Firebird/Trini Lopez Stingers

miczap · Jan 3, 2020

I’m looking for examples of what a factory stinger should look like one on either a Firebird or Trini Lopez standard model.

I’ve seen two Trini’s now with what appear to be factory stingers but they’re unusual in appearance and I wanted to see if the brainstrust had any further clues!

see below images of the two examples

Tom Wittrock · Jan 3, 2020

Those don't look like stingers to me. :wah
The look like refin/touch up.
Have you black lighted them? :hmm

GuitarMikey · Jan 3, 2020

That appears to be hiding something underneath. All the stingers I have seen have a point at the bottom and aren't blended like that.

Gold Tone · Jan 3, 2020

Agreed

Likely “burst” refin to cover broken headstock repair?

miczap · Jan 3, 2020

One black lights fine and other claims to as well.

Any other reason for this to be done other than a headstock break?

latestarter · Jan 4, 2020

miczap said:
One black lights fine and other claims to as well.

Any other reason for this to be done other than a headstock break?

no, these are almost certainly touch ups over breaks. Stingers are sharp lined.

RAB · Jan 4, 2020

If it was a repair why would a “2” be stamped at the top of the headstock? This normally designates a factory second. Why would a repairman make the effort to place such a stamp? :hmm

latestarter · Jan 4, 2020

RAB said:
If it was a repair why would a “2” be stamped at the top of the headstock? This normally designates a factory second. Why would a repairman make the effort to place such a stamp? :hmm

A couple of shots of nitro will sink back into the previously stamped serials or 2 marks. I’ve done it myself.

if these are factory why would they not execute the normal stinger? What makes these guitars need or deserve something different? Seems unusual.

miczap · Jan 4, 2020

For some extra data, apparently this one: https://reverb.com/uk/item/10152420-gibson-trini-lopez-standard-1966-cherry-dave-grohl was inspected by CMI for this reason and they apparently confirmed it was a factory spray and that no break or repair was present...

edit: I reached out to this seller for further information and they said "Daniel Escauriza did the inspection .. confirmed original by black light, the whole deal. It was a Gibson second ( stamped 2 on the back of the headstock. ) I got that guitar from Blues Artist Poppy Chubby in NYC."

If this is a factory treatment- what is it? is it not right to call it a stinger? and more curiously- what could it be hiding?

crashbelt · Jan 5, 2020

The SN on my Trini is very clear whereas this is buried under the black finish. Can't imagine that happened at the factory on a second. Concealing a break I suspect.

Firebird/Trini Lopez Stingers

miczap

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Tom Wittrock

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GuitarMikey

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Gold Tone

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miczap

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latestarter

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RAB

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latestarter

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miczap

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crashbelt

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