NVGD Les Paul Special DC

guitargeek62 · October 2016

Well done indeed.

LoFi · October 2016

You have the same garden table as me.

Bridgehouse · October 2016

@LoFi It needs oiling - right bloody mess it is!

Philly_Q · October 2016

Gosh, that looks amazing. And what extraordinary condition it's in.

usedtobe · October 2016

Lovely

Bridgehouse · October 2016

Quick update for @miserneil, @guitars4you and @SteveRobinson ;;

LP Special went for a fret dress and a fettle at Steve R's. Got it back today and fitted a compensated bridge courtesy of @miserneil. ;;

Lovely job - intonation is spot on and I highly recommend for anyone with a wrap tail.

Here it is straight on - you really can't tell it's a modern replacement:

Whilst snapping this shot, I noticed this one next to it which never got it's own thread - it's a parts build I've done for a relative (not handed over yet!) Do you want to see more?

Bridgehouse · November 2016

Just in case anyone is interested - contacted Gibson to see if they could spot this in the ledger.

They came back to me today - and yep, there it is - 1962. Labelled as an 'SG Special' which is correct for a slab bodied 'SG' in 1962. Makes it one of the last slab bodied DC's before the new SG shape took over completely. '62 was also the year Les Paul's endorsement ended, and so they were still able to use his name on the headstock earlier in the year.

Means it's a bit of a rare old bird - a genuine Les Paul (although labelled as SG in the ledger) from 1962 - when they theoretically shouldn't have existed then! Good old Gibson and their consistency

musicman100 · November 2016

now that's what a good vintage guitar shold look like. congratulations

musicman100 · November 2016

Bridgehouse said:

Just in case anyone is interested - contacted Gibson to see if they could spot this in the ledger.

They came back to me today - and yep, there it is - 1962. Labelled as an 'SG Special' which is correct for a slab bodied 'SG' in 1962. Makes it one of the last slab bodied DC's before the new SG shape took over completely. '62 was also the year Les Paul's endorsement ended, and so they were still able to use his name on the headstock earlier in the year.

Means it's a bit of a rare old bird - a genuine Les Paul (although labelled as SG in the ledger) from 1962 - when they theoretically shouldn't have existed then! Good old Gibson and their consistency

gretsch where just as bad back in the day

Bridgehouse · November 2016

musicman100 said:

Bridgehouse said:

Just in case anyone is interested - contacted Gibson to see if they could spot this in the ledger.

They came back to me today - and yep, there it is - 1962. Labelled as an 'SG Special' which is correct for a slab bodied 'SG' in 1962. Makes it one of the last slab bodied DC's before the new SG shape took over completely. '62 was also the year Les Paul's endorsement ended, and so they were still able to use his name on the headstock earlier in the year.

Means it's a bit of a rare old bird - a genuine Les Paul (although labelled as SG in the ledger) from 1962 - when they theoretically shouldn't have existed then! Good old Gibson and their consistency

gretsch where just as bad back in the day

The more I look into this the more I've realised that Gibson's consistency and record keeping in the late 50's and early 60's was pretty atrocious!

Transition periods lasted years, they used older parts in the warehouse to knock out unusual older models from time to time, and there was little consistency in embellishments. So far, I've seen early 60's LP DC Specials (labelled as 'SG Specials') with

- no headstock embellishments
- Les Paul Special silkscreen
- SG Standard crown logo both silkscreened and inlayed

As well as a whole variety of different knobs (reflectors, top hats, speed knobs)

At least Gibson have confirmed it's definitely a genuine 1962 SG Special in the old style Les Paul slab bodied Double Cut configuration. Even tho they should have stopped making them in 1960

musicman100 · November 2016

Bridgehouse said:

musicman100 said:

Bridgehouse said:

Just in case anyone is interested - contacted Gibson to see if they could spot this in the ledger.

They came back to me today - and yep, there it is - 1962. Labelled as an 'SG Special' which is correct for a slab bodied 'SG' in 1962. Makes it one of the last slab bodied DC's before the new SG shape took over completely. '62 was also the year Les Paul's endorsement ended, and so they were still able to use his name on the headstock earlier in the year.

Means it's a bit of a rare old bird - a genuine Les Paul (although labelled as SG in the ledger) from 1962 - when they theoretically shouldn't have existed then! Good old Gibson and their consistency

gretsch where just as bad back in the day

The more I look into this the more I've realised that Gibson's consistency and record keeping in the late 50's and early 60's was pretty atrocious!

Transition periods lasted years, they used older parts in the warehouse to knock out unusual older models from time to time, and there was little consistency in embellishments. So far, I've seen early 60's LP DC Specials (labelled as 'SG Specials') with

- no headstock embellishments
- Les Paul Special silkscreen
- SG Standard crown logo both silkscreened and inlayed

As well as a whole variety of different knobs (reflectors, top hats, speed knobs)

At least Gibson have confirmed it's definitely a genuine 1962 SG Special in the old style Les Paul slab bodied Double Cut configuration. Even tho they should have stopped making them in 1960

we have a genuine gretsch white falcon double cut away.
the double cut generally didn't come out until 62 but ours has a 59/60 serial number and the neck/headstock of a late 50s but then some features of a 62???
we know it's a factory stock because we know the full history of the guitar.
I've seen only pictures of two others just like ours.
understanding vintage guitars is a bloody mind field and little knowledge can be dangerous. lol.
I'm loving the look of ur jr mate

Bridgehouse · November 2016

Thanks @musicman100 - Interesting re:your white falcon. I do agree, unless you're persistent or you really know what you're doing then vintage can be a nightmare.

TBH I'm happy to play it and enjoy it - isn't what they are about after all?

musicman100 · November 2016

Bridgehouse said:

Thanks @musicman100 - Interesting re:your white falcon. I do agree, unless you're persistent or you really know what you're doing then vintage can be a nightmare.

TBH I'm happy to play it and enjoy it - isn't what they are about after all?

If your ever passing through west Yorkshire please call in for a coffee n chat about guitars?

usedtobe · November 2016

1962 is my YOB. Make a nice 55th birthday prezzie, that.. Just saying, like..

Bridgehouse · November 2016

musicman100 said:

Bridgehouse said:

Thanks @musicman100 - Interesting re:your white falcon. I do agree, unless you're persistent or you really know what you're doing then vintage can be a nightmare.

TBH I'm happy to play it and enjoy it - isn't what they are about after all?

If your ever passing through west Yorkshire please call in for a coffee n chat about guitars?

Love to mate. PM me your location and I will let you know if I'm up your way

Bridgehouse · November 2016

usedtobe said:

1962 is my YOB. Make a nice 55th birthday prezzie, that.. Just saying, like..

Ironic I know, but 62 is a great year for YOB special guitars.. My YOB is 74 and the choice is, um, limited

IvisonGuitars · November 2016

Awesome Mark! It's always great to get some history on a vintage guitar purchase (my new Tele is revealing a few secrets too...) and it looks like it's a rare old girl too! Even better score! :-)

Bridgehouse · November 2016

miserneil said:

Awesome Mark! It's always great to get some history on a vintage guitar purchase (my new Tele is revealing a few secrets too...) and it looks like it's a rare old girl too! Even better score! :-)

Yeah - rare old girl indeed. You'll have to impart your tele secrets when you get a chance

Howdy, Stranger!

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NVGD Les Paul Special DC

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