Gibson Factory Memorabilia: Gibson Heritage 12-String Acoustic Truss Rod Cover (1970s B&W)
Living near Nashville has its perks. We’re not far from the Gibson factory and Custom Shop, which means I frequently see boxes of authentic Gibson parts walk through the door. A recent haul included several samples, templates, and new old stock parts from the 1950s through the 1990s.
BEHOLD GIBSON COLLECTORS -- You have found a holy grail!
This one is more than just another piece of plastic, though. If you'll take a look at the back, you'll see some very old masking tape with handwritten notes that come from James "Hutch" Hutchins - one of Gibson's most accomplished luthiers. Many of the other ones we have were signed by Hutch himself -- this one has the in-factory reference number in his handwriting. This particular truss rod cover was a sample of the truss rod cover used on Heritage 12, which means it never went into public circulation. This would have been used as an in-factory reference in some of the last years of the Kalamazoo plant's operation!
Otherwise, what we have a vintage NOS Gibson "Heritage 12" truss rod cover from the circa 1969-1976. It's never been used, but it has lived in a box for a few decades. A must have for your vintage restoration -- if ya need it, ya need it.