NVGD: 1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Standard Ebony Block

[Kevin James]

I've been GASING for an all original no issues, no stories and no excuses 61-63 Les Paul SG Standard for years but prices were just too high and I thought I would never be able to afford one. I recently got a cool 60/61 player with issues and a late 65, and while I LOVE both of them, neither really filled this particular nitch.

Well, I've been saving for a while and last Saturday while surfing Gruhn's site at 3AM I found THE ONE, a super clean 1962 with the rare ebony block. The price was right and I KNEW I had to go for it.

I called in the morning not 5 minutes after they opened and the sales person told me they had just got the guitar in Friday, it hadn't even been put out yet and that I must have seen it just after the site was updated and it went up.

After several questions I had a couple concerns, the frets and the solder joints and they took the time to re-inspect the guitar and gave me in writing that the frets and solder joints were absolutely original and the guitar had 0 issues apart from one replaced bridge saddle (the original is in the case) and a replaced switch tip. With that in writing and the 48 hour inspection period I figured I couldn't lose so I whent for it.

I recieved the guitar today and opened it late tonight. After a thorough inspection all I can say is I am THRILLED with this guitar. It exceeds all my expectations and is in near mint condition. No breaks, no cracks, no repairs, 100% original in I'd say 9.7 out of 10 condition. The entire guitar black lights perfectly without even the tiniest touchup. Even the solder joints blacklighted perfectly.

It just has practicly 0 play wear on it. Very light checking on the front of the guitar and almost none n the back, sides etc. There isn't even the slightest trace of buckle rash on the back, just nothing.

This particular one also has 2 P.A.F.s, not patent numbers and the covers have never been off.

I think I got lucky on this one. Right place, right time.

Heres a nice pic of it from Gruhns. I LOVE the grain patern on it too.

[Alvinfan]

CONGRATS Kevin !!!!!! That is a BEAUTY !!!! I love ebony blocks and prefer them to sideways vibrolas. " Being at the right place at the right time " That is what it is all about. This one has come to the right person. ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS : I thought you had your GAS under control, but good for you that you hadn´t

[Thumpalumpacus]

That's a fine young lady you got there, and yeah, that grain (especially the back) is amazing.

[Kevin James]

Originally Posted by Alvinfan

CONGRATS Kevin !!!!!! That is a BEAUTY !!!! I love ebony blocks and prefer them to sideways vibrolas. " Being at the right place at the right time " That is what it is all about. This one has come to the right person. ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS : I thought you had your GAS under control, but good for you that you hadn´t

Thanks Alvin

Yes, my GAS IS under control. This has been my plan for a long time, IF prices ever got within my reach. It has been clear to me for a while that prices had fallen to where it was clear it was....time to put up or shut up. So after finding this one I knew it was THE one and I had to do it or I would regret letting it slip away forever.

Now I gotta come up with a name for her

[Dolebludger]

Great guitar, and I learned something new. I did not know that late '60 through '62 LP SG standards came with anything originally but that side pull trem. I had never seen one with an ebony block and a maestro - type trem. I like that part of it. My '61 has the side pull, which is musically useless. In fact, I think that the fact the "tail piece" is held in place by springs kills tone and sustain. I think the maestro type will do much better.

[Kevin James]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Great guitar, and I learned something new. I did not know that late '60 through '62 LP SG standards came with anything originally but that side pull trem. I had never seen one with an ebony block and a maestro - type trem. I like that part of it. My '61 has the side pull, which is musically useless. In fact, I think that the fact the "tail piece" is held in place by springs kills tone and sustain. I think the maestro type will do much better.

Thanks. Yes, they are very rare but they do exist. If you do a google search "gibson SG Ebony Block" or Gibson Les Paul Ebony Block you will see info come up on them. If you click on images you will see several pics of some others as well. Most of them seem to have been 1962 but I have heard of a couple 61 and 63 examples also.

I agree with you about the side pull. I have a 60/61 player with the side pull and it looks cool but is garbage functionally speaking. I agree it robs the guitar of tone and sustain. Functionally and tone wise the short vibrola (and the long tail Lyre version) are mutch better and SOUND better.

[58burst]

Beautiful! That one must be a later '62. looks like it has the more commonly '63 style heel-

[b3john]

Wow!

What a freakin' awesome guitar!

[61SGLP]

Congrats, man! That's the ultimate LP/SG to me. Nothing looks as cool as the Ebony block vibrola.

I have to disagree with you guys about the side-pull...my '62 with side-pull sounds better than the long-vibrola SG I used to have, and its sustain is great compared to other SGs. I also gently use the side-pull quite often with no problems. I will say that SGs in general need to be played loud (like at gig volumes) to sound their best. I regularly gig with mine.

[Dolebludger]

I certainly agree that SGs need to be played at gig volume, as mine is lacking in sustain and tone character at practice volumes. But at gig volumes, that light weight body seems to develop a resonance from the amp (much like a semi-hollow) that adds a lot of sustain -- even at clean settings.

[Alvinfan]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

I certainly agree that SGs need to be played at gig volume, as mine is lacking in sustain and tone character at practice volumes. But at gig volumes, that light weight body seems to develop a resonance from the amp (much like a semi-hollow) that adds a lot of sustain -- even at clean settings.

+ 1 " Just ask Angus " !!!

[Kevin James]

Originally Posted by 61SGLP

Congrats, man! That's the ultimate LP/SG to me. Nothing looks as cool as the Ebony block vibrola.

I have to disagree with you guys about the side-pull...my '62 with side-pull sounds better than the long-vibrola SG I used to have, and its sustain is great compared to other SGs. I also gently use the side-pull quite often with no problems. I will say that SGs in general need to be played loud (like at gig volumes) to sound their best. I regularly gig with mine.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying SG's with the side pull sound bad. Not at all. In fact, once I financially recover from this last purchase I STILL want a 100% original no issues and no excuses 60 or 61 with the sidepull.

I'm just saying the 2 I have with the Maestro style vibrola (this 62 ebony block and a 65 with long Lyre) seem to have a little thicker sound with slightly better sustain than my 60/61 player with side pull. The one with the side pull sounds great too, just different... it has its own very unique sound. I don't think its any secret that FUNCTIONALLY speaking the sidepull isn't exactly the greatest design in the world. They sure do look cool though

[61SGLP]

Originally Posted by Kevin James

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying SG's with the side pull sound bad. Not at all. In fact, once I financially recover from this last purchase I STILL want a 100% original no issues and no excuses 60 or 61 with the sidepull.

I'm just saying the 2 I have with the Maestro style vibrola (this 62 ebony block and a 65 with long Lyre) seem to have a little thicker sound with slightly better sustain than my 60/61 player with side pull. The one with the side pull sounds great too, just different... it has its own very unique sound. I don't think its any secret that FUNCTIONALLY speaking the sidepull isn't exactly the greatest design in the world. They sure do look cool though

I'd love to hear my old SG next to the ones you have. My guitar with the sideways vibrola sounds stronger than the old Maestro vibrola SG I used to have, particularly in the higher frets. My own speculation as to the reason for this is that it seems to be easier to lose string resonance to the small, thin, folded piece of metal of the Maestro rather than the larger sideways vibrola with both anchored securely. In other words, I would think that a vibrating string could cause the folded metal of the Maestro to vibrate with it more than the same vibrating string could cause the more massive side pull contraption to vibrate with it.

Also interesting in my personal comparison is that my old Maestro'd SG had a stronger string break angle over the bridge and a lot more wood in the neck than my side pull SG.

Keep in mind that my side-pull is torqued into the guitar as much as I am comfortable doing so without stripping out the wood, and I have tightened the bolts inside of it to where its range of motion is a little less than the typical side pull...these steps alone have made it much more solid and better mated to the guitar than when I acquired it.

I have always believed, due to my experience, that the real secret of a sideways vibrola is that they can be set up to work just fine. Any vibrato unit that returns to rest when you let go of it is capable of working properly when the guitar's nut and bridge saddles are filed correctly. To me, the side pull got a bad rap because setting it up properly is a much more involved process, and this was probably never done well from the factory.

Sorry for the continued derail. I would LOVE to see/hear your Ebony block in action!

[Dolebludger]

I too am not saying that LP SGs of this vintage with side pulls sound bad. I have a one-owner '61 that I have played for a half century. Like all of my guitars, there are a few things I would like to be different about it, but won't make any irreversible changes due to collectors' value. One of those things is it does need more sustain. And the trem must be used only sparingly if you want to come back in tune. But (as said before) at gig volume it has all the sustain anybody would want and the tone is very sweet. Mine's going to stay as original as possible. The only change on mine is a drop on Gotoh bridge which (for some reason) has enhanced the sustain. But (of course) I've kept the original ABR1 which I can just drop on if I ever want to sell.

[3PICKUP]

Hey guy's..I havent a clue where to post this so I'll try here..I have a 1961 les paul standard brown/pink case on ebay item number 290548049783 thanks Mike.

[Kevin James]

Originally Posted by 3PICKUP

Hey guy's..I havent a clue where to post this so I'll try here..I have a 1961 les paul standard brown/pink case on ebay item number 290548049783 thanks Mike.

My guess would be the subforum titled Member Classifieds. There's also a section titled Ebay Deals but I don't think your supposed to post your own auctions there.

[Kevin James]

When I got this guitar several weeks ago I promissed some better pictures. Well.... would you believe there hasn't been a single sunny Saturday/Sunday since I recieved it until today?

Anyways, I FINALLY got to take some pics so here they are:

[Cookie-boy]

Clean as a cat's arse!!! A really delightful, original SG. Great find and well done!

[Alvinfan]

Kevin ! You are a couple of days late with your April fool´s joke ! That is a REISSUE

[Kevin James]

Originally Posted by Alvinfan

Kevin ! You are a couple of days late with your April fool´s joke ! That is a REISSUE

LOL Yeah, I hear ya man, I could hardly believe how clean it is myself considering it's 49 years old. This one is clearly the Holy Grail of my guitar collection.

[Dolebludger]

Alvinfan:

No, I don't think Kevins guitar is a reissue just because of its pristine condition. My '61 has ZERO lacquer cracks in the finish. The only blemishes on are a couple of small finish blemishes on the back in the area of the front strap lock due to (I am told) chemical reaction between the chemicals in the strap and the lacquer. No more belt buckling than on your average new guitar hanging on a music store wall. It does nave some wear on the nickel plating on the trem cover from my placing my hand there in the years in the 60s when I played it quite a bit. And, other than the fact that the tuners have been replaced with absolutely accurate ones, it looks like the day in '61 when I carried it out of the music store in Tulsa. So it is very possible to have a 50 year old guitar in this pristine condition without suspecting "reissue".

[LesPauI+SG=Win]

Wow...

[Sterling # Sound]

Beautiful, I bet it has a really nice dark and smooth fretboard....would love to feel it! How bout some mp3s or vids with a nice tube amp?

[Alvinfan]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Alvinfan:

No, I don't think Kevins guitar is a reissue just because of its pristine condition. My '61 has ZERO lacquer cracks in the finish. The only blemishes on are a couple of small finish blemishes on the back in the area of the front strap lock due to (I am told) chemical reaction between the chemicals in the strap and the lacquer. No more belt buckling than on your average new guitar hanging on a music store wall. It does nave some wear on the nickel plating on the trem cover from my placing my hand there in the years in the 60s when I played it quite a bit. And, other than the fact that the tuners have been replaced with absolutely accurate ones, it looks like the day in '61 when I carried it out of the music store in Tulsa. So it is very possible to have a 50 year old guitar in this pristine condition without suspecting "reissue".

Dolebludger, after hearing your story, I am sorry to say that I am almost 100 % sure that yours is a REISSUE also !............................

[Duane24]

just a gorgeous piece of wood, that grain is amazing. great find!

[Dolebludger]

Allenfan: How the hell could mine be a reissue? I can recall very well when I drove my Plymouth with a bunch of my friends in it to Jenkins music, Tulsa, OK to buy my SG. It was on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 1961. The store was a fully authorized Gibson dealer. After I made my purchase, I held a party to celebrate it. As I was a young man at the time, some things "went down" at my party that I don't wish to discuss on this board, but which make that a memorable and enjoyable day indeed. I have owned the SG since that good (very good) day! and it has never been out of my custody. And if that's not enough, there was never a reissue of the SG with the side pull trem that I have. So it is impossible for my guitar to be a reissue. Unless I am a liar, it is a one owner '61. I have no reason to lie. It's not for sale. Because of the poor economy, it's value is about 1/2 what it was four years ago, and I'm going to wait to even consider selling until the economy (and vintage guitar value) improve.

[Kevin James]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Allenfan: How the hell could mine be a reissue? I can recall very well when I drove my Plymouth with a bunch of my friends in it to Jenkins music, Tulsa, OK to buy my SG. It was on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 1961. The store was a fully authorized Gibson dealer. After I made my purchase, I held a party to celebrate it. As I was a young man at the time, some things "went down" at my party that I don't wish to discuss on this board, but which make that a memorable and enjoyable day indeed. I have owned the SG since that good (very good) day! and it has never been out of my custody. And if that's not enough, there was never a reissue of the SG with the side pull trem that I have. So it is impossible for my guitar to be a reissue. Unless I am a liar, it is a one owner '61. I have no reason to lie. It's not for sale. Because of the poor economy, it's value is about 1/2 what it was four years ago, and I'm going to wait to even consider selling until the economy (and vintage guitar value) improve.

I'm pretty sure Alvin is just joking because of the super clean condition of the guitar. I don't think he seriously thinks my guitar or yours is a reissue.

[Dolebludger]

Kevin:

I'll bet (and I hope) you are right, after further consideration. All the reissues of the '60 to 63 SG LP Standards I have seen have had stop TPs and no trems. As I understand it, the side pull trem died (perhaps a justified death) sometime in very early 63. And the ebony block trem SG LP Standards like yours are VERY rare and were never duplicatied after the early 60s.

I guess my point is that is IS possible to keep a guitar pretty close to mint for 50 years (though rarely done) with simple polishing and care, and keeping it in its case when not being played. And lacquer cracks and scars do not a vintage guitar make!

[61SGLP]

Dolebludger--

If and when you decide to sell that guitar, you should probably start telling people it is in fact a '62, since it has a 1962 serial number confirmed by George Gruhn and Gibson, and Gibson's shipping records show that it shipped from the factory in March of 1962. Just saying! Your adherence in face of the facts to the incorrect production year may raise some red flags with any potential buyers.

[Dolebludger]

Oh, you can be sure I would tell any potential buyers about the serial number situation. BTW, I called Gibson about that '62 serial number, and the guy never got back to me. Still having problems figuring out how I bought a '62 in Nov. of '61. But the dealer did send it back to the factory for repairs back in about April '62, due to lack of local repair facilities in that day. I never thought much about it before, but it would seem they gave me a new guitar instead of repairing the other one. That's the only explanation I can come up with.