Thanks for clarifying the Switchcraft selector switch tip information, Tom Whittrock. That makes me 100% certain the tip has been replaced. The timeline should still be accurate, even though Switchcraft was the supplier, the tip material was changed. I even think Charlie Gelber did one of his educational posts on his ES 335 site about the color timeline of the tips. JimR56, I will try to do more research about the black/tortoise guard mystery through Gibson itself, to try to get a definitive answer....also when the back finishes became solid in color. From the photographic evidence, it probably has to be late '67 or early '68.
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