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This rolled into the shop. An early 70's SG Standard. Looks like it's been slightly modified over the years.

This doesn't look good.

This looks worse.

Almost enough parts to put it together.

Fun with the heat gun.

Nice thick paint, single stage auto paint from the late '80's with black lacquer underneath.

After stripping we can see the original repair. Now don't pick on the repair guy, he's a good friend and this was a long time ago. Seems a band mate had a few too many "Barley Pops" and had an altercation with his first nice guitar.


A little pressure up on the body and down on the neck opens the joint about .030".

Near as I can tell this has been refinished twice. Guessing the original color was walnut. It's had two different trems on it judging from the screw holes. Then the stop tail and a third pickup were added and at that time it was painted black. The owner bought it in 1978 and Holly accosted it in the early '80's.

Front of the headstock looks reasonable.

Numbers were sanded off some time in the past.

The necks been sanded a couple of times and is starting to lose the binding.


So, I've got a fixable neck and an SG body that at best is a template. A decent case that needs a handle, some parts and a request to "Fix it how you want, it doesn't even have to look like an SG when it comes back".
Good thing this is just a hobby.

Yowza! Well.... I've seen worse salvaged. Good luck with it, and keep us in the loop.

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I see a Frankenwheeler in the making ! Lolol. Just no bolts in the neck ! You got this Steven. If there was any hope in the body a guy could reglue what u have and sand thinner. Then do a drop top and a veneer back. Just a thunk

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Did a little measuring, something is rotten in Denmark. The holes on the pick guard are supposed to line up with the bridge screw bushings.

The center of the treble bridge screw should be 12.61" from the twelfth fret. This one is at 12.25".

Even with the long throw of the harmonica bridge, this will never intonate.


So, obviously the previous repair got the neck too far into the body. I could copy this body and change the geometry at the neck to make it work, but I'm feeling lazy so I ordered a template. I decided on a standard SG body in Sapele, not sure on the finish. Going to make it a single purpose tool. Stetsbar trem, bridge pickup only. Either a Dimarzio X2N or Lawrence L500XL. Hipshot locking tuners and a single volume knob.

At first glance with my ignorant, inexperienced eye, I saw that white paint and thought: "This could really be cool". Somebody, please assure me that the cross-grain horns and neck pocket grafted onto that body are NOT official, manufacturer's Friday afternoon work!

Our poster did ask us to be gentle with the original repair person, as this was a LOOOOOONG time ago. Presumably, our poster was referring to that grafting job.

As to the original perpetrator inflicting damage during a beer "moment": .................well...I just can't think of anything kind to say about that.

Go with the Lawrence pickup. I had a Les Paul once with 3 X2N's and it was all grind, no tone. You couldn't get a sweet tone out of it if your life depended on it. Found it's best to start with a clean signal - then dirty it up. Start with dirt, all you'll ever have is more dirt.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Well Pat,
We've seen some real crap come out of the Gibson factory over the years, but the cross grain fix was done by the owner.

I'm with you on pickup choices Chris, but sometimes dirt can be fun.

Steve