Vintage Gibson SG Project:

My guess it's a 1965 1 5/8" nut Indian rosewood finger board

 
Production numbers for SGs are higher than any other Gibson model. That's why they've managed to stay in production since 1961. For a workhorse guitar, they do their job. Just like with anything else, they may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Totally agree with you.

The owners believe they have a vintage Gibson - as in highly valued - and I am voicing caution on the restoration budget because I don't think it's gonna be worth their time and money to do a painstaking restoration to roiginal.
 
You'd probably have to wait on getting that much for it in it's current state, or upgraded. There are many on Reverb and Craigslist in much finer original state for that much or less. Some have been there for ages. Fortunately for you and your customer, you live in an area with a built in high cost of everything and might get more. Unplayed, and not knowing what else is original, I'd offer $2K tops.

Exactly my point!!!!

I agree with you 100%. I've looked at Reverb listings and your estimate is probably much more realistic...
 
My guess it's a 1965 1 5/8" nut Indian rosewood finger board


Thanks for this information!!!!
 
oh and interesting side note the fella I "moved" that SG to...... ALSO MOVED IT ALONG that is 3 people that "know" how to make a gutiar sound good that COULDNT get that lump of dead wood to make good tone --- pup swaps set ups string changes..... Tuners-- bridge -- nut......... just dead wood

The neck angle was severely off on that guitar. To get the strings off the bridge took a stack of Faber tailpiece stud bushings. Even top-wrapped, the strings dug grooves in the bridge.

2016 Gibson SG Corrected Pickup Angle.jpg

It also had shorted pickups, that Gibson eventually replaced for me under warranty. I bought the SG brand new in 2017 for around $800.00

I tried GFS, Virgil Arlo, Thro-Baks, Duncans, Carvins and just about every pickup you can think of and nothing worked. I had Gary 'Tone Man' Standefer build me a 50's style harness too. Huge waste of money. Not a SINGLE IMPROVEMENT over the stock PCB. Zero. Nada.

SG Modification Small.jpg

I played it for about a year and just never liked it. That guitar probably spent more time in the case than it did being played. TBTH, I think my students played it more than I did.

It also had intonation anomalies and I believe that several frets were misplaced.

I couldn't wait to get rid of it....

2016 Gibson SG.jpg
 
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Assuming I install a vintage vibrola and bridge, I'm assuming $3,000 to $4,000 top dollar???
I can't believe anybody would pay so much for that guitar.
Maybe I'm out of touch w/ reality? I would have guessed $900.
I mean it's old but...
it's a junior not an actual.
I would have thought $4K for a real SG, but not a junior.

There are some very sweet playing / sounding SGs.
I used to have a 67 and never should have sold it.
I know you don't like SGs.

But the junior is nothing like the real one. It's like a baby guitar.
 
The collectible SG's are 1961 to 1965 Standards $20,000.00 range but now the custom color Pre Cbs strats are going for $100,000.00
now with this covid mess I was counting on having a repeat of 2008 crash boy was I wrong.
The high end collectable guitars are sold with a phone call not on reverb or ebay.
The Les Paul Junior is a student model if it was custom color blue or red and mint condition $2500.00 to 3500.00 max
I go by blue book I don't care what asking price is blue book is what they sell for.

65 sg green.JPG
 
And using a lightning bolt tailpiece with those Gibson trems is the silliest thing ive ever seen.Anyone ever play one ??? I have and the bridge rocks and moves around. Play it as is and enjoy.MAKE SURE IT HAS A REAL LEO QUAN BADASS ON IT :)
 
This wasn't my idea. The owners want to restore it with period correct parts. I wouldn't waste $1.00 on ant Gibson SG, unless I could flip it...IMHOA
 
These type of guitars are vintage and highly collectable. If this Junior is a '65, and if it was in very good to excellent condition, $5000 would be a reasonable value to a collector. As is.... Probably $2000 to $2500! When it comes to Collector's GAS, being logical and practical gets thrown out the window.

View attachment 76430

Yup, $5k tops in a pretty pristine condition. As-is, I'd go $1200 TOPS. Even if the correct factory parts can be sourced there's no undoing what has been done to the headstock and as has been stated a new one is going to be a better guitar anyway so maybe finding the exact right buyer would bring the price up but it's never go anywhere near that top end. Honestly, if it was me, I wouldn't throw money away sourcing original parts for it - they will be expensive as hell if they are real and not worth it in the long run for a player grade guitar. I'd put good repros on it and call it a day.
 
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