Gibson LeGrand Missing Split Diamond Inlay

[mattyjames]

Calling all Gibson LeGrand experts. Wondering if anyone has seen a LeGrand without the split diamond inlay on the back of the headstock? I've never seen one without it in over 30 years so wondering if this was a custom order to not have it, or just a mistake? Link below with pictures, any insight is appreciated, thanks!

1997 Gibson LeGrand
– Fiddler's Green Music Shop

[Johnny Mac]

I had 3 LeGrands. The first 2 were damaged because of the case design. My 3rd one turned out fine. They all had the inlays on the back of the headstock. It would be interesting to find out why. Call the Custom Shop

[mattyjames]

I had 3 LeGrands. The first 2 were damaged because of the case design. My 3rd one turned out fine. They all had the inlays on the back of the headstock. It would be interesting to find out why. Call the Custom Shop

Thanks Johnny Mac, I did send the Gibson Custom Shop an email on this with the serial number. Definitely strange as I’ve looked up any image on LeGrands from all years that can be found on the web and never seen one without the inlay.

[CharlesC]

Did you ever hear back from Gibson about this guitar? I have never seen one without the diamond either. Thanks!

[Marty Grass]

Interesting question. I saw a podcast on the history of Gibson recently. They put the "Patent Applied For" sticker on their PAFs for two years after they received the patent. One theory was that they were using up the extra stickers before starting the stickers that have the patent number on them. That seems pretty cheap, but Gibson was under financial pressure. Some midlevel manager may have thought this will save a penny per guitar, which could add up to two bucks a day!

The lack of an inlay may be simply due to being out of them at that time with pressure to ship the instrument. IDK.

[mattyjames]

Did you ever hear back from Gibson about this guitar? I have never seen one without the diamond either. Thanks!

I did hear back from them and of course in typical Gibson manner they just said they didn’t know why it wasn’t there. Most likely new employees that don’t have any history or proper training. Interesting though that the seller wouldn’t take an offer but now is down $2,000 on price….

[58flame]

That's a nice guitar. If I were in the market for one, I wouldn't care about that inlay one bit.

[Mick-7]

The front of the headstock looks odd too, like the lacquer was replaced, so perhaps the inlay (and serial number) on the back of it was covered up in the process.

[Jabberwocky]

That's a nice guitar. If I were in the market for one, I wouldn't care about that inlay one bit.

That's one beautiful LeGrand. My memory fails me but I seem to recall seeing another without the back of the headstock diamond inlay. Oh, was it a diamond inlay that was not a mirror image of the one on the front?

The front of the headstock looks odd too, like the lacquer was replaced, so perhaps the inlay (and serial number) on the back of it was covered up in the process.

This LeGrand is 28 years old. Quite usual for the nitro clear coat to bubble and lift around the peripheries of inlays and tuning machine ferrules.

This one does not have a pickup. The pickguard looks like a one-off special made by Gibson or an aftermarket replacement. $9500 isn't too bad for a flaming Natural like this one. I really don't care about the missing rear diamond. This might be a custom order that asked for the rear inlay to be omitted. Some people are strange like that.

[Mick-7]

Calling all Gibson LeGrand experts. Wondering if anyone has seen a LeGrand without the split diamond inlay on the back of the headstock? I've never seen one without it in over 30 years so wondering if this was a custom order to not have it, or just a mistake? Link below with pictures, any insight is appreciated, thanks!

1997 Gibson LeGrand – Fiddler's Green Music Shop

I'd just ask the seller, as I said, looks to me like the lacquer on the back of the headstock was redone. I see streaks and a covered up (or just worn off) serial number - hard to tell from the picture.

[mattyjames]

I did ask Fiddler’s Green about the inlay and they didn’t know why it was missing.

[Mick-7]

I did ask Fiddler’s Green about the inlay and they didn’t know why it was missing.

Stolen perhaps? Is there a black market for them?... or only the ones that come off a black headstock?

[deacon Mark]

i have to go upstairs and see if mine has inlay on the back I don't remember play it all the time just don't look at back of headstock to much. Mine is quite nice and sounds great carved and made well.

[mattyjames]

i have to go upstairs and see if mine has inlay on the back I don't remember play it all the time just don't look at back of headstock to much. Mine is quite nice and sounds great carved and made well.

Yours does have the inlay on the back of the headstock.

[Jabberwocky]

Not mirror-imaged diamond inlay.

[Jabberwocky]

Ditto.

[deacon Mark]

Yours does have the inlay on the back of the headstock.

May I ask how you know this, I still have not checked?

[CharlesC]

Well, I have to say...I am a big fan of the split diamond. My Super has it on the front, back and the top. This was a first for me. I had never seen one on the top. Maybe that's where the missing one ended up. LOL

[mattyjames]

May I ask how you know this, I still have not checked?

I believe you bought a LeGrand in Chablis from someone on this forum a while back and saw some pictures of it with your name in the description as the new owner.