57 GT plastic color

[Jean Christophe]

Hi guys

I have a question about 57 GT.

I have seen some GT with black plastic parts and some with white parts. Is there a rule, serial SN range with black parts, early SN or is it all over the place with the white parts ?

Thanks

Jean Christophe

[MapleFlame]

Originally Posted by Jean Christophe

Hi guys

I have a question about 57 GT.

I have seen some GT with black plastic parts and some with white parts. Is there a rule, serial SN range with black parts, early SN or is it all over the place with the white parts ?

Thanks

Jean Christophe

Where the problem lies, is to get an exact serial, several Gold Tops were robbed of their PAF surrounds, jack plate, toggle ring, and pickguard to put on Burst that were and are more valuable as a whole. They were replaced with the Black plastic which goes for much less dollars. Real 57-58 GoldTops with original Black Plastic were produced in low numbers. I bet mid to late 57 this occurred. I think Rev would have a better start point as he is one of the best with serial ranges.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by MapleFlame

Where the problem lies, is to get an exact serial, several Gold Tops were robbed of their PAF surrounds, jack plate, toggle ring, and pickguard to put on Burst that were and are more valuable as a whole. They were replaced with the Black plastic which goes for much less dollars. Real 57-58 GoldTops with original Black Plastic were produced in low numbers. I bet mid to late 57 this occurred. I think Rev would have a better start point as he is one of the best with serial ranges.

ah, interesting, didn't know about the plastic robbery before but sounds reasonable to me.

AFAIK the originally produced GTs with black parts were only a very small quantity at the beginning of the production of Humbucker equipped Goldtops.

But the robbery/exchange with black parts explains, why black parts GTs are less desirable than those with creme parts

[TW59]

Originally Posted by MapleFlame

Real 57-58 GoldTops with original Black Plastic were produced in low numbers. I bet mid to late 57 this occurred. I think Rev would have a better start point as he is one of the best with serial ranges.

Originally Posted by sharky

AFAIK the originally produced GTs with black parts were only a very small quantity at the beginning of the production of Humbucker equipped Goldtops.

It seems the black parts models came before the cream parts versions.
The real anomaly on serial numbers here is that the lefty 57 GTs with PAFs are normally with cream parts, and have lower serial numbers than most black parts right handed versions.
Once again, this shows that taking serial numbers as "being in order" may not be a great idea.

[585960]

Has anybody ever seen a 1957 295 with black surrounds? I never have, and if there are any left with the original surrounds, and even with not, a date code off the pots could give an idea (if original) as to when the creme surrounds started to appear...true about lefties having creme surrounds and low serials w/pafs..........

[Jean Christophe]

Thanks for the comments
Jean Christophe