Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

[Marc]

I'm not sure if this is already in the 10 pages of this thread but I spotted this from a few years ago. It's about Esper along with a photo of her - the poster says Esper was his/her grandmother:

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/esper-amps.882805/

[T70]

I havent read thru the thread (yet) but did anyone decipher the uppercase "B" found in some guitars? A few of mine have this signature!

[JVSeller]

Here's what I found on my early 62 Jazzmaster. Unfortunately it is illegible to me at least. It's not Mel, that's for sure and I don't think it's an Esper. Anyone have any idea?

[superficial]

My brain doesn't have a sufficiently powerful de-blurring filter for that one.

[caples]

Could it say Sofia??

[JVSeller]

Could it say Sofia??

Maybe. Really hard to say. If and when I open the guitar back up I'll try to get a better pic but it's really faint. When I had it open I was actually saying to myself, "looks like no one signed mine" when I was like, "wait, what's that?" Definitely a sig but unfortunately light and the blurry picture doesn't help. It seems like only the person who signed this could tell us what it says.

[Tiny C]

Of the names mentioned in this thread above, it looks like it could be Lillian. Or Pilar (that might have been a joke?). If I had to guess from any name under the sun I'd say Sofia or maybe Rita.

[Gswearengin]

I recently acquired/inherited a vintage body, pickup, pickguard, and shield. I don’t have any way of knowing if they all started life in the same guitar, but they belong together now. Here are the markings I’ve found:



Close up of the initial:



I’m assuming that’s Mell, looking at the rest of this thread. There is also a brand stamp, but it’s just too faded to read.

The body has been stripped and sanded. These are the only markings I have found:



I’m assuming this is a 3, and not a stylized E.

This is also in the trem cavity:



No idea whether it’s original or not. Has anyone ever seen anything similar?

Can anyone make an educated guess as to what year it is from the clues above? I’m guessing ca. ‘63/64, but haven’t found anything conclusive and that may just be wishful thinking on my part…

Thanks,

Gary

[JSett]

I’m assuming this is a 3, and not a stylized E.

I'm pretty sure the "3" is for "3 Tone Sunburst"

Very hard to date the actual body. Is there dowels in the back? I can't see any nailholes in the top either. Chances are you'll never know if it's a 63 or a 67 or anything in between to be honest.

[Gswearengin]

I'm pretty sure the "3" is for "3 Tone Sunburst"

Very hard to date the actual body. Is there dowels in the back? I can't see any nailholes in the top either. Chances are you'll never know if it's a 63 or a 67 or anything in between to be honest.

You suggested the same thing in my other thread (and I have no reason not to think you’re right). Dowels are there, can’t find good evidence of nail holes…could be that they’ve been filled.

There is a hole for the ground wire in the trem cavity, and there are Glazier points in the rhythm circuit cavity. That definitively dates it to 62 or later. I can’t find any evidence of holes from Glazier points in the main control cavity, suggesting it (likely) came with the full shielding tub. If I’m right about that, that would date it to pre-‘64.

But it’s all just guesswork and hopeful assumptions on my part.

Thanks,

Gary

[Tom]

These are the markings on my Jan 66 Mustang


There is a handwritten 12 on the back of the neck with a corresponding 12 stamp on the neck pocket - I’m guessing this is the start of transitioning to using numbers instead of names



The same EP as seen in other mustangs in this thread - I wonder if this is actually somebody different than Esper considering the link posted earlier mentions her leaving in 65?

Unsure if it’s a 8 or E on the pickup




Number 12 stamp and what looks like MC x

[ringosan]

Not sure if this applies... I see a '3' or 'E' under the pickguard and between the pickups on my '62 Jazzmaster:

[level3]

"Pilar" (?) on an aluminum shield that is probably from 1961:

[mcatano]

"Jay"