Is there really a 1962 Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway?

This is part 2 of my effort to identify a vintage Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway that appears as though it was issued in 1962, when Gibson did not officially sell that model.  In part 1, I described the various distinguishing features of the model as it changed in the years 1959-1961, when it was “officially”  sold, though in the latter part as an “SG Special”.   This post assumes you are familiar with the information from part 1.  I will add that, I think this part can be substantially improved.  I will update it as I have more information.  But for now, here goes:

This is where the fun really begins.   I have seen three examples of guitars that match all of the “late 1959” Les Paul Special specs, including the silkscreened logo, but on which the serial numbers date to 1962.   All three are 544XX, and two are within four digits of each other.  So it would seem that either (1) these guitars are from 1959 with unusual serial numbers, (2) Gibson issued a 1959 model in 1962, or (3) it could have been a warranty replacement.  From my discussions with various vintage guitar experts, any of these seems a possibility.   Gibson was notoriously sloppy with numbering and record keeping.  And it was not prone to waste.  If it had leftover parts, it might very well have assembled and sold them a couple of years later.  But option 3 makes a lot of sense to me.

For starters, there seem to be other examples of Gibson guitars of the era not fitting into a neat box.  For example, this one dates by serial as a 1963, yet has the “early 1959” pickup configuration.   Or this one, which dates by serial as 1961 (though listed for sale as a 1962)  yet has the silkscreened logo and other features of a “late 1959.”

So what are we left with to solve the mystery?  We haven’t yet discussed pot codes.  One of the guitars, according to the owner, had pot codes dating to 1959.  The second did not indicate the pot codes, and the owner, who had sold the guitar, did not recall any pot code information.  The third, the one in my possession, has pot codes dating to 1959.  Even if Gibson were using up old parts, it seems odd that it would have saved pots for several years.  So this would seem to argue for a 1959 conclusion.  (Update: And this one, which also has a 1962 serial, no silkscreened logo, and pots dating to 1959 according to the owner.)

But perhaps the final word is provided by a spec we haven’t discussed – the neck profile.  One expert rightly told me that you could drive yourself crazy trying to make sense of all this, but that the neck profile would tell the tale.  Conventional wisdom says that 50s necks were like baseball bats and 60s necks much thinner.  While true in a general sense, by 1959, when our story really begins, the necks were already getting thinner.  Offhand, though, I think he is probably correct.  The neck on mine looks identical to photos I have seen of a 1962 SG Special.  (Though I am not sure how accurately I can really say that from a photo.)  I do plan to take a more detailed look at the neck profile and will update with what I find.

If you have something to add to this, please email me at [firstname].[lastname]@gmail.com

This table is a work in progress…

Serial
year
Serial # Pot code PU/toggle
location
Silkscreened
logo
Link
1961 22486 N/A Late-1959 Yes  Link
1962 544XX 1959 Late-1959 Yes  Link
1962 54481 N/A Late-1959 Yes  Link
1962 54485 N/A Late-1959 Yes
1962 60648 1959 Late-1959 No  Link
1963 69703 N/A Mid-1959 No  Link

 

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

Distinguishing features of 1959-1961 Gibson Les Paul Special models

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:

Early 1959 Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway

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:

Mid-1959 GIbson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway

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.

Late 1959 Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cutaway

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.

1961 Gibson SG Special

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:

1961 Les Paul/SG Special with crown inlay

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.

1961 Gibson SG Special

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