Gibson Tailpiece Question

[pianoman89]

So Im considering purchasing an original tail piece cover for a snakehead ('23) Im restoring. I really only need the cover, and found this for sale online:


My question is does it look original. Notice how the engraving is just an outline. The engraving I've always seen looks like this:


Im somewhat new at the Gibson thing, and if they are both original designs, which would be correct for my 1923 A-1 sakehead?

Thanks!

[Pete Braccio]

I can't help ya but, if you don't get any answers here, ask again in the Vintage area.

Pete

[fscotte]

It looks cheap. This is a '23 A2z.

[MysTiK PiKn]

I like the silver one. It seems to be more detailed. Not sure about originality. and it's hard to say from a pix. but it looks old enough to qualify.

[Jim Garber]

I don't know but that first one you posted looks too new and shiny. The second one looks right.

Here is one from a 23 A4.

[pianoman89]

Glad to have my suspicions confirmed... I don't think I'll be spending the $175 they are asking for this one!

[Ken Waltham]

The first one is not vintage at all, it's a repro. It is engraved, not stamped like an original.

[Scott C.]

Here are some picture of my 1923 A2 and my 1917A1. I agree with Ken, that thing is a fake.

[Frank Ford]

The original tailpieces were stamped, and starting in the early "teens" Gibson switched from nickel plated brass to solid nickel alloy for the covers. That means there's no nickel plating to wear off, and today we can polish them to a high shine and allow them to develop the softer looking patina naturally, just like a nickel has, or keep them shiny as we wish by repeated polishing.

The "diamond-drag" engraved one was typical of Gibson's rather weak effort to reintroduce an original design. . .

[Tom Smart]

The original tailpieces were stamped, and starting in the early "teens" Gibson switched from nickel plated brass to solid nickel alloy for the covers. That means there's no nickel plating to wear off, and today we can polish them to a high shine and allow them to develop the softer looking patina naturally, just like a nickel has, or keep them shiny as we wish by repeated polishing.

The "diamond-drag" engraved one was typical of Gibson's rather weak effort to reintroduce an original design. . .

Did they use the same nickel tailpieces and just add gold plating to create the gold ones?

[Scott C.]

What years would they have used that engraved tail piece?

[Michael Lewis]

Contact Darryl Wolfe about things like this.