Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Craig's List Find???


Joe M

Recommended Posts

The pickguard is perfectly positioned.

 

 

...but it's not the right pickguard. This looks like a post-1961 pickguard, as does the sunburst, which may be more like a mid-60s sunburst. The bridge is also a replacement.

 

The logo is inlaid mop and there is an inlaid MOP crown on the headstock.

 

I doubt it's a '50s model, unless the FON shows it to be so. It may be that it went back to the factory, and received a new headstock overlay, new finish, new bridge, new pickguard and new strings. Which is fine, of course, but it seems equally likely that it is simply a later model year, and misidentified in the ad.

 

With so many incorrect features (except the strings), the main thing that could verify the year would be a correct "Z" series FON, and light scalloped bracing, etc.

 

Fred

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...but it's not the right pickguard. This looks like a post-1961 pickguard, as does the sunburst, which may be more like a mid-60s sunburst.

 

The pickguard placement thing was a joke. The pickguard style and 20 frets, of course, were not adopted until 1955. The cherry burst shows up in the early 1960s. The round shoulders though show the guitar to date earlier than the mid-1960s. Everything taken together indicates a build date of 1960 - 1961. If 1961 the bridge is, as you say, a replacement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What about that red "thingy" that you can see in a couple of the pics that's between the strap button and the neck? Sure can't figure out what that is....

 

 

Larry's name tag. Put on with the label maker the same Christmas he got his guitar. In 1961.

 

 

edit:

(Zoom in; it says "Larry")

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't have a clue but I agree it looks like one of the things you produce with a label maker.

 

I am still wondering when Gibson made that run of cypress top guitars. Guess though, that would make it a true Southerner Jumbo.

 

 

Personally, I think the seller's memory is bad, assuming he is the original owner. Only the FON will tell the story. 1952 was 61 years ago, which makes the owner mostly likely in his 80's if he bought it new and it is a 1953 (which I don't believe it is).

 

To me, the guitar looks all original, but is most likely from 1955-1961. Cypress top? I doubt it. For whatever reason, I suspect the owner is confused on when he got it, and confused on details such as the top wood.

 

The guitar should have an FON, and if much later than 1955-56, should probably have a paper label as well.

 

That could easily be a faded normal burst rather than a cherryburst. More often than not, cherryburst guitars also had cherry stain on the back and sides.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What about that red "thingy" that you can see in a couple of the pics that's between the strap button and the neck? Sure can't figure out what that is....

 

Dymo label from the infamous Dymo label maker. We got one in the '60's when I was a kid. My brother and I labelled everything in the house with it. Then we had to sell the house to pay for the labels.

 

3096916LESS1154-resized200.jpg

 

FMA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...