Early 60's SG Special Bridge stud angle??

[giogolf]

Hey all,

So the next guitar Id like to aquire for my collection will be an SG Special. I searched teh inter webs.. but cant find the info I am looking for. Ive noticed SG Specials of the same year with different bridge stud aligment. Some are angle with the low E lower like the early Jrs, and some are parallel to each other.

Is there a definitive year when Gibson angled the studs and or made them parallel? The images below are both Polaris white SG Specials from the year 61' (according to the seller as the pot codes match). however, you can see one has the angled studs and the other flat. I initially though this had to do with the trem on the flat one, but then I came across other early 60s with a angled bridge and a factory trem..

So what gives?
While we are at it, what is considered the better collector year, style SG special?

Thanks All!

 

[garywright]

what gives is the one on the left is more likely a ‘62-‘63

 

[giogolf]

what gives is the one on the left is more likely a ‘62-‘63

The one on the left is being sold as a 61' from Garret Park Guitars on Reverb, "they" are saying its a 61 based on the pot code pictures.

The one on the left is being sold as a 62' from Mount Room Studio on Reverb.

They are both overpriced in my opinion, but as I am starting my hunt for this model, I am just doing my research and collecting data

 

[poor man's burst]

The fact that the pots have been made in (late) '61 doesn't mean they have been put on a guitar that same year.

 

[garywright]

? and Ricky should know that

 

[garywright]

the stock smooth wrap tp would be the more collectible

 

[giogolf]

The fact that the pots have been made in (late) '61 doesn't mean they have been put on a guitar that same year.

Im tracking my that 100%, just wanna know what does the angled studs indicate? Obviously Gibson changed over at one point… so when was that?

 

[fernieite]

Im tracking my that 100%, just wanna know what does the angled studs indicate? Obviously Gibson changed over at one point… so when was that?

I think the switch to the horizontal lighting bolt bridge happened sometime around mid 1962.
This site agrees:

SG Special

Introduced in 1961, the Special slotted above the Junior and below the Standard. It was produced continuously for a decade, before being effectively replaced in mid-1971 by the SG Pro. However, it quickly returned in mid-1972, now featuring mini-humbuckers. It continued production until 1977 and...

solidguitar.fandom.com

 

[Bruce R]

I think the switch to the horizontal lighting bolt bridge happened sometime around mid 1962.
This site agrees:

SG Special

Introduced in 1961, the Special slotted above the Junior and below the Standard. It was produced continuously for a decade, before being effectively replaced in mid-1971 by the SG Pro. However, it quickly returned in mid-1972, now featuring mini-humbuckers. It continued production until 1977 and...

solidguitar.fandom.com

Indeed. The studs would need to be changed to accommodate the different location of the 1st & 6th string intonation "saddles," as they no longer are on-center.

 

[giogolf]

I think the switch to the horizontal lighting bolt bridge happened sometime around mid 1962.
This site agrees:

SG Special

Introduced in 1961, the Special slotted above the Junior and below the Standard. It was produced continuously for a decade, before being effectively replaced in mid-1971 by the SG Pro. However, it quickly returned in mid-1972, now featuring mini-humbuckers. It continued production until 1977 and...

solidguitar.fandom.com

Ugh, Ive seen that site.. don’t know how I missed it that.. Thank you, hopefully this thread will help out others in the future

 

[garywright]

Graced SG