Johnny Smith

**pawlowski6132** · 02-15-2024, 12:38 PM

So, helping a friend sell this guitar. I have it in my possession (we're both in Detroit) so, happy to get many more pictures, serial number, etc.
I believe it's a 1962, he mentioned having the original pickup too.

He's asking $7.5k.

Johnny Smith-20240215_112457-jpg

**omphalopsychos** · 02-15-2024, 12:54 PM

PM sent! Looks like it has been played in some smoky bars but if that’s not a diamond in the rough I dunno what is!

**wintermoon** · 02-15-2024, 01:44 PM

Has a 70s truss rod cover. Orange or purple label? Check the serial # again, they can be confusing.
Missing the plastic Johnny Smith badge on the t.p..
But yeah been giigged heavily, a cool thing imo.

**Stringswinger** · 02-15-2024, 02:12 PM

It also seems to be missing the correct bridge saddle.....

**pawlowski6132** · 02-15-2024, 02:16 PM

I bought that truss rod cover NOS. I was told it was from the 60's. It was $200. Ugghh.

The original bridge/saddle is in the case.

**wintermoon** · 02-15-2024, 02:35 PM

A 60s L5 or JS tr cover would just be engraved custom w a fat white border.
What color label? Serial #?
Pics of the back and back of neck please.....

**pawlowski6132** · 02-15-2024, 02:46 PM

Ok, just snapped some pictures and put them in this album.

Happy to grab anything more specific that I may have missed.

Pictures

**wintermoon** · 02-15-2024, 02:52 PM

I could swear I've seen this guitar before. looks like the one that belonged to Ralph Tope.
the patina/playing wear is super cool! looks like a '62 judging by the features and #.
have you checked the headstock for a possible repair under that dark area?
a blacklight might help....

**Brian859** · 02-15-2024, 03:05 PM

That guitar patina looks amazing. A lot of mojo in there. It would probably raise someones 50 points just playing it.

**pawlowski6132** · 02-15-2024, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

I could swear I've seen this guitar before. looks like the one that belonged to Ralph Tope.
the patina/playing wear is super cool! looks like a '62 judging by the features and #.
have you checked the headstock for a possible repair under that dark area?
a blacklight might help....

PM sent

**SlowJoeJones** · 02-15-2024, 03:50 PM

How about some pictures of the head stock from the side? Looks like there’s something weird going on there aside from the finish.

**Daddy Dom** · 02-15-2024, 03:54 PM

Wow, what a magical looking guitar. <3
GLWTS.

**omphalopsychos** · 02-15-2024, 05:44 PM

Hey guys, I have been in contact with Ralph about this guitar. Yes it belongs to Ralph Tope and previously belonged to Ilya Lushtak.

I found this clip of the guitar in action. Ralph is a fantastic player and is contributing 99% of the greatness here, but I can tell this is the kind of guitar that sits wonderfully in a mix while retaining its full hollow/floating pickup character.

For those wondering here are some more details I from Ralph.

The body has some repaired cracks done by Gary Zimnicki. There was also a previous headstock break which was repaired. It has been refretted in the past and has about 4 hours of play since its last fret level/crowning. The pickup is wired to an endpin jack. Ralph has the Gibson JS pickup somewhere too. Comes with a wooden bridge saddle but unsure if it's original. The case is, as you can see, not original.

Definitely a player, which is what I would want it to be. The headstock repair is the most significant new info for me to process. Sight unseen I can't evaluate the stability of it so it's a risk.