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Binding on a 1957 ES-350T

Tim's Guitars

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Nov 15, 2015
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81
I've owned this 1957 ES-350T for a while now and always wondered what this mark near the binding is, it looks like the same material as the binding? Is this some lacklustre scraping?

 

JimR56

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Oct 20, 2012
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588
To me it just looks like a bit of the lacquer came off due to some kind of accident, revealing the bare maple. Unfortunate, but hey, she's an old gal. Anyway, now I want to see the rest of this beauty! :hmm
 

Tim's Guitars

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Nov 15, 2015
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81
To me it just looks like a bit of the lacquer came off due to some kind of accident, revealing the bare maple. Unfortunate, but hey, she's an old gal. Anyway, now I want to see the rest of this beauty! :hmm


Thanks! I'm not sure that is it though, as the mark is under the finish...actually has some checking running through it....:hmm Anyway...as requested a pic of the whole guitar during a recent string change...also has the very very early no sticker PAFs with the first issue covers!

 

JimR56

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Oct 20, 2012
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588
Thanks for the photo, Tim! Gorgeous guitar. Could the spot have been clear-coated after some bump/scrape occurred? The checking might have resulted from a bump also? Anyway, it’s pretty insignificant imo.
 

Cogswell

The Duke of Dumbassery
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Mar 19, 2002
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15,717
Just a guess, but I'd bet there was a small Nick in the rim there, & instead of destroying the entire guitar they just filled it with some kind of putty.
Building an archtop like that is expensive & labor intensive. They'd probably rather salvage than scrap it.
 

Tim's Guitars

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Joined
Nov 15, 2015
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Just a guess, but I'd bet there was a small Nick in the rim there, & instead of destroying the entire guitar they just filled it with some kind of putty.
Building an archtop like that is expensive & labor intensive. They'd probably rather salvage than scrap it.

That was my thought; I think it's a production "accident"; the area is tiny and I think it was probably damaged in final production. The area all backlights as you would expect so no more recent repair at least. Anyway an interesting foible!
 

blauserk

Active member
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Mar 12, 2002
Messages
1,778
So much could have happened during the intervening 63 years--maybe a tiny spot of finish lifted slightly. In any event, it's a beauty, and yours is the same year as Chuck Berry's if memory serves. I see yours was made before they introduced the rubber boot around the switch.

Underappreciated guitars! My '59:

DSCF0668.JPG
 
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