RBSinTo

Nope. But these guys are so clever that I'll just let them figure it out themselves. Sgt. Pepper, PM me and I'll explain what I said. RBSinTo

Azoy lachadik. RBSinTo

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Caveat Emptor. RBSinTo

j-45nick, I'm not Gibson-obsessed, so don't know enough about them to spot a fake, thus the photos mean nothing to me. However, I stand by my advice. The Luthiers who look after my guitars also buy and sell high-end instruments so are up on what is time-period correct and so on, on guitars such as this one, and I advise anyone planning on spending what I assume will be a fair bit of money for a vintage guitar to let someone who knows their stuff examine it, in the flesh, before plunking down the afore-mentioned money. And your last two lines contradict each other, and the last line seems to be tacitly agreeing with what I suggested. RBSinTo

Unless one is planning on selling a fake to Lenny and Squiggy, I would expect the fake to look reasonably and consistantly enough like the real thing to pass an arms length inspection. RBSinTo

If possible, take it to a knowledgeable person (like a reputable luthier) who can examine it, and then you'll know for certain. RBSinTo

Tortoise shell huh? So I guess some animals have pickguards on them. RBSinTo

BluesKing777, If, as was stated earlier a whole new pick guard costs $300.00, perhaps they'd just sell you the beak you need for $25.00 or $30.00. RBSinTo

Olie, You could easily attach that label to some of the adherents of Gibsonism who inhabit this forum. You're only picking on Sgt. Pepper because he goes against the Orthodoxy that is espoused here, and you don't like it. RBSinTo

BluesKing777, You really gotta stop sniffing that fretboard conditioner liquid. RBSinTo

What was it that P.T. Barnum said? RBSinTo

Or those reeeeeally old strings you've been too lazy to replace. RBSinTo

Wow! 45,000 year old wood. Next thing you know someone will start making guitars from the 225,000,000 year old wood in the Petrified Forest. Imagine how great they'll sound. And cost. RBSinTo

Sure. If she fits inside a guitar case. RBSinTo

Oy BluesKing777, You're not listening. I said I didn't need any more guitars, but the Ferrari 250 GT California ( you remember, like the one Ferris Bueller borrowed from Cameron's dad) would be real nice. And I'll need a rather hefty Lotto win to grab one. Seems these days they go for a substantial chunk of change. Check it out. https://www.caradvice.com.au/608108/ferrari-250-gt-lwb-california-sells-for-24-million/ Lemme know when you find "Hank's lost 45". I'll pick you up in the Ferrari and drive you over to retrieve it. RBSinTo

Nick, And if I could only have one, it would be..... (wait for it).... my 1974 Martin D-28. As I said, my j-45 is very nice, but it ain't no D-28. RBSinTo

I was always thrifty with film. Not because of cost, but rather I just never needed to take a ton of shots to get what I wanted. One or two was usually enough. All my SLR's were motorized, but not for burst shooting, but just so the shutters were always cocked. Even now, with Digital bodies, I only take a shot or two to get the scene. Always loved 21, 24 and 35mm lenses. But I always carried least three and sometimes four cameras, so there were 105 and 180 or 80-200 with me as well. I've never had a problem getting right up close and personal to shoot, but always carry longer lenses as well, because sometimes there just isn't time to get close before the scene breaks up and the moment is gone. But enough about photography. This is a Gibson acoustic guitar thread, so I should talk about them. I have a Gibson j45. It is very nice. RBSinTo

Nick, I've been shooting since 1977, with a bit of pro work here and there. My passion is candid street. Always used Nikon manual focus film SLRs, and about twenty years ago got interested in their rangefinder cameras so got a few of those (SP and S3s) as well. Love them except that their rangefinder spots are weaker than Leica's. For myself I only shot 100 ISO colour slide and loved it. Now there is only one place in Toronto where one can get it processed, and they send it out to Montreal! Finally went digital about three years ago with D3 bodies and three AF lenses. The best thing I can say about it is my shots are sharp. Other than that, I'm whelmed by Digital. RBSinTo

I'm a Martin guy who also owns a Gibson, but I always understood the Holy Grail of guitars to be the Gibson Moderne. RBSinTo

Oh. And for those of you too embarrassed to ask what a black Nikon SP with s-36 motor drive and Jacobson Powercon is, here ya go. RBSinTo

I'm far more worried about the end of a string poking me in an eye. The ends of my fingers not so much. RBSinTo

Nick, While I always loved the P-51 with the bubble canopy, I really prefer my Merlins in pairs pulling a Mosquito through the sky. As an aside, one of only two airworthy Lancasters in the world flies from an airport in Hamilton, just outside of Toronto, and it makes regular flights over the city every summer. You always know when it is flying as you never forget the howl of the four Merlins as the Lancaster passes overhead. RBSinTo

As long as you don't strangle while changing strings. RBSinTo

Have four guitars, and don't need or want any more. However, a vintage, black Nikon SP rangefinder with an S-36 motordrive, and Jacobson Powercon battery pack would be nice. And if the win was large enough, I'd really go crazy and get a 1967 Austin Healy 3000, or even better, a Ferrari GT 250 California. But since I haven't won any lottery, I'll just get new wiper blades for my car. RBSinTo.

Well, between you and me, that makes one of us. I don't have personal knowledge of the folks who post here, so on important issues regarding the care and feeding of my guitars, I'll stick with people whose advice I trust. RBSinTo