Calling Early-60s SG Experts

[Attila]

Hi all,

I'm looking at a '61 SG, that I'm told is all-original. Figured I'd post a few shots, and see if any of you guys notice any potential "red flags".

Thanks.

 

[garywright]

for starters..headstock split, refret, newer tuners routed in

 

[Attila]

Thank you ---I'll be passing on this one.

Though just for my education: 1) Those tuners are not the type that a '61 SG would have originally had? 2) How can you tell that there was a refret?

 

[corpse]

Tuners STB and frets wear- and the splits at the wing. Not epic repairs by any stretch.
The fret job looks odd- they could have left more room towards the ends.
I have played one of these and they are awesome sounding with great PUPs.
Gary- why would those tuners need any routing?
The only flag I see is for something that needs new frets, I have never seen a headstock without some chipping on it.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Being told it is all original is a little worrisome. Tuners as mentioned. Hard to tell all parts without seeing it up close, but saddles on bridge are incorrect. What is the asking price?

 

[Attila]

Asking price was 21K.

 

[garywright]

Tuners STB and frets wear- and the splits at the wing. Not epic repairs by any stretch.
The fret job looks odd- they could have left more room towards the ends.
I have played one of these and they are awesome sounding with great PUPs.
Gary- why would those tuners need any routing?
The only flag I see is for something that needs new frets, I have never seen a headstock without some chipping on it.

I guess route wasn’t the best word to use …most of us in the old days just drilled straight on through when switching tuners that required a screw on bushing like the ones shown or Grovers even ..course they proper way is to just slightly ream the headstock face

 

[gary buff]

Asking price was 21K.

Wow, that's crazy.

If you can do w/o PAFs you can get this one for less. No affiliation whatsoever, at this point in my life after having been lucky enough to own most of the "good ones" I just like looking at the pictures.

1963 Gibson SG Les Paul Standard | Garys Classic Guitars & Vintage Guitars LLC

1963 Gibson SG Les Paul Standard, Cherry Red, Sideways Vibrola, Two mighty sounding early patent sticker humbuckers which are virtually the same as PAF’s, Fast playing neck, Resonant sounding acoustically, Super cool, VG+, Nice Original hard case, $19,995

www.garysguitars.com

 

[garywright]

that’s quite a split to be left As Is.

 

[poor man's burst]

I disagree. Any decent luthier could easily fix it and reglue the headstock wing before it gets worse and cause much more damages.

 

[garywright]

of course

 

[Attila]

Wow, that's crazy.

If you can do w/o PAFs you can get this one for less. No affiliation whatsoever, at this point in my life after having been lucky enough to own most of the "good ones" I just like looking at the pictures.

1963 Gibson SG Les Paul Standard | Garys Classic Guitars & Vintage Guitars LLC

1963 Gibson SG Les Paul Standard, Cherry Red, Sideways Vibrola, Two mighty sounding early patent sticker humbuckers which are virtually the same as PAF’s, Fast playing neck, Resonant sounding acoustically, Super cool, VG+, Nice Original hard case, $19,995

www.garysguitars.com

Yeah, after the feedback here, I've moved on; not interested in it at all.

 

[blueline]

Hard to make an assessement without the picture of the back especially the neck join and pickguard.

 

[garywright]

I disagree. Any decent luthier could easily fix it and reglue the headstock wing before it gets worse and cause much more damages.

that’s very true…exactly what are you disagreeing with ..no one said it was a difficult repair only that the seller left a large easily repairable headstock split As Is .

 

[corpse]

The wing split is a bummer. My guess is something more than meets the eye has prevented a previous repair.

 

[latestarter]

I liked the look of it. Some easy repairs, knock the price down as result, have some PAF fun.

 

[Bruce R]

Ditto the above. They don't make 'em like they used to!

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I was working with some 60 year old plywood last week. Even something as simple as that I couldn't believe how much better it is than what we are offered today.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Also, that headstock cracking is easily repairable and could be done quite invisibly. Whoever put those new thread together tuners on probably didn't route the holes bigger properly and pushing them in spread the wood grain apart. Unfortunate, but could also be brought back to spec with the correct tuners and also wouldn't show. If that is the only problem other than the changed parts it isn't a bad candidate. Many of this era SG's have repairs at the heel and headstock neck joint that would be more of a deterrent for most.

 

[poor man's burst]

Unfortunate, but could also be brought back to spec with the correct tuners and also wouldn't show.

The washers will leave inprints on the headstock face however.

Many of this era SG's have repairs at the heel and headstock neck joint that would be more of a deterrent for most.

No picture of the heel were provided.