1966 SG Special transition area batewing vs small pickguard question

[strungstrung]

Hi,
I got a 1966 SG special, there´s no serial number but the 19th fret neck construction points (IMHO) to early 66. Poticodes are late 65.
the guitar came with a batwing PG (not sure if original) the PU‘s are regular soapbar P90s mounted directly into the body with 2 screws. The PU routes are very sloppy, but don‘t show any filled holes or refinished areas.

Right now, the guitar has a vintage original small PG (not the one in the pic, thats a replacement guard Gibson delivered in the 70ies) the holes line up almost perfect. I also have a replacement 62-65 PG the fits also very well.

Now my question: if the PUs are mounted directly to the body and there‘s no evidence of a refin or repaired PU routes, can I be sure that it originally came with a small pickguard?

thanks very much for some insights

cheers

 

[garywright]

deleted …something smells fishy here

 

[strungstrung]

deleted …something smells fishy here

Well, thats the reason for my questions...

 

[blauserk]

I was under the impression that once they went to the batwing pickguard, they had a surface route for the pickup wires. Meaning that I would guess that yours originally came with the small pickguard. This '67 used dogear P90s the the mounting screws on the ends instead of the middle.

But the fact that the edge on the routes are so wavy -- and the absence of the (stamped) serial number -- would make me suspect that work has been done on it.

Compare:

 

[blauserk]

Additional thought: Perhaps the batwing guard was added to cover the pickup routes.

 

[strungstrung]

Thanks very much for your thoughts. What I noticed when comparing pics of obviously small guarded 64/65s with 66 SG Specials, the early ones with batwing seem to have sightly different phaseshaping (front sight) on the horns.
It does‘nt seem to be a nice even phase along the Pickguard as on older models, it seems to have an "edge" to it when the phase ends, it does not fade out nice and even. The 66/67 batwings phases look all alike in that manner, mine too.
Anyways, I further abused my SG for the purpose of seeing if there was/ is a repair of the routes in some ways. The pics show, that the wood around the neck PU is normal without any filled spots, so I guess it is/was originally def a small guard version. Maybe, someone widened the routes to install different PU, maybe mini humbuckers...? If, it def would have been refinished, but I stiil doubt that though, the finish looks really aged and old to me but....
Also some blacklight pics, maybe someone sees right away what happened.
Thanks very much for any further thoughts!