I just purchased a late 60's SG Standard and am trying to pin down the actual year of the instrument. Per ther serial number (84

[csinc40zr]

(I guess I sscrewed up tthe initial post, Sorry) I just purchased a late 60's SG Standard and am trying to pin down the actual year of the instrument. Per ther serial number (844020) it is either '66 od '69. How can I tell or who can I ask to pin it down further?. Thanks.

[nolongermike@gibson]

Ironically, a Gibson fan site, http://www.everythingsg.com/identify_guitars.htm, might give you more answers on this than this forum and site (for now, anyway, we're working on it!). I used that site to pin down that my SG was a 68-70 vintage, but still am not 100% sure.

[lous1952]

Put up pictures front and back, with headstock, and I can tell you what year it is.

[dickey]

Gibson didn't make SG's in '66--I had on a long time ago and the serial# started with 810, and it was a '68, so my guess is yours is a '69 or '70--I can usually tell from the contour bevels what the year is as far as '60's--the contours got shallower and cheesier after '69.

[Wolff]

Have you tried this?

 

http://www.guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx

[csinc40zr]

Thanks. I will post some photos as soon as I get it back fron repair. (Having the original hardware re- installed.)

[lous1952]

Gibson didn't make SG's in '66--I had on a long time ago and the serial# started with 810' date=' and it was a '68, so my guess is yours is a '69 or '70--I can usually tell from the contour bevels what the year is as far as '60's--the contours got shallower and cheesier after '69.[/quote']

 

Gibson made SGs in 1966.

 

1966 was a transitional year from small to large pickguard versions.

[csinc40zr]

 

Gibson made SGs in 1966.

 

1966 was a transitional year from small to large pickguard versions.

[csinc40zr]

Thanks for the replies. I will post pictures tomorrow (10/21/08).

 

I received the instrument back from the repair shop (for original hardware re-installation) and apparently the tuners that were on it when the previous owner made his purchase were not original. The hardware "imprint" in the back of the headstock alludes to"strip" or "plate" mounted tuners such as Kluson. Is this a possibility and/ or a probability? Any suggestion as on how I could find out and be relatively certain as to the original style? Would the tuner knobs be metal or plastic? Also where could I find an original "trem arm". Your responses are greatly appreciated. (Obviously I am a novice at this.) Thanks.

[lous1952]

Put the pictures up, including the back of the headstock, and then I'll tell you which parts to get.

 

Excellent reproduction tuners are available that are better than the originals and look and fit correctly.

 

The arm is available too.

[csinc40zr]

 

 

Here are the photos. Apparently it's an SG "Special" (P-90 pickups) not "Standard". Thanks for any help you can give.

[lous1952]

You have what appears to be a 1969 SG Special

 

It has the 3 piece neck, which is stiffer than the 1 piece neck, no volute, no "Made in USA" stamp.

 

The Gibson logo also has no dot over the "i", and the "o" is open like a "u".

 

I have a 1969 SG Standard with similar features.

 

I also have a 1968 SG Special with the same Kluson tuners that yours would have had originally.

 

Here's a picture of my '68 Special- yours would have had the same Kluson tuners.

 

 

You are also missing the bushings that fit on the front of the peghead.

 

Even though you have chrome hardware, the tuners would have been nickle plated, as is the case on mine.

 

You can get reproduction Kluson tuners that look like the originals and say Kluson Deluxe on them, although in 1 row, unlike mine which has 2 rows, but yours might have had the 1 row anyway.

 

You can get a set of tuners, with bushings and screws, on ebay, for a very nice price from this guy:

 

Tuners

 

Disregard what the caption says- they are the right ones.

 

The only problem that you may have is if the holes have been enlarged for the tuners that are on it.

 

If they have been enlarged to 3/8", which was common, you need conversion bushings like these:

 

Conversion Bushings

 

Your peghead does not appear to have been drilled, but you can never tell until you measure it.

 

As for the Vibrola arm, they are the same for Specials, Standards and Juniors.

 

This guy sells a very good reproduction for a good price.

 

Vibrola Arm

 

You can watch ebay and try to find original tuners, but they were usually taken off for a reason, or are very worn.

 

I have reproduction Kluson tuners on my 1969 Standard and have had no trouble with them.

 

You might be able to find a vintage Vibrola arm, but you'll pay big money for it, and they usually don't look much different than the reproduction arm unless they're beat up, and your SG is too nice for a beat up arm.

 

Also, your fretboard needs oiling.

 

Fret Doctor is the best fretboard oil out there, available here:

 

Fret Doctor

 

When you're done, your SG Special will look like mine.

 

[csinc40zr]

Thanks. I am posting pictures of a 1969 SG which just sold on Ebay. That instrument has "strip" mounted tuners (not sure what kind). The back of the headstock on my guitar has "strip" tuner outline indentations. Is it a possiblity that it could have had that style originally? Also the trem arm mounting bar on mine (and the Ebay instrument) is shorter than yours. Do you have any information on the use of different lengths/styles vs. same year?

 

 

[lous1952]

I apologize for not giving you better information yesterday, I was on a cheesy computer, and I was not with it last night.

 

SG Specials and Juniors got whatever tuners were available.

 

Yours could have had plastic or metal button tuners.

 

I have to say, I can't remember seeing open gear tuners with metal buttons on a 1969 Special, and I have my doubts about their originality.

 

I don't think that Kluson is reproducing those tuners, if they are Klusons.

 

These are closed tuners that should fit and were much more common on Specials.

 

They should work, but check the dimensions.

 

Tuners

 

As for the bridge plate, it's possible that it came from an earlier version like was on a Melody Maker.

 

You can buy a new reproduction nickle unit, but it won't match your chrome hardware.

 

You can possibly buy a complete vintage unit, but you'll pay for it.

 

Vintage Vibrola

 

Or you can keep an eye out for just the plate itself on ebay, they do show up occasionally.

 

If you buy a complete unit you can sell the extra parts on ebay and get some of your money back.

[csinc40zr]

Thanks for the info. I am still convinced that the original tuners on my SG were the same style as the ones shown in the picture (i.e. tuner strips). This is a picture from a recent EBAY sale. Please note that the top and bottom of the tuner is more elaborate than thr Klusons I have been able to find.

 

The back of my SG has the same depression outline as would have been left from this one particulat style (attached photo with the 3+3 style is mine.) If you look closely you can see the outline. Any help help as to brand or contact for availability would be appreciated.

 

 

 

[csinc40zr]

[Oringo]

http://www.wdmusic.com/shop_by_category_tuning_machines_kluson_3_per_side.html

 

Check out this link for Kluson replacement tuners. I bought a set of 6 on a side for one of my Firebirds and it was a perfect match for the original marks.

[bosrocker51]

(I guess I sscrewed up tthe initial post' date=' Sorry) I just purchased a late 60's SG Standard and am trying to pin down the actual year of the instrument. Per ther serial number (844020) it is either '66 od '69. How can I tell or who can I ask to pin it down further?. Thanks.[/quote']

 

I may have missed some reply posts, but did you take off the back cavity cover and try to read the pots? My SG Standard has a "mystery year" SN, like many in the 1968-72 era. Only by reading the pot codes 13769XX - was I able to determine it's a 1969. I don't know what week in 1969, because that is covered by solder on all 4 pots!!

Best of luck.

[SGman94]

Gibson didn't make SG's in '66--I had on a long time ago and the serial# started with 810' date=' and it was a '68, so my guess is yours is a '69 or '70--I can usually tell from the contour bevels what the year is as far as '60's--the contours got shallower and cheesier after '69.[/quote']

What are you talking about?? The sg became the new les paul in '61 but the guitarist les paul didnt like the shape and asked to have his name taken off, they did and started making them under the name SG or "solid guitar" in '62.

 

funny how you didnt realize thst when gibson makes a '61 re-issue

[hbomb76]

What are you talking about?? The sg became the new les paul in '61 but the guitarist les paul didnt like the shape and asked to have his name taken off' date=' they did and started making them under the name SG or "solid guitar" in '62.[/quote']

Yeah, I didn't get the whole "Gibson didn't make SG's in '66" bit. Not sure where he got that bit of misinformation.

 

funny how you didnt realize thst when gibson makes a '61 re-issue

...OR when they fail on the sculpting, choose the wrong finish hue and forget to "reissue" the proper tailpiece as a permanent option on them...lol (yes, I know the Maestro TECHNICALLY wasn't the "standard" till late '62/early '63, but you don't wanna' deal with the sideways vibrato piece of junk, TRUST ME...the Maestro's just fine)

 

Had to go there...as usual.

 

H-Bomb

[Murph]

We're with ya, Bomber.......

 

Murph.

[SGman94]

Had to go there...as usual.

H-Bomb

 

Hbomb id be sad if u didnt...very good point, but at the same time c'mon it rite in the name '61 reissue...despite it being a VERY INACCURATE one

[Mkflys]

I have a 1969 SG but the headstock has a dot over the "i" in Gibson. Any idea if this lowers the value of the Guitar?

Edited June 15, 2020 by Mkflys

[brad1]

Not sure why you tag on to the end of a thread that is 12 years old to ask a question that is unrelated? START YOUR OWN!

[Sgt. Pepper]

2 hours ago, Mkflys said:

I have a 1969 SG but the headstock has a dot over the "i" in Gibson. Any idea if this lowers the value of the Guitar?

-4 dollars.