Help with identification
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cerebral gasket
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Looks like a Custom Shop 1963 SG Special Reissue with the tuners changed to Grovers and a short vibrola added.
Thanks for the info....I'm looking to buy it and the guy wants £1500 do you think that's about right?
Decadent Dan
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Got a pic of the back of the headstock?
Price is half of a new Custom Shop but about the same as a new non-custom shop.
Price is half of a new Custom Shop but about the same as a new non-custom shop.
The tuners look factory fitted
Norton
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tuners are pretty easy to install to that "factory" standard. My first thought was custom shop or some kind of special run. deeeeeep carves and curves on that guitar.
Mitchey75
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After along search on the web I have found the same guitar on an old ebay auction!
As already stated it is a rare "2000 Gibson Custom Shop SG Special Reissue Ebony".
Text from the seller of the guitar:
"I checked with Gibson customer service in 2012 and found it to be a rare model of which I have never seen another."
"Original MSRP in 2000 was $4159....2000 Custom Shop SG Special Reissue in ebony finish and gold hardware with short Maestro tailpiece. The standard production model was not available in ebony finish or with gold hardware, but they were made in small numbers for dealers in 2000."
Link to the auction:
As already stated it is a rare "2000 Gibson Custom Shop SG Special Reissue Ebony".
Text from the seller of the guitar:
"I checked with Gibson customer service in 2012 and found it to be a rare model of which I have never seen another."
"Original MSRP in 2000 was $4159....2000 Custom Shop SG Special Reissue in ebony finish and gold hardware with short Maestro tailpiece. The standard production model was not available in ebony finish or with gold hardware, but they were made in small numbers for dealers in 2000."
Link to the auction:
Gibson Custom Shop SG Special | eBay
The standard production model was not available in Ebony finish or with Gold hardware, but they were made in small runs for dealers in 2000.". ~ Jon Sutherland @ Gibson. Original pink lined brown leather Gibson Hardshell case.
ebay.to
Thanks buddy that's made my day.....I'll really enjoy having it. The lightning bar is pretty heavily grooved can you recommend a sympathetic replacement?After along search on the web I have found the same guitar on an old ebay auction!
As already stated it is a rare "2000 Gibson Custom Shop SG Special Reissue Ebony".
Text from the seller of the guitar:
"I checked with Gibson customer service in 2012 and found it to be a rare model of which I have never seen another."
"Original MSRP in 2000 was $4159....2000 Custom Shop SG Special Reissue in ebony finish and gold hardware with short Maestro tailpiece. The standard production model was not available in ebony finish or with gold hardware, but they were made in small numbers for dealers in 2000."
Link to the auction:
Gibson Custom Shop SG Special | eBay
The standard production model was not available in Ebony finish or with Gold hardware, but they were made in small runs for dealers in 2000.". ~ Jon Sutherland @ Gibson. Original pink lined brown leather Gibson Hardshell case.ebay.to
PermissionToLand
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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...
The Short Maestro vibrola was always an option on these, but an uncommon one to actually see. I think most people didn't know it existed, and dealers didn't order them so basically it had to be special ordered.
The Grovers indicate a limited run, because there are no screw holes or indents from Kluson style tuners.
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
The Short Maestro vibrola was always an option on these, but an uncommon one to actually see. I think most people didn't know it existed, and dealers didn't order them so basically it had to be special ordered.
The Grovers indicate a limited run, because there are no screw holes or indents from Kluson style tuners.
Mitchey75
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You‘re welcome! And you really can enjoy that SG
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...
The Short Maestro vibrola was always an option on these, but an uncommon one to actually see. I think most people didn't know it existed, and dealers didn't order them so basically it had to be special ordered.
The Grovers indicate a limited run, because there are no screw holes or indents from Kluson style tuners.
cerebral gasket
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SG Specials never had Kluson style tuners.
They have the three on a plate with small buttons.
Since there are no screw holes from the plates or any witness marks or indents from the plates, I agree this is probably a rare one that had Grovers installed at the factory along with the short vibrola.
Mitchey75
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Hi all :)
Qe had already found the corresponding model: it is this rare 2000 Custom Shop SG Special Reissue:
Qe had already found the corresponding model: it is this rare 2000 Custom Shop SG Special Reissue:
Gibson Custom Shop SG Special | eBay
The standard production model was not available in Ebony finish or with Gold hardware, but they were made in small runs for dealers in 2000.". ~ Jon Sutherland @ Gibson. Original pink lined brown leather Gibson Hardshell case.
www.ebay.com
MR D
Well-Known Member
In 2000 GIBSON Custom Shop asked $4,000.00++++ for that SG Special ? WOW! I'D HAV PROBABLY PASSSSSSED !
as for the ID'ing...I'm goin w/Mr Gasket on this one..I've never seen him wrong on an ID, especially an SG SPECIAL ! !
as for the ID'ing...I'm goin w/Mr Gasket on this one..I've never seen him wrong on an ID, especially an SG SPECIAL ! !
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Col Mustard
Well-Known Member
that's a very special special... a Gibson SG VERY Special
If I owned that, I would NOT modify it.
I'd play it a lot, and see whether the intonation would hold.
If it holds, I'd leave it alone and play it some more.
If the intonation doesn't hold because the bridge is worn
I'd try to obtain an original Gibson part to replace it.
But I don't think that will be the case.
Those lightning bolt bridges are quite robust, and simple.
Intonation is usually good with them.
Pete Townshend used to remove the Trem from his SG specials
and play the hell out of them with the gaping holes in the top.
He didn't care. Neither did anyone else. No guitar police then.
And he could leap higher without the trem.
Some of us feel that he played his best music on those old SG specials
with P-90s, wrap over bridge and great holes where the Trem was
removed.
It might be hard to find a gold plated lightning bar bridge.
A $4000 SG Special is rather a contradiction in itself, isn't it?
One of the things that makes it so special.
If it's a player and not a collector's trove, you could replace
the bridge with a nickel plated one and few would notice
and none would object. Keep the original in the case.
Look on this Stewart Macdonald site, there's a gold plated Schaller
roller bridge available. If I were going to use that Trem, I'd want
a roller bridge...
www.stewmac.com
If I owned that, I would NOT modify it.
I'd play it a lot, and see whether the intonation would hold.
If it holds, I'd leave it alone and play it some more.
If the intonation doesn't hold because the bridge is worn
I'd try to obtain an original Gibson part to replace it.
But I don't think that will be the case.
Those lightning bolt bridges are quite robust, and simple.
Intonation is usually good with them.
Pete Townshend used to remove the Trem from his SG specials
and play the hell out of them with the gaping holes in the top.
He didn't care. Neither did anyone else. No guitar police then.
And he could leap higher without the trem.
Some of us feel that he played his best music on those old SG specials
with P-90s, wrap over bridge and great holes where the Trem was
removed.
It might be hard to find a gold plated lightning bar bridge.
A $4000 SG Special is rather a contradiction in itself, isn't it?
One of the things that makes it so special.
If it's a player and not a collector's trove, you could replace
the bridge with a nickel plated one and few would notice
and none would object. Keep the original in the case.
Look on this Stewart Macdonald site, there's a gold plated Schaller
roller bridge available. If I were going to use that Trem, I'd want
a roller bridge...
Instrument Parts and Hardware - StewMac
Shop Instrument Parts and Hardware at StewMac. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. StewMAX FREE Shipping!
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Thanks for all your help on this one guys, the second I saw it I knew it was something special I just didn't know how special. The chap I bought it from purchased it himself in 2006 from a music shop in Cardiff but I don't think even they knew exactly what they had. It's been pretty lightly played and still has the original frets and apart from the fact the lightning bar has been worn down through to the base metal underneath in places it's pretty much in great condition. I took it yesterday to a local luthier I know to have the frets levelled, crowned and polished and he is also going to make a new bone nut for it as at some point the nut slots have been pretty badly cut. I intend to keep it and play it and enjoy it. Hopefully I won't have too many issues with the intonation, if I do I will do exactly as Col M suggests.
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