Need Help Identifying This Gibson and Advice on Restoration

[Michael Baresi]

thanks Michael but I doubt if this knockoff is one of the import knockoffs previously mentioned. This looks like a re work of some kind. Just a one of a kind the guy put together. I doubt that the imports are using solid wood tops which this one is.

[Barry Daniels]

This guitar is not a step up from imports in terms of quality. More like a step down.

[Michael Baresi]

This guitar is not a step up from imports in terms of quality. More like a step down.

Thats what I was saying although I doubt the imports are using solid tops. Are they?

[Barry Daniels]

Some use solid spruce. But I have never seen an import with the poor grain of that top. The wood near the center joint is extremely off quarter. The neck looks like some kind of white mystery wood. Nothing much good to say about it, sorry.

[Michael Baresi]

Some use solid spruce. But I have never seen an import with the poor grain of that top. The wood near the center joint is extremely off quarter. The neck looks like some kind of white mystery wood. Nothing much good to say about it, sorry.

Well you are right about the top being off quarter but "white mystery wood"? Not sure where you got that. Maybe you are looking at the remnants of the neck binding but I can clearly see in the places where finish is wore off that the neck is mahogany. In fact it seems that the fretboard is actually part of the neck and is dyed to look like ebony. Anyone seen this before? You only have pictures to look at so hard to make an informed critique no doubt.
As far as nothing good to say, it depends on your point of view. Certainly not Gibson quality but as I stated earlier it does have good action and not bad sound for what it is. Better than many laminate guitars I have played. No doubt it has many faults but once again it is certainly not worthless.

[Barry Daniels]

The white marks near the heel may have fooled me into thinking it was white mystery wood. I did not say it was worthless. And I am not trying to pile on. Just saying it does not appear to be very good quality wise.

[Michael Baresi]

Thanks Barry you are right its not very good quality although I would argue that its better than the $99 specials that are so abundant.
Anyway when life gives you lemons the best option is still make lemonade.

[Daryl Kosinski]

Back in the 70's there was a shipment of fake Fender electric guitars that was seized. Some courtroom drama. The end result was Fender won and the identifying pegheads were sawn off. They won on the shape of the peghead even though there was no Fender logo.

[Clay Schaeffer]

From the look of the guitar it is possible the seller's grandfather did have it for 30 years. Fakes have been around for a long time. Being an old fake it might have some "collector" value if kept in it's original condition, as bizarre as that sounds. If the case is a vintage one in good shape you might be able to recoup your investment with it. A friend of mine said he sold a totally ratted out original Hofner "beatle" bass case for $300.

[Michael Baresi]

Those old cases can be worth a lot for sure but this one is not that old. I'm guessing its about a 60's case and its a hard wood case. I think its value lies in its excellent condition and the fact that its not a dreadnought case but a large archtop case. Maybe $50?
Maybe I'll get myself an archtop for my collection. hahaha
I think you're right that the grandfather had it laying around for a long time. All the wood has that aged feel to it.
thanks for the post

[Eric Baack]

Make sure you don't let sunk costs drive you towards losing more money on something. Sometimes you just need to cut your losses. Do you really think that you can turn a profit on it if you were to fix it up some and try to sell it or is that just being overly optimistic?

Not trying to be too negative but sometimes the best course of action is to just take your lumps and learn from things instead of spending more money to try and fix it that you won't be able to recoup.

[Michael Baresi]

Cutting my losses is what I'm doing. I don't think I ever said i would make a profit.

[Eric Baack]

so long as what you spend on fixing it is less then what you can get by selling it. Your time is worth money too.

don't forget about opportunity cost. Time spent working on something that will yield a smaller amount then the same time spent on something with a higher return is considered a loss. Now if you have some free time to work on it, then that's different.

[Michael Baresi]

I agree with you about not putting more money into a loser.
For the record aside from the cost of buying it the only money I am putting into it is the new set of strings.
I have replaced all the neck binding and the few pieces of body binding with some old binding that has been laying around the shop for years so I consider that no cost. The cracked brace was repaired with just some glue. Since I don't have any brace material in the shop right now I will probably not replace the missing back brace because as you said no point in spending money on this one.
With all that said I feel the repairs I have made are worth my time since the guitar is pretty much worthless without them. At least now it will be playable and what ever I get for it will help offset my losses.

[Eric Baack]

cool beans

[Clay Schaeffer]

" I'm guessing its about a 60's case and its a hard wood case. I think its value lies in its excellent condition and the fact that its not a dreadnought case but a large archtop case. Maybe $50?"

You might be right, but if it has a makers name it might be worth researching a little bit. If his grandfather believed he had a Gibson, he may have bought a high quality case for it. 60's stuff is collectable. I wish I still had the 69' telecaster I sold to buy a scientific calculator for college (they were both worth about $150 at the time).

[Michael Baresi]

" I wish I still had the 69' telecaster I sold to buy a scientific calculator for college (they were both worth about $150 at the time).

Don't get me started on what I wish I hadn't sold. hahaha
this is just a no name case so probably not worth much.