Need Help..T Tops

[PJM]

i came across three sets of T-tops that are available for me to buy, I was wondering if anyone could tell by these pics (the only ones i have), which pickup could be a late 60's made t top vs early 70's made t top. I know there may be no way to tell, but would appreciate the help thanks.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

They are all pre mid 1974. If one set has nickel covers, it would be early 1965. If they are gold, hard to tell, and if they are chrome they are post mid 1965. I see one has slotted backing screws (vs phillips) those were seen intermittently through the mid 70s as well.

 

[icantbuyafender]

Ignorance-land here I come.

What makes it a T top. I see no T.
Never understood it.

What does it matter the age of the T top anyhow?

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Ignorance-land here I come.

What makes it a T top. I see no T.
Never understood it.

What does it matter the age of the T top anyhow?

The Tees are on the top of the bobbins, under the pup cover

 

[PJM]

They are all pre mid 1974. If one set has nickel covers, it would be early 1965. If they are gold, hard to tell, and if they are chrome they are post mid 1965. I see one has slotted backing screws (vs phillips) those were seen intermittently through the mid 70s as well.

were phillips head screws originally used on the earlier models and then slotted backing screws?

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

were phillips head screws originally used on the earlier models and then slotted backing screws?

Phillips were used on PAF and early Pat Nos. By the time T-Tops came around, you would find either. All the slotted ones I have personally encountered were in the late 60s and early 70s, but that is anecdotal. But I would tend to believe a patent stickered T-Top with phillips would be more than likely eariler than the slotted ones. The slotted screws were phased out mostly by the later 70s. The phillips came back to be exclusive after that.

Beware, many people confuse chrome and nickel, as there is a nickel plating UNDER chrome plating.

If the 3rd ones are TRULY nickel, and since they have slotted screws, the nickel makes them earlier. In fact the nickel could mean they are pre T-Tops, but I have never noticed a pre T-Top with slotted screws.

It is impossible to think of a rule that has not been shattered by Gibson. Their history is like a catacomb.

 

[PJM]

thanks for clarification

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

May I ask what does it matter? T-Tops have the same magents and poly coated wire through the years. That they would have a different tonal quality really is more a random thing than a yearly thing.

And as long as you have the Patent sticker and the correct plating (chrome, nickel or gold) for pre mid 1974 guitars, you will be period correct. If your guitar is newer than mid 1974, you would want the stamped backing plate.

The only detail to consider is the slotted screws, which my experience seems to be more likely in the late 60s, early 70s.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

the only difference is the baseplate, the rest of the pickup is identical for all years of the T-top production and they sound exactly the same

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

the only difference is the baseplate, the rest of the pickup is identical for all years of the T-top production and they sound exactly the same

You said it with much less typing than I !

 

[PJM]

May I ask what does it matter? T-Tops have the same magents and poly coated wire through the years. That they would have a different tonal quality really is more a random thing than a yearly thing.

And as long as you have the Patent sticker and the correct plating (chrome, nickel or gold) for pre mid 1974 guitars, you will be period correct. If your guitar is newer than mid 1974, you would want the stamped backing plate.

The only detail to consider is the slotted screws, which my experience seems to be more likely in the late 60s, early 70s.

I was looking at them and didn't realize that they were all essentially the same, i thought there might have been subtle differences between late 60's models and early 70's. I was also a little confused because one of the gold covered ones has phillips baseplate screws so was curious to see if anybody on here would be able to tell on here if that was an earlier model as i thought it might be after doing some research.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

It is harder to date the Gold ones, in fact there have been Gold PAFs found in Gibsons as late as 1967, due to what I like to call "bottom of the bin syndrome."

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

What is nice about gold pickups, polish the gold off and viola' you now have nickel covers!

 

[PJM]

It is harder to date the Gold ones, in fact there have been Gold PAFs found in Gibsons as late as 1967, due to what I like to call "bottom of the bin syndrome."

This is why i questioned, however there are t on the tops of these so i am certain they are not PAFS. I was unsure exactly when the early patent sticker pickups began to get t top bobbins.

 

[PJM]

What is nice about gold pickups, polish the gold off and viola' you now have nickel covers!

Good call!

 

[HOT-BRIT]

This is why i questioned, however there are t on the tops of these so i am certain they are not PAFS. I was unsure exactly when the early patent sticker pickups began to get t top bobbins.

no

 

[HOT-BRIT]

all though there are some early Shaw PAF reissues with T-top bobbins

 

[PJM]

all though there are some early Shaw PAF reissues with T-top bobbins

I was refering to early patent # sticker pickups, not PAFs

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

Early patent sticker pre T-Tops are like late PAFs, which are different than previous PAFs. Late patent sticker pre T-Tops are mostly like T-Tops except for the bobbins.

Things moved fast between 1961-1965 as it comes to Gibson pickups. Do not judge a pickup by its sticker or lack thereof.