justshane Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 I found a guitar that I am interested in but I want to make sure that it is the real thing. I have never seen a Gibson headstock like this. According to the white label it is an SJ-45 Deluxe. According to the serial number and the Gibson serial number identifier website it is a 1999 model made in July in Montana. Any thoughts or have you ever seen a headstock like this? I tried to do some research but couldn't find a whole lot about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 I found a guitar that I am interested in but I want to make sure that it is the real thing. I have never seen a Gibson headstock like this. According to the white label it is an SJ-45 Deluxe. According to the serial number and the Gibson serial number identifier website it is a 1999 model made in July in Montana. Any thoughts or have you ever seen a headstock like this? I tried to do some research but couldn't find a whole lot about it. Looks very Epi-phony (fake) to me. Not an SJ-45 Deluxe. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Three-screw truss rod cover? Not normal. More pictures might be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Wrong shape headstock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Every so often you will run into a counterfeit that is so well done it can stymie the Pros from Dover. I dare say though, that based on the photo of the headstock alone, this does not appear to be one of those. At least it does not say "Givson" on the headstock. Question is - is Bozeman spelled correctly on the label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 nope.. I'd walk away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 If I recall Gibson did issue the oddly named SJ-45 Deluxe in the mid-1990s. If I also remember correctly these were Rosewood body guitars with multiple bound headstocks and fancy trim and inlays on the boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 . Yes, as Zomby mentioned there was an SJ-45. Unfortunately the guitar you’re looking is definitely NOT a Gibson SJ-45. And, with that headstock, certainly not a genuine Gibson acoustic. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Any of you lucky enough to have a case like the one in the background of the OP's photo? (It seems to be the same case in the background of the '73 below) Andy Baxter Bass & Guitar had this 1973 J-45 Deluxe with the 3 truss rod screws; nothing strange about their appearance in that era, but the screw heads in the OP are of a different size: http://andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=779 Guitar in OP: The tulips, and their greenish cast, suggests Gibson, though maybe from a different (90's?) time period. Lacquer cracking around the tuners looks legit; a fake might be done in a poly finish. The double "kiss" to the top edge of the headstock is not Epiphone, which is a single, made off-center. Is it possible that someone got creative in trying to make some headstock edge damage disappear? But how could there be a rounded shape to the center, which normally comes in to a "v"? ? Strange how the edge outside of the tuners is slightly softened, as seen in the reflection. How 'bout some more pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Any of you lucky enough to have a case like the one in the background of the OP's photo? (It seems to be the same case in the background of the '73 below) The tulips, and their greenish cast, suggests Gibson, though maybe from a different (90's?) time period. Lacquer cracking around the tuners looks legit; a fake might be done in a poly finish. The double "kiss" to the top edge of the headstock is not Epiphone, which is a single, made off-center. Is it possible that someone got creative in trying to make some headstock edge damage disappear? But how could there be a rounded shape to the center, which normally comes in to a "v"? ? Strange how the edge outside of the tuners is slightly softened, as seen in the reflection. How 'bout some more pics? More pictures definitely needed, of both the guitar and the label. That case lining color is typical of a different era--1960's and 1970's--as are the three trussrod cover screws, so we really need more info in the form of pictures to be definitive about what this guitar might or might not be. Remember there were some exaggerated headstock proportions and shapes in the 1970's as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mafy31 Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 More pictures definitely needed, of both the guitar and the label. That case lining color is typical of a different era--1960's and 1970's--as are the three trussrod cover screws, so we really need more info in the form of pictures to be definitive about what this guitar might or might not be. Remember there were some exaggerated headstock proportions and shapes in the 1970's as well. I have never seen a top shape on the headstock like this one, without the middle "dent" on the top... i'm no expert though but it seems wrong to me Edit : nvm 62burst explained it better... "v" shape yeah thats it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Based on what you've shown us so far: It's screaming, "I'm a fake!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 hmmm. . . yes, not good. Zoom in on the base of the truss rod cover- 'never seen one tapered like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Any of you lucky enough to have a case like the one in the background of the OP's photo? (It seems to be the same case in the background of the '73 below) Not quite sure why it would make me lucky but I do have one. Mine originally came with a 1963 Gibson. Just bought the case and not the guitar. The yellow plush lined cases first appeared in 1961. They were supplied by both Lifton and Victoria. I also have two Lifton cases and one Geib case from the 1950s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 I have never seen a top shape on the headstock like this one, without the middle "dent" on the top... i'm no expert though but it seems wrong to me I'd have to agree, but I want to see more pictures in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Mr Shane really knows how to build the suspense- . . . and he's handy at embedding pics. . . PHOTO DUMP Please ! ! ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirNed Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Any of you lucky enough to have a case like the one in the background of the OP's photo? (It seems to be the same case in the background of the '73 below) I have one that came with the '64 Hummingbird (but I think you already knew about that one). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justshane Posted December 12, 2017 Author Share Posted December 12, 2017 Will get back with some more details in a bit! Just not where I can sit down and type properly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mafy31 Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Will get back with some more details in a bit! Just not where I can sit down and type properly! Popcorn ready Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justshane Posted December 12, 2017 Author Share Posted December 12, 2017 I ended up walking away from it. I originally thought that the headstock was off and didn't get a good feeling from it. I hesitate to post more pictures publicly of it because I didn't buy it and it isn't mine. If you really want to see some more pictures of it then feel free to shoot me a message. Thank you guys for helping to confirm what I was thinking! I will keep my search going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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