Uh oh, what did I just buy?

[trapdoorspider]

I was the high bidder on this guitar tonight, which the seller described only as a "1988 Gibson SG Special."

But now that I've won it, what have I bought? A FAKE? ???

I thought it was an old SG-Z, and MOST of the guitar looks like the real thing. But the Z-models I've seen (such as the ones posted on this website) have the string holes in the body arranged in a Z-shape (in groups of 3), and these have all 6 in a straight line (though angled).

The Z-models I've seen also have a "lightning bolt" on the headstock instead of the standard "crown" or "flower pot" inlay. And — this really concerns me — why does "Gibson" not have a dot over the "i"?

Finally, the fretboard inlays look a bit sloppy to me.

I'm only allowed to post 4 pictures here, so please take a look and see what you think. Many thanks, Michael

 

[sgtbeefheart]

It's an SG-90 Double.

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-sg-90-double-1988-white

 

[Col Mustard]

strange bird, I've never seen one. (but I don't know everything)
you'll have to set it up, string it up and play it. I'd be squinting at the nut, and the frets, and the bridge just to see what kind of shape they're in, not if they're genuine.

and then look under the hood, and see what kind of rat's nest is in there. But since I'm already an SG geek, I'll tell you this one looks very cool. And I hope you didn't pay too much for it and that you can get the gig and the girls with it.

 

[everdying]

i love my modded SG-90

nowadays SG-90 are getting harder to find, and if one does pop up it'll probably go for at least $900.

 

[trapdoorspider]

[quote author=Col Mustard link=topic=21681.msg260118#msg260118 date=1308007492]
strange bird, I've never seen one. (but I don't know everything)
you'll have to set it up, string it up and play it. I'd be squinting at the nut, and the frets, and the bridge just to see what kind of shape they're in, not if they're genuine.

and then look under the hood, and see what kind of rat's nest is in there. But since I'm already an SG geek, I'll tell you this one looks very cool. And I hope you didn't pay too much for it and that you can get the gig and the girls with it.
[/quote]
Thanks for your help, everybody! I don't have the guitar yet, but the seller posted a picture of the back, with the control cavity off, and everything looks okay, but WOW is that a tight fit!

There's also quite a bit of rust on the pickguard screws and one edge of the pickups (see below) so no telling what the wiring looks like when I take the pickguard off. It may be a big rusted-out mess. Oh well ...

 

[dbb]

Oddly Tele- ish with the string-through the body thing and a single coil by the neck...enjoy!

 

[uyasgali]

It could be that the neck, headstock and fretboard are new. The headstock looks like the paint is fresh as well as the fretboard.

The body looks older but in good shape.

Should only be an issue if it doesn't play well (can't adjust relief because of neck angle etc.) Might be a problem selling it to a collector :)

 

[everdying]

the fretboard is as is, cos its ebony.
mine still looks pretty good for being an '89.

u should be grateful that the one ur about to purchase has aged nicely to cream.
when i got mine it was already an ugly fugly mustard color, hence the much needed transformation i did to it as above.

 

[mikeystool]

[quote author=uyasgali link=topic=21681.msg260152#msg260152 date=1308104975]
It could be that the neck, headstock and fretboard are new. The headstock looks like the paint is fresh as well as the fretboard.

The body looks older but in good shape.

Should only be an issue if it doesn't play well (can't adjust relief because of neck angle etc.) Might be a problem selling it to a collector :)
[/quote]paint on the fretboard? looks just like my ebony special..but i see what you mean, on some of those inlays, it does kinda look like it has ?paint?...

 

[mikeystool]

[quote author=everdying link=topic=21681.msg260123#msg260123 date=1308023967]
i love my modded SG-90

nowadays SG-90 are getting harder to find, and if one does pop up it'll probably go for at least $900.
[/quote]do you have any close up pics of your axes fretboard?

 

[everdying]

[quote author=mikeystool link=topic=21681.msg260159#msg260159 date=1308128526]
do you have any close up pics of your axes fretboard?
[/quote]

this good enough?

 

[mikeystool]

[quote author=everdying link=topic=21681.msg260162#msg260162 date=1308133534]
this good enough?

[/quote]no!!!! closer!!! thats cool...that other axes inlays do look like the have paint on them dont they??

 

[everdying]

it looks fine to me, perhaps it was just QC issues...can see filler being used on that other one.

 

[Alex]

I know it has already been identified but some more specifics and detailed pictures are available here:

http://everythingsg.com/index.php/90-double.html