"BGN" on Headstock back?

[Yankeefan01]

I have "BGN" stamped on the back of my '85 H140 above the s/n. At 1st I thought it was a previous owners initials. But now I've seen it on a couple of other early Heritages.

 

Anybody have any idea what they stand for? Just curious.

[Dick Seacup]

By Gibson Nasvhille?

 

Be Goin' Nashville?

 

By Golly Now!

 

Big Guitar Neck?

 

Before Gibson Nashville?

 

Best Gibson Now!!!

 

Oh, I could keep going, but obviously I have no clue. 

[Kazwell]

Not sure if it applies to Heritage but this is a paragraph from this web page  http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html  citing the "BGN" stamp for Gibsons:

 

 

PegHead Markings other than Serial Numbers ("seconds")

 

Gibson often marked inferior quality guitars as "seconds", and sold them at a discount to dealers or employees. These markings were stamped into the wood on the back of the peghead. A "2" stamp is sometimes seen, designating a "second", which had some cosmetic flaw. If there is a serial number on the back of the peghead, the "2" is usually seen centered above or below it. Also sometimes stamped was "CULL", which is another designation of a second. Again, this stamp is seen on the back of the peghead. The worse Gibson reject is the "BGN" stamp, designating that instrument as a "bargin" guitar. These were only sold to employees at substantial discounts. This stamp is also seen on the back of the peghead. Sometimes the "BGN" is stamped vertically with the "N" below the "G" which is below the "B". BGN instruments weren't acceptable to Gibson as sellable to the public.

All second instruments are usually worth less than the same guitar that is not a second (given condition as the same). BGN instruments are worth less than a second instrument because these tend to have some fairly serious cosmetic flaw.

[skydog]

:uwp:

[guitardude5]

I used to have a Stat I purchased from a Heritage dealer in Tampa in '92 that was stamped BGN.  It was represented as a bargain guitar, and was priced accordingly.  So what was mentioned a couple posts ago is correct.  My Stat was a great playing guitar and was really pretty.  I sold it, and I do miss that guitar. 

[Yankeefan01]

Thanks for the feedback guys, pretty busy around Christmas.  Sounds like the general consensus is "Bargain Guitar". I was just curious, I love this guitar so it's no big deal, can't find anything out of the ordinary but the guitar is over 20 years old.

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