Need help identifying a Gibson any specialist's here?

[boldaslove6789]

Need help identifying a 96' Gibson SG. So far I've came to the conclusion that is an "SG Special" because of the Dot inlays, the truss rod cover indicates so too. I guess the "Special" turned into the "Classic" in 96' from what I've read also. Supposedly it has 81' Gibson 335 pups in it . The serial number is 90746461 which I checked and it checks out. The problem is the Logo is missing (seller says it was poorly refinished and that the logo got messed up during the process. Did Gibson inlay there logo's in 96 or ever for that matter? The logo's are tell tell signs for what year etc. as well as the Crown that SG standard's have.

I really want this guitar if its real. If the logo can be redone or if its there but can be restored I won't mind.

[cobalt]

Poor re-finish, non-original pups, and non-original tuning machines!
I hope it's a player AND cheap!


weirddave

[Gibsonman63]

http://everythingsg.com/index.php/firebrand.html

Possibly this one with a new headstock overlay.

[boldaslove6789]

http://everythingsg.com/index.php/special.html

I think It's this one.

Yeah the guitar is a player and and a deal too if its real. . Guy wants to trade me a MIJ strat for it.

[selloutrr]

I find the headstock back and face very disconcerning.
Was it sanded before it was refinished? if so why? you should be able to see the "GIBSON" ghosting under.

why is the serial number blackened? all the "Gibson" I own (30+ ranging from 1957-2010) are press stamped but not filled - meaning you have to move them a little under the light to see the number if the shadow is not at the correct angle.

open the cavity and look at pot dates / wiring.

I think it's a Japanese knock off stuffed with some gibson parts.

IMHO it's a GIBSON REPLICA

[David Root]

I'm with selloutrr. Gibson S/Ns were stamped only. Take the strings off and check out the underside of the bridge and tailpiece, as well as checking the pot and cap dates in the cavity.

If the seller won't permit that, walk away, it's a fake.

[selloutrr]

The late 70's and early 80's were full of popular guitar knock off's. Gibson was one of the major manufactures that was copied. To give an example of how great the knock off's got. Slash's signature line of Les Paul guitars is actually based on a knock off, Gibson didn't even build.

It's possible the seller doesn't know if it's authentic. Gibson has a very messy serial number history some years over lap others are lost in history and spotting at best depending on who you ask. = very easy to fake. You have to take the guitar and add up what you know about it, and what makes it a Gibson. see how much adds up. If you are really close but not sure, call Gibson and ask them for information on the serial number and which if any guitar it was stamped on.

It's possible the bone head that refinished it attacked it with a sander and rubbed the serial number with paint.... but... a poorly treated guitar is worse then it being a fake.

IHMO if it costs you more then $200 in cash or trade don't bother. that's about what you can get for the electronics/parts.

[Firestorm]

Personally, I'd rather have the MIJ Strat.

I think the darkened serial number and missing logo is just the residue of a half-assed refin -- the guitar hasn't just been refinished, it's been stripped of the aged brown or dark plum finish it originally had (along with the silk-screened logo). If the guy couldn't be bothered to get all the stain off the body, you can't really expect him to dig it out of the serial number. Besides, if I were going to fake a Gibson serial number, I'd go for one indicating June 1963, Kalamazoo rather than March 1996, Memphis.

What would bother me though is the "Oh, and the pickups are from an '81 335." That I'd check. And Gibson or not, anything that has been manhandled that way could have a totally screwed up neck. I'd get out my straight edge and feeler gauges and check the relief all the way up and down.

[boldaslove6789]

Personally, I'd rather have the MIJ Strat.
If the guy couldn't be bothered to get all the stain off the body, you can't really expect him to dig it out of the serial number. Besides, if I were going to fake a Gibson serial number, I'd go for one indicating June 1963, Kalamazoo rather than March 1996, Memphis.

What would bother me though is the "Oh, and the pickups are from an '81 335." That I'd check. And Gibson or not, anything that has been manhandled that way could have a totally screwed up neck. I'd get out my straight edge and feeler gauges and check the relief all the way up and down.

That's what I figured. If it was a fake then why fake a serial from 1996, why not go for the goods. I'm hopefully going to check the guitar out in person this week. I got my tools ready to give the guitar a full workup.

Thing is my MIJ strat is easily worth $400-$600 and I just don't see the value in this SG. I don't think I'll trade it in the end.

Thanks for putting it in perspective guys I appreciate it.

Anybody got a genuine Gibson they want to trade for a 1984' MIJ Contemporary Strat with Burstbucker's ?