any luck getting a COA replaced?

[cmw13]

Just wondering if anyone out there has ever tried to get Gibson to replace a COA for a Historic model? I'm contemplating a trade for a '99 '59 reissue, but the owner doesn't have the COA any longer. I've been successful in getting Gibson to replace a couple of COA's on guitars that I've purchased new, but I've never tried on an older Historic. I know that their website says they can't replace COA's before the year 2001... does anyone know if this is something written in stone? I'd really love to have one of those 40th anniversary '59 reissue COA's. Any suggestions? Thanks!!

 

[TheMiz]

Shouldn't be a problem, the gang @ Gibson are great about things like replacing COA's

 

[TheMiz]

About COA replacements

This is take from the Gibson Site:

At the Custom Shop, we understand how important the guitars we make are, not only as tools of musical expression, but also as collector's items or investments. Part of the collector's mindset involves having the "complete package" for whatever it is you are collecting which, in the case of our guitars, often includes a Certificate of Authenticity. Unfortunately, these certificates are often misplaced between our hands and yours. Because we are getting so many requests for these missing COAs under the other forum headings (it was getting a bit difficult to keep track of things), we decided to add an area just for this topic.

At this time, every guitar ships from the Custom Shop with a certificate of some kind (there are several different formats). This was not standard procedure until 2001, so if your guitar was made in 2000 or before (check the serial number and then read the DECODING CUSTOM SERIAL NUMBERS post here: http://www.gibsoncustom.com/cgi-bin/toast.asp?sub=show&action=posts&fid=11&tid=787), it is not--with a few exceptions--eligible for a certificate.
Make certain the guitar is a 2001 or newer before you post!

Once this has been confirmed, we will need the serial number of the instrument. By rolling the serial number, we can verify the model and the location of the dealer who sold the instrument. Only original owners who have purchased the guitar at an authorized Gibson dealership will be eligible for a COA. After confirming this information with you, we will contact you via email to get your mailing information and get a COA in the mail so that your Custom Shop guitar's package will be complete.

So if you're in need of a COA, let us know! Hopefully we'll be able to help.

**NOTE: Once your request is fulfilled, we will delete your post here, just to keep things easy to keep track of. Thanks!

 

[cmw13]

Yeah, I read that on their site also. That's why I was asking. They mention "a few exceptions." I'm hoping to be one of these. I've been a very good customer of Gibson for a number of years... not that I expect special treatment, but I sure do hope they can help me out a little. The COA is important to me.

 

[SASouth]

Re: About COA replacements

This is taken from the Gibson Site:

This was not standard procedure until 2001, so if your guitar was made in 2000 or before (check the serial number and then read Make certain the guitar is a 2001 or newer before you post!

I always thought that this meant that before 2001, Gibson didn't regularly issue COAs for most all models. Did the '99 R9 have a COA?

 

[TheMiz]

Re: Re: About COA replacements

I always thought that this meant that before 2001, Gibson didn't regularly issue COAs for most all models. Did the '99 R9 have a COA?

YES the 99 R9's all came with COA
but I think that every guitar coming out of the Custom Shop has a COA now of some sort.

 

[cmw13]

Well, I e-mailed Gibson directly and they said that the COA's for the '99 Historic '59's are long gone. Wouldn't you think they'd have the design saved on a computer somewhere, just in case anyone ever needed a reprint? Does anyone have any pull with Gibson that might be able to help me out? If so, I'll owe you one. Thanks!!!

 

[Cobohall1975]

I bought a 1998 '58 Historic last month and it didn't have a COA. The guy I bought it off (who was her second owner) said he didn't get the COA as the original owner had mislaid it. I too got in touch with Gibson thru their Forum and was told that the guy who deals with the COA's swears down that they were not issued to guitars before 2001,except for a few exceptions. So I never got a copy.Also, they said as I wasn't the original owner that would of went against me,if they still had copies of the COA's...........

 

[cmw13]

Kudos to Gibson Customer Service!!! They told me that a replacement COA is on the way for me. This just goes to show you that Gibson are more than willing to work with their customers to do whatever it is they can do to satisfy. After I received a "no" answer via e-mail from a Gibson source, I went ahead and posted on the GibsonCustom.com forum, and lo and behold... SUCCESS. Thanks again Gibson!!!

 

[Les Palmer]

About COA replacements

This is take from the Gibson Site:

At the Custom Shop, we understand how important the guitars we make are, not only as tools of musical expression, but also as collector's items or investments. Part of the collector's mindset involves having the "complete package" for whatever it is you are collecting which, in the case of our guitars, often includes a Certificate of Authenticity. Unfortunately, these certificates are often misplaced between our hands and yours. Because we are getting so many requests for these missing COAs under the other forum headings (it was getting a bit difficult to keep track of things), we decided to add an area just for this topic.

At this time, every guitar ships from the Custom Shop with a certificate of some kind (there are several different formats). This was not standard procedure until 2001, so if your guitar was made in 2000 or before (check the serial number and then read the DECODING CUSTOM SERIAL NUMBERS post here: http://www.gibsoncustom.com/cgi-bin/toast.asp?sub=show&action=posts&fid=11&tid=787), it is not--with a few exceptions--eligible for a certificate.
Make certain the guitar is a 2001 or newer before you post!

Once this has been confirmed, we will need the serial number of the instrument. By rolling the serial number, we can verify the model and the location of the dealer who sold the instrument. Only original owners who have purchased the guitar at an authorized Gibson dealership will be eligible for a COA. After confirming this information with you, we will contact you via email to get your mailing information and get a COA in the mail so that your Custom Shop guitar's package will be complete.

So if you're in need of a COA, let us know! Hopefully we'll be able to help.

**NOTE: Once your request is fulfilled, we will delete your post here, just to keep things easy to keep track of. Thanks!

How do I contact Gibson to get a COA?

 

[Les Palmer]

I bought a Custom Shop Les Paul in 2008, I got all the candy, COA etc. I put it away. The guitar was never played. Years later I wanted to sell it and discovered they gave me the wrong COA! I’m trying to get the original so I can sell it with the guitar

 

[TheMiz]

How do I contact Gibson to get a COA?

Not sure anymore , my post was from Aug 2003

 

[latestarter]

Not sure anymore , my post was from Aug 2003

Impressive consistency of membership! 20 years and still responding!

I have always wondered why people take COA's out of the case? It's like those that buy say, a nice Omega or Rolex, and throw away the box and papers. Psychopaths!

 

[MBSC]

Shouldn't be a problem, the gang @ Gibson are great about things like replacing COA's

no they are not..they wil not replace COA's for anyone anymore. I have a 2006 Stars & Stripes that I am 3rd owner and these 8 x11 paper COA's rarely survived. Not like the little black hard case ones in the cases these days. I have tried several times and Gibson will no reissue COA's any more mostly because of all the fakes on the market in today's world. They will write you a letter I believe stating the guitar and your serial number do in fact belong together and it is a custom shop yada yada etc but no COA's.

 

[garywright]

can you really blame them

 

[TheMiz]

no they are not..they wil not replace COA's for anyone anymore. I have a 2006 Stars & Stripes that I am 3rd owner and these 8 x11 paper COA's rarely survived. Not like the little black hard case ones in the cases these days. I have tried several times and Gibson will no reissue COA's any more mostly because of all the fakes on the market in today's world. They will write you a letter I believe stating the guitar and your serial number do in fact belong together and it is a custom shop yada yada etc but no COA's.

You replied to my post from 2003 , getting replacements then was not a problem. Alot has changed at Gibson in 20 years.

 

[wmachine]

no they are not..they wil not replace COA's for anyone anymore. I have a 2006 Stars & Stripes that I am 3rd owner and these 8 x11 paper COA's rarely survived. Not like the little black hard case ones in the cases these days. I have tried several times and Gibson will no reissue COA's any more mostly because of all the fakes on the market in today's world. They will write you a letter I believe stating the guitar and your serial number do in fact belong together and it is a custom shop yada yada etc but no COA's.

I agree. I had a ES 175 I bought as part of the great CME Gibson warehouse blowout sale a few years ago. Brand new, but due to the low prices, they were all sold w/o Gibson warranties. It came with a COA with mistaken identity. It was the correct COA with the right serial number. But it had the wrong model listed on it. In fact all the paperwork including the label on the box had the wrong model number. It was a 2015 ES 175 '54 reissue. It was identified as a 2016 ES 175 '59 Reissue. I contacted Gibson to get a correct COA. Eventually they admitted it was indeed a '54 reissue, but they refused to issue a correct COA saying it was because It was not under warranty. Their mistake and they don't want to correct it? They would rather prove they don't know what they are authenticating? The email trail was enough proof of what the model is to me, so I didn't feel I really needed it in this case. Flawless and great guitar by the way. That's what really mattered.
So yes, a lot has changed!

 

[Norton]

This may be the unpopular opinion, but I don't see the point in them. The COA would be easier to fake than building a fraudulent guitar in this day and age. They seem to be little more than an elaborate hang-tag to me. I feel like you'd always be better off going to Gibson for verification if something was in question.

 

[MBSC]

You replied to my post from 2003 , getting replacements then was not a problem. Alot has changed at Gibson in 20 years.

I just asked just a year or so ago..they replied with a firm NO!

 

[MBSC]

can you really blame them

hahaha no