fazeka
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Posts posted by fazeka
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7day, ZW: I can dig what you guys are saying about the '55 - '68 Gibson flattops. I remember about 20 years ago playing an old '63 J-45 from a family friend and enjoying that "dryness". I didn't call it then but that's a good descriptor.
I think one with that kind of bracing and construction would be a nice companion to this newer J-50. I think it could have market potential, albeit in a limited manner.
Wonder if Bozeman's eventual custom shop (to open next year, IIRC) would be open to building that era Gibson...? With the added benefit of having a modern neck carve, not a pencil for a neck. 🙃
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Thanks Boyd. Appreciate your answers. Enjoy your J-50!
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4 hours ago, zombywoof said:
As to period build accuracy though the neck depth and carve on the new fanged versions is close to an original albeit these guitars have the standard 1.725" Bozeman nut rather than the 1 11/16".
Not true. Gibson's website from last year (remember, these don't show up on the current website) show 1.69", essentially 1-11/16 (1.6875) inches.
My actual guitar measures just a c-hair less at 1-43/64 (1.671875) inches. No matter; still plays marvelously. 😁
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Hi all,
I bought a new "60s J-50 Original" last week. Lovely guitar! Have some questions for the forum here:
1. I don't see this listed on Gibson's website anymore, did they stop making them? (Mine is a February 2022 build and I've seen at least one with a serial number indicating an early summer build, FWIW.)
2. wrt to the headstock face, it appears it's just black lacquer over the mahogany? I can faintly see some grain when viewed on an angle/in the light just right. If so, is this how they did them back then? I want to think so because my understanding is that J-45s/J-50s were never traditionally marketed as fancy (i.e., no inlays, so no need for an overlay to inlay into...). Just shoot some black lacquer and slap the decal on...
3. How generally accurate are these to early-to-mid '60s builds? I know they're not going to be based on a particular year like the other J-45 builds (e.g., 1942). I'm talking more structural like bracing and neck joint. Do you think Bozeman is using a more "general" approach to building everything other than custom shop guitars? Put another way, is there anything different in the way they build the "60s J-50 Original" from the "50s J-50 Original"? Moreover, is there anything different in the way they build either of the aforementioned compared to, say, the "J-45 50s Faded" (Original Collection), or even the "J-45 Standard" (Modern Collection)? Even further, what are they doing differently now, structurally, than they did in the Henry J. era?
4. My warranty card shows "Gibson Custom". Are the Original Collection instruments made in the Bozeman Custom Shop?
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Yup, you can tell right away in that photo which one the TKL is and the ones that are Chinese...
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See, that's funny. I suspected it was going to be a Chinese case (don't get me wrong, hate that too, but a little more easily correctable). I would have been fine if everything else was "vintage spec" (see my post above) and the case was the only "problem".
I see the Grover bushing "washers"... yup, as I suspected. Bummer!☹️
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That serial is from the pic off the Sweetwater site. It looks like "20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx".
The current Gibson serial format as I understand it is: DdddYxxxx.
The "D" is the decade ("2"), the "Y" is the year within the decade ("1"). So, "21" as in 2021.
The "ddd" is the day of the year. "064" or "069" is March 5 or March 10, respectively.
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Um, that's not a "possibly", that's a "yes". My image is just stored on Imgur; the source image is from the Epi site.
FWIW, Lucky was asking about the serial of the new 2021 production Casino, which I shared the link to above.
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Lucky, as I stated in my original post:
"I think it's something on order of "20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx" indicating a March 5, 2021 or March 10, 2021 build (i.e., current production)."
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Sorry to disagree with you...
Not sure if you're aware of it, but those pics you are posting of the Epiphone website are of what I am calling the "prototype", serial 135090174. 12/16/19 build.
2019 U.S. Casino "prototype" serial
I call it the "prototype" based on the new Sweetwater listing for the Casino serial 20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx. Like I mentioned earlier, clearly this is a more recent 2021 build, March 5 or March 10 of 2021, to be exact.
If this were the same time as last year, I would have more hope that what's being shown on the Gibson site would be what the production model will be. It wouldn't be the first time Gibson advertises something that differs from the production model. In fact, it's not uncommon for other manufacturers to do this, as well.
I am probably in the minority but I was already hemming/hawing on paying based on a $2699 retail with the features I would like, basically based on a vintage Casino (which wouldn't be difficult for them to do, check out the U.S. Texan, they got the tuners right on that one despite it not being marketed as a reissue).
Like I said, I hope I'm wrong. And hope you are right. My ego's not that big... 🙂
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6 minutes ago, mihcmac said:
These look like the standard Gibson/Kluson tuners with pressed in bushing and not the larger threaded bushing
Yes, they do. However, I believe this photo (like the other photos on the Epiphone site this photo is from) is of the prototype, serial 135090174, and I suspect will NOT represent what we'll find on the production ones. Hope I'm wrong...
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Hi all,
Well, I had my heart set on a nice US-made Casino until I did some research on it.
I mean, I was already getting used to the '57-'63 Epi headstock and the Mickey Mouse pre-'63 horns but yeah I was making some compromises (yes, it's not claimed to be a vintage reissue and most of us want the larger headstock and post-'63 pointier horns, etc.). You'd think they would get it "right" but I guess I'm dreaming...
A couple of things are bumming me out with this new Casino (enlarge the pics to see the detail I am talking about):
1. The strap buttons on the assumed-2021 production Casino looks like what's on some of the recent Gibsons, those fugly oversized strap buttons. I get it, more secure. Just looks wrong on this Casino. Compare...
Assumed 2021 production strap button (check bottom near tailpiece)
Also notice the hex adjustable tun-o-matic posts...like WTF?!?
2. The tuners on the assumed-2021 production Casinos are not like the original Kluson-style with the proper-sized bushings but instead those Grover-type tuner bushings (larger tuner holes). Gibson headstocks just look wrong with these Grover-type bushings, IMO.
2019 prototype Kluson-style tuners
Assumed 2021 production Grover-type tuner bushings
The pics of the 2019 prototype look GREAT and appear to have all the right parts.
The Royal Tan prototype serial is 135090174 indicating a December 16, 2019 build. This appears legit as these guitars likely were the ones that showed up at NAMM January 2020, just prior to COVID. So it makes sense that they were built in December 2019.
The serial on the 2021 Casino on the Sweetwater site is hard to decipher so I attempted some "photo enhancements" to try to bring it out a little more:
I think it's something on order of "20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx" indicating a March 5, 2021 or March 10, 2021 build (i.e., current production).
So sure, I can buy the proper strap buttons and ABR posts. I believe they sell conversion bushings (although, the washer from the Grover-type bushings creates circular scratches in the headstock), but we're already paying ~$2.5k for this @#$% thing!
I hope I am wrong that these Casinos will have these features but I fear I am not...
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Huh. I guess you're right. Had to put on the ol' specs so I could see up close...
Wonder why they are doing that? I mean, they're "binding" it with wood, but... the originals never had ANY neck binding. Plus, it's more work than just simply installing frets, which I suppose means more expense?
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Another thing I noticed: no visible fret ends. They are apparently undercutting the fret tang upon install. Although not like the originals, I kinda like it!
Check out the upper left corner on this vintage original (Crestwood, but you get the idea):
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On 7/31/2019 at 11:40 PM, M.E. Baird said:
Hi Mihcmac,
Wow!! thank you. I thought it looked older than an 80s casino. Will have to get a flight case now for touring. Cheers M.E.
Sorry, that is NOT a 1960 Gibson-made Epiphone.
Gibson-made Epiphones were NOT using labels like that in 1960. The label would have been blue, as the labels on much of the Gibson-made Epiphones in the 1960s were.
Here's a 1961 Casino:
https://reverb.com/item/36496975-epiphone-casino-single-pickup-e-230t-sunburst-1961
Hard to see, but this is the label it should have if it were truly a 1960:
https://i.imgur.com/8wCP9xT.png
Enjoy it nonetheless.
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Actually, I just got the Wilshire today: no scarf! 😁 (at least, I can't see a scarf)
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Huh, that picture of your new Epiphone looks a lot like the photo I have in that other thread:
Which came from this website:
https://www.themusiczoo.com/products/epiphone-wilshire-p-90-cherry?variant=32733810819151
You bought the Music Zoo Wilshire?
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Yup. Re: the scarf joint, you are probably right.
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OK, I found it again: I think this will work for the bridge?
I presume that the Epi posts are an M8x1.25 thread?
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Hi all,
I asked in another thread but saw this thread here where it may be appropo to ask: does anyone know if these new Epis have scarf joints? I tried to look at some photos and it's a little difficult to see and maybe I'm fantasizing but... I can't see any?!?
https://i.imgur.com/uv05VvU.png
https://i.imgur.com/OkGXmjs.png
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Hi all,
Looking to acquire the new Epiphone Wilshire.
I basically am interested in modding it to use Gibson parts wherever possible and short of major surgery. I am hoping for "plug and play" and am mainly concerned about sizing of the various parts and what is available from third-party vendors.
Just wanted to preface by saying I've never had a post-1970 Epiphone before and I've been trying to do research on these Asian Epiphones but different recent eras have different details about them and it gets difficult to keep everything straight. So I appreciate your time and knowledge.
I want to have an ABR like an original Wilshire would have had and yes I know that the ABR post would go straight into the wood. I thought I saw a conversion post that will screw into the metric bushing and provide the skinny ABR post? I can't seem to find the vendor that provided this, anyone know?
Also want to confirm the holes are distanced the same as a Gibson ABR bridge?
Furthermore, I would suspect the tailpiece is going to have a similar issue where Gibson studs will not retrofit but that someone makes a conversion stud OR a bushing to fit, where I can then fit the Gibson stop and studs. I can't seem to find anyone that has such for sale? Also want to confirm the distance between the studs/bushings would be different than that of the Gibson?
https://i.imgur.com/MgGMTS2.png
Again, I'd rather not drill/dowel the guitar to get Gibson parts to fit. Hoping there's a third-party making stuff to retrofit these Gibson components.
Finally, I have been looking online at the pics of the new Wilshire and was wondering if there was any scarf joints on these? I heard a rumor that the Chinese factory would do away with them if they can get the tooling to do the neck all "in one pass" but not sure if its true. The pictures I have seen make it a little difficult to see (and I know that some models indeed had a different type of scarf than the more obvious ones of the past) but I can't really see it?!? Maybe it's just wishful thinking? What say you?
https://i.imgur.com/uv05VvU.png
https://i.imgur.com/OkGXmjs.png
Cheers!
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Ya! Just like Lennon's first 325 (second one made out of a total batch of less than, what, 30?) without the f hole...
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OK, I did some research and the evidence is pretty clear.
Gibson shipping records for June 1962 J160E's:
George and John received 73157 and 73161.
As typical with Gibson and other manufacturers, Gibson made guitars in batches. They had a whole batch of J160E's made, at least 10 that shipped 6/27/62 with one shipping 7/20/62.
So, I was interested to see if others in that batch that had the one-screw truss rod cover.
Sure enough, I found at least one from that batch with photos that are clear enough to show the one-screw truss rod cover, serial 73153:
headstock front:
headstock back:
serial detail:
Still is a little screwy (sorry) to me that they would use only one screw on the TRC. Live and learn!
Cheers!
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[2014 Epiphone Casino NA] Headstock (re)finish question
in Epiphone Electrics
Posted
Hi there,
Have a potential project upcoming, contemplating a plan of attack.
I'd like to refinish the guitar in clear lacquer. The only portion of the guitar I'd like to keep original would be the headstock face.
I would rather not want to apply lacquer over polyester and I'm unsure if I can safely (carefully) sand the headstock face. I guess I could mask the headstock face but it's detailed work and even then, I'd have a tape line on the edge which I'd rather avoid.
So I'd prefer not to mask but I'm uncertain how the headstock face is constructed/finished from the factory; is it polyester clear over some kind of black plastic? OR black polyester over wood?
Any insight/guidance on others having done this before would be most appreciated.
Cheers!