Does this Catalin switch tip look vintage to you?

[luizhmax]

Is there a guide on how to spot a fake besides the mold seam most reproductions have? I know about the bakelite smell test as well... the problem is covid took my sense of smell so can't use that one right now...

 

[markguitar]

The 2nd picture showing the inside threads is nowhere clear enough to see the details.

 

[luizhmax]

The 2nd picture showing the inside threads is nowhere clear enough to see the details.

Is this better? Thank you

 

[delawaregold]

Not my work.
One heck of a well done guide.

​

 

[sws1]

Funny. I was just examining one of my tips this weekend after seeing a post about spotting a real one. (I think it was on es335.com). I took mine off and ran under hot water...and while I have no idea what formaldehyde smells like, my tip stunk when warmed up.

Tips for the Collector

You thought this post was going to be chock full of interesting tidbits of information for the ES 335 collector, didn’t you. But, alas, that isn’t the case at all. The case is that big black or brown thing you put your guitar in when you have to take it somewhere. I’m talking tips here. […]

www.es-335.com

 

[Liam]

Formaldehyde smells of death and sadness to me. Indescribably unpleasant, with a close association with the few visits to undertakers and chapels of rest I have taken.

Aside from that though, what's not to like?

Liam

 

[jimi55lp]

Not my work.
One heck of a well done guide.

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His user name was an acronim like "CFH" on the other forum years ago and I think his name is CLAY?

 

[jimi55lp]

I'd have to see it in hand and measured by caliper against an original to be sure? This tip looks like the correct material (catelin) but the top carve looks crisp to me on the radius, but hard to know from photos. If someone polished it, the patina would become less amber or even totally removed making it cream colored again but the patina would return after years of sun light exposure. It looks very glossy making me think it has been polished at some point? Other than these things I've listed, I think it looks like a real/original Swithcraft that has been very high polished? IMHO

 

[luizhmax]

I'd have to see it in hand and measured by caliper against an original to be sure? This tip looks like the correct material (catelin) but the top carve looks crisp to me on the radius, but hard to know from photos. If someone polished it, the patina would become less amber or even totally removed making it cream colored again but the patina would return after years of sun light exposure. It looks very glossy making me think it has been polished at some point? Other than these things I've listed, I think it looks like a real/original Swithcraft that has been very high polished? IMHO

Thank you. That was helpful.