Lungimsam Posted October 23, 2011 Posted October 23, 2011 Maybe only from sunlight? Mine is 10 years old and no change yet. Mostly case kept and played indoors. What does yours look like under the pickguard? With pguard off. Sorry for the orangey color. Next to impossible to get an accurate photo of heritage cherry for me.
Lungimsam Posted October 23, 2011 Author Posted October 23, 2011 I always wondered what my SG would look like without a pguard. Yuk! I'm keeping it on. There, that's better. Johnny thinks so, too.
SG Jones Posted October 23, 2011 Posted October 23, 2011 50s and 60s Gibson cherry finishes tend to fade over the years particularly if exposed to sunlight. They usually stay nice and red under the guard. I once had a cherry 1960 Junior that had a dark red outline of a price tag hanging from the bridge from sitting in a store window. The newer pigments seem quite stable, but only time will really tell. I agree with your observation about an SG with no guard. It sure doesn't hold its looks like a Les Paul.
charlie brown Posted October 23, 2011 Posted October 23, 2011 Part of the "problem" (IMHO), with a lot of the VOS finishes, today... is that they look like a 40+ year old faded guitar to begin with. That may be Gibson's intent...I'm not sure. But, even the VOS finishes vary. The original Heritage Cherry finishes, in the '60's were quite a bit darker, to begin with. More like the '61 (Gloss) Gibson USA reissue. They did fade, at times, depending on use (outdoors in bright sunlight) especially, but if used indoors, primarily, in smokey bars and clubs, they can actually get darker, from the smoke, and other pollutants. I've seen vintage '61-64 versions, that were Heritage Cherry, new... but looked almost dark mahagony, after years of playing. And, I've seen other's that look lighter, like many of the VOS finishes. So..??? CB
Lungimsam Posted October 23, 2011 Author Posted October 23, 2011 They are very unpredictable finishes I guess. So maybe it doesn't "age" as much as it is reacting to its environs.
SG Jones Posted October 23, 2011 Posted October 23, 2011 This photo illustrates some of the things that CB was saying. In the back row, left is my '61 RI. In a similar colour in the back row, right are a '68 Junior and Standard. Front row centre is a '63 special in glowing mint cherry condition. To the right is a slightly faded '62 Standard and to the left a more faded '61 Junior. The Junior is quite red under the guard and inside. The '58 Junior below is almost brown and also quite red under the guard and inside.
charlie brown Posted October 23, 2011 Posted October 23, 2011 This photo illustrates some of the things that CB was saying. In the back row, left is my '61 RI. In a similar colour in the back row, right are a '68 Junior and Standard. Front row centre is a '63 special in glowing mint cherry condition. To the right is a slightly faded '62 Standard and to the left a nore faded '61 Junior. The Junior is quite red under the guard and inside. The '58 Junior below is almost brown and also quite red under the guard and inside. Awesome collection SG Jones! And, perfect illustrations, to what I was talking about. (Hope you have those insured!) CB
Lungimsam Posted October 24, 2011 Author Posted October 24, 2011 SGJones: The one I have pictured is a 2001 '62 reissue and the color is lighter than all of the originals in your pictures. I love the dark color of your '68's. Wish mine was dark like that. You have a beautiful collection. Maybe Gibson sometimes makes them lighter like CB was saying. Maybe it depends on the stain mixture that day and who is spraying. CB: What is "VOS"? Is that like "New Old Stock" that Fender has? Ahhh, the enigmatic Heritage Cherry!! Ha ha.
SG Jones Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 SGJones: The one I have pictured is a 2001 '62 reissue and the color is lighter than all of the originals in your pictures. I love the dark color of your '68's. Wish mine was dark like that. You have a beautiful collection. Maybe Gibson sometimes makes them lighter like CB was saying. Maybe it depends on the stain mixture that day and who is spraying. CB: What is "VOS"? Is that like "New Old Stock" that Fender has? Ahhh, the enigmatic Heritage Cherry!! Ha ha. Don't forget that the colour of the wood underneath is also a factor. Check out this standard that I used to own. This is a complimentary shot of it. The poorly matched lumber bothered me so much that I eventually got rid of it even though it was a very nice standard. "VOS" finishes are not buffed to a high gloss and are covered with a secret gummy substance. I deVOSsed my R7 with guitar polish and elbow grease. It kept gumming up on the back of the neck and the arm rest. It looks great now. Shiny, but not over the top glossy. Just like a real old guitar.
charlie brown Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 SGJones: The one I have pictured is a 2001 '62 reissue and the color is lighter than all of the originals in your pictures. I love the dark color of your '68's. Wish mine was dark like that. You have a beautiful collection. Maybe Gibson sometimes makes them lighter like CB was saying. Maybe it depends on the stain mixture that day and who is spraying. CB: What is "VOS"? Is that like "New Old Stock" that Fender has? Ahhh, the enigmatic Heritage Cherry!! Ha ha. VOS means "Vintage Original Spec's." How truly accurate, these finishes are, is a matter of opinion, and "taste." (Smile) CB
Malchik Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 The problem today is red pigmentation is more UV resistant, and we're getting consistent mixtures by automated machines. Back in the day, no mixture was identical because it was done by hand -possibly by an employee with a hangover. A VOS will never be as accurate as an original because all originals have faded and changed dramatically. Yes, even the color under your pick-guard has deteriorated from both oxidization, and, nitrocellulose is, in on it's self, corrosive, meaning it has, too, eaten away at the red pigment. Gibson can only go by example from well preserved guitars available and vintage swatches. It's unfair to compare because every vintage guitar people judge today's finishes on is drastically unique in it's self
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