Conference napalm::guitar

	I recently saw 2 NEW (reissue??) SG custom (ivory finish, 3 humbuckers,
brass plated hardware) in two different stores. Mr C's in Marlboro wanted $770
(he said it lists for $1400!) and Luca's Music in N. Providence wanted $825 for
the exact same thing. Now, I saw the one in Mr. C's first and thinking it VERY
strange I asked about it. (I had only seen an Ivory SG in pictures and never
one with 3 pickups!) He said he had special ordered it from the factory for
someone who didn't take delivery, thus the price reduction. 
	But to see another EXACTLY like it within 2 days was more than just a
coincidence! I didn't get to ask about the second one as Luca's was very busy
and I was in a hurry. If I get down there this week I'll try and find out if
these are reissues.
				Tom Testagrossa 

    Where did you get your guitar book?  I'd like to have one of those
    myself to try to date all of my equipment.
    
    Bob

    Interesting to know they may be putting out reissues.  My hunch
    is that these old Gibson's will come back into style before long
    as the market has been much depressed for them over the last few
    years - for some reason everyone is hot on Fenders.  I mean, I like
    Fenders but even old Jaguars are demanding a good buck and that
    guitar isn't worth anything over $200 no matter how you slice it.
    I think you can find some info on Gibson serial numbers (as well
    as Fenders?) in a book put out by a guy named Tom Wheeler - its
    called something like the "Guitar Book" - don't quote me.
    
    Joel

    re .0
    
    Still looking for some dating information?  
    A serial number of 700000 or so would indicate about 1968 according
    to my records. However, Gibson serial numbers are notoriously out
    of order frequently. Here are some details on early SG Customs 
    that might help.
    
    Very early, 60 or 61, there was a small metal plate attached by
    screws to the area between the end of the fingerboard and the 
    bass pickup. The plate has the words "Les Paul" engraved. 
    
    Around '66, all of the SG's series' scratchplate's changed and this
    can help date instruments. Pre '66 Customs have the pickups mounted
    in a rectangular plastic mounting, usually black. The scratchplate
    does not come all the way to the pickups. After 66, the plastic
    surround disappears, the pickups are mounted directly into the 
    scratchplate, and the overall scratchplate is much larger. Pre
    '66 scratchplates did not extend much above the pickups (area
    left of the strings as you hold the guitar upright in front of 
    you). After 66, the scratchplate covers a fair portion of this 
    area.  (The scratchplate design changes several times after 66,
    but this information isn't pertainant to this guitar, so I'll
    leave it out.)
    
    One final item: White was dropped as a color option for the Custom
    in late 1968 or early 1969. 
    
    This information comes from: The Gibson Guitar, by Ian Bishop,
    printed London, 1977, Musical Services Ltd. I don't have any
    information on what new reissues or post 77 Customs look like. 
    
    Does this help you date your guitar? Don't be disappointed if you
    find out it really isn't an early sixties. Those are still great
    guitars. 
                        
            

    	Also check out Tom Wheeler's "History of American Guitars",
    it's hard to find, and expensive (~ $30) but I'll bet it has the
    info you needed. I just picked mine up 2 days ago. it has alot of
    stuff about Gibson and fender serial numbers and shipped amounts.
    						Tom Testagrossa