Grog Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 It's really, really hard to date by hardware details, particularly in the transition years from '65-'69. Witch hats and chrome hardware actually started in '65, by my sources. I'm pretty sure all of the 335-12's would have one-piece mahogany necks, like mine. The straight 335 started multi-piece necks in '69, but since the 12 uses an entirely different neck, I don't know that this change would ever have been made in the 12. Since 12-string production crashed after the 1967 peak, they were probably using up earlier necks throughout the production run. As close as I can tell, the pot code is the 11th week of 1968. I can plainly see the 11 & the 8. The 6 should be a no brainer. 1376811. I bought it in October of 1998, that explains my memory loss! In the book, "Gibson Electrics, The Classic Years" By A.R.Duchossoir, it said a five piece, laminated mahogany neck was not introduced until mid 1968. It looks like my neck is one piece. That must be what I remember reading, I had it bookmarked, most likely from when I was stewing over buying it............ In this photo, it does kind of look laminated, it's a tough call, what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grog Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Witch hats started in late '66 or early '67, according to my sources, memory, and experiences. Just as a random test, I just went to George Gruhn's inventory page. None of his '65's and '66's have witch hats; all of his '67's, 68's have them. My findings are the same............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Here's my 1964 Melody Maker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 As close as I can tell, the pot code is the 11th week of 1968. I can plainly see the 11 & the 8. The 6 should be a no brainer. 1376811. I bought it in October of 1998, that explains my memory loss! In the book, "Gibson Electrics, The Classic Years" By A.R.Duchossoir, it said a five piece, laminated mahogany neck was not introduced until mid 1968. It looks like my neck is one piece. That must be what I remember reading, I had it bookmarked, most likely from when I was stewing over buying it............ In this photo, it does kind of look laminated, it's a tough call, what do you think? I think it's laminated, but it can be really hard to tell with mahogany. 1968 must be an odd year, with strange combinations of features and serial numbers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 1963 Epiphone Texan FT-79. Regards Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Hey Flight! Awesome and luscious Epi Texan.... Quite a vintage beauty! Words fail me....Gasp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Very Nice FT-79 ... Paul McCartney played that model a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 7, 2012 Author Share Posted March 7, 2012 Hey Slim, I was wondering what the nut width is on your '65 Sheraton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Hey Slim, I was wondering what the nut width is on your '65 Sheraton. The nut width on my '65 Sheraton measures 1-10/16". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 The nut width on my '65 Sheraton measures 1-10/16". Thanks. I know the earlier ones varied quite a bit (the nut on my '62 is almost 1 3/4"... I think it's 1 11.7/16), but I wasn't sure what occurred post- '63. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 '61 Super 400CN '63 L-5CT '64 Barney Kessel regular Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Sorry for the bad photo (just scanned some old prints). Here's a 1964 Super 400CES that I bought from a famous player (maybe it would be fun to take guesses) back in the mid 80's: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan H Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Here's my 1964 Melody Maker. A '64 eh? Here's mine below, it's of the two-pickup sunburst variety. What's your serial? Mine's 236862. Pot codes put it after September of '64. (forgive the bad quality, I'm waiting for my good pics to come back from the photographer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 Sorry for the bad photo (just scanned some old prints). Here's a 1964 Super 400CES that I bought from a famous player (maybe it would be fun to take guesses) back in the mid 80's: The famous player in question had used it on recordings and in live performance during the 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Hmmm, celebrity played in the 70's? Can't be Scotty Moore or Elvis Presley. Maybe Steve Howe? Nah. Okay, I think it was Wes Montgomery. Am I close? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Slim, he's not as famous as those three. His fame has grown steadily over the years, but let's just say that he wasn't as famous while he was using the Super 400. He has played a variety of guitars since, including his own artist model, made by a major company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Okay, I think I'll have to punt. Maybe it's the guy with first J-185? Famous ... but not that famous, eh? Is he still alive? Rocker? Jazzbo? Is it Elliott Easton? Jimmy Page? Surely it's not Kenny Burrell ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 I was going to guess Steve Howe too, but Slim beat me to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Still alive, yes. Quite "famous", in guitar circles at least, but what I meant was that he wasn't hugely famous in the 70's (especially earlier 70's), when he was still using the Super 400. Some of his biggest fans don't even seem to know that he ever had a Super 400, but only because they aren't hip to his early years (he was working with some big names at the time). American, about 60 years old now, I think. Don't want to give it away too easily , so I won't mention musical genres yet, but... he's very versatile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 ... gotta be Pat Metheny, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Nope, the mystery player is a few years older than Metheny, and has delved into more genres (not someone who would be labeled as a "jazz guitarist", in fact he didn't start out playing jazz). Don't mean to torture you, but I figured I'd give others a chance before I reveal... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinyBabyBrandon Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Nope, the mystery player is a few years older than Metheny, and has delved into more genres (not someone who would be labeled as a "jazz guitarist", in fact he didn't start out playing jazz). Don't mean to torture you, but I figured I'd give others a chance before I reveal... :) robert cray? Although did he ever play jazz? Maybe Lee Ritenuer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 robert cray? Although did he ever play jazz? Maybe Lee Ritenuer? No, but you're on the right track in both cases (that's what I meant about him being versatile). You're also getting warmer geographically with those two guesses. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 B-I-N-G-O ... it's Robben Ford. Thank you, thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted March 30, 2012 Author Share Posted March 30, 2012 Ding ding ding! Robben Ford it was. You'll receive your prize in the mail (unless it gets lost). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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