Junior Jr III Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 I'm looking at getting a 2012 LP 70's Tribute. It's got mini humbuckers, gold foil knobs, a cream pickguard and a black body. But when I check online I only see this model offered in 4 colors, none of them black. Does anyone know if this was a factory color once upon a time? I will have it in my hands next week and may be able to tell then. From the picture it looks like a black satin finish. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny 6 String Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 I'm looking at getting a 2012 LP 70's Tribute. It's got mini humbuckers, gold foil knobs, a cream pickguard and a black body. But when I check online I only see this model offered in 4 colors, none of them black. Does anyone know if this was a factory color once upon a time? I will have it in my hands next week and may be able to tell then. From the picture it looks like a black satin finish. Bill Hey Bill; Don't see it listed as a colour on the Gibson specs, but a quick google does return pics of satin black ones, I would assume a run for one of the big chain stores. These runs for the chains don't always make it on the Gibby site. Good luck, and if you get post pics!! Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Hello. The guitars of the first run of the Studio 70s Tribute weren't offered in black finish. http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Studio-70s-Tribute.aspx The second, - post 2013 - run did include a black model. http://es.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-70s-Tribute.aspx Bence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 It's real curious. This one is definitely a 2012 in satin black. But it has the mini humbuckers, cream pickguard and gold tophat knobs. Sounds like the best bet is a special run that isn't listed. It has a good feel to it. Fast action & light but it has a little bit of fret buzz and lots of hum. The bridge pickup is considerably quieter than the neck too so it's probably going back. Will try it out for a few more days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 My guess, it's a converted 50s or 60s Tribute model. Check the back of the neck. The absence of the volute would prove me right. The volute behind the truss rod cover. Bence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 That's sort of the impression that I got, that someone had modified a different model. The 50's & 60's Tributes do look a lot like this one except for the mini-hums. I'll take a look at the back of the headstock tonight. I'd still keep it if it performed just a little better. Unfortunately, compared to the Epi Blackback it's not worth the price. Maybe a few tweaks at the dealer will set it right. Thanks for the thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 20, 2016 Author Share Posted August 20, 2016 No volute. So that makes it a modified 50's or 60's model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 20, 2016 Author Share Posted August 20, 2016 Here's the front. Bad lighting but it has the black satin finish. It's in decent shape and will likely be back on the market within the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Hello. That's definitely not a 70s Tribute. The headstock is wider on those: ...and of course, it should be voluted: Bence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny 6 String Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 No volute. So that makes it a modified 50's or 60's model? No that's definitely not a 70's tribute, as Bence stated it would have the volute to be a 70's. Looks like some one pulled the P90's and installed mini's. Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Hello. Also, the mini humbuckers in the 70s Tribute are not the same as the ones in Your guitar. Your black guitar has classic "Deluxe" mini humbuckers with polepieces visible. The 70s Tribute guitar came with fully-enclosed, rail-type pickups: Bence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny 6 String Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Hello. Also, the mini humbuckers in the 70s Tribute are not the same as the ones in Your guitar. Your black guitar has classic "Deluxe" mini humbuckers with polepieces visible. The 70s Tribute guitar came with fully-enclosed, rail-type pickups: Bence. Bence is correct again, the mini's in my 70's tribute SG are the same as illustrated in the pic supplied. They should sound pretty good if they are Gibson mini's though, I have a set in an Epi LP and love them. Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 22, 2016 Author Share Posted August 22, 2016 Now I'm curious about what kind of pickups are in this. I've wanted a Deluxe, but not for $1800. This could be my ersatz Deluxe for $700. A good fit for an ersatz guitarist. Thanks for all the sleuthing. I didn't know about the volute nor did I pick up on the headstock and visible polepieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 deleted - trouble adding pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 OK, I still have the guitar. I pulled one of the pickups out to see what was in there and here's what I found So is this a real Gibson mini-humbucker? What would it have come out of before it was installed here? Oddly, the patent number refers to Mr Polfuss's bridge/tailpiece combo which does not apply to this guitar. I'm caught between keeping this one (if I can figure out what it is) and a 1990 Studio in yellowed white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny 6 String Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 OK, I still have the guitar. I pulled one of the pickups out to see what was in there and here's what I found So is this a real Gibson mini-humbucker? What would it have come out of before it was installed here? Oddly, the patent number refers to Mr Polfuss's bridge/tailpiece combo which does not apply to this guitar. I'm caught between keeping this one (if I can figure out what it is) and a 1990 Studio in yellowed white. If i had to guess (which all I really can do), i would say that they probably didn't come out of anything but were purchased new to replace the P90's that came out of it since you can buy these from Gibson. Now they could have come out of any Deluxe re-issue or the like. From what you've shown, I'd keep it myself, but I'm biased as I've an Epi that looks just like it Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 Well, this is all very encouraging. I checked around and found what looks like the exact same pickup. https://reverb.com/item/2547921-gibson-mini-humbucker-1970s-nickel So....I think I'll keep 'er. Thanks for the information and thoughts. Now I need to figure out how to back track on my pledge to "sell one if I buy one". I would sell one of the Epi LPs but .. (I don't wanna!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny 6 String Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Well, this is all very encouraging. I checked around and found what looks like the exact same pickup. https://reverb.com/item/2547921-gibson-mini-humbucker-1970s-nickel So....I think I'll keep 'er. Thanks for the information and thoughts. Now I need to figure out how to back track on my pledge to "sell one if I buy one". I would sell one of the Epi LPs but .. (I don't wanna!) LOL where there's a will there's a way. It is a sharp looking LP. My suggestion there is to surprise the significant other with something nice. (I wouldn't want to part with any of my Epi's either) Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 When you really want to know, go to the source. So I emailed Gibson cust. service and got a quick response. This guitar was originally made as a 60's Tribute with P90's installed. I've inquired for further information about the pickups but I don't see many variations in online listings. Just Mini-Humbuckers and maybe when it was made. Thanks for the tips and insights. Add another to the collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeman Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 This doesn't help at all really, but i'll just leave it here. I read somewhere that the patent number stamped on the 'Patent No' Gibson pickups was the patent number for the bridge and tailpiece design...not sure why they did that nor do I know the years they were manufactured or if they are still being made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 This doesn't help at all really, but i'll just leave it here. I read somewhere that the patent number stamped on the 'Patent No' Gibson pickups was the patent number for the bridge and tailpiece design...not sure why they did that nor do I know the years they were manufactured or if they are still being made. True. This being the first time I ever took a pickup out of a Gibson, I was pretty excited to see the PAT imprint. I looked up the number through the Patent office website and got to see a pdf of Lester's original filing. Sure enough it is for the bridge/tailpiece combo. A wraparound. So there must be another number for the PAF pickups. Or is there?........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Jr III Posted September 1, 2016 Author Share Posted September 1, 2016 Follow up: I was told that my pickups were pre 1991 because they don't engrave the Pat. No. on them any more. Not since '91. Instead there is supposed to be a sticker that says "Patent Applied For". These pickups don't look that old to me. Then again, they're pickups. ? I know PAF is a bit of a marketing gimmick now but shouldn't they just go ahead and put the actual number on the back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 1, 2016 Share Posted September 1, 2016 Follow up: I was told that my pickups were pre 1991 because they don't engrave the Pat. No. on them any more. Not since '91. Instead there is supposed to be a sticker that says "Patent Applied For". These pickups don't look that old to me. Then again, they're pickups. ? I know PAF is a bit of a marketing gimmick now but shouldn't they just go ahead and put the actual number on the back? Now that's funny. Not that they engraved the tailpiece patent no. on the pickup backplates - this is a mistake well known. But pre-1991 mini HBs in a 2012 guitar? I think you really have a rare and special one there! To be honest, I would rate that as a nice surprise and love her for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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