2017 "1962 LE" J160E truss rod cover - factory mistake?

[fazeka 2]

Hi,

I have always wondered why the truss rod cover on the 2017 run of the 1962 J160E has only one top screw securing the truss rod cover. Anyone know? Was Lennon's/Harrison's like this? I never noticed this on any (vintage) Gibson, ever.

Was it an error of the particular run?

If I were to put on a two-screw truss rod cover, would it have wood there for the lower screw to bite into?

Edited May 26, 2020 by fazeka
added some more...

[Sgt. Pepper 904]

No it is not an error.

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-story-of-john-lennons-lost-gibson-j-160e-acoustic-guitar-638221

Edited May 26, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper

[QuestionMark 131]

Me thinks that if 2017 was the year of Gibson’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, one of their creditors probably repossessed the second screw.  😊

But, seriously, I looked in Andy Babiuk’s Beatles Gear book and it shows a photo of a 1962 J160 and it only has one screw at the top of the truss rod plate.

QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Edited May 26, 2020 by QuestionMark

[Sgt. Pepper 904]

Look at the pic in the link I posted. No second screw in the pic of the guitar.

[QuestionMark 131]

2 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

Look at the pic in the link I posted. No second screw in the pic of the guitar.

I couldn’t enlarge the photo in the link, but saw that in Babiuk’s book a 1962 J160 has only one screw.  I was correcting my post as a result when you just wrote.  
 

QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

[Sgt. Pepper 904]

5 minutes ago, QuestionMark said:

I couldn’t enlarge the photo in the link, but saw that in Babiuk’s book a 1962 J160 has only one screw.  I was correcting my post as a result when you just wrote.  
 

QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

I just looked at my Beatles Gear book too, and yep one screw.

Edited May 26, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper

[fazeka 2]

Thanks!

[slimt 111]

It also looks like its missing the bottom of the bell.  Its just flat with the nut.  Is it suppose to be like that?

[Sgt. Pepper 904]

11 minutes ago, slimt said:

It also looks like its missing the bottom of the bell.  Its just flat with the nut.  Is it suppose to be like that?

If you look on line at a pic of JL's, yes it's like that.

Edited May 26, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper

[fazeka 2]

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!

[QuestionMark 131]

It is an interesting anomaly!  Makes it that much more interesting.

 

QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

 

 

 

 

[fazeka 2]

Ya! Just like Lennon's first 325 (second one made out of a total batch of less than, what, 30?) without the f hole...

[E-minor7 221]

Heiiiiiiiiiii,,, , , never noticed that before, , , not even when when the guitar emerged and caused sensation a few years ago. 

Made me check Harrison's - seems it's the same thing. . 

 

[E-minor7 221]

8 hours ago, fazeka said:

Cheers!

 

Cheers. .