Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 So I found an SG supposedly from the 80's. It is said to have an ebony board. The big thing that bugs me is it has a '61 reissue style pickguard, and it doesn't say anything about being moddled after the '61. You guys know if this is legit?? I'd looooove an SG with an ebony board... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 here is a picture... he admits to changing out the bridge pup. I'm gettin all sorts of red flags here, but I'm no expert. I'm crossing my fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Bump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul44 Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 I think the only way you're gonna sort this is to get the serial number and check it out with Gibson. FWIW It looks like a Firebrand SG to me,some of those had ebony boards and that switch layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Serial number is 80344522, but I have no idea how to read it. Guess I'll have to call them huh? Also, what exactly do you mean by firebrand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zakian Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 I believe the only SG with an Ebony board was the SG Custom. The white one w/3 pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul44 Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Yanno Google is your friend. Go here....http://www.everythingsg.com/identify_guitars.htm 14th row down there is a Firebrand. Also one on the bay...http://cgi.ebay.com/1980-GIBSON-Firebrand-SG-Guitar-W-Hardshell-Case-CLEAN_W0QQitemZ280079894452QQihZ018QQcategoryZ47073QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Firebrands were basic budget models.Not really worth big bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JorisBlack Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Guitar InfoYour guitar was made at theNashville Plant, TN, USAFebruary 3rd, 1984Production Number: 22 that's what guitardaterproject.org says.Do you have pictures of the headstock? That would help... EDIT : this SG is heritage cherry...or red to say the least, I don't think there were red FireBrand SG's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paul44 Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 I can't think of any other SG that had that switch placement.Possible refinish? A pic of the headstock would certainly help.Definitely worth a call to Gibson. EDIT. After a bit of research on the LPF,it appears that they did produce some solid colour firebrands which are rarer than the naturals.Can't find a pic though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 I believe the only SG with an Ebony board was the SG Custom. The white one w/3 pups. Naw, I know the supremes can come with ebony boards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members animl Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 you might be able to research it on www.everythingsg.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rydia is hot Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 i can't find any photos, but gibson made a model in the 80s that had no pickguard, that control layout, and an ebony board (when i worked at a music shop we had a white one) that wasn't a firebrand (which are made of walnut, iirc). the logo is the screened kind (not the fancy inlay), and there's no neck binding. i've only seen white and black ones, but if i had to guess, i wouldn't be surprised if gibson made a few red ones, this being one with an aftermarket pickguard added. it might be a refin, though. all in all, if it's a true gibson, then i'd bet my lunch that the ebony board is original, if that's what you're worried about - replacing a fretboard is a pretty big job. my money is on the 80s special with an added guard. just my .02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a firebrand now. I looked at the headstock and it says "The SG" on it. This might also explain the '61 styled pickguard too, isn't 61 the first year that they started calling them SG's instead of Les Pauls? So are these around the same quality as a Faded or Special or something? I'm wondering if it would still be a step up from my Epi Elitist. I like my elitist better than any Faded series, but it does fall short of the SG Standard... I wonder how it ranks. So if these are budget models, would you say they are worth 800+? Thanks for all the helps guys. You really know your stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 10, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 i can't find any photos, but gibson made a model in the 80s that had no pickguard, that control layout, and an ebony board (when i worked at a music shop we had a white one) that wasn't a firebrand (which are made of walnut, iirc). the logo is the screened kind (not the fancy inlay), and there's no neck binding. i've only seen white and black ones, but if i had to guess, i wouldn't be surprised if gibson made a few red ones, this being one with an aftermarket pickguard added. it might be a refin, though. all in all, if it's a true gibson, then i'd bet my lunch that the ebony board is original, if that's what you're worried about - replacing a fretboard is a pretty big job. my money is on the 80s special with an added guard. just my .02 Good guess, but since the headstock says "The SG" on it, I'm all but sure it's a firebrand now. It also mentions being made of walnut. Thanks for chiming in tho, it's very much appreciated. I've never played a walnut guitar before, wonder how it would sound... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Guitar InfoYour guitar was made at theNashville Plant, TN, USAFebruary 3rd, 1984Production Number: 22 that's what guitardaterproject.org says. thanks for tipping me off to this great site! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vibroluxman Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Is the Gibson burned into the headstock? Cause that was what they did with the Firebrand series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Armitage Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 It's a "The SG" just like the trussrod cover says. A deluxe actually. The 81 (ad pictured) was a Firebrand, but I don't think the '84 above was. There was "The Les Paul" and "The SG"... then the Firebrands... then just normal looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members curseoftruth Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Show us a headstock picture -- I don't think Firebrands were ever heritage cherry in color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sh944 Posted February 11, 2007 Members Share Posted February 11, 2007 I have my doubts about this. The contour around the horns doesn't look right to me, if it were a Gibson ,it would have more contouring at the horns, instead of being cut flat like the pic you provided. Also, the shape of the lower horn doesn't appear quite right to me. It might just be picture quality thats throwing me off tho. The serial number would be right for the year and switch/control positions. No ebony fretboards available for that year, only rosewood, to the best of my knowledge. If it were a Gibson with ebony, it would almost certainly have block inlays rather than dots. Without more pics, especially of the headstock, I couldn't really say anything more than "it doesn't feel quite right". Regards, ...Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eflat Posted February 11, 2007 Members Share Posted February 11, 2007 I believe the only SG with an Ebony board was the SG Custom. The white one w/3 pups.Wrong, sorry. I know supremes can come with ebony boards and my SG 90 double has one too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 11, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 11, 2007 Wrong, sorry. I know supremes can come with ebony boards and my SG 90 double has one too. God I wish I could get my hands on an SG 90 Double... I'd love to have a single in the neck... you let me know if you ever wanna get rid of her, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FWAxeIbanez Posted February 11, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 11, 2007 I have my doubts about this. The contour around the horns doesn't look right to me, if it were a Gibson ,it would have more contouring at the horns, instead of being cut flat like the pic you provided. Also, the shape of the lower horn doesn't appear quite right to me. It might just be picture quality thats throwing me off tho. The serial number would be right for the year and switch/control positions. No ebony fretboards available for that year, only rosewood, to the best of my knowledge. If it were a Gibson with ebony, it would almost certainly have block inlays rather than dots. Without more pics, especially of the headstock, I couldn't really say anything more than "it doesn't feel quite right".Regards, ...Scott Yeah, I know what you mean, I want it to be legit, but I still feel wierd about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vibroluxman Posted February 11, 2007 Members Share Posted February 11, 2007 Is it just me or is that gibson logo really high up on the headstock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sh944 Posted February 11, 2007 Members Share Posted February 11, 2007 Looks like that neck has a volute on it, which I thought went away before '84. Regards, ...Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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