As the title says, this post discusses, variances in the silkscreened “Gibson Les Paul Special” logo on the headstocks of the Double Cutaway models dating from 1959 to 1962. I am limited to using images that I can date by serial number, and the image quality, angle, and lighting vary. I have done what I can to crop and size them similarly for comparison. Also, some have worn more than others. Still, there are some obvious differences.
Let’s start with three from 1959:
While these appear very similar, the third one appears to be slightly thicker in its script. This could just be a guitar to guitar normal variance or even just a trick of the photographs. Otherwise I regard these as similar.
But then here is one from 1960:
Note that the word “SPECIAL” uses an entirely different font. Also, the letters are spaced farther apart. This guitar was extensively repaired, and the logo appears to be a waterslide decal rather than a factory silkscreen. I think we can safely disregard this one as far as adding any real information. [UPDATE: In correspondence with the owner, he indicates that the logo appears to be a silkscreen. He sent additional pictures, which I will add and discuss at the end of the post. Also, he says that first digit of the s/n appears to be a “9”. I could not make it out in the photo and assumed a “0” from the assertion that it is a 1960 model.]
Now we come to the ones that really interest me – the later ones in 1961 and 1962. Of course, these guitars are theoretically not supposed to exist (the subject of other posts), so the fact that they share a unique trait is a significant piece of information.
Note in particular the loop in the “L” in “Les” that is more filled in where the lines cross, as compared to the 1959 models. The later screen appears a bit thicker in general. Here I took the best 1959 logo and the best 1962 logo from above to compare:
It appears also that the 1962 logo is slightly more compressed and that the loop on the “s” in “Les” extends a bit farther.
Ultimately, the important thing to me is that there is pretty much consistency across the later guitars, suggesting that the logo application was done by Gibson at the factory. likely using a new screen. For context, here is an interesting video about silkscreening a Les Paul logo.
It is no stretch to imagine that after 1961, Gibson did not retain the screen, and so made a new one when putting out some in 1962. In any event, I suggest there is comfort in a crowd, knowing that there appear to be a series of guitars sharing a common silkscreen. Perhaps this will help someone else who encounters skepticism from a potential buyer.
UPDATE
Here is the update about the “1960” model, with a couple of additional photos.
Some of what looked to be a waterslide decal edge now appears to me to be checking. But there still look to me to be edges of a decal. I could very well be incorrect about that. But I also note that the owner indicates that the guitar had a neck re-set and that it appears to have non-original tuners, so I suppose anything is possible.
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:
