Calling all postwar Gibson guys...

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 2 Feb 2025 4:35 am

...could this thing possibly be legit?

https://reverb.com/item/86878106-gibson ... shell-case

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 2 Feb 2025 4:45 am

I saw it in person yesterday. It definitely looks like the original finish, albeit an odd one. The "Beth" is engraved from the back of the board - I'm not sure if it was done by Gibson or someone later, but it's professionally done.

It's one of those "never say never" Gibsons.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 2 Feb 2025 5:55 am

Noah Miller wrote:It's one of those "never say never" Gibsons.

Thanks, Noah. With Gibson in Kalamazoo of that era, it seems anything was possible.

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 6 Feb 2025 4:24 am

What does the third knob on a Ultratone do? I had one before and can't remember.

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 6 Feb 2025 4:39 am

It has volume, treble and bass controls.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 6 Feb 2025 4:45 am

Glenn Wilde wrote:What does the third knob on a Ultratone do?

In my opinion, not a lot. Per Gibson Electric Steel Guitars 1935 - 1967 by the late Andre Duchossoir: "The BR-1/Ultratone was fitted with an innovative three-control circuitry designed to broaden the spectrum of its tonal response. The volume control was supplemented by two tone controls with different frequency cuts, thanks to their wiring and different capacitors of 0.02MFD and 0.001MFD."

Noah Miller · Post by **Noah Miller** » 6 Feb 2025 4:59 am

The smaller capacitor is wired in series with the pickup to roll off the bass, the larger one shunts the highs from hot to ground.

When working as designed, the difference clear as day. The problem is that many capacitors drift over time, changing what frequencies they roll off. This is a common issue with aging electric instruments.