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Any Joe Walsh '60 model experts willing to help me?

boburst

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2002
Messages
125
I'm looking at getting one of the first few dozen (between 30 and 40, but since it's not mine yet I'm hesitant to disclose number). Also, PLEASE pardon my ignorance --QUESTION(s); #1 - If it's Murphy aged wouldn't there be documentation of some kind? The little COA book just says "aged" and mentions highly skilled artisans. #2 - It has other pickups in it now, but the "assumed" included originals are missing the usual Pat App For stickers, and someone has penciled the impedance reading on bottom (7.8 and 7.9). I'm a bit out of touch lately, but I don't think Gibson did that, right? THANKS in advance for any clarity. *** EDIT - I believe I've discovered that 50 were signed by Walsh, and 75 total were aged by Tom Murphy.
 
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jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
I am no expert, but do remember them... hope this helps get you moving.

Recall, only the first 50 were signed by Joe and aged by Murphy, the balance 200 VOS were not. So, the 'Murphys' are the 50, period. This was pretty well advertised/published and would be available from different press release sources.

COA won't explicitly state 'by Tom Murphy' as the 50 were advertised/published as such... now, what's the reality, did Tom have little helpers at the time, I can't say, others may have better insight. [I think it's valid confusion because there was a time Gibson advertise 'Aged' without Tom's explicit involvement. I'd have to dig to track those years... might spring to other's mind better.]

So, if under-50, they should have black marker 'Joe Walsh' across the top rear of the headstock, then the number below generally between the top 2 tuners. If seller are showing you pics of a 30 to 40 range, then that's what you should see on the rear of the headstock; the 200 have serial format 'JW XXX' stamped. Anything else might be an 'altered' one from the VOS 200 being passed as 'signed'... or Fugazi.

Genrerally, CustomBuckers have the PAF stickers [also the labels]; however, I do not know if this is true or not for the 2013 Joe W. They have been known to peel off, you know, it's been 10 years and any owner might pencil something in.

Oh, look, I found @MikeSlub 's, of course he'd have one!

Look here and compare to what you are being offered: Mike's Joe Walsh 1960 #7
 

MikeSlub

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
15,166
Thanks jb. I never pulled the pickups, so can't advise on that. Still have it in my collection. I paid a "Princely Sum" for it back in the day. Hard to believe it's been 10 years. :)
 

boburst

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2002
Messages
125
I am no expert, but do remember them... hope this helps get you moving.

Recall, only the first 50 were signed by Joe and aged by Murphy, the balance 200 VOS were not. So, the 'Murphys' are the 50, period. This was pretty well advertised/published and would be available from different press release sources.

COA won't explicitly state 'by Tom Murphy' as the 50 were advertised/published as such... now, what's the reality, did Tom have little helpers at the time, I can't say, others may have better insight. [I think it's valid confusion because there was a time Gibson advertise 'Aged' without Tom's explicit involvement. I'd have to dig to track those years... might spring to other's mind better.]

So, if under-50, they should have black marker 'Joe Walsh' across the top rear of the headstock, then the number below generally between the top 2 tuners. If seller are showing you pics of a 30 to 40 range, then that's what you should see on the rear of the headstock; the 200 have serial format 'JW XXX' stamped. Anything else might be an 'altered' one from the VOS 200 being passed as 'signed'... or Fugazi.

Genrerally, CustomBuckers have the PAF stickers [also the labels]; however, I do not know if this is true or not for the 2013 Joe W. They have been known to peel off, you know, it's been 10 years and any owner might pencil something in.

Oh, look, I found @MikeSlub 's, of course he'd have one!

Look here and compare to what you are being offered: Mike's Joe Walsh 1960 #7
I've seen the stickers come off as well, so maybe they did (usually not on both but anything's possible). Here's a link that implies 50 were signed (not necessarily in a row...... the one I now have is lower than #40 and not signed) but it is aged, and this web page states 75 were aged. It DOES look like Tom's work so I assume it is/was. THANKS - https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/gibson-announces-joe-walsh-1960-les-paul-574922
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
the one I now have is lower than #40 and not signed

How can it possibly be numbered and not signed, and be legit part of the 50? Makes no sense; the artist sits down when complete and approves the run, signs. It's not intermittent.

Logic would state either it is:
- Murphy, Joe signed + numbered,
- VOS JW xxx,
- or it shouldn't exist as a Joe W.

- Unless prototype (but they usually say 'prototype')
- Unless Joe's signature wore off or was removed ...? :unsure:

Enjoy it, whatever it is!
 

ADP

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
682
Aged ones that aren't signed are serialized: WALSH xxx

You can find a "TM" etched into the checking underneath the volume/tone knob.
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
Aged ones that aren't signed are serialized: WALSH xxx

You can find a "TM" etched into the checking underneath the volume/tone knob.

Thanks.

So, if there were 50+200 advertised, where do these fit?

50 signed and numbered in marker?

Then...how many?
- Murphy Aged, 'WALSH XXX'
- VOS, 'JW XXX'

Total 200 from the above, excluding the signed?

Or some other set?

It would then seem the OP's would be WALSH XXX, Murphy, low serial. [A pic would have helped...]
 
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