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1959 Jack Plate - Low Down

58 Fat Neck

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Mar 18, 2023
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2
Just doing a check to as if it has ever been proven 100% that there was a thick rounded corner jack plate used in 1959. I have seen my fair share of cream plastics from the 50's. Only seen one guitar with the thick plate and the owner said it was a replaced one he did in the early 70's. None of my vintage pictures from the 60's look to have thick rounded corner jack plates. Twenty years ago I saw a collection (more like a museum) of over 100 lap steel's and not one of them that had cream parts had the thick jack plate. Jack plates were one of the most changed parts on guitars. Isn't it most likely that the real bursts out there that have these jack plates are replacement's. Anyone out there have a picture of the back of of one of these thick jack plates that has the tell tale ripple effect on the back that Gibson's cream and black plastics had in the 50's?
 

delawaregold

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Jun 27, 2005
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1,814
I know this isn't what you were hoping for, but the Jack Plate has never been my focus of attention.
All I know about this guitar is the Serial Number is 9 0340. This appears to be the thickest J/P I have
a photo of.

JackPlate90340.jpg

JackPlate90340a.jpg
 
Last edited:

sws1

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Dec 4, 2001
Messages
2,846
9 2314 - Faye

2488_p34184.jpg
 

JIMI55LP

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Jun 28, 2005
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Have you guys removed the jack plates to search for roll marks or chatter marks on the edges? Those softer curved corners look modern?
 

JamesGardner

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Apr 7, 2023
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As for the ripple effect on the back of the cream plastic, this is a common characteristic of vintage Gibson plastic parts from the 1950s.
 

JIMI55LP

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Jun 28, 2005
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I agree and would be VERY suspicious of a plate that didn't have roll marks on the surface of either side and I certain that jack plates from 1952 thru 60 had chater marks on the four edges. That doesn't discount some clown sanding or polishing them away? I do think the squarer corners would be what was made during 1952 thru 60?
 

BurstWurst

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Jan 24, 2008
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568
I’ve Never seen a rounded corner jackplate on a 50s Burst or Goldtop that I didn’t assume was a replacement.
 

jimmi

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Oct 8, 2012
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Am I the only one that slides a metal jack plate under the vintage plastic ones to protect them?
 

jimmi

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Oct 8, 2012
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2,077
here is the one on my ‘54. The rest are at the studio so I can’t take a picture right now . 2FC60B80-BF2B-457D-8A90-D0F5E5D608AC.jpeg
 
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