S65-D headstock overlay issue

[SFIV1967]

That explanation sounds straightforward enough Ralf, but I've tried doing partial drop-fills on headstocks and it's tricky.
First, it can be hard to match the original color.
You'd think "black is black," to quote the song, but it's not; some black headstocks are a lighter shade of black than others.

Oh I totally agree, hence I set "simply" in quotation marks. Both black and the yellowed lacquer add to the difficulty. But it might still look better afterwards than to leave it as it is. I ruined a black headstock by using an amber tinted lacquer as top coat once, it looked like gold glitter afterwards as the black base showed all the color particles of the amber lacquer...Since I always use aged clear lacquer which gets pretty amber after weeks in the sunlight... So yes, it will not give you a perfect result, but like you said, the difficulty is the decal in that case.
Ralf

 

[drc]

You don't need to relacquer the entire headstock, you "simply" do drop filling of the missing parts as lacquer melts in each other. Drop fill with black first and after many many days waiting drop fill clear lacquer. And wait again... And pray no polish with silicone was used so far.

See here: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Finish/Lacquer/DropFill/dropfill.html

Excellent info! But no way in h e dbl hockey sticks am I trying it!

 

[hearth_man]

It seems very odd that there is no serial number or made in USA on the back of the headstock? Could this be a prototype? Also as others have said this model typically came with 3 on a side strip tuners.

 

[SFIV1967]

It seems very odd that there is no serial number or made in USA on the back of the headstock? Could this be a prototype? Also as others have said this model typically came with 3 on a side strip tuners.

I believe the guitar has a serial number you just don't see it from that angle as they were sometimes were lightly stamped. And as Hans said the tuners are original to that vintage, the strip tuners were used earlier. So it has nothing to do with a prototype, it's a regular one.
Ralf

 

[hearth_man]

I also agree that the tuners are original to that guitar.

 

[hearth_man]

These S60, S65D, S60D guitars may have been a more entry level guitar but the build quality is just as good as the S300 models. And even though these guitars used (apparently for the most part) the 3 on plate tuners. Guild used very good quality 3 on a plate tuners during this period. I don't know if they were Waverly or not. Hans would be able to help with that question.

I have gone on about these guitars many times but they are great instruments even when beat up and mistreated.

I'm keeping an eye out for your review GAD.

 

[drc]

It seems very odd that there is no serial number or made in USA on the back of the headstock? Could this be a prototype? Also as others have said this model typically came with 3 on a side strip tuners.

 

[hearth_man]

Yep, that is definitely neat the end of the S65D run. I have a 1980 and a 1981 version and your s/n is later than the 1981 I have. It's surprising the evolution the S65D went through in the short time it was on the market. My 1980 and 1981 versions have different control layouts and your guitar has the upgraded tuners and painted headstock. Thanks for additional photo. A lot of good info on this guitar.