I hope i don't have any problems with posting this.I sold a S/L shell to a member i told him it was a 1970's 5 ply maple with-out rings the shell is about 1/2" thick..It had a small black and silver badge on it at one time-{ badge is Not the bigger one that S/L used on the cheap M.I.J. or M.I.T shells of the 80's..They sent me a P/M telling me that the shell was a 1980's shell..Its my understanding that these 80's shells are thin and maybe 4 ply..So did S/L make these thick 5 ply shells in the 80's?? Mikey