So, what is it?

[sloop_john_b]

I recently picked up a guitar from Chris Clayton. Some of you know all about it, but for the rest of you, let's play a game called "Spot the Anomalies". Here are a few photos of the guitar:

If you'll take a gander at my signature below, you'll see that I've listed this guitar as a '66 360/12. Indeed, it wears a jackplate with serial number FE XXXX. But some features just don't add up.

Anyone care to weigh in on what they think is up with this one?

[sloop_john_b]

The man himself works his magic on the guitar:

[scotty]

Checked binding?

[sloop_john_b]

Checked binding?

Indeed.

[scotty]

Is the neck and headstock originally from this guitar looks slightly different.Could be wrong on that tho?

[jwilli]

Newer 21 fret neck on '65 body?

[cmuk]

Square heel on a '66? Should that not be round?

[danm]

Weird.
Square heel, hex bushings, non-crushed pearl inlays... did I miss anything?
Does it have vintage truss rods? Wondering if it could perhaps be a factory re-neck from the McGuinn model era.
Is it an x-braced body too? If not, maybe a re-finned Carl Wilson 12?
Hard to say what the deal is without holding it and looking under the hood.

[hjarnett]

Square heel on a '66? Should that not be round?

+1

[sloop_john_b]

Wondering if it could perhaps be a factory re-neck from the McGuinn model era.

Ding ding ding!

'66 360/12, apparently with a bad neck. Original owner brought it to RIC sometime in the late 80's, and the neck was replaced with a McGuinn neck. The work is completely solid.

The astounding thing is how well the patina matches up from the body to the neck - I did not even notice the re-neck because the whole guitar had ambered so well and so evenly.

The TRC is not original to the guitar, though it is from a '66 12-string.

The pickups are not original.

The pickguards and knobs appear to be, but a look at the wiring will tell you that it's pure 80's, especially with those huge orangey caps.

The guitar is one of the loudest Ricks i've ever played, acoustically. It was a wonderful resonance to it. Strung up with TI flats, it has nice low action and a great electric jangle to it as well - thanks mostly to a new scatterwound toaster and the 80's wiring that many here have come to love.

[sloop_john_b]

And now the burning question: since it has been messed with so much already, I might as well go full tilt and add a 3rd pickup and Byrd wiring....right?

[paologregorio]

What's "80s wiring"?

Is another one of those Rickbits I should know by now?

I can't wait for this weekend's gig. Hell, I can't wait for rehearsal tonight!

[danm]

And now the burning question: since it has been messed with so much already, I might as well go full tilt and add a 3rd pickup and Byrd wiring....right?

If it were me, I'd leave it "as is" and consider it the only "re-issue" of McGuinn's first '64/12. I'd source some blue molded caps for it and call it done!

Cool guitar, and great story!

[JakeK]

Wow, John! What an oddity! Do you have connections with Chris? I never saw that guitar on his site.

It's very nice, BTW.

[sloop_john_b]

And now the burning question: since it has been messed with so much already, I might as well go full tilt and add a 3rd pickup and Byrd wiring....right?

If it were me, I'd leave it "as is" and consider it the only "re-issue" of McGuinn's first '64/12. I'd source some blue molded caps for it and call it done!

Cool guitar, and great story!

Some 60's wiring would be great on this guitar. I'm gonna try and source as many vintage-correct parts as I can for it, like I did with the TRC. I also may have some crushed pearl inlays installed eventually.

Wow, John! What an oddity! Do you have connections with Chris? I never saw that guitar on his site.

It's very nice, BTW.

I wouldn't say I have connections, but I live near his shop and stop in pretty often, so I was able to see this guitar hanging on the wall before he had a chance to list it. I instantly fell in love with it.