77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
- Thread starter blakejcan
- Start date
Laughing Kookaburra
Active member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
You may have thought of this, but have your serial number knowledge down. That only serves you in the case of the guitar itself, sans electronics, but it's a start.
Check the neck up by the headstock for evidence of a break. I am not an expert on the hardware.
These related sites have helped in the past. I'd also search for verified images of SGs from that year so as to be acquainted with what the hardware should look like. I just googled 1977 SG Custom, and a lot came up.
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/GearAndInstruments/Gibson Serial Numbers/
http://www2.gibson.com/Support/Serial-Number-Search.aspx
I didn't go all the way through the discussion, but this was interesting. It was one of the google results. Good luck!
http://www.everythingsg.com/forum/gibson-sg/18440-help-what-year-my-sg-custom.html
You may have thought of this, but have your serial number knowledge down. That only serves you in the case of the guitar itself, sans electronics, but it's a start.
Check the neck up by the headstock for evidence of a break. I am not an expert on the hardware.
These related sites have helped in the past. I'd also search for verified images of SGs from that year so as to be acquainted with what the hardware should look like. I just googled 1977 SG Custom, and a lot came up.
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/GearAndInstruments/Gibson Serial Numbers/
http://www2.gibson.com/Support/Serial-Number-Search.aspx
I didn't go all the way through the discussion, but this was interesting. It was one of the google results. Good luck!
http://www.everythingsg.com/forum/gibson-sg/18440-help-what-year-my-sg-custom.html
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Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Are you dead set on that particular year for a reason? Unless you are 77 and there abouts were a low point for SG's and arent their finest examples of the instrument. Now they are climbing in price because people cant afford 60's SG's anymore. But if that era is what blows your skirt up have at it just be careful on the price its a buyers market right now. Check the thing over for any cracks or stability issues. Gibson sold alot of 2nds at the time so look for a "2" stamped on it
Are you dead set on that particular year for a reason? Unless you are 77 and there abouts were a low point for SG's and arent their finest examples of the instrument. Now they are climbing in price because people cant afford 60's SG's anymore. But if that era is what blows your skirt up have at it just be careful on the price its a buyers market right now. Check the thing over for any cracks or stability issues. Gibson sold alot of 2nds at the time so look for a "2" stamped on it
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
In 77 they used a sticker for the serial number. There was an '06' prefix in 77.
3-piece maple neck, large headstock, some odd body wood joins too.
You can still get some gems from this era too....they're not quite like a vintage SG, but they have almost 40 year old wood so the 'guaranteed bad guitar' bit is somewhat overrated.
As always, see if the guitar sounds good to your ears.
In 77 they used a sticker for the serial number. There was an '06' prefix in 77.
3-piece maple neck, large headstock, some odd body wood joins too.
You can still get some gems from this era too....they're not quite like a vintage SG, but they have almost 40 year old wood so the 'guaranteed bad guitar' bit is somewhat overrated.
As always, see if the guitar sounds good to your ears.
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Thanks everyone. Appreciate it. Of course, after all this, I haven't even heard back from the guy yet.
Edgecrusher--I did quite a bit of reading yesterday about people hating the Norlin stuff, people who don't care and even some who say it's totally fine. I'm just gonna play it and see what happens. At the sub-$2000 pricepoint it's being offered and the condition per the pics it looks pretty legit to me but what do I know?
Thanks everyone. Appreciate it. Of course, after all this, I haven't even heard back from the guy yet.
Edgecrusher--I did quite a bit of reading yesterday about people hating the Norlin stuff, people who don't care and even some who say it's totally fine. I'm just gonna play it and see what happens. At the sub-$2000 pricepoint it's being offered and the condition per the pics it looks pretty legit to me but what do I know?
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
2 things i dont like with the norlin SG's they have a different body shape it looks pudgy and fat to me and the bridge that was used. The cool part to them is they have the neck pickup is pushed forward to the end of the fret board instead of the normal gap so the neck tones are more Les Paul like (wont say better cause whats better) How far sub 2k are you talking? You can find late 70s SG's from dealers for around 1700-1800 so on a private sale I would anticipate 1500 or so. One thing I would really check out is the fret wear. The fret wire at the time was pretty soft and alot of them need refrets and with the gibson style binding this can get costly.
I asked if you were married to the era cause in my not so humble opinion the late 90's SG standards and 61 reissues are better quality and just as good of wood and much closer to a 60's SG and can be had for sub 1k for standards and about 1400ish for 61 reissues. If the norlin era gives you a hard on then have at it.
2 things i dont like with the norlin SG's they have a different body shape it looks pudgy and fat to me and the bridge that was used. The cool part to them is they have the neck pickup is pushed forward to the end of the fret board instead of the normal gap so the neck tones are more Les Paul like (wont say better cause whats better) How far sub 2k are you talking? You can find late 70s SG's from dealers for around 1700-1800 so on a private sale I would anticipate 1500 or so. One thing I would really check out is the fret wear. The fret wire at the time was pretty soft and alot of them need refrets and with the gibson style binding this can get costly.
I asked if you were married to the era cause in my not so humble opinion the late 90's SG standards and 61 reissues are better quality and just as good of wood and much closer to a 60's SG and can be had for sub 1k for standards and about 1400ish for 61 reissues. If the norlin era gives you a hard on then have at it.
RorySquier
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Ah ha! So you think the Norlin era is crap, huh?:nono: Well here's a thread to prove your blasphemous statement's against 70's SG's will not be tolerated!
:soapbox::rocket::argh:
http://www.everythingsg.com/forum/gibson-sg/20545-70s-sg-appreciation-thread.html
:banana:
Ah ha! So you think the Norlin era is crap, huh?:nono: Well here's a thread to prove your blasphemous statement's against 70's SG's will not be tolerated!
:soapbox::rocket::argh:
http://www.everythingsg.com/forum/gibson-sg/20545-70s-sg-appreciation-thread.html
:banana:
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Where did I say that? I said that the new ones are better but did not say they were crap. Even then so whoopity-do you found a group of guys on a forum called "everythingSG" no less that love norlin era Gibsons :thumbsdow
Btw that thread only proves 1 thing. Opinions vary. The coolest thing about guitars is that there are so many and not everyone has to like the same thing. If everyone agreed around here this place would be as boring as watching paint dry.
Where did I say that? I said that the new ones are better but did not say they were crap. Even then so whoopity-do you found a group of guys on a forum called "everythingSG" no less that love norlin era Gibsons :thumbsdow
Btw that thread only proves 1 thing. Opinions vary. The coolest thing about guitars is that there are so many and not everyone has to like the same thing. If everyone agreed around here this place would be as boring as watching paint dry.
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Thanks dudes. I don't have any love affair with any particular era. I just happened across this guitar trolling CL and thought it was great. I've always wanted a 3 pickup axe and I wanted my next purchase to be an SG or Les Paul. The pricepoint is about what you mentioned above and it looks pretty flawless for a 35 year old axe.
I also liked that it's a 77 which is when I was born.
here, check it out. how could you say no to that?
Thanks dudes. I don't have any love affair with any particular era. I just happened across this guitar trolling CL and thought it was great. I've always wanted a 3 pickup axe and I wanted my next purchase to be an SG or Les Paul. The pricepoint is about what you mentioned above and it looks pretty flawless for a 35 year old axe.
I also liked that it's a 77 which is when I was born.
here, check it out. how could you say no to that?
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Laughing Kookaburra
Active member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
^^^Very nice!
^^^Very nice!
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Sharp!!!
Sharp!!!
RorySquier
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Congratulations brother!
That's a beauty guitar and don't let anyone put that beauty down. I bet your fingers are sore by now from all that playing.
Thanks dudes. I don't have any love affair with any particular era. I just happened across this guitar trolling CL and thought it was great. I've always wanted a 3 pickup axe and I wanted my next purchase to be an SG or Les Paul. The pricepoint is about what you mentioned above and it looks pretty flawless for a 35 year old axe.
I also liked that it's a 77 which is when I was born.
here, check it out. how could you say no to that?
View attachment 42472
Congratulations brother!
That's a beauty guitar and don't let anyone put that beauty down. I bet your fingers are sore by now from all that playing.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
LOVE the color an the gold with it. I've never seen that kind of spacing for the pickups on an sg before either. That neck humbucker is right up against the neck. I rarely see that on sg's because there usually isn't enough wood to support it up there. It's something they only did around that time. Very cool though.
Thanks dudes. I don't have any love affair with any particular era. I just happened across this guitar trolling CL and thought it was great. I've always wanted a 3 pickup axe and I wanted my next purchase to be an SG or Les Paul. The pricepoint is about what you mentioned above and it looks pretty flawless for a 35 year old axe.
I also liked that it's a 77 which is when I was born.
here, check it out. how could you say no to that?
View attachment 42472
LOVE the color an the gold with it. I've never seen that kind of spacing for the pickups on an sg before either. That neck humbucker is right up against the neck. I rarely see that on sg's because there usually isn't enough wood to support it up there. It's something they only did around that time. Very cool though.
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Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Now that you mention it, something looks different about that bridge too. it looks slightly bigger and more rectangular. Both of those things point to it being genuine and an original piece.
Now that you mention it, something looks different about that bridge too. it looks slightly bigger and more rectangular. Both of those things point to it being genuine and an original piece.
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RorySquier
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
I hope he does reply, then you can join that SG forum which I'm also on. Tell that dude on craigslist to make it snappy with the replies.:wink:
I hope he does reply, then you can join that SG forum which I'm also on.
Tell that dude on craigslist to make it snappy with the replies.:wink:
RorySquier
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
The neck tenon is set more into the body compared to other SG's like '61 RI's and most present day SG's which is why the neck pickup is up against the fretboard.
It's a Harmonica bridge which was used exclusively in the 1970's. The other bridge types are ABR-1 which my SG has and a TOM bridge (Tune-O-Matic) which my LP Studio has.
The neck tenon is set more into the body compared to other SG's like '61 RI's and most present day SG's which is why the neck pickup is up against the fretboard.
It's a Harmonica bridge which was used exclusively in the 1970's. The other bridge types are ABR-1 which my SG has and a TOM bridge (Tune-O-Matic) which my LP Studio has.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
I've had a couple of '70s SGs - a '76 and a '74. Both had that harmonica bridge, which I liked better than the TOM on my LP. Slightly different feel under your hand when palm-muting, but nothing too extreme.
As guitars go, I saw nothing wrong with them. They sounded good, and played good, so I'm not entirely sure of why people get their panties in a knot about them.
I've had a couple of '70s SGs - a '76 and a '74. Both had that harmonica bridge, which I liked better than the TOM on my LP. Slightly different feel under your hand when palm-muting, but nothing too extreme.
As guitars go, I saw nothing wrong with them. They sounded good, and played good, so I'm not entirely sure of why people get their panties in a knot about them.
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
Thats a really nice guitar there.
I've got an 85, which has the same tenon/neck arrangement and the neck pickup in the same position. Great tones, and was much nicer than the 99 which I sold due to it being a bit lifeless......In fact now I think on it my only dog Gibsons have been 90's models, and my best are all Norlins:33:
Thats a really nice guitar there.
I've got an 85, which has the same tenon/neck arrangement and the neck pickup in the same position. Great tones, and was much nicer than the 99 which I sold due to it being a bit lifeless......In fact now I think on it my only dog Gibsons have been 90's models, and my best are all Norlins:33:
RorySquier
Well-known member
Re: 77 Gibson Custom SG question---good? bad? how to verify if all original?
I guess they were considered the corporate years with Norlin just like CBS with Fender. Fender guitars made during CBS's reign went downhill quality wise, even though some decent guitars were still made. Gibson during the Norlin years made pretty good guitars, but they were a hit and miss sometimes. But then again Gibson's QA has been questionable lately. During the Norlin years the necks had volutes near the headstock and the headstock angle went from 17 degrees to 14 which made broken neck syndrome less likely. And of course the pancake Les Pauls...some were pretty heavy going up to 12 lbs....ouch! But there is one gentleman on the MLP forum who swears by Norlin. He says Norlin Les Pauls really rock. They must have had real good sustain, especially being that heavy.
I guess they were considered the corporate years with Norlin just like CBS with Fender. Fender guitars made during CBS's reign went downhill quality wise, even though some decent guitars were still made. Gibson during the Norlin years made pretty good guitars, but they were a hit and miss sometimes. But then again Gibson's QA has been questionable lately. During the Norlin years the necks had volutes near the headstock and the headstock angle went from 17 degrees to 14 which made broken neck syndrome less likely. And of course the pancake Les Pauls...some were pretty heavy going up to 12 lbs....ouch! But there is one gentleman on the MLP forum who swears by Norlin. He says Norlin Les Pauls really rock. They must have had real good sustain, especially being that heavy.
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