the jayce Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 I think I just spotted a gibson with the stinger painted on the back of the headstock. I have always thought that was a heritage trade mark and exclusive... For the love of god please dont tell me it was a g%$#@n design.. If so I still love heritage but it's gonna be very painfull for me to accept and get past.!!! Please say it aint so!! That being said im gonna sure enjoy jammin' on the ol'e 157 all day today. regardless if the stinger was a design copy or not.
H Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 There are examples of this on Gibsons from the 1960s so it's not particular to Heritage, I'm afraid. This is where Heritage and Gibson have shared roots - no need to be afraid of their history...
the jayce Posted November 27, 2011 Author Posted November 27, 2011 There are examples of this on Gibsons from the 1960s so it's not particular to Heritage, I'm afraid. This is where Heritage and Gibson have shared roots - no need to be afraid of their history... I can agree with that. It just took me by surprise at first when i seen it. I just thought for sure that was a heritage trademark.
GASguy Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 I have a 1964 Guild F-50, a jumbo maple acoustic, with a stinger on the headstock. Apparently they are not exclusive to Heritage or the G brand.
koula901 Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 Yeah but Gibson has been making guitars at least since 1958 (and I think actualy since the 1930s). That may go even further back then Guild - though, I don't know Guild's history. And as you know, some of the Heritage guys have worked in the K'zoo plant since the 50's, when it was 'G' brand.
barrymclark Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 Yeah. Stingers aren't new and not exclusive to Gibson. Seen them on lots and lots of guitars. Sometimes, they are an aesthetically pleasing way to cover a headstock repair.
GASguy Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 Yeah but Gibson has been making guitars at least since 1958 (and I think actualy since the 1930s). That may go even further back then Guild - though, I don't know Guild's history. And as you know, some of the Heritage guys have worked in the K'zoo plant since the 50's, when it was 'G' brand. Gibson goes a lot further back than Guild; Guild was formed in the 1950s when Gibson bought out Epiphone, ex Epiphone employees were recruited to work first in NYC then in Hoboken, until about 1967 or 68, to work for Guild; at least that is my understanding.
DetroitBlues Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 The stinger is just a touch of class. An old co-worker love his Alembic basses and its a big deal to have the "Stinger" on them. My 140 has one which further implies how my 140 was not the run of the mill. Makes me believe this is where the bried catalog item of a H-147 appeared for a short time even though I haven't seen any members with one.
JackBaruth Posted November 28, 2011 Posted November 28, 2011 From everything I can read, the purpose of the "stinger" was to cover up a defect in the wood that only became apparent when the neck was cut --- the same way sunburst Super 400s were cheaper than blondes because they could select wood with defects. Nobody in 1958 asked for a stinger and I'd suspect that some people were none too pleased to get one.
DetroitBlues Posted November 28, 2011 Posted November 28, 2011 From everything I can read, the purpose of the "stinger" was to cover up a defect in the wood that only became apparent when the neck was cut --- the same way sunburst Super 400s were cheaper than blondes because they could select wood with defects. Nobody in 1958 asked for a stinger and I'd suspect that some people were none too pleased to get one. Now that makes a lot of sense!
Gitfiddler Posted November 28, 2011 Posted November 28, 2011 Jack is correct. Stingers were used to cover build flaws on some early Gibson archtops. However, the market responded favorably to the look of stingers and they became a bit of a status symbol, having nothing to do with any defects. Stingers were recently used (2002?) by Gibson Custom Shop to market the very limited Stinger versions of high end Les Pauls. Those got the super dee-luxe wood, flame and weight upgrades on the already expensive Custom Shop LP's. Here is an example of the stinger stream of consciousness taken to the extreme. It extends from the headstock all the way to the heel cap of this 1952 Switchmaster!
FredZepp Posted November 28, 2011 Posted November 28, 2011 A stinger exists on the back of the headstock for the same reason that the front is usually painted or veneered. There are usually several pieces of wood used for the headstock , even on a one piece neck. So these features are a cosmetic that hides that. Stingers are a pain to install and in most cases they aren't worried what the back of the headstock looks like, But on premium instruments it is a reasonably common feature and it hides the seams of several pieces of wood . I believe that we've heard comments from the gang at K-zoo that it was a cosmetic feature and didn't relate to anything being inferior. Of course , repair shops can also use it to help hide a repair.
DetroitBlues Posted November 28, 2011 Posted November 28, 2011 Ouch, that stinger just stung me!!! My oh my, that's awesome!
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