Please check these late PAFs, if they are unaltered

[Progrocker111]

I am considering to buy an early 63 ES355 supposedly with original PAFs. As i am not a PAF expert, could you please check the photo and tell me, if they are ok? I noticed fairly big amounts of solder on them. I am not able to say for sure, if the covers were once removed or not. Many thanks for help.

 

[ESchmidt]

Not the best picture in the world to go off of, but the stickers do look correct.

 

[Progrocker111]

Not the best picture in the world to go off of, but the stickers do look correct.

I have uploaded the picture, now its bigger.

 

[Subterfuge]

that solder sure looks awful shiny ..

 

[kakerlak]

I would say the covers have been off before, based on the solder and that they've been out of the guitar before, based on the 'neck' written on the underside of the neck pickup. Simply no reason to write that on there unless you're taking them out of a guitar and trying to avoid mixing them up. That's not really a red flag if the guitar's been refinished, though.

 

[Progrocker111]

That's not really a red flag if the guitar's been refinished, though.

Do you think the finish is too clean? The guitar seems to be very clean, a bit weird to me too. The sideways vibrola was switched to trapeze.

 

[Airplane]

That would be one of the cleanest 63s ever.

Did they even make that guitar in this opaque red back in the day?

Also, switch tip is black and therefore not original in case you haven’t noticed.

 

[Progrocker111]

That would be one of the cleanest 63s ever.
Did they even make that guitar in this opaque red back in the day?

The finish is very suspicious to me too. Looks too shiny and untransparent.

 

[sws1]

Solder has definitely been touched. And that finish doesn't look original.

 

[PierM]

The finish is very suspicious to me too. Looks too shiny and untransparent.

If you find a black light that's something easy to spot.

 

[kakerlak]

Do you think the finish is too clean? The guitar seems to be very clean, a bit weird to me too. The sideways vibrola was switched to trapeze.

It's hard to be certain from the photos you've got, but it definitely seems possible, if not probable. It's all very shiny and looks devoid of any checking/wear, plus the binding looks really white. Not fully impossible if it's been totally under the bed, but man, for pushing 60 years old, most will yellow and check a little, even if left more-or-less unplayed. I also notice that the pickup cavities look super clean and shiny, free of old polishing compound and the sort of dust, grime, lint and skin flakes that usually accumulate in there. ...and that writing on the pickup suggests it's been out so, if it's original, then that supports the guitar being a refin and, if it's not a refin, then it supports the pickup having been replaced, whether or not it's an actual PAF.

 

[Progrocker111]

Yes, too much risk factor here, i will pass on this one...

 

[Airplane]

may i ask how much he wants for it? not in the market for one, just curious (given the condition)..

 

[Progrocker111]

may i ask how much he wants for it? not in the market for one, just curious (given the condition)..

9500 EUR.

 

[BA-CHEE]

To me it looks like original PAFs , but there is a lot of solder on them. Perhaps since the covers have already been removed (IMO) why not pop em of for verification ? I also thought that ES355s had a Varitone ( I am no 335, 345, 355 expert) anyways good luck in making a sound decision.

 

[RAG7890]

To me it looks like original PAFs , but there is a lot of solder on them. Perhaps since the covers have already been removed (IMO) why not pop em of for verification ? I also thought that ES355s had a Varitone ( I am no 335, 345, 355 expert) anyways good luck in making a sound decision.

Varitone is used for the ES345, not the ES335.

 

[Airplane]

Varitone is used for the ES345, not the ES335.

And for the 355. And this guitar is a 355.

But they made some without Varitone.

 

[BA-CHEE]

RAG7890, thank you the education on ES335, 345 , and 355 Gibson Guitars. Does that mean that there were never any 355 with Varitones ? ( Perhaps by special order only , eh ?)

 

[Airplane]

9500 EUR.

Hard to say if this is good or not. I‘m pretty sure it‘s a refin and doesn‘t have Varitone, which is a bummer but probably means it‘s mono which would be a good thing..

 

[Airplane]

RAG7890, thank you the education on ES335, 345 , and 355 Gibson Guitars. Does that mean that there were never any 355 with Varitones ? ( Perhaps by special order only , eh ?)

Not sure if you‘re being sarcastic about the ‚education‘

355s without Varitone are rare but not as rare as 345s without VT. They usually all have it.