1970 SG Special - buy or run away?

[EasilyAmused]

Hi Everyone!

I've got questions for you all about a players grade 1970 SG special that recently came up locally for what seems a reasonable price. Pictures below!

The guitar has had a repaired headstock break & heal break in its life (I know a tech who has gone over it recently, and despite being a bit ugly of a repair, suggests it seems quite well done/stable, so I'm not too concerned about that). It has non original bridge and tuners, but the pickups/electronics are all original.

I know there's certainly issues around the guitar, and typically I wouldn't go near a guitar that has had these issues, but I know the tech who has worked on it recently (but not the one who did the major structural repairs), and I also know that it spent most of the last 10 years as part of a high-end rental shop for studio work & high end artists, and as such worked at/carefully maintained a bunch the last few years...

So despite some ugly history in the past, it has been well serviced/cared for and the repairs (if a bit ugly) seem to be quite solid, holds tune really well, plays great, ect...

That said, I'm just not sure what kind of value this guitar should have.

Any thoughts on fair value? Any red flags that say "don't buy it!"?

 

[VamboRool]

These have the narrow neck width, so make you are okay with how it plays. Otherwise, it would be a vintage guitar that you could take out and not have to worry about putting a ding in it. The bridge mod could be reversed if you want to. If you were going to start a Who tribute band this would be the perfect guitar for Woodstock and Live At Leeds tunes. I would think it should go for about half of what clean one would.

 

[seafood]

that looks great to me!!!! my kind of guitar.....the fretboard is very light? has it been scraped?? maybe time for some oil....the breaks don't bother me at all....the tune-o-matic is not original,,,,but the intonation looks cool....if the price is good it could be a great purchase!...the pickups from this era are cool too! !!!a rock and blues guitar!!! live at leeds indeed!!!.....two thumbs up!!!......good luck!

 

[metropolis]

I LOVE guitars like that and think you should go for it as long as it's priced right (for both you and the market).

I picked up a '72 LP Custom with similar issues for a great price, comparable to what a modern LP Custom second hand goes for. I'd like to return all the replaced parts to original (bridge and bridge pickup) but I'm not obsessed where that's not feasible due to cost.

As VamboRool says, it's a guitar you can take out with fewer worries, just check out whether the neck profile is something you like. My '72 is the skinny narrow neck too but I get on with it just fine.

 

[Big Al]

It's a repaired guitar. Not broke, repaired. As you said, a player and fairly priced. It's your call.

 

[Ccapilla]

(As is often the case) Big Al is right on the money here. It's in working condition and it would seem you've been given some assurances that it should hold together. If it sounds like the flamethrower is is supposed to be, and the price reflects its condition and that its not a museum piece, let it rip. The thing about vintage/old instruments is the ones that sounds particularly good tend to have battle scars. That's because they've been used like they were meant to be used. The clean ones scare me because it makes me think nobody ever wanted to hear them, and there's probably a reason.

 

[agogetr]

looks awesome. and you can leave it out on your couch, you dont have to freak out if your cat jumps on it