dandan12 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Hi, I've just recently inherited a Gibson SG, which looks to be quite old, im guessing 60/70/80s, however i dont know, and there is also a chance that the gibson could be a fake, as i cant find a serial number anywhere on the body, however the person who i inherited it from would never have bought a fake as they knew alot about guitars, is there any advice that can be given about how i would find out firstly if it is a fake, and secondly if it is not how old it is, Thanks alot in advance Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIANTRobOT42O Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 You should post some pics. Then we can figure this out Gibson forum style Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG FAN Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 You should post some pics. Then we can figure this out Gibson forum style x2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete c Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 x3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiltone Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 x3 x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Welcome - In case you're not getting it, post some pics - Overhead shots - of the whole guitar, front and back, close ups of the headstock front and back. And an overhead shot of just the body. Pic posting help - http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/11005-sticky-how-to-post-photos/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StijnV Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Instruments made before 1977 may have no serial number at all. # 5 Yeah, please post some pics ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin4195 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 #6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BentonC Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 #7 let's see it- we like looking at SGs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan12 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Sorry for the late reply, and for the terrible quality pictures, but here they are The guitar is in pretty bad condition, and its not been altered in any way since ive owned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeweyCox Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 ok… personally I think that looks fake for a number of reasons, but let the pro's judge that… still… I'm pretty shure it's fake… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete c Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 the bridge posts look wrong. shouldn't have a screw head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Dots and P-90s = SG Special. Looks like someone painted a crown "inlay" on the headstock - Specials didn't have the inlay. And the shape of the headstock is a little "off." The shape may just be manufacturing variations but it makes it look a bit suspicious. Take the cover off of the control cavity and get some clear pictures of the pots - also the back of the headstock so we can see the tuners - that will help with age and maybe whether or not it's real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SG FAN Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Guys, if you aren't sure, don't go screaming fake. I'm 95% sure it's real. It's a 68/69 SG Special. Looks like it's been hacked on a bit though.It looks as if someone removed the headstock veneer and painted the wood black and stenciled a Gibson logo back on. That being said, with a little TLC it could be a sweet guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan12 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Thanks for all of the helpful comments guys! Here's a picture of inside the back of the pots: And the back of the headstock, although the machine heads and tuning pegs could have been changed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Slightly big headstock - early Norlin (?) Got a wrap bridge thats on backwards. And the Maestro trem looks like it was replaced/rechromed and a different arm was added. Small reflector knobs. Turners are right, and the top TRC screw above the 2 E tuning posts. The crown - that's a bit of a flag, but it's probably a hack job to look cool. Everything else looks legit (I think). You sure you can't see a serial# on the back of the headstock near the top? . . . Was it refinished? 1968/69 Special - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I looks really close to my 68 Special. I have owned it since 1969 and it is all original. The only thing I don't have is the screw holding the Whammy bar. I lost it years ago. I found a Phillips head 10/32 tht works. The bar on the OPs guitar is not correct. The headstock on his has been painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan12 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 i cant see a serial number anywhere on the headstock, there is a chance it could have been, but not to my knowledge since i inherited it from a grandfather who i hardly knew, so i dont know much about this guitar. Cheers Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 What you hve to realize is that this guitar is probably 43 years old. A lot can happen to a guitar in that much time. I was tempted over the years to mod mine but I was talked out of it by a savvy tech. The Whammy bar looks like a fender one. It has a threaded end that would fit into the threaded hole on the Vibrolo. The original one had a plastic washer and a screw and the screw fit through the handle and threaded into the Vibrolo. The vibrolo looks original, and the compensated bridge is correct. The P90s with the dot neck. I don't know what tuners they are, but the ones on mine are the correct ones for the 68 special. I would clean it up and see if you can find the orginal whammy bar. If not you can find replacements. I would not say it is in bad conditon. A lot of guys like that. I would definitely try to remove the gold crown on the headstock. I would get a pro to look at it. I found one of the old Protector cases, that look like a chainsaw case. This one was NOS still in the plastic. It works well with the SG. If you want any other pictures or help with anything else I can take a look. Also the neck will be one of those "baseball Bat" necks. I have never had to adjust the neck on my in 43 years. With a little TLC you have a pretty collectible guitar. I think you will be surprised by any appraisal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandan12 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 again thanks for all the help, and the three main things that lead me to think it was a fake was the lack of a serial number, the look of the 'gibson' on the headstock, as i thought they were generally much shinier, and how there is no screw holes for where the truss rod cover goes. if it was real what degree of work would it be possible to do without affecting value, as i want it to be nice to play, and still retain the value as much as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 again thanks for all the help, and the two main things that lead me to think it was a fake was the lack of a serial number, and the look of the 'gibson' on the headstock, as i thought they were generally much shinier, if it was real what degree of work would it be possible to do without affecting value, as i want it to be nice to play, and still retain the value as much as possible One more picture of the control cavity. Mine looks a little different. I know it is untouched and original. As far as what you can do for it I would do the cosmetic things such as replace the cover on the truss rod. I can't see any screw holes but it should be two only top and bottom. I took the bar off mine and dont' use one anyway. Get a good set up done and clean it up. Mine has the lowest action of nay of my Gibsons. Give it a good cleaning and play it. If you are familiar with P90s they can be a little noisey, thus the reason for the Humbucker pickup. I would take it to a reputable store and have it checked out But remember there are few experts on a 43 year old guitar, as you can see from some of the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Double post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I don't know how it double posted. It froze and then cam back with two posts. I don't know how to cancel one. Oh and another thing. In the picture of my headstock you might note the missing Dot on the I. This is fairly rare and I have heard of several other 68s with this situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Thanks for all of the helpful comments guys! Here's a picture of inside the back of the pots: And the back of the headstock, although the machine heads and tuning pegs could have been changed? The pots I can see the numbers on date to July of 1969 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungimsam Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Very cool to watch as the mist clears on this SG. You guys are awesome! Great thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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