Flashman

Thanks, possibly..... a suggestion elsewhere is that’s it’s a ‘73 SG Special, rather than a standard. The special had the same scratch board shape and fretboard (block inlays, rosewood, unbound), but didn’t have an crown inlay. If that’s the case the mini-humbuckers must have been swapped out for full two coil humbuckers... I’d like if poss to confirm it either way so I can refurb it in line with its original design. I guess I also need to decide what sound I want too, as Ive not played a guitar with minis before...

Ok, for anyone interested, I've removed solder from the pots and they are CTS 137320 - which from what I read means May '73. With that, I Iooked at some online images of confirmed '73/74 SG's and am reasonably content now. The body is the same, even looked at the rear pot cavity - and it has the same irregularities of shape (if that isn't a contradiction!), something I'd be surprised would be replicated to the same degree. The blank bell truss rod cover - 2 ply b/w, lack of neck binding, small volute (present from 69 from what I've read), Indian rosewood fretboard with mother of pearl small block inlays. I've found examples of the thinner inlayed logo on the headstock with the offset 's' and no gaps on the 'b' and 'o'. A number of other things too. I do wonder about the lack of inlayed crown on the headstock though and if it's been covered over for the name to be added - this would not have been clear with the crown in play. Once I've bottomed out the connection with the name, I'll think about sanding this off and seeing if its below - can't see a shadow of it though. Which is strange, even if copying, why go to the effort of inlaying the logo and not the crown? it may be there I guess, the paint job is thick and not good. Thanks for the help, I'm going to understate a refurb job......

Ha, I was being particularly dim....you meant 'voila' right? Got the krylon bit and started wondering what viola might be, perhaps a varnish of some kind?!.....duh.

....and yes, there is a relatively small volute present.

Thanks for all the comments. I've had another look at the logo on the headstock and appreciate that the 's' does look a little 'off'....but have found a variety of examples on line and one that looks much the same. Ref the machine heads, they are Ping Deluxe, which I understood to be authentic - if they have been placed in error though, this could well be down to more poor work by the individual who gave it it's paint job. I've done some other recommended checks, one of which I mentioned around the two screw truss rod cover, the unpainted wood in the pick up cavity....and I'm not sure I see anything wrong with the inlays? That said, as I said at the start, I accept I'm very far from an expert and appreciate the advice and comments made. If it's not real, then I'd just have to accept that, it plays great and I wouldn't be parted from it - as far as I can evidence, it's at least 45 years old, as that's when my brother in law had it from. I need to remove some solder from the volume pot so I can make out the full number, but can see it starts with 137, which I think is CTS. I'll do that this week. In due course I'm going to give it that sand down and look to repaint and refurb it out fully, including the pots and humbuckers. I would like to confirm whether it is authentic first though, as I'll look to put appropriate pickups in, aligning it to its correct age and type as far as possible. The fretboard is a rosewood veneer I think, and certainly has a lacquer on it. Am I correct in saying it shouldn't have been varnished, but should be 'clean'.?..I've read that rosewood, being an reasonably oily wood should not be lacquered, but just periodically oiled? A neck repair is perhaps a reasonable shout..... Thanks again.

Thanks bigtim, appreciate that detail. I’ll take a look at the pot as you say

Here are some photos and no serial on the back of the headstock as you can see. Are you aware of anywhere else I can look for any identifying detail? The name on the face of the headstock is 'John. D. Shearer' - I have no knowledge of how this came to be on there or who this person is?! I googled it and found a photo taken of BB King in 1972 by someone called John D Shearer! https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/621285711086019956/ likely coincidence, I'll need to do some more research I guess..... I genuinely never paid any attention to this name when the SG was originally given to me 20 odd years ago, and sadly my brother in law has since passed away so I can't ask him.. The tail of the 'J' in John is painted slightly beneath the truss rod cover (two screws on mine, rather than three - three indicates potential fake from what I've read....)....so this must have been removed to painted. The calligraphy of the pained name is pretty good, so I do wonder if it was a gift to this person......

Thanks. Yes, I read that this is where you find it, but nothing there. I’ll post a photo, but adds to my thought that some fool painted it back in the 70’s!

Evening, completely new to forum so advanced apologies for breaching any standards and length of post... I’d be grateful for some advice please. I’ve had an SG for around 25 years. My brother in law gave it to me in around ‘96 when I started playing in a band. Did this (poorly) for a few years then life took hold and guitars have had limited play. Picked it up again recently when teaching son how to play and realise I need to know more about it. I’d also like to refurbish it if possible. Judging from online descriptions, I’m confident it is an authentic Gibson and original SG. It has the smaller scratch plate and design suggesting a ‘72 design standard I think....though I guess it could be older. Looks like the more recently produced ‘standard ‘61’ in appearance. My brother in law used it in a band in the late ‘70’s in the UK. Perhaps stupidly and ignorant of maintaining original components, I replaced the pickups with some Seymour Duncan’s in about ‘99/2000....can’t remember the model. Anyway, I can’t find a serial number anywhere on it to confirm date and model and wondered if there’s another way of doing this? I want to look at some new pickups/pots and perhaps machine heads. I also want to refurb the fretboard as there’s some lacquer on there that is cracking around 2nd fret - not even sure if there should be lacquer on an SG! and the paint job isn’t fantastic either...so I’m thinking some punk might well have painted it themselves at some point! any advice very much appreciated!