GIBSON GARAGE FIND A DEALER GIBSON APP. bands even in the early 1890s. Made in USA. Ohio banjo player Steven Moore has his first solo project, Just a Little Talk with Myself, just recently released. The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover and inlaid in headstock. Yes, paging Scott to the Collector's Corner, please. better-grade offerings frequently had notched, rather than grooved stretcher
These bridges had movable saddles up to about 1917 when they changed to a one-piece compensating bridge design through early 1921. I have never seen one like this in person or even a picture of one. Find the worth of your vintage banjo from 1920s to 1970s. The LG-Series is 2 narrower than the J-Series. F/FF = Factory code (No factory designator for some 1993 and earlier models) Y/YY = Year of manufacture (Single digit for some 1997 and earlier models) MM = Month of manufacture. Sometimes (rarely) the labels are easy to read: the model and serial numbers hand-printed in ink and sometimes the information was written in pencil and is now barely legible. It might be a Fairbanks or Stewart, but there is no name anywhere on the instrument. If1970s, would be Japanese, more likely. In 1893, he patented a banjo neck fitted with a channel for the 5th string to pass through so it could be tuned at the headstock instead of its usual location. Instrumental. The 1970s are viewed by many collectors and players as the low point of Gibson manufacturing. Heads have different effects on different kinds of banjos. During 1942 two new models were introduced to the Gibson line-up to replace the J-35 and J-55. For example: In general: Bacon serial numbers begin in 1906 (1 and 2 digit) and run consecutively until the sale of the company to Gretsch in 1940 (5 digit). 2. 1-6 digits stamped into the top edge of the headstock-often difficult to read. I chose a .090 binding that is layered, for a nice pin-striped look and Stewart MacDonald Guitar Shop Supply makes the perfect set of bits for routing headstock for binding called Piloted Binding Router Bits. banjo headstock identificationleap year program in python using for loop. I'm kind of with Bob on the Korea origin - almost screams Sam Ickfrom the 1980s to me - except that it's a little understated and the finish isn't as thick as you normally see on a Samickpresentation banjo. There was some amber color. When he passed, my grandmother bought it for me from his brother who was attempting to liquify his collection. The first two digits tell you the month the banjo was built, the last two digits before the dash or space will tell you the year, and the numbers . Intermediate Grade and Best Grade were generally X braced with laminated braces for added strength. Scott Zimmerman may be able to shed some light on this. It would have helped if the Larson brothers had sequential serial numbers but there is just enough contradictory evidence to prevent one from trusting numbers that appear to be sequential. (The 1st year of the J-45 actually had similar appointments but they were reduced and simplified for model clarity in 1943). The neck was a broad round profile single piece mahogany with a bound coffewood fretboard and dot markers. It had a 24 3/4 scale and was constructed of all solid woods. So, take a look and . In 1923 it appears that Gibson began to assemble A-2s with left-over blonde tops from A-3s. Thanks for any assistance you can provide. It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. peghead shape. I'm thinking it was made by the Iida folks for a NAMM show or something. USA produced Epiphones of this era bear standard Gibson serialization and include the "Made in USA" stamp on the back of the headstock. The back and sides were Brazilian rosewood and the tops Adirondack red spruce. Laminated maple back and sides is discontinued (FON batch 2828 used maple back and sides). To most people all banjos look (and sound) the same. They were too late Gibson owned the market and the Martins were dropped 6 years later having only sold about 540 combined. The soundhole binding does not extend the full depth of the soundhole. The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) Gibson. 1890s into 1907: Inlaid into the top of the instrument. Tstyle of tuner lasts into early 1943 (FON 2221 last documented series with this tuner style), Late 1942 poplar neck blocks (Late 1942 FON 2119 with FON 2143 being the last documented series with mahogany neck block.). Though it has gone through a number of refinements over the years, the basic design has not changed since. On rare occasions, some dates can be found on . 428 Geared pegs, reinforced neck & high nut, MYNNN or MYNNNN Month = 1-9 with 3 or 4-digit production number, MMYNNN or MMYNNNN Month =10,11,12 with 3 or 4-digit production number, # 41122 would have been made April 1971, #122, #121131 could be made in either December 1971, #131 or January 1972, #1131, #221 could have been made around 1907 or in the early 1940s, #2121 could have been made around 1913 or 1914, the late 1940s or February 1971, #21, #31121 could have been made in the early 1931 or 1932, 1960 or March 1971, #121. Kluson tuners no longer had circle stamp (exposed gears riveted instead of screwed in place) and shaft size of 7/32 to save wartime metal. Similar to A, but with double purfling on the soundhole. The saddles were wider than usual. The Gibson Company was formed in late 1902 and the early mandolins evolved from the original Orville Gibson designs. During the period of 1902 to approximately 1909 the mandolins sported tailpiece covers with a curly top and internal white labels with an image of Orville Gibson holding a lyre mandolin. It is, therefore, not unusual to find older mandolins with replacement bridges. For sale for $50 cash, firm. They could be strung with steel or nylon strings. A head on a long neck open back banjo might sound completely different on a 12-string banjo. 15 Mahogany top, back & sides no binding, 17 Mahogany top, back & sides bound top. Its price tag was $55 as compared to the Martin D-18 at $65 and D-28 at $100. First published as a folk music magazine in 1971 by Michael I. Holmes before going online in 1997, Mugwumps is a no-frills, highly informative site that's packed with well-written articles, detailed photographs, and historical ads of old instruments and parts. cases they carry no identifying name at all. F Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. Introduced 1954, discontinued in 1978, reintroduced in the 1980s and still produced today. The binding on the top is b/w. The neck heal had a white plastic cap. There were many name variations for The Bacon Banjo Company, Inc. but it remained in Fred Bacons name from 1920 until the company closed in 1938. target no need to return item. The L-5S was the first high end jazz solid body guitar. CUSTOMER SERVICE. Larrivee Serial Numbers (approximate). These instruments live a bit outside that critique. The original Factory Order Numbers (FON) appear to show the first De Luxe Jumbos were delivered bewteen March and June of 1938 to Joe Wolverton, Ray Whitley and Gene Autry. Electric guitars having the serial number on the back of the headstock. The 1934 version had a classic Gibson sunburst: the small amber center around the bridge about 1/4 of the top area. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues there are many exceptions. It was during the years of 1977 through 1986 that most of the high-end lines at Gibson were discontinued: The ES-350T, L-5S and the Mark Series among them. Yes, please do post your tune here on this page. feature both a serial number and a FON. 3 hrs, 'Pisgah 12 Builders Choice Custom Walnut Dobson 5+1 String Banjo' 3 hrs, 'Custom 12inch Billybilt Banjo w Figured Maple neck and Curly maple RIckard Pot and Balch head' 4 hrs, '11inch Billybilt Banjo with Antique Spunover SS Stewart Pot and Curly Maple neck' 4 hrs, I see no collectors market for banjos like yours.<, We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Headstocks say LoPrinzi. Introduced August 1942 and J-45s are still available today. Some rectangular examples, black bridge pins (2 pearl dots on rectangle bridge), Headstock appointments: gold decal: Only a Gibson is Good Enough banner. You may, . 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). Gibson had changed its neck profiles and headstock shape on the successful J-Series. It had chrome plated standard friction pegs, rosewood finished neck and headstock with matchin resonator. The first group in late 1936 had larger soundholes and long scales: 25 1/2. The Mark Series guitars were particularly interesting among the Gibson flat tops made in the 1970s due to their unique bracing. Another useful
Numerous articles in Vintage Guitar Magazine over the years. Towards the end, the line actually continued to increase in sales. ARCHIVED TOPIC: Vintage Kay Company Banjo - Need Help Identifying Model, Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. See also: Gibson J-160E for more historical context. A-3s had refrigerator white tops with a black perfling line, adjustable truss rods and adjustable bridges. There is a steel tone ring on the maple rim, and the rim has a maple cap. You have your choice of 3 different peghead shapes. 1970 onward: 1 piece maple. There can easily be more numbers within each year listed. Edited by - mikehalloran on 12/27/2013 17:30:00, Charles in SC - Posted-12/27/2013: 20:38:42. They didnt sell well but did live up to their design intent of a. heavier, booming tone with good overall balance. It had binding on front, back, soundhole and the fretboard; The Gibson inlaid into the headstock and a better grade of spruce top. The designations were. . C-series Factory location: Hinsdale, New Hampshire from 1973 to 1979, D-series Factory location: West Sansei, New Hampshire from 1980 to 1981, The designation S refers to the body size: 2 & 3 (increasing with number value). No binding, no inlay and no decoration. About Larrive Guitar Labels On 12 fret to the body guitars, in a break with tradition, the Larson brothers frequently inlayed the 10th fret instead of the ninth. To confuse matters, they also manufactured Bacon banjos that had been developed by Fred Bacon: the Professional, the Orchestra and the Blue Ribbon. One of the advantages of choosing a banjo made in a small shop environment is the easy availability of customization.