1969 SG Junior (all cleaned up and ready for the ball)!

[Tim D.]

Just finished setting up my new to me 69 after rounding up a couple of vintage parts. She’s complete and all cleaned up. Absolutely love this guitar!

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

Wow, that's a beauty. But I don't think you should keep it outside. Put up a hanger in your bedroom.

 

[PermissionToLand]

That finish looks amazing for 55 years old! Must have been returned to the case when not being used instead of sitting on a stand.

 

[Tim D.]

That finish looks amazing for 55 years old! Must have been returned to the case when not being used instead of sitting on a stand.

Thanks, it’s still got its share of scrapes and scuffs. The original case is hardly more than cardboard with a thin layer of felt on the inside and Tolex on the outside. From what I’ve gathered, these were marketed as student grade guitars? The 3 layer pickguard is super thin, when I removed it to clean the body, there was an old pick that had found its way underneath! I’m pretty sure that the pickguard and control cavity plate had never been removed.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Thanks, it’s still got its share of scrapes and scuffs. The original case is hardly more than cardboard with a thin layer of felt on the inside and Tolex on the outside. From what I’ve gathered, these were marketed as student grade guitars? The 3 layer pickguard is super thin, when I removed it to clean the body, there was an old pick that had found its way underneath! I’m pretty sure that the pickguard and control cavity plate had never been removed.

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Yeah, more or less. They did also have the Melody Maker as a cheaper option though. I would be tempted to order a 5-ply pickguard and store the original somewhere safe. But I can never leave a guitar well enough alone.

 

[Spikerike]

Just finished setting up my new to me 69 after rounding up a couple of vintage parts. She’s complete and all cleaned up. Absolutely love this guitar!


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Looks absolutely great! Very regal looking, tuner knobs and whammy handle really set it off. That P90 will really sing, love to hear it!!!
Some of mine, Epiphone, Schecter and I believe that does it!

 

[Derrick]

Just finished setting up my new to me 69 after rounding up a couple of vintage parts. She’s complete and all cleaned up. Absolutely love this guitar!

I feel like it's getting rare to see these nice old Gibson's still with the red cherry because many have faded to brown from UV light and sun exposure. Keep that beauty out of the sun and out of home UV lighting. Really like the way this one looks... congrats!

I would be tempted to order a 5-ply pickguard and store the original somewhere safe. But I can never leave a guitar well enough alone.

I've had a few Gibson and Fenders over the years where well meaning folks did just that, and the pickguard shrunk to the point where they would not go back on They can shrink regardless I know, but with no screws holding things steady and maybe more air (ozone) exposure since the back is more exposed, they seem to do less well off the guitar. Besides, what are you saving unless you play with sandpaper or a nail as a pick?

 

[S.Ustain]

Yup, that sure is a nice looking old SG. IMO the fresh-looking original cherry on mahogany is a fantastic color, and in retrospect Gibson should have known better than to use a formulation that would change so drastically and so quickly. Particularly on the SG, the color retention is such a huge plus! Your has the look of age anbd playwear with none of the extreme fading (to an ugly color) or, for that matter, the nonsense that passes for relic-ing these days. I'm a fan of worn guitars and legit relicing, but the mass-produced ones come nowhere near the look of yours. You would have to drive over it with your car and take it to the Arctic Circle for a few months to get that true relic look. It's so nice to see an undamaged, unmodded vintage guitar. Love the case! It's nice to have the original, as most of those got bashed or replaced.

 

[siemionet]

I have Special from 66 or 69 - it's unclear while trying to find by SN. I am curious what pickups height should be for bridge and for neck pickups...

 

[Tom Dickinson]

So, really impressed w/ your guitar! As an owner of a '22 Jr. myself, I too love them.

That said, I gotta ask about one thing on yours: It appears from the pic that you still have the old compensated bridge on it, yet you're using modern strings. I believe I'm correct in saying that you would benefit from replacing that bridge with something 'not' made for a 'wound' G string. Further, as I'm sure you already know, this is a TOTALLY non-invasive mod, and the modern version of this bridge can be purchased for under $20 off most of the on-line sources. I have done this on many old Gibson guitars, and it really does make a difference in getting better intonation. I have a few old 'original' bridges that I'm not sure have any use at all in today's world...... so maybe I'll sell 'em..... if it's worth the time and effort to do so. But, you get the point. Just a consideration. Otherwise, again, beautiful guitar! Hope you get many more good years of use out of it!!

 

[PermissionToLand]

I feel like it's getting rare to see these nice old Gibson's still with the red cherry because many have faded to brown from UV light and sun exposure. Keep that beauty out of the sun and out of home UV lighting. Really like the way this one looks... congrats!


I've had a few Gibson and Fenders over the years where well meaning folks did just that, and the pickguard shrunk to the point where they would not go back on They can shrink regardless I know, but with no screws holding things steady and maybe more air (ozone) exposure since the back is more exposed, they seem to do less well off the guitar. Besides, what are you saving unless you play with sandpaper or a nail as a pick?

I've heard of celluloid pickguards (tortoise, pearloid) shrinking, but not the ABS plastic pickguards Gibson uses for these.

 

[Derrick]

I've heard of celluloid pickguards (tortoise, pearloid) shrinking, but not the ABS plastic pickguards Gibson uses for these.

Oh yea, I've definitely had plastic ones shrink too. That's why you have to be careful buying vintage like on eBay because they may not fit.

 

[Tim D.]

So, really impressed w/ your guitar! As an owner of a '22 Jr. myself, I too love them.

That said, I gotta ask about one thing on yours: It appears from the pic that you still have the old compensated bridge on it, yet you're using modern strings. I believe I'm correct in saying that you would benefit from replacing that bridge with something 'not' made for a 'wound' G string. Further, as I'm sure you already know, this is a TOTALLY non-invasive mod, and the modern version of this bridge can be purchased for under $20 off most of the on-line sources. I have done this on many old Gibson guitars, and it really does make a difference in getting better intonation. I have a few old 'original' bridges that I'm not sure have any use at all in today's world...... so maybe I'll sell 'em..... if it's worth the time and effort to do so. But, you get the point. Just a consideration. Otherwise, again, beautiful guitar! Hope you get many more good years of use out of it!!

Thanks for the advice, I wouldn’t have known otherwise. I ordered the MojoAxe compensated tailpiece in un-aged chrome and it made a noticeable difference. It was a tight fit onto the post and required a little finesse and a drop of machine oil but once on, it does the trick for intonation on all strings. Again, thanks for the tip! My brother in-law says it plays like butter!

 

[Westernrider]

Tim D ........

Carr Amp!

Please post something about the amp and what it excels at.

A local music store has carries those amps - it was a small 1-12 combo with a white plastic control panel on the front. It did Fender Cleans and tweeds - nicely.

The store had it it around for awhile and I never tried it.

One morning I walked in the store to get some new strings and one of the employees had just finished unpacking a and checking out an Eastman version of the Gibson ES-339. It looked rather excellent and he told me to plug into the Carr. The amps are out of my price range and I never tried one before, so I gave it a try..... The guitar was impressive, especially for the price and I bought - Eastman - who ????. Yes, I've still got it and its a keeper. However, the amp was just too good and just not meant to be for me that day.

Yet, this is a company that more need to know about ......

 

[Tim D.]

This is a very good video with a comprehensive review of this amp. Be patient as the first part of the video demonstrates the amp setting with a Tele style guitar but the later part of the video covers the same setting with a LP style guitar. I love the versatility of this amp!

Carr Mercury V

 

[Brooklyn Zeke]

I have Special from 66 or 69 - it's unclear while trying to find by SN. I am curious what pickups height should be for bridge and for neck pickups...

There's no definitive height for the height of the pickups. It completely depends upon the sonic response of each individual pickup. Other factors are the height of the pole pieces, the number of copper wire winds of each pickup, the type and strength of the pickup magnets, and the gauge of the strings. Nonetheless, pickup heights are usually determined by critically listening to how each pickup sounds. When the pickups are too close to the strings, you hear what's called "wolf tones", caused by the pickup magnets exerting too much damping force on the strings. When the pickup heights are too far from the strings, the sonic output will be weak with a loss of timbre.

 

[edselman]

Rather than using a modern bridge D’Addario makes string sets with a wound “G” string,

 

[Dave]

That is a BEAUTIFUL SG!!!!

 

[papagayo]

Where did you find this vintage correct pickguard ? Very nice SG.

 

[Hodgo]

Gorgeous!

A few years ago I decided I wanted a vintage guitar. Sadly, after getting my hands on a bunch, I realized many of them are actually pretty junky.

However, the highlight from the bunch was a ‘60s SG like yours, albeit with a white refin. Beautiful P-90 that sparkled when rolled off and had bite when cranked.