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February 2005
Posts: 2
| I have a Viper solid body electric, all maple with natural finish. I can find no serial number anywhere on it, but EA.68 is stencilled in black block letters on the top front headstock. This seems a little weird to me considering there is a current Viper EA-68. Does anyone know what this might mean? Is there any way to figure out what year it was made? |
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May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | PeterC
That is interesting, I have a 70's Viper that I bought new and he serial No. is on a plate behind the neck, does yours have a plate at the base of the neck?
Bailey |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Can you post a pic of your guitar? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | It is a shame that the only way to date the Viper is from either the extremely removable plate on the neck attachment or by product features when the guitar is totally stock.
Probably a good thing that more parts are not interchangable with the Fender Clones or we would be all hosed.
These solids are just too easy to take apart and put back together! Film at 11!
Pictures would help solve the mystery. |
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February 2005
Posts: 2
| Thanks for the prompt responses
The neck plate is just smooth chrome, no logo or markings of any kind.
I'd be happy to post pictures if someone can explain how. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Peter:
I got your pics and sent you a reply. I also forwarded the pics to a few board members who might have some ideas. For the benefit of others, here's my reply:
The bridge and control layout tell me that it's from the late 70's to the early 80's. The last ones built in the mid 80's didn't have "Viper" on the pickguard. But the EA 68 on the headstock doesn't make any sense whatsoever. The EA 68 (you probably know this), is the current Viper, developed for Ovation by Hamer and is a solid body (with acoustic chambers) that is pluged in for an acoustic sound. Not this guitar at all. Beyond that, I can't help you. Looks to me like somebody put the EA 68 on the guitar for reasons of their own. Perhaps to convince people that it was a modern Viper and sell it on ebay? I'll forward the pics to a couple of other board members for feedback. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I don't think the neck boltplate is Ovation either. Look for tattle-tale signs that the neck was removed and refinished or resprayed in some way.
If you want it bone stock it is not that hard of a fix. I'd just play and enjoy it. If the neck has some dings it can easily be sanded and refinished without the EA-68 marking.
Redone Viper |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | somebody somewhere put on the EA68, not the factory, same with ther neck plate. |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | If the neck's never been off, he could try dating it from the Courant in the pocket, eh?
:) |
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1271 Viper Electric Puzzle