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Back in May, I received an email from Alan Jones from Liverpool, asking me if it was possible to date his early Pete Back double cutaway:
Dating this guitar is actually relatively straightforward. You mention that the bridge humbucker is from 1981. This gives a clear date to the guitar once we assume that the neck pup is a later replacement. This date is backed up by the headstock markings - the early-period transfer (applied in black and white to give an unusual drop shadow effect!), the hand-etched truss rod special - these all point to an early-period guitar, which I would estimate to be circa 1982.
Valuation is practically impossible, because Pete Back guitars of this age and condition virtually never appear on the open market, their owners nearly always deciding to hang on to them for life. I don't think that the replacement humbucker - and what may be replacement knobs) would detract greatly from the valuation. I don't tend to offer public valuations on the site but I would estimate that such a hand-crafted guitar however is now worth considerably more than the £1000 that Pete's electrics were selling for new before he retired in 2009, perhaps up towards £2000. My personal advice however would be to hang on to it - you will never find a guitar like this again!
I have what i believe is a very early pete doulble cutaway custom special. it,s a natural finish alder body with a 7 piece laminated thru neck comprising , maple and mahogany, headstock is also the same, and the shape of an early melody maker. it,s currently fitted with a 1981 gibson humbucker at the bridge and a 1988 hb-r at the neck, and fitted with nickel grover tuners. the fretboard is ebony with pearl dot markers, a very slim neck indeed!it truly is a wonderful guitar!I wrote back to request some photos (crucial as always), and he kindly sent a load through. Now the first thing to get excited about is the fantastic condition of this guitar - from what we can see it is in excellent condition. Then the artistry of the manufacture catches the eye. A 7-piece through neck design is very time-consuming to create, but the way the different woods move up the headpiece is amazing.
Dating this guitar is actually relatively straightforward. You mention that the bridge humbucker is from 1981. This gives a clear date to the guitar once we assume that the neck pup is a later replacement. This date is backed up by the headstock markings - the early-period transfer (applied in black and white to give an unusual drop shadow effect!), the hand-etched truss rod special - these all point to an early-period guitar, which I would estimate to be circa 1982.
Valuation is practically impossible, because Pete Back guitars of this age and condition virtually never appear on the open market, their owners nearly always deciding to hang on to them for life. I don't think that the replacement humbucker - and what may be replacement knobs) would detract greatly from the valuation. I don't tend to offer public valuations on the site but I would estimate that such a hand-crafted guitar however is now worth considerably more than the £1000 that Pete's electrics were selling for new before he retired in 2009, perhaps up towards £2000. My personal advice however would be to hang on to it - you will never find a guitar like this again!
this looks like the one i had for a while. i bought it from carlsboro sound centre in the early 2000's for a ton. The original pick ups were awful, and i put some replacements from WD Music in. Sold it for a ton to wizard guitars, who put a £550 price tag on it. That shop went bust.
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