Incoming NGD... Player Grade ‘63

[Logan]

A NGD I didn’t think I’d have anytime soon is a ‘63 Standard. What makes it a player grade instrument? It’s missing the original Pat. Nos. and, it was renecked at Gibson in the ‘70s very professionally using the original Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard.

Pics to come here soon...

 

[zhivago]

Looking forward to the pics! '63 was a good year!

 

[Logan]

Picking it up tomorrow. Until I get it, here’s a teaser of the headstock from the friend I’m buying it from:

Notice the wide nut for a re-neck from the ‘70s. The re-neck for what ever reason, broke from the norm at the time of “upgrading” to current neck specs, so it has the ‘63 profile, and no volute.

 

[Bob L]

You probably know this but the tuners and truss rod cover plate are not originals.

 

[Logan]

You probably know this but the tuners and truss rod cover plate are not originals.

Yep! The headstock was broke off and Gibson replaced the TRC and the original owner fitted Grovers to replace the Klusons.

 

[Biddlin]

Congrats on the score. I really like that era SG. Lots more pics please.

 

[Logan]

Congrats on the score. I really like that era SG. Lots more pics please.

Since you asked...

Here’s the body shot from the ‘63. Expect lots of pics (and maybe even a sound demo) of this guitfiddle once I actually get my hands on it!

 

[Biddlin]

So cool!

 

[Chuteboxehero]

That looks clean!!! Nice score!

 

[Logan]

I warned you guys...

P.S. It has the original case as well

 

[Chuteboxehero]

Awesome.... Looks like it's in great shape! That's perfect condition for a guitar like that. Clean, but not so clean you're afraid to play it. You wrote the original patent numbers were swapped out. What's it have in there now?

 

[SG standard]

Wow, that's a lovely old SG, and all the better for being a 'players grade' SG - much better it'll get played that become a trophy on a wall. :)

Good for another 50+ years I hope!

 

[Logan]

Awesome.... Looks like it's in great shape! That's perfect condition for a guitar like that. Clean, but not so clean you're afraid to play it. You wrote the original patent numbers were swapped out. What's it have in there now?

Right now... can’t say. Let’s say they’re PAF reissues that I’m borrowing from my friend who I bought it from. It came to him with a Seymour Duncan JB in the neck and an Invader in the bridge, so he’s letting me borrow them until I get some pickups.

I have Brandonwound 1959 Clones coming in for it though, and those will be going in it as soon as I get them.

Wow, that's a lovely old SG, and all the better for being a 'players grade' SG - much better it'll get played that become a trophy on a wall. :)

Good for another 50+ years I hope!

That’s the plan! It’s a killer guitar and I wouldn’t do any less.

P.S. it has side dots on both sides of the neck, which makes me think the original neck was designated originally for a lefty

 

[PermissionToLand]

Really interesting. It's an amalgamation of '70s and '60s features; the headstock is the wider '70s shape, the logo is the squared font from the '70s, it has "Made in USA" stamped and the crown inlay is shaped and placed lower as it was in the '70s, but there is no volute, the wider '60s nut width, '60s heel shape and the neck is one-piece Mahogany. Quite a curious beast!

However, I must implore you to PUT WASHERS UNDER THOSE TUNER BUSHINGS!

 

[Logan]

Really interesting. It's an amalgamation of '70s and '60s features; the headstock is the wider '70s shape, the logo is the squared font from the '70s, it has "Made in USA" stamped and the crown inlay is shaped and placed lower as it was in the '70s, but there is no volute, the wider '60s nut width, '60s heel shape and the neck is one-piece Mahogany. Quite a curious beast!

However, I must implore you to PUT WASHERS UNDER THOSE TUNER BUSHINGS!

Very. It has the original Brazilian rosewood fingerboard as well from the original neck as well. I put push in bushing Klusons since this photo as well.
I still can’t believe I own this guitar

 

[Dave]

SWEET!

 

[Satellitedog]

Lovely, congrats!

 

[Logan]

A few updates, plus some gratuitous pictures. Me, having the teenager/young-adult ego I do, I went ahead and bought a Mono-plak for it. Also, another pic is included, so you guys can see for yourself the oddity that is the double side dots.

Most important update though? Under the tenon cover sleeped a name this guitar hadn’t heard in a long time. The original owner engraved his name under it, in case the guitar ever got stolen. I got in contact with him.

I took a shot in the dark, found him on Facebook, and messaged him. To quote him:
“OMG. I absolutely loved that guitar. I wish I’d never sold it. I had an accident where it came off the strap and snapped the neck up behind the headstock. Knowing what I know now, I would have fixed it. I traded it away broken. I have a great luthier now here in the Keys. Let’s stay in touch!! I’ve always wondered where it went. That guitar was a great player!! I had a lot of really cool guitars back in my StL days. 1958 Strat, 1963 Tele Custom, a real Epiphone Casino. Did a lot of buying and selling at Silver Strings music. I’ll send you a friend request.”

Great dude, and glad that I know some of the stories that this guitar has to tell.

 

[Chuteboxehero]

How awesome is that.... Those pics of the original owner are amazing. Gotta love the history that comes along with an old guitar.

 

[cheshiergrin]

very cool indeed.