Kevin James
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- Aug 22, 2010
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So excited right now! I think I just got another INSANE deal on a super rare vintage SG player. Here's the story:
So I went to Guitar Showcase yesterday after work just to look around and while I was there I found out there was a guitar show this weekend at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael CA, (just north of San Francisco). I decided to proposition my girlfriend with the idea of "being spontaniouse and going on a last minute romantic weekend get away to beautiful Marin". Evil of me I know but hey.... whatever LOL. She has been bugging me to go on a trip lately so she bit. We made last minute hotel reservations and we were off. I told her about the guitar show and that I really wanted to go and she was cool about it so we were both happy campers. She got her romantic weekend getaway, I got to hit the guitar show (just to LOOK). Win win.
So we go to the show, get there about 2:00 today and walk around. There was some cool stuff but nothing amazing... not a single original burst which was disapointing. There were several cool vintage strats, tele's, Jaguars etc, a 52 Gold Top, a 54 Gold top, a few JR's and Special's (mostly double cut) and there were several SG's.
On the second walk around the place I noticed a guitar at one of the booths (Gear Trader from Huntington Beach) that definately was not there the first time around. It was what appeared to be a very early 60's SG Standard with the sideways trem and the guitar was missing missing some parts, mainly the P.A.F.s, pup rings and the ABR bridge were gone. It was lying on the floor in its original case in front of a slew of accoustics sitting on stands. There was no price tag on the guitar.
I casually asked the guy at the booth what they were asking for the guitar and he said he'd have to ask the owner but he thought about 15. There was a 62 Standard at the show going for $16,200 that was all original and I know of a couple originals in my area going for similar (1 for $15,000 and 1 for $20,000) so I knew thats an average price for an all original example but I thought this guy was seriously smoking crack asking 15 for this thing with the missing parts and who knows what other issues. But regardless I looked at the guitar just for the heck of it and the finish was in good shape and aside from the missing P.A.F.'s (which is pretty major obviously) and hardware the guitar seemed to be in great shape. No breaks at the head to kneck joint, no breaks at the input jack, but there was what appeared to be a slight crack on the trebble side of the neck body joint . This appeared very miner though I can't even be sure it wasn't just in the finish. But still... for 15... hell no, not that I could afford a guitar in that price range anyways but hey its a show and its just fun to look.
So I tell the guy I was just curiouse and thanks and we walk away. Then something started bugging me. There is no way that is a $15,000 guitar. NO F'ing WAY. But... he didn't say $15,000..... he said 15. He couldn't possibly have meant 15 HUNDRED??? No... thats just as absurd as $15,000.... theres no freakin way. This REALLY started bugging me. And I thought, you know what.... I will never see this guy again so who cares if I make myself look like an idiot by asking a dumb question.... seriously who gives a shit, right?
So I go back over and I tell him "hey man, this might be a really dumb question but you said your asking about 15 for the guitar... did you mean $15,000 or $1,500? What he said next dropped my jaw to the floor. he said "Oh no way man, this is definitley not a $15,000.00 guitar, its a project guitar due to missing parts and like I said before I'll have to ask the owner the xact price but I'm pretty sure it $1500 give or take a couple hundred. I asked him if he could find out and that I was possibly interested. As I was asking another guy saw it and was like "oh shit, thats a great price I might be interested in that". I told him yeah, me too, he's asking the owner what he let it go for and if the answer is right its already taken buddy.
So the owner comes over and says, well my lowest on this was $1,800 but I guess I could be a little flexible. Would you need to put it on layaway? And I said "well that would be great." He then goes and talks to the other guy who has now been pulled aside by someone else who tells him "if this guy doesn't take it I'll buy it outright right now". So the owner comes back and says, well this gentleman right here is waiting to se what you do and he might be interested in taking it and paying it in full. I have to give priority to an in full payment".
So I tell him ok, how about this. I want to check the control cavity to see if the pots, caps, switch and jack are original but if you will let me do that and you'll give it to me for $1,600. I'll take it and I'll pay you in full. He said yeah man heres a screw driver. Open it up and check it out. I did and everything in the cavity appears original based on what I learned from looking at my 67 special and 64 JR cavity. I told him I'LL TAKE IT. He turned to the other guy and said "Sorry man, its sold".
I took it staright over to The Guitar Showcase booth and Gary, the owner of Showcase who I have known for years said hey what you got there? I showed him and told him what I payed and his jaw dropped. He took a look at it and said what you have here is very rare. Its not a 61, 62 or 63... its 60. YOu have an 6 digit ink stamped serial number starting in 0 and that would be correct as 60 was a high production year so by late 60 they had to move into 6 digits. An SG body style also indactes it would have been very late in 60 which is correct. And lastly, the neck joint is also the first style neck joint, smooth with no step. Then he does something I hadn't even had a chance to do... he opens the compartment in the case and BAM! There is the ABR1! Although I am not 100% sure this is the original ABR. It is very old, however it is not wireless and I'm not sure what year they put the wire on.
So by some crazy luck for $1,600.00 I am now the proud new owner of a 1960 Les Paul SG Standard which I will do my best to restore to be as original as possible (and as original as I can afford... P.A.F.'s are expensive LOL)
Pictures to follow
So I went to Guitar Showcase yesterday after work just to look around and while I was there I found out there was a guitar show this weekend at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael CA, (just north of San Francisco). I decided to proposition my girlfriend with the idea of "being spontaniouse and going on a last minute romantic weekend get away to beautiful Marin". Evil of me I know but hey.... whatever LOL. She has been bugging me to go on a trip lately so she bit. We made last minute hotel reservations and we were off. I told her about the guitar show and that I really wanted to go and she was cool about it so we were both happy campers. She got her romantic weekend getaway, I got to hit the guitar show (just to LOOK). Win win.
So we go to the show, get there about 2:00 today and walk around. There was some cool stuff but nothing amazing... not a single original burst which was disapointing. There were several cool vintage strats, tele's, Jaguars etc, a 52 Gold Top, a 54 Gold top, a few JR's and Special's (mostly double cut) and there were several SG's.
On the second walk around the place I noticed a guitar at one of the booths (Gear Trader from Huntington Beach) that definately was not there the first time around. It was what appeared to be a very early 60's SG Standard with the sideways trem and the guitar was missing missing some parts, mainly the P.A.F.s, pup rings and the ABR bridge were gone. It was lying on the floor in its original case in front of a slew of accoustics sitting on stands. There was no price tag on the guitar.
I casually asked the guy at the booth what they were asking for the guitar and he said he'd have to ask the owner but he thought about 15. There was a 62 Standard at the show going for $16,200 that was all original and I know of a couple originals in my area going for similar (1 for $15,000 and 1 for $20,000) so I knew thats an average price for an all original example but I thought this guy was seriously smoking crack asking 15 for this thing with the missing parts and who knows what other issues. But regardless I looked at the guitar just for the heck of it and the finish was in good shape and aside from the missing P.A.F.'s (which is pretty major obviously) and hardware the guitar seemed to be in great shape. No breaks at the head to kneck joint, no breaks at the input jack, but there was what appeared to be a slight crack on the trebble side of the neck body joint . This appeared very miner though I can't even be sure it wasn't just in the finish. But still... for 15... hell no, not that I could afford a guitar in that price range anyways but hey its a show and its just fun to look.
So I tell the guy I was just curiouse and thanks and we walk away. Then something started bugging me. There is no way that is a $15,000 guitar. NO F'ing WAY. But... he didn't say $15,000..... he said 15. He couldn't possibly have meant 15 HUNDRED??? No... thats just as absurd as $15,000.... theres no freakin way. This REALLY started bugging me. And I thought, you know what.... I will never see this guy again so who cares if I make myself look like an idiot by asking a dumb question.... seriously who gives a shit, right?
So I go back over and I tell him "hey man, this might be a really dumb question but you said your asking about 15 for the guitar... did you mean $15,000 or $1,500? What he said next dropped my jaw to the floor. he said "Oh no way man, this is definitley not a $15,000.00 guitar, its a project guitar due to missing parts and like I said before I'll have to ask the owner the xact price but I'm pretty sure it $1500 give or take a couple hundred. I asked him if he could find out and that I was possibly interested. As I was asking another guy saw it and was like "oh shit, thats a great price I might be interested in that". I told him yeah, me too, he's asking the owner what he let it go for and if the answer is right its already taken buddy.
So the owner comes over and says, well my lowest on this was $1,800 but I guess I could be a little flexible. Would you need to put it on layaway? And I said "well that would be great." He then goes and talks to the other guy who has now been pulled aside by someone else who tells him "if this guy doesn't take it I'll buy it outright right now". So the owner comes back and says, well this gentleman right here is waiting to se what you do and he might be interested in taking it and paying it in full. I have to give priority to an in full payment".
So I tell him ok, how about this. I want to check the control cavity to see if the pots, caps, switch and jack are original but if you will let me do that and you'll give it to me for $1,600. I'll take it and I'll pay you in full. He said yeah man heres a screw driver. Open it up and check it out. I did and everything in the cavity appears original based on what I learned from looking at my 67 special and 64 JR cavity. I told him I'LL TAKE IT. He turned to the other guy and said "Sorry man, its sold".
I took it staright over to The Guitar Showcase booth and Gary, the owner of Showcase who I have known for years said hey what you got there? I showed him and told him what I payed and his jaw dropped. He took a look at it and said what you have here is very rare. Its not a 61, 62 or 63... its 60. YOu have an 6 digit ink stamped serial number starting in 0 and that would be correct as 60 was a high production year so by late 60 they had to move into 6 digits. An SG body style also indactes it would have been very late in 60 which is correct. And lastly, the neck joint is also the first style neck joint, smooth with no step. Then he does something I hadn't even had a chance to do... he opens the compartment in the case and BAM! There is the ABR1! Although I am not 100% sure this is the original ABR. It is very old, however it is not wireless and I'm not sure what year they put the wire on.
So by some crazy luck for $1,600.00 I am now the proud new owner of a 1960 Les Paul SG Standard which I will do my best to restore to be as original as possible (and as original as I can afford... P.A.F.'s are expensive LOL)
Pictures to follow
!!!
! 
. congrats man, very cool
