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BG_Corvette · January 10th, 2010, 03:28 PM

so I've fallen in with a corvette! and i'm not talking about Face's car in the A-team either!! handed down from my Dad who's father in turn bought it for him around 1963. I' really appreciate any info anyone else can give about the guitar, here's what I know or think I now so far:

Gretsch Solid Body Corvette – Early 1963
Two Hi-Lo Tron Pickups
Jim Burns Flat Arm Vibrato
Cherry Red Mahogany

I've been trawling the web for any info I can find, this is the only one I've seen with the English Burns flat arm vibrato! Anyone else seen this before? Everything is original and the serial number across the top edge of the head stock is 50627. Is it worth insuring separately?

http://tinypic.com/r/6ehyx0/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2edm72x/6
http://tinypic.com/m/70gwg2/3
http://tinypic.com/m/70gwlc/3
http://tinypic.com/m/70gwmr/3
http://tinypic.com/m/70gwsw/3
http://tinypic.com/m/70gx1g/3
http://tinypic.com/m/70gx7c/3

Bengal65 · January 10th, 2010, 03:47 PM

Very nice, with the Burns Vibrato, which was a standard issue during that year. Nice condition too. I don't know if it would be worth insuring seperately as the vintage Corvette's do not demand higher vintage prices as the hollowbodies. Then, it may be worth insuring for it's exceptional condition.

Nice to keep it in the family too!

So1om · January 10th, 2010, 04:08 PM

interesting that it doesn't have a toggle switch or the knob on the handle. My later 2x4 headstock has those features.

nice gtr.

mike
chicago

Wayne Gretschzky · January 10th, 2010, 04:11 PM

Vintage guitars are typically not covered in a standard homeowners insurance policy. The trick is getting an appraisal the insurance company will honor... but it's possible as many antiques, jewelry, etc. are added to policies as a rider or some other incremental coverage. Your Corvette is worth about $1500, so you can decide on the degree of risk you want to take.

So1om · January 10th, 2010, 04:12 PM

that reminds me.. i need the hold down bar and a bridge for the vette i'm restoring.

Mike
Chicago

S Macp · January 10th, 2010, 04:46 PM

It is in very good condition, thanks for the gorgeous pics.

I hope someone else chips in about this, because I'm not absolutely sure about it - 1962 is the year indicated by the 50627 sn. I've checked in Jay Scott's book, which isn't clear about when the 2-pickup Corvette (G6135) was introduced. Must be 1962 then?

drmilktruck · January 10th, 2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S Macp

It is in very good condition, thanks for the gorgeous pics.

I hope someone else chips in about this, because I'm not absolutely sure about it - 1962 is the year indicated by the 50627 sn. I've checked in Jay Scott's book, which isn't clear about when the 2-pickup Corvette (G6135) was introduced. Must be 1962 then?

It'd be prior to 1964-5 when the 2/4 headstock was introduced, and after 1961 when it was the slab model. The value is $1300-1500 for excellent condition Corvettes of that vintage. Depending if you have other music equipment, you can get a supplemental insurance policy, usually under $100/year. If that's all you've got, it's probably not worth it. Great guitar.

Wayne Gretschzky · January 10th, 2010, 07:57 PM

It's always dicey when challenging the gospel of Jay Scott... BUT, your Corvette is a 1963 model year example, and if you check the pot codes, I'll bet you a cup of coffee they will be from Feb. '63. Very nice Corvette BTW!

Another way to look at it... the '61 (debut) Corvette was the walnut finished with un-scultped horn, the '62 model year had the sculpted horn and burgundy finish BUT the truss rod adjustment was still at the base of the fretboard, and in '63 they moved the truss rod cover to the headstock.

S Macp · January 11th, 2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne Gretschzky

It's always dicey when challenging the gospel of Jay Scott... BUT, your Corvette is a 1963 model year example, and if you check the pot codes, I'll bet you a cup of coffee they will be from Feb. '63. Very nice Corvette BTW!

Another way to look at it... the '61 (debut) Corvette was the walnut finished with un-scultped horn, the '62 model year had the sculpted horn and burgundy finish BUT the truss rod adjustment was still at the base of the fretboard, and in '63 they moved the truss rod cover to the headstock.

So, the truss rod access didn't change from body to headstock in late 1962, as Jay Scott says?

BG_Corvette · January 11th, 2010, 05:27 AM

Thanks for the replies, who is this Jay Scott character and how do I look up the serial number? That was one thing I was trying to find out. Very interesting to hear it may be 1962.

One other question is that the vibrato arm doesnt return to pitch as it should, i'm guessing it maybe needs a little refurbishment. Does anyone know of a good vintage guitar restorer/refurb place or person in the UK? I'm not sure i'd like to tackle it myself.

BG_Corvette · January 11th, 2010, 05:28 AM

Oh and i'll check the pot codes Wayne and see

Lizardkinged · January 11th, 2010, 07:56 AM

can get hand written appraisal at second hand shops and good guitar stores that buy used.

Elderly in lansing will charge 20 dollars for the paperwork, but if you are trying to get a vintage guitar of any moniker insured it will probably be worth it.

Speaking of Corvettes and not spending the money on worthwhile investments.

The guy down the street from my house has a 70's (350 Small block era) Vette sitting in the street collecting snow. NO Slip cover... (thats not hard to come by)

You can tell when a dude is small if they get that kind of car and leave it out in the snow for rust to eat away at the exhaust and strip paint.

Poppatwang · January 11th, 2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG_Corvette

Thanks for the replies, who is this Jay Scott character and how do I look up the serial number? That was one thing I was trying to find out. Very interesting to hear it may be 1962.

One other question is that the vibrato arm doesnt return to pitch as it should, i'm guessing it maybe needs a little refurbishment. Does anyone know of a good vintage guitar restorer/refurb place or person in the UK? I'm not sure i'd like to tackle it myself.

Try some graphite under the strings at the nut. That's the usual suspect.

Wayne Gretschzky · January 11th, 2010, 07:47 PM

S Macp... the guitar may have been constructed at the end of the '62 calendar year... but the features are '63 model year. Most Gretsch models had a feature change for each new year... and the factory typically began producing the new model year guitars at the end of the previous calendar year.

If BG_Corvette's pot codes are in fact Feb. '63, and it's reasonable to assume the guitar could not have been made before the pots were, then it's a '63 all-way-'round (both model and calendar year).

BG-Corvette... Jay Scott wrote the "the" book on Gretsch guitars... but it's 18 years old and lots of new info has come to light since. But if you are a Gretsch fan, you MUST own that book!

So1om · January 11th, 2010, 08:05 PM

next time you change strings, take them all off. clean off the bridge and the hold down bar. you can remove the vibrato and make sure something isn't gunking up the mechanism. very light oil where it pivots and actually very ligth grease where the spring mates with the two surfaces that hold the spring in place.

when screwing the tailpiece back down, just snug them all to the surface of the tailpiece plate.

just use common sense, there's no magic to them.

Mike
Chicago

gigatron · January 12th, 2010, 01:31 AM

Nice guitar. I had one like that with a single bridge pickup.

BG_Corvette · January 13th, 2010, 02:15 PM

Thanks Wayne, i'll be buying a copy of that book at the weekend!!

Thanks also So1om i'll try that when changing the strings, someone told me i shoudl use heavier gauge strings, any truth in that?

drmilktruck · January 13th, 2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG_Corvette

Thanks for the replies, who is this Jay Scott character

Jay Scott wrote one of the two bibles on Gretsch guitars. (The other is by Tony Bacon.) His book was written in the early 90s so it needs an update. He is quite opinionated about the guitars. He doesn't like Baldwin guitars (especially the later 70s models) or HiLoTrons.

drmilktruck · January 13th, 2010, 02:46 PM

I have a Corvette project guitar available for sale if any one's interested. PM me if you are, I can send you pictures. Single pickup, 1964-65, includes Burns vibrato, original pickguard, HiLoTron pickup (tested fine.), tuners, etc...

BG_Corvette · January 18th, 2010, 03:01 PM

Just taken the guitar apart and looking for a date on the tone pots.. cant see anything that looks like a date.. just a bunch of numbers really... anyone know what i should be looking for?