Adrian David Payne Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 I recently played my Uncle's Gibson. Trying to determine the year, I came across some contradicting information. By all accounts it looks like a '61, however the serial number is 102537, which by the Serial Number search says it may have been manufactured in '63 or '67. It clearly has a Les Paul nut cover plate. I've read somewhere that Gibson was forced to take the Les Paul plates off in '62 that's why I'm confused. It has the Side pull Vibrola just like the 61's. Can anyone clear this up? Thanks in Advance.
Aymara Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 The following article answers your question, see point 2. http://www.dawsons.c...esting-sg-facts I don't know if or what's true though. In my opinion the Gibson statement is hard to believe. BTW ... welcome! PS: Nice SG and in pretty good shape for it's age ... lucky uncle ;-)
BigKahune Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 . Welcome. It was quite a mess. Gibson stopped the traditional Les Paul production and switched to the SG style Les Paul in 1961. Les didn't like the SG and was in a nasty divorce with Mary Ford. Gibson already had made a lot of neck plates, and yes, they used them until they ran out. Les Paul's name wasn't officially dropped until 1963. Gibson brought back the original LP style in 1968. With the serial# and from what I can see, it's maybe a 1961, and probably a 1963. Either way, it could be quite valuable. Very cool. .
Adrian David Payne Posted May 5, 2014 Author Posted May 5, 2014 Thanks Guys. I have to assume, based on all things considered, that it is a '63. 1. A six digit serial number. 2. A Les Paul Plate probably left over stock. 3. The presence of a side pull Vibrola 4. The number of screws holding on the scratch guard. 5. The Yellow crushed velvet case. It has had the neck repaired as have most vintage SGs I hear. It's not detectible though. It Plays like a Dream and is all original except for the neck repair. Some aged paint with a few crackling lines on back, and small chip by the input jack. I offered him $5000 for it. Am I in the Ballpark? Adrian
BigKahune Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 . Some 1963 SGs at Elderly - $8000 (heel repair), $9500 (neck reset) and $12000 - http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=gibson+sg&x=0&y=0 $5000 is a pretty good offer considering the repaired neck. .
Aymara Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Wow, that Elderly offers are beyond my expectations. So 5000,- seem to be a good deal ... for the buyer ;-)
BigKahune Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 . Hard to say if they'll get their asking prices, so just a reference. .
L5Larry Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 . Some 1963 SGs at Elderly - $8000 (heel repair), $9500 (neck reset) and $12000 - http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=gibson+sg&x=0&y=0 $5000 is a pretty good offer considering the repaired neck. . Remember, these listings at Elderly are ASKING PRICES. 2 of the three I saw at the site were listed as "consignment", which means they have ZERO investment. I also didn't see any date or how long they've been offered for sale at those prices. Anyway, if you've made an offer it's too late for a vintage guitar market lesson.... In my opinion you've made him a VERY generous offer.
duane v Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 For a second there I thought it was the guitar player from Halestorm.... lol Cant go wrong either way
Aymara Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 You'll find similar SGs on Ebay ... so the Elderly prices seem to be Moon Prices, as we call that in Germany ... noone will pay that, as it seems. But I think, one thing is important here ... it's a kind of family treasure and it should stay in the family. Don't you think so?
Adrian David Payne Posted May 6, 2014 Author Posted May 6, 2014 You'll find similar SGs on Ebay ... so the Elderly prices seem to be Moon Prices, as we call that in Germany ... noone will pay that, as it seems. But I think, one thing is important here ... it's a kind of family treasure and it should stay in the family. Don't you think so? Absolutely. It should stay in the family. My uncle is 84 years old and has had this thing since before I was born. Get this, my 70 year old uncle has one Just like it with no repairs. Wish they had a 59 Les Paul ) Thanks Everybody... It sure is fun to play and even smell these old guitars.
pippy Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 Hi and welcome to the forum. Nice guitar! ...With the serial# and from what I can see, it's maybe a 1961, and probably a 1963. Either way, it could be quite valuable... One of my sourcebooks has the years '62 - '63 for that number but, as has been said, numbering was a bit of a mess back then. I'm no expert on SGs by any means but I'm pretty certain the Type II ('Bat-wing' pickguard) SG was introduced in mid-late 1966 so it's not from '67. A different approach which could possibly help with dating the instrument would be to have a look at the base-plate of the p'ups. The early LP SG had PAF's, of course, but starting from mid-'62 (approx) Pat. No. p'ups replaced the PAFs. These were identical to the last of the PAFs except for the waterslide which had the text changed from 'Patent Applied For' to 'Patent No 2,737,842' (famously, and deliberately erroneously, the patent number for the original LP's trapeze tailpiece). Whether it's from '61 - mid '62 or from mid '62 - on will affect the value. PAFs are more highly prized - and therefore priced - than Pat. No. p'ups which, of course, affects the value of the whole thing. P.
Aymara Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 Get this, my 70 year old uncle has one Just like it with no repairs. Oh, oh ... now you owe us a further photo of that other SG-baby
Adrian David Payne Posted May 7, 2014 Author Posted May 7, 2014 That is Great Information. I tell you, I can't wait to get my hands back on it. Seriously, the best playing guitar I've picked up in a while, and I have a Bunch! Love the neck width. Only my 1985 Kramer Baretta gives me that same feel. Believe me, I'll take more shots and get a look behind those pickups. Thanks Again.
pippy Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 ...I'll take more shots and get a look behind those pickups... I forgot to mention the pot codes! Sorry. You might want to look at the (probably) 7-digit number stamped into the base of the pots. If they are original they may have a number such as X X X Y Y Z Z. The three X's are the code for the manufacturer; the Y's are the last two digits of the year and the Z's are the number of the week in which they were made. 1376325, for example, would be 25th week of 1963 and they would have been made by CTS (Chicago Telephone Supply). This site might help; http://www.guitardaterproject.org/potcodereader.aspx Bear in mind this is when the pots were made; the guitar would have been made sometime in the months which followed depending on delivery / stock holdings etc. P.
Adrian David Payne Posted May 7, 2014 Author Posted May 7, 2014 I forgot to mention the pot codes! Sorry. You might want to look at the (probably) 7-digit number stamped into the base of the pots. If they are original they may have a number such as X X X Y Y Z Z. The three X's are the code for the manufacturer; the Y's are the last two digits of the year and the Z's are the number of the week in which they were made. 1376325, for example, would be 25th week of 1963 and they would have been made by CTS (Chicago Telephone Supply). This site might help; http://www.guitardaterproject.org/potcodereader.aspx Bear in mind this is when the pots were made; the guitar would have been made sometime in the months which followed depending on delivery / stock holdings etc. P. This is getting interesting, and quite fun )
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