1963 Gibson SG Standard

I have a chance to buy a 63 SG fairly cheap $650 (probably quite negotiable). I see some issues with the guitar in its current state. Here are some problem observations; headstock was broken and repaired, not original pickups, electronics need work (don't know if original, didn't check).

Original finish, original hardware (gold).

I don't have a history on the guitar.

Should this beast be avoided like the plague?

The only thing I would worry about is the neck at that price. If the repair is done well I'll buy it today!!!

I never played one with a broken headstock that stayed in tune after the repair but good luck with it.

Personally I would buy a new one and put in Seymour Duncan pick-ups.

I did that with a 74 Les Paul and it's amazing.

Heck I'd play it and see what kind of feel/vibe it has....

Yeah, i think you gotta play it. If it plays nice its probably a good deal.

Thanks for the input. I'm going to see if I can get some pics of the neck fix. I figure I would end up throwing a $1,000 bill at this to get it where I want it to be. I think it may have the potential.

Yes, the SD 59 Antiquities is what I would put in it. Whomever had it before put in EMG's that split into SC.

For $650 if the neck repair is bad you could pay for a proper one and still come out ahead. If the reapir is well done then it's a steal. For a players grade old SG, I'd take a repaired headstock one over a non-repaired/waiting to be broken any day. A repaired joint is just SO much stronger.

I think Mick Ronson's Les Paul had 7 headstock repairs before he retired it.

Thanks for the input. I'm going to see if I can get some pics of the neck fix. I figure I would end up throwing a $1,000 bill at this to get it where I want it to be. I think it may have the potential.

Yes, the SD 59 Antiquities is what I would put in it. Whomever had it before put in EMG's that split into SC.


If you are willing to ship it to Ontario to be worked on, I can recommend a luthier. He restored both Leroy Emmanuel's ES-335 and Alex Lifeson's ES-355 and if guys of that stature are using him you know he is good!

If you are willing to ship it to Ontario to be worked on, I can recommend a luthier. He restored both Leroy Emmanuel's ES-335 and Alex Lifeson's ES-355 and if guys of that stature are using him you know he is good!

Funny thing! I would be sending it to Ontario for the work! I'm sure your guy knows my guy, and vice versa, or could be the same guy! My guy does work for Kim Mitchell, Randy Bachman, etc, I think he's done some work for Alex as well.

Funny thing! I would be sending it to Ontario for the work! I'm sure your guy knows my guy, and vice versa, or could be the same guy! My guy does work for Kim Mitchell, Randy Bachman, etc, I think he's done some work for Alex as well.

What is his first name?

Ken

Ken


Different guy then.

I was talking about Fred Gabrsek of Freddy's Frets. When he refinished Alex's ES it was featured in Guitar World magazine. I've seen threads over on another forum in which his work on Leroy's and Alex's guitars were documented in photos.

These videos (scroll down and click on gallery then click on videos) document some of his work and the R9 shown in the second one belongs to another member of that forum who lives here in Ontario:

http://www.freddysfrets.com/


His prices are very reasonable too. I had been considering adding some colour to my LP as I sometimes find the finish to be too yellow (at other times I like the finish) and, because yellow is the base colour in any burst and he was simply adding colour to mine, the cost was far lower than I had expected.

I never played one with a broken headstock that stayed in tune after the repair but good luck with it.

Personally I would buy a new one and put in Seymour Duncan pick-ups.

I did that with a 74 Les Paul and it's amazing.

I've actually had the opposite experience.

I bought a mint 1964 SG Jr. that wouldn't stay in tune even after trying different tuners and bridges, so I finally ended up using it as an emergency only back up guitar.

One night it fell off it's stand and cracked diagonally at the headstock.
After many tears I had it repaired, and guess what? It never goes out of tune anymore!
I wish it was still mint, but I have a theory that maybe that part of the guitar was already weak, which caused the tuning problems.

The repair has greatly reduced my SG Jr.'s resale value, but I would never sell it now, so I guess it doesn't matter. I think if the repairs done right, you could end up with a real player and a great bargain for a vintage guitar.

Different guy then.

I was talking about Fred Gabrsek of Freddy's Frets. When he refinished Alex's ES it was featured in Guitar World magazine. I've seen threads over on another forum in which his work on Leroy's and Alex's guitars were documented in photos.

These videos (scroll down and click on gallery then click on videos) document some of his work and the R9 shown in the second one belongs to another member of that forum who lives here in Ontario:

http://www.freddysfrets.com/


His prices are very reasonable too. I had been considering adding some colour to my LP as I sometimes find the finish to be too yellow (at other times I like the finish) and, because yellow is the base colour in any burst and he was simply adding colour to mine, the cost was far lower than I had expected.

Wow! Checked out Freddy's custom work, super nice! Love the double neck guitar. I've never seen tuners like that before. That Tele is something else as well.

I'll ask my buddy if he know Freddy, I'm sure he has.

If I do pick this SG up its going to be a fairly long project, wouldn't expect the guitar back until next summer.

Original finish, original hardware (gold).

I don't have a history on the guitar.

Should this beast be avoided like the plague?

Big red flag here: SG Standards never have had gold hardware. Customs do but they have 3 p'ups.

I would proceed with great caution. Sounds to me like the seller may be BS'ing about the hardware and, if so, what else is he BS'ing about?

Big red flag here: SG Standards never have had gold hardware. Customs do but they have 3 p'ups.

I would proceed with great caution. Sounds to me like the seller may be BS'ing about the hardware and, if so, what else is he BS'ing about?

I don't know. I've seen some some red two pickup one' s that had gold Lyre tailpieces. I think gold was available as an up charge option, just not standard. I don't know how rare they are as gold certainty is the color of the custom. I don't think anything was ever set in stone with Gibson, especially if it was an off the shelf part that was easy to apply to a different model. Google isn't really finding any though.

heck if you don't want it I will buy it in a new york minute!
I am serious! have cash in hand! a gibson with a headstock repair? that is like a harley that leaks oil!
a proper repair is as good as new! no worry's
original is nice for a collector, but on a player? who cares? it just means you are free to mod it until you like it, or have fun restoring it if that is your thing
for real though I would LOVE to have that guitar! (born in 63 and always wanted an SG)

It is a bit of an odd guitar. I now don't think it is a Standard but a Special.

Here are some pics. If anyone can shed some light!

Interesting. Is it me or does it say "Steve" in the second to last fingerboard inlay? I think the Specials had dot inlays. Also, did they use that stop tail in '63? Is there a serial number? Clear pg. And someone made it into a brown to red burst which is kind of interesting.

Looks like coil taps too. Double cream pickups - check to see if they are DiMarzio's or originals.

Obviously it's been modded a lot, but I have no idea what that means about its value. I'd say you have to play it for a few hours. Really, does it move you or not?






JB

Definitely not a 63' special. Shallow bevels on the horns and small block inlays scream 70's. I would definitely run the serial. IMHO $650 is too much for a 70's sg thats had that many mods. Nothing on that guitar looks original. Got a headstock pic?

In my experience, SGs are just a bugger to keep in tune in general (compared to a tele, I suppose), but there are a lot of great sounding Gibsons out there with multiple headstock repairs. Some people even swear that they sound better with a little glue in the equation.

I love my SG. It's nothing special, just an early 90s SG standard, but it is so fun to play.

That volute on the headstock certainly doesn't look '63 to me, bridge and tailpiece not original, tuners more like '70's. . If it's a good player then maybe go for it at that price, hopefully a bit less and do the work on it.

It is a bit of an odd guitar. I now don't think it is a Standard but a Special.




You might want to register at mylespaul.com and post the pictures over there (either in their SG subforum or another one) as the experts will come out of the woodwork very quickly.

I have run the serial number and it is a 63. I think the mods were done around 73-74. There is a lot of checking on the body and headstock, so I'm thinking that it is original colour. I will check out mylespaul. Thanks for the tips.

I've got a '65 SG Special with original P-90 pups & stuff but a stripped finish (I think) & a spliced headstock break + other dings etc. The break is why I got it for $100 way back, had it fixed by the Guitar Dr. for like $25. It is visible of course but like he said back then "Who cares, it's just an SG"!

A well repaired break is strong, no worry there.

The topic SG is to me OWTH, just buy it for $650.

No way it's a 63. The volute was never used by Gibson until the 70's. Stay away.

If the serial number checks out to be a 63', that's all the more reason to avoid it. There is no way that is a 63. If you would like, I can post pictures of my SG for you to compare. Now, all of that being said, it does look like a barrel of fun, and if it plays well and you like it, who cares? Go for it! I just don't want to see you pay more because you think it is something it isn't.

I agree with others here that say it has features like a '70s + non-SG Special stuff--it is a far cry from mine--no doubt there in my book. And the finish is a bit of an odd thing and it's got changed pups and etc. and etc...but for about $600 and if you can look at the thing & like it for playing and it is truly a Gibson body/neck that ain't much coin for a messed around player. Heck, I've got a '53 LG-2 (FON on neck block + all other features, I know the flattops pretty well) that has a headstock stamp from the mid-60s and I honestly can't tell--nor could Elderly when I took it in for a look--it it was a new neck or some later Gibson work or WTH. But the darned thing was cheap and plays great, I've had it for at least 10 years and it has needed nothing but occasional action tweak.

If I were looking for an original early '60s SG to restore back to it's glory I'd probably steer way clear but as a player Gibson to mess with I'll stick by my "OWTH, just buy it" unless $600 is a real big deal to ya.

No way it's a 63. The volute was never used by Gibson until the 70's. Stay away.

That's right. I've got a '71 with a volute. That's a Norlin era SG.

- D

All wrong for a 63 SG Standard or Special. Fingerboard inlay should be dots for the Special, trapezoids for the Standard. The pickguard is wrong, the finish is wrong, the gold hardware is wrong, and the volute is wrong. 63 SG Special had P90's not humbuckers.

That tunomatic bridge doesn't look like any I've ever seen. Almost looks like a one-off shade tree job. I'm calling that wrong, too.

If that guitar's serial number dates to 1963 for Gibson, that's the last straw IMO. Might not even be a Gibson. There's just too much wrong.

Looking a little closer at the serial number, it could very well be a 70's model. The 63 and 73 both have the same serial numbering! The pots date from 73 as well. Guess sometimes you want to take what the seller is advertising. I may put in a lowball number. The neck is actually quite nice to play, very thin.

It is not humanly possible for this guitar to be built in 1963. 73 Maybe, the Volute, and likely a Made in the USA stamp will put in the realm of 73. Yes the number scheme is the same for those years. That is where knowing the features in an absolute must.

Honestly, I need to know what it says in that second to last block inlay! It's gnawing at me big time now. :lol:

Looking a little closer at the serial number, it could very well be a 70's model. The 63 and 73 both have the same serial numbering! The pots date from 73 as well. Guess sometimes you want to take what the seller is advertising. I may put in a lowball number. The neck is actually quite nice to play, very thin.

The thin neck is a giveaway - it's early 70s. My '71 has the thinnest neck profile I've ever played on a Gibson. It's almost like a Strat neck.

- D

The thin neck is a giveaway - it's early 70s. My '71 has the thinnest neck profile I've ever played on a Gibson. It's almost like a Strat neck.

- D

Does it say "elite"? The SG Elite had gold hardware and block inlays. I don't remember if it actually said elite on the inlay though.

The SG elites didn't show up until the mid 80's. Those are fantastic guitars. 73 tele already confirmed that the serial dates it to 73' upon further investigation the only question now is whether to buy it.

Honestly, I need to know what it says in that second to last block inlay! It's gnawing at me big time now. :lol:

It's buddies last name, and yes his first name is Steve. The pickups are EMG's (supposedly). I was trying to see if anyone could identify the tune-o-matic.

I am not 100% its a 73, the pots date from 1973. The serial number is in the low 100,000's which placed it solidly in 1963 (however the volute says different), so now I'm thinking it can be anything from 1970-1975! It is not stamped made in USA either or any lettering in the serial number.

I'm 99% sure it is a Gibson and not a fake.

Ok I deciphered yer buddy Steve's last name, tracked him down & called him and he sold me that monster for $300 cash money. Ya snooze ya lose.

Kidding of course. Not sure why I encourage you to get it when I haven't played my own old SG in about 20 years & have considered putting one of the P-90s in a Tele! I prefer Fenders.

In all seriousness you know by now that guitar ain't no pot 'o gold but maybe at least wants to be played.

I have to get it real cheap If I'm gonna bite. Once I get all the facts I'll present them to buddy.

BTW, Steve doesn't own the guitar. I believe him to be the original owner.

I posted information on mylespaul tonight and someone has already confirmed its 70's era and DiMarzio pickups!

Thanks for your help folks. I'll keep you posted on further developments.

Gibson serial numbers are a real pain to try and decode
6 digit serial numbers were used from the early 60's through the mid 70's
guitars with serial numbers in the 100000 range could have been made in 1963, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, some serial numbers were duplicated on different models
when dating Gibson guitars the serial number is just one clue as to when it was made,
I would be more inclined to believe the date on the pot's pointing to it being from 1973

'63? Buyer beware!

OK, I just kinda wondered did you ever buy this thing or what?