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nasticanasta

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Contact Gibson CS, with photos, and serial number! They should be able to give

you the model, and year. Good Luck!

 

Seems to be a '70's "Norlin" era model, with that wider headstock. The Flower-pot inlay,

unbound "dot neck," but bound body, and compensating bridge are "interesting!"

 

CB

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There were some weird "Studio"s there in the early 80's, when they started making them. But I don't recall any with two kn0bs and the switch there. And I don't recall them with a stop only, it was near enough the 50s that nobody wanted that anyway!

 

It is interesting.

 

rct

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.

Hmmm . . .

 

That looks like a flower pot inlay on the headstock - I don't recall ever seeing a flower pot inlay on a LP.

 

I'm also curious about the Gibson script logo on the headstock. Do you have a close-up pic of the headstock?

 

 

.

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Unfortunately, yes Cap.

 

I was wondering about the Gibosn script inlay and the TRC - now that I can see them better, both look a bit suspect to me. But didn't some Gibbies from the 70s and early 80s have 3 screw TRCs? As RCT mentioned - some weird Studios in the early 80s, some had binding I think.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

.

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Yeah, I didn't even notice the TRC, until the closeup! Good Call!

 

I have 2 Norlin era ('70's and early 80's) Les Pauls...they both have 2-hole TRC's.

I think real Gibson's have always had 2-hole covers! So, it quite possibly could

be a counterfit model, as well? I think "Gibson's" name, has never been used, on an

import, except as a reference "by Gibson" (authorized) on some earlier Epiphone models

(mostly Sheratons), of a particular time period. Also real Gibson's don't use that

style (shape) of TRC. So...???

 

The body and binding seem "odd" to me, as well. Not of classic "Gibson" spec's, or treatment.

Thinner on top...more like Asian (Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia) of that time.

 

CB

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They made some Gibson Acoustics with three screws holding the TRC during the Norlin-era, and there seem to be Grabber basses with them, too. A Les Paul with three TRC screws and the flowerpot inlay? Then there are bridge/tailpiece, switch, controls being off from usual. Too many oddities, or an extremely rare item, or both? [confused]

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They made some Gibson Acoustics with three screws holding the TRC during the Norlin-era, and there seem to be Grabber basses with them, too. A Les Paul with three TRC screws and the flowerpot inlay? Too many oddities, or an extremely rare item, or both? [confused]

 

Really, I guess I don't remember that, or have never seen one, with 3-hole, non-bell shaped

TRC's. One learns something, everyday! [biggrin]

 

Could this one be a re-branded Epiphone? Who knows? I think we could mostly agree,

it's NOT a (real) "Gibson!" Norlin Era, or not...unless someone from Gibson can

confirm that it is?!! But, you're right Cap, there's just too many "oddities" for me.

 

CB

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Now...I wonder what the criteria is, for determining 2 or 3 hold TRC's?

The Elitist Casino, has a 3-hole TRC, and yet according to one owner on

here, it still has the Gibson Truss Rod, and little ledge, that would

allow for a "historically correct" 2-hole cover. Yet, they chose to use

a 3-hole, instead. I understand the need for the 3-hole, with the Hex

nut TR's, and the "well" type opening, that doesn't sport the "ledge"

above it, as on Gibson's.

 

:-k "Velly Intellesting!!" [rolleyes]

 

CB

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Unfortunately, yes Cap.

 

I was wondering about the Gibosn script inlay and the TRC - now that I can see them better, both look a bit suspect to me. But didn't some Gibbies from the 70s and early 80s have 3 screw TRCs? As RCT mentioned - some weird Studios in the early 80s, some had binding I think.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

.

 

There were plenty of bound top Studios back then. About 40 miles from here there is an 86 Studio, sunburst, bound top, bound neck, dots. It's in really nice shape but he wants like 1500 for it on consignment. If I didn't have a great les paul I'da maybe bought it down at maybe 1200. That was a few months ago, might be gone by now.

 

Some were bound top and neck, some were bound neck, some were dots and some were traps. But I don't ever remember one with that particular switch and knob set, and I can't say enough that nobody really wanted stop bar guitars, we had had our fill in the thirty years previous and there weren't many(if any) compensated stop bars like today. At least, I don't remember any but then, I wasn't looking for them because, well, I hate stop bar only.

 

All of my Gibsons have RCT on the TRC. When it is time to trade or sell they get whatever truss rod cover I find first. I would never use the cover as an indicator of any authenticity or lack thereof.

 

It's an interesting guitar for sure, but that knob/switch set puzzles and alarms me, I think I would remember that.

 

rct

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