Vintage Gibson SG Project:

If ever there was a candidate for a full strip and refin, you got it there. Somebody looking for a "vintage" guitar wouldn't look twice at it, and in that extreme level of already-modified condition the refin would only increase value. As-is, it's a low player-grade axe and worth the commensurate amount of money. I sure hope whoever you are doing the work for doesn't think they are getting anything close to top dollar for that mess.

If you took the finish off the back of the neck properly you could probably get down to the serial number stamp and verify it, not that it matters for the condition.
 
gball said:
If ever there was a candidate for a full strip and refin, you got it there. Somebody looking for a "vintage" guitar wouldn't look twice at it, and in that extreme level of already-modified condition the refin would only increase value. As-is, it's a low player-grade axe and worth the commensurate amount of money. I sure hope whoever you are doing the work for doesn't think they are getting anything close to top dollar for that mess.

If you took the finish off the back of the neck properly you could probably get down to the serial number stamp and verify it, not that it matters for the condition.
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The owner isnt interested due to the low price associated with this model, even in pristine condition. Its going in a display case once completed.
 
syscokid said:
I'll second this statement... :celebrate:
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Well, that won't be me. I wouldn't take that job on. The amount of time and work involved, if you compare to how much could be made doing setups, I would lose $$$ on a full strip.

Example...

Stripping off old finishes is done on a per hour basis and usually costs about $100 in addition to the cost of the finish. So, a French polish is about $575. This is a traditional hand applied shellac finish, Incredibly thin and acoustically transparent.

So, we have about $675 or so with probably 8-10 hours of labor.

A basic setup down here is $85.00 including strings. I can generally knock out 2-3 per hour. If I invested a full 8 hour day doing this, that's $1,360.00...And a lot less headache.
 
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Robert Herndon said:
Well, that won't be me. I wouldn't take that job on. The amount of time and work involved, if you compare to how much could be made doing setups, I would lose $$$ on a full strip.

Example...

Stripping off old finishes is done on a per hour basis and usually costs about $100 in addition to the cost of the finish. So, a French polish is about $575. This is a traditional hand applied shellac finish, Incredibly thin and acoustically transparent.

So, we have about $675 or so with probably 8-10 hours of labor.

A basic setup down here is $85.00 including strings. I can generally knock out 2-3 per hour. If I invested a full 8 hour day doing this, that's $1,360.00...And a lot less headache.
Click to expand...

Owner should send it to a refin shop. That could be done in original color nitro for $500 - $600, and that would dramatically increase the value of the thing down the road, even if they are not interested in trying to sell it now.
 
gball said:
Owner should send it to a refin shop. That could be done in original color nitro for $500 - $600, and that would dramatically increase the value of the thing down the road, even if they are not interested in trying to sell it now.
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I would agree.

My job is to get it playable with all the correct parts. Beyond that, I'm not sure what plans they have for it other than a display case.
 
Robert Herndon said:
Well, that won't be me. I wouldn't take that job on. The amount of time and work involved, if you compare to how much could be made doing setups, I would lose $$$ on a full strip.

Example...

Stripping off old finishes is done on a per hour basis and usually costs about $100 in addition to the cost of the finish. So, a French polish is about $575. This is a traditional hand applied shellac finish, Incredibly thin and acoustically transparent.

So, we have about $675 or so with probably 8-10 hours of labor.

A basic setup down here is $85.00 including strings. I can generally knock out 2-3 per hour. If I invested a full 8 hour day doing this, that's $1,360.00...And a lot less headache.
Click to expand...
Agree. But if this poor old SG was my guitar, it would be a fun project!

gball said:
Owner should send it to a refin shop. That could be done in original color nitro for $500 - $600,
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Reasonable... (y)

I'm not too optimistic that the serial numbers are still there underneath the extra paint. To me, it looks like the sanding was enough to remove some of the indentations of the original tuners. Might have wiped out the serial numbers too...
20211216_072939.jpg
 
syscokid said:
Agree. But if this poor old SG was my guitar, it would be a fun project!


Reasonable... (y)

I'm not too optimistic that the serial numbers are still there underneath the extra paint. To me, it looks like the sanding was enough to remove some of the indentations of the original tuners. Might have wiped out the serial numbers too...
View attachment 77013
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Judging by the paint in the cavity, the off-white finish is original. Its likely the serial is simply buried....
 
Robert Herndon said:
I doubt it....

In 1965, serials were stamped. This guitar appears to have been a all-wood finish, so the serial is likely buried under this thick paint....
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I have 2 Stihl chainsaws from the early 70's that I bought off a tree guy who is almost 70 himself. When I got them home, I could totally read the serial number on one, the other had had a file taken to it enough to make it nearly impossible to find all the numbers. I have pics on my other laptops. What sucks is depending on serial, certain parts were superceded and it helps in getting the right stuff. Grrrr


The head stock on that SG looks much the same on the sanding marks in the serial number area.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I would agree.

My job is to get it playable with all the correct parts. Beyond that, I'm not sure what plans they have for it other than a display case.
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Even with decent looking parts on it, I see no improvement enough to warrant a display case. I'd only display a rare guitar that is not a POS mess.
You can dress up a pig...

In this case, Gball said it, Full strip would be the only thing that I'd want to see in a display case unless it was true play wear guitar of some import. Other than that, this SG seems like a neglected and poorly treated mutt on the outside.

If the electronics are working nicely, then I see the value in this guitar being a player, not a looker once Rob gets finished adding the hard parts.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
I have 2 Stihl chainsaws from the early 70's that I bought off a tree guy who is almost 70 himself. When I got them home, I could totally read the serial number on one, the other had had a file taken to it enough to make it nearly impossible to find all the numbers. I have pics on my other laptops. What sucks is depending on serial, certain parts were superceded and it helps in getting the right stuff. Grrrr


The head stock on that SG looks much the same on the sanding marks in the serial number area.
Click to expand...


I still doubt the serial can be seen even if the paint were stripped with a chemical stripper.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Even with decent looking parts on it, I see no improvement enough to warrant a display case. I'd only display a rare guitar that is not a POS mess.
You can dress up a pig...

In this case, Gball said it, Full strip would be the only thing that I'd want to see in a display case unless it was true play wear guitar of some import. Other than that, this SG seems like a neglected and poorly treated mutt on the outside.

If the electronics are working nicely, then I see the value in this guitar being a player, not a looker once Rob gets finished adding the hard parts.
Click to expand...

That sums it up. It's not much to look at in its current state, and that mess is not the result of someone gigging the hell out of it, so not the nice kind of patina.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
Even with decent looking parts on it, I see no improvement enough to warrant a display case. I'd only display a rare guitar that is not a POS mess.
You can dress up a pig...

In this case, Gball said it, Full strip would be the only thing that I'd want to see in a display case unless it was true play wear guitar of some import. Other than that, this SG seems like a neglected and poorly treated mutt on the outside.

If the electronics are working nicely, then I see the value in this guitar being a player, not a looker once Rob gets finished adding the hard parts.
Click to expand...

This guitar simply isn't worth the investment.
 
gball said:
That sums it up. It's not much to look at in its current state, and that mess is not the result of someone gigging the hell out of it, so not the nice kind of patina.
Click to expand...

True. I don't get involved in these things beyond simple work. I turn down more than I take in.

I've had vintage guitars on my bench recently that required me to obtain a special rider on my homeowners insurance policy.

I'm jaded.
 
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