by dusty fretz » Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:25 pm
Presumably the American dealer was unaware that all 60s Marvins carried the man's signature and therefore thought the presence of such an engraved autograph somehow made it special to Hank himself. In chronological terms, this example displays an odd mix of features. The control knobs are the original, handmade type, as indicated by their high-shouldered plastic skirts, and the selector switch is equally early, likewise its location. In contrast, the Rez-O-Matik covers carry the later style engraving, while polepiece spacing is the same on all three pickups. The two small scratchplate sections are secured with screws, with one or two extra in evidence, and somewhat disconcertingly, the centre section doesn't completely cover the control cavity down by the jack socket, although the fade pattern of the finish suggests a different story. The foil on the underside of the scratchplate seems suspiciously neat and wrinkle-free, while the post-painting woodwork in the cavity is a mite worrying, indicating some whittling was necessary to accommodate the current switch and its position - another clue to a possible previous scratchplate swap. Finally, the serial number strongly points to a 1965 production date, which again contradicts the age of some components. All in all, it's a bit of a mutt's meal, or at least an oldie with enough debatable aspects to make the asking price less appealing.