Bristol Fashion

I got a nice Epi dot, serial no. 17061500765, in vintage sunburst, with a fretboard that is clearly not rosewood. It looks darker & more like ebony but I don't think it's made of that wood either. Does anyone know the name of the fretboard wood on my model, please?

Thanks, sheepdog. I'm beginning to think that it's an "outlyer" too as the wires don't conform to the colour-coding I understand Gibson use. However, it doesn't really matter. The important thing from the pov of the look-a-like project is that it looks like the Firebird bar pickup that's in place on the guitar - it's going to be spending much of it's life hung up on the wall !!

Cool ! I'm doing a Rocky-a-like at the moment too... largely just a few hours with a set of poster paints 🙂

D'you know what - it's a bit embarassing to say but I have no recollection of buying this pickup! However, it will have been off of ebay, almost certainly. I'm putting together a replica of the excellent Dan Lanois's goldtop Les Paul, based on a 2010 Epiphone gt and Dan's guitar has a P90 at the neck and a chrome firebird at the bridge (see photo) so I will have bought it for that project. I understand it was put together by the same luthier as Neil Young's v. similar gt, albeit with a coat of black paint. These "look-a-like" projects are a long term hobby for me so can take years to come to fruition! I will have bought the chrome firebird jobbie months ago on the spur of the moment. Turning back to the lead out wires, I agree that it looks like it must have a coil split in there, which I can just ignore when I come to put it all together! I'm kind-of wondering what the benefit of the split lead outs might be when the mini humbucker already has quite a treble-strong profile... but then, what do I know ??

Dear Gibson fans, I have an unusual pickup (see photo). I understand that the patent no. covers the design of the so-called mini humbucker, however most pictures show a leadout wire with 2 cores and with a wire mesh outer. Can anyone help me identify the exact variant I've ended up with?

Seems not. Just a slightly hotter version of the classic. Nice 🙂 Neck pup, it seems, is 'just' a 57 classic... btw I've finally nailed the exact model, after I read a tip that models sold via Amazon have the model number displayed in the product details, which turned out to be the case. So mine's an SG SP Z 17 SE NH 3 which I can readily see equates to SG Special zebra 2017 satin ebony, nickle hardware - but what the 3 on the end means I have no idea! Somebody suggested the number refers to stock grade - a 3 suggests a lower stock grading than 2 or 1, which maybe why these particular guitars ended up on Amazon at 'keen' prices - I think they sold for around £5 or 6 hundred here in the UK, which was half what the next 'best' SG cost, back in 2017. If they were down-graded stock, I can't see where mine could have lost any marks... Anyway, now I've figured out exactly what I've got, it's time to potter off and learn how to play it!

The bridge pick-up has two items of interest on the back - a 'patent applied for' decal and a white sticker, announcing it to be a 57 +, 860 15039 L with a date of 28 July '16. I've read somewhere that the plus model was equipped with multiple lead outs, but would love more info.

OK, so crown it is 🙂 It turns out there are one or two minor issues with the guitar, inspite of its bling good looks, but nothing I can't sort out myself. The humbuckers are '57 classics, which is nice and Gibson customer service confirm the serial number and model, which is the satin ebony special sold through Amazon in 2017. The guy I bought it off put all the gold bling on it, which is a nice look, but I think I'm going back to a stop bar - the very fine gold Bigsby sits kind-of where I like to rest my palm. The issues I've inherited from the seller (to whom I bare no ill will) are one: the bridge pup gold cover doesn't have the right hole spacing to match the pole pieces, so it's coming off. Two: the bridge is fitted with a couple of spindly studs which don't thread into the original inserts so there's no way to adjust the bridge height. At the moment, I've got round this by popping selected washers under the turn collars to get the correct height.

btw, what is the emblem featured on the headstock supposed to be? I've seen it described as 'thistle' or 'holly' but it'd be great if I could find out for sure. What is it and what is its history, please?

Cheers, Sarge 😉 I remember back when I first became aware of Gibson, my favourite out of all the catalogue was the Les Paul custom, in the gloss black finish, with its gold plated parts, ebony f' board with mop inlays and of course that diamond shape inlay on the headstock. So this SG kind-of reminds me of that LP vibe but for a lot less money and in many ways it seems to me a more practical guitar to own than a nine or ten pound LP. I'm well pleased. Just off to practice my scales 😉

Cool! Key info. from the guy I bought it off is as follows: he tells me it started life as a "Zebra." It has been modded by replacing the plain nickel (?) components with gold-plated alternatives. So the Kluson tuners, the truss rod cover, the pup covers, the bridge and the Bigsby are late additions. Obviously this makes it harder to id the model ! But I have full confidence in you guys... I had thought to have a look at the back of the pups to see what model they are - I'm told they're '57 Classics but without have a closer look behind covers, it'll be hard to tell for sure - although someone did tell me that the '57s have wire-braided leads, whereas other pups that might come with similar models have plastic covered leads.

Hi, I live in Bristol, UK - I don't play in a band and have never properly learned how to play guitar but I figure it's never too late! I just bought an SG and this will be the first ever real deal Gibson guitar, after looking at catalogues and shop windows since forever!! It's an SG with the serial number 17 000 5623, which I understand was from a run of models available exclusively via Amazon... Amazon & Gibson - now there's two brands I never thought I'd hear in the same sentance! Does anyone have any detailed info on this model as it seems to be a bit elusive. As it's my first Gibson, I'm super-keen to find out as much as I can.