I have decided to split this post into two parts. The genesis of both posts is my effort to identify a vintage Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway guitar that did not quite seem to fit into a neat box. Specifically, it has features that would suggest that it has to be a 1959 and other features that suggest it has to be a 1962. My hope is not only will this aid others with a similar guitar but also that they might share their own information, which I will then add to share with the interwebs. More on the specifics of my guitar in the next post. Here lets just set the scene.
This is compiled from various sources, including people from several prominent vintage instrument stores (including Houston’s own Guitarzza), private correspondence with sellers of other similar guitars, and:
- Gibson Electrics: The Classic Years, by A.R. Duchossoir
- The Bluebook of Electric Guitars
- The Gibson Electric Guitar Book, by Walter Carter
- Gruhn’s Guide to Vintage Guitars, by Walter Carter and George Gruhn
In late 1958, Gibson began to make a double cutaway version of the Les Paul Special. But very few actually went out the door until 1959. In fact, the only 1959 Gibson catalog I have seen, which was dated March 1959, did not even include a double cutaway version:
Distinguishing features of the new guitar included a silkscreened “Les Paul Special” logo on the pegstock, rounded horns, and the neck pickup located right next to the fretboard separated only by a small insert that was separate from the pickguard. Also, the pickgard, which appears to be 5-ply with BWBWB is cut at an angle except at the edge between the pickups, where it is squared off. Here is an example of the “early 1959” configuration:
Note also the location of the toggle switch. The first change that appears is relocating of the toggle switch, as there are examples that otherwise have the same configuration, with a relocated toggle switch as the only change. So this one I will call a “mid-1959” variant:
The location of the neck pickup turned out to be problematic. It required routing into the neck tenon, which weakened the neck joint, leading to a rash of broken necks. So in mid-1959, Gibson relocated the neck pickup. The pickguard changed to cover the space between the neck pickup and neck.
Although I have not seen it, I have read that by as early as November 1959, Gibson issued a price sheet no longer marketing this guitar as a “Les Paul” model. Rather, this was part of the change to “SG”. Initially, there was little difference between the late 1959 Les Paul Special and the SG Special. It had essentially the same “late 1959” features but without the “Les Paul Special” silkscreened logo.
Even Gibson’s own catalogs had trouble keeping up. The May 1960 edition included an “SG Special” model but featured an image of what appears to be the “early 1959” variant of the Les Paul Special.
With me so far? So by 1960, we no longer have a “Les Paul Special” but instead an “SG Special” that doesn’t look like an SG. There was one last variation before Gibson changed over in 1961 to the pointed SG horns that we all know and love (or hate). I had read that a few guitars in the early ’60s came with the pearloid crown inlay on the pegstock. Here is one said to be a 1961, though no other information was provided:
The photo is attributed to Norman’s Rare Guitars, which at the time of writing, has one for sale. They call it a “1960-1961” but the serial number of 5563 would seem to suggest it as a 1961. I would guess that this is the same guitar. But this one isn’t. And here is another in TV yellow that has a very similar serial number. [UPDATE: And another that appears to have lost its serial number during a refin.]
Then finally there is the 1961 with the pointy SG shape.
There probably are some other distinguishing features that I am overlooking. Pot codes, of course, can provide insight. The neck profile differed across the years 1959-1962 and may be informative. I have also seen it suggested that the angle of the bridge differed, though I have not really checked into that yet. I will update this as I gather more information about general distinguishing features of these guitars. So onto the 1959/1962 mystery…
Other resources:
- https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25669-vintage-vault-1961-gibson-sg-special
- https://www.vintageguitar.com/3223/the-gibson-les-paul-special/
- http://www.guitargonauts.info/pick-51.html
- https://www.bromptons.co/reference/articles/details/gibson-part-4-from-les-paul-to-sg.html
- http://www.frettedamericana.com/product/1961-gibson-les-paulsg-special
- http://www.guitardaterproject.org/potcodereader.aspx
- https://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?202618-A-little-help-with-a-LP-Special-DC&p=2793878#post2793878