banjo headstock identification banjo headstock identification

Silkscreen logos - Low end models. These instruments live a bit outside that critique. The Southerner Jumbo (later shortened to: Southern Jumbo and then SJ) was a fancier J-45. In general, the Larsons used fancier hardware on the more expensive instruments so the date of the hardware should coincide with similar instruments of the period. The swing distance is important because it dictates how large a turned piece can be on that particular lathe. Manchester University, All Forums The appointments of the Southerner Jumbo included more top binding and an additional set of rosette rings. Numerous articles in Vintage Guitar Magazine over the years. It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. Headstocks say LoPrinzi. The J-160E was Gibsons second design for an electric flat-top guitar following the CF-100. During 1880-1890 Fairbanks joined with William A. Cole, a successful performer and teacher, and produced approximately 9000 banjos as Fairbanks & Cole. B. Schall (1878-1907) manufactured many unmarked banjos for purchase these instruments and put their own names on them, but in many other Early 1970's block shaped no dot over the "i" closed "b" and . There is a steel tone ring on the maple rim, and the rim has a maple cap. gibson one-of-a-kind Christmas banjos! The electric version included a P-90 pickup at the end of the soundboard like the later versions of the J-160E. The Gibson CF-100 was introduced in 1950 (the CF-100E was introduced 1951) and discontinued in 1960. Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 15:42:17. Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. This is a headstock that tapers from narrow at the top to slightly wider at the base (the reverse of the traditional Gibson headstock shape). The Mark Series, though not a wild success in terms of overall sales, did sell reasonably well. Intermediate Grade and Best Grade were generally X braced with laminated braces for added strength. During the Folk Boom of the 1960s, Gretsch produced a line of 5 string open back banjos with regular and long necks. of their later banjos had elite tailpieces, Orpheum-like hardware, and long, That way I'll be sure to hear it, since I will get a heads up when you post. CUSTOMER SERVICE. During the period of 1909 through 1920 Gibson produced large numbers of mandolins. I have to say that it is most interesting. George Youngblood of Youngbloods Music Workshop. Starting in 1977, Gibson adopted the current date-based serial system which codes for the year and day of production. This makes up for the shallow break angle, and also does away with string trees, which are not needed in this case. Buckbee (1861-1897) banjos can frequently be identified by their Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher. The designations were. It became the working mans choice and one of the most enduring instrument designs in history. made unmarked banjos for others to sell as well. Post war logo, 1947/8 to '60s found on various guitar like Melody Maker, Les Paul Jr, Special, Lg0, Lg2, Sg Jr, Special, ecc, ecc.Note the dot link to G. '70 Gold logo - Decal instead silkscreening. The more economical Student Grade instruments were often ladder braced. Gibson had changed its neck profiles and headstock shape on the successful J-Series. Edited by - mikehalloran on 12/27/2013 17:30:00, Charles in SC - Posted-12/27/2013: 20:38:42. There's a small snag in the outer pocket webbing - otherwise it's like new. Sometimes a higher model number means a bigger and fancier instrument but there does not appear to be a thoughtful of consistent method for ascribing model numbers. To confuse matters, they also manufactured Bacon banjos that had been developed by Fred Bacon: the Professional, the Orchestra and the Blue Ribbon. 1946 onward: No feet the bottom of the bridge flush on the instrument top. Michael Wright has compiled one of the largest picture galleries of headstock photos in his book "Guitar Stories Vol. Martin Guitars seemed to take note of the successful sales of the Gibson acoustic-electrics J-160E and CF-100Es. Example: S3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February . The top and back bindings were black plastic. The bracing was revised to accommodate the moustache bridge and generally heavier than earlier models. This was adapted to the mandolin over the next few years. I'm leaning more in that direction. Thanks for the feedback! Saga Bella Voce 70/80. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. The current bridge height and neck angle was reached around 1910. JM, jumbo size guitar with mahogany back & sides, chrome tuners. About Larrive Guitar Labels Plectrum. The hardshell case had a green or red silk lining. This moved the X away from the soundhole a bit. Gretsch used a new serial format showing: Month/Year/Production Number (3-4 digits), stamped as follows: Its not clear whether the 3-4 digit production number is the total production for the month or for the year. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues there are many exceptions. S3R, Size 3 guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners. If you would like to use content from this page, see our Terms of Usage policy. The banner only a Gibson is good enough logo is replaced with the old style Gibson script gold logo, The blond J-50 is introduced (limited until 1954), Bracing system changed: non-scalloped, low cut braces, Larger pickguard with point at upper bout, Headstock appointments: pearl logo inlay and crown added, Adjustable bridge saddle offered as an option called J-45ADJ. Generally harp guitars, L.H. Like the SJ-100 of the same year, the J-55 had a stair-step headstock that persisted for only 2 years. No serial numbers etc. 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. Presentation banjos often turned up at NAMMand other shows. 2. The 2nd delivery to Ray Whitley was the more refined 14 fret SJ that is so well photo-dicumented. Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. F Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long They did provide paper labels for the instrument that they represented but did not provide labels for custom instruments or other shops or manufacturers. Considering that Gibson was using a double X bracing for most of its other flat top guitars during that period, these instruments, with their modified fan bracing, stand out as some of the better sounding Gibsons of the time. 340 Rosewood back & sides, MOP, colored wood appointments & a Tree-of-Life fretboard inlay. It was basically a slope shoulder dreadnaught like a J-45 or Southerner Jumbo and designed for the country and western market. ss stewart presentation banjo - Google Search. In mid 1944 bookmatched two piece Sispruce tops reappear. Every banjo has a story. Pickguards between 1909 and 1921 +/- show a stamped patent date of Mar. Gibson changed the name again in the 1950s to the SJ-200. 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). Neck s/n DA5063 with L&B headstock inlay: T. Biggs : 1932 : 66-1: PB-3 : Shipped August 7, 1935: Gibson Shipping Ledger : 1932 : 66-2: PB-3: Flathead: 1-piece: Thanks for the history, I always love the story. In the early years, due to the depression and the following wartime austerity, demand for this expensive instrument was limited and production quantities were small. 1978 $1079 Tobacco sunburst is dropped for Fireburst; Maple is now described as Natural. The bridge were early simple rectangular with through-saddles. 1930s-40s R S Williams and Sons built "Stewart" 1940s R S Williams and Sons built bird's eye maple archtop 1940s R S Williams and Sons built bird's eye maple archtop headstock 1940s R S Williams and Sons built bird's eye maple archtop back Gibson. which do not feature a paper label. Frets refers to the number of frets that are clear of the body. The selected tuners varied randomly by model and year. 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 was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. . 156137I know this is a mandolin forum, but the admins suggested I start here. What's the history on the this jo, are you the original owner? string peg perch is typically carved out from the side of the neck as shown >I see no collectors market for banjos like yours.<. For a period of time, this was the top of the line. These had black plastic laminate headstock overlays with Bacon engraved in blockletters and a small, metal plate engraved Bacon Folk Model. Worthy of mention is the Jumbo Deluxe, though it is believed that only 3 were ever made in 1938. 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 important to note that there are exceptions to every rule and the following is only a general guide for identifying Gibson A Style mandolins. The best way to date Larrive instruments is by the instrument labels. Gibson started making banjos in 1917. Scott Zimmerman may be able to shed some light on this. Unfortunately, the information is confusing and inconsistent. The space between the headstock center and the top of the lathe bed is the radius of the lathe swing. Serial Numbers. See also: Gibson J-160E for more historical context. They could be strung with steel or nylon strings. This is the smallest model, chrome tuners. At the turn of the century, Orville Gibson was refining his notion of the superior mandolin: carved in the tradition of violins for greater volume and tone as well as comfort. The model started production in 1938 as Gibsons top-of-the-line flat top guitar. 30, 1909. They are available for binding that is .060 and .090 binding. Though it was discontinued in 1942, the last Advanced Jumbo left the Kalamazoo plant in 1940. Several other forces were at work for change: Introduced 1963, these were designed as dual-purpose instruments. Gretsch was contracted to make banjos for them. The neck is the long piece of wood that attaches to the banjo body that guides the strings along the instrument's fretting surface (called the fingerboard ). Late 1930s through 1942: ? adjustment wheels 2 feet and extensions on top of the base for the wheels. New guitars were supplied with user applied pick guards, and extra saddles of different heights that could be easily inserted to adjust the string action to accommodate the swelling of the instrument with seasonal humidity changes. 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. The Maurer Company records have been lost. Tuners, hardware and tailpieces were probably purchased from Lyon and Healy who had a factory just down the street from the Larson shop. The following site helps identify the labels with the date and location of production: All Gurian Guitars have serial numbers stamped on the neck block in characters visible through the soundhole. The rosettes were simple white-black-white. The back and sides were still mahogany but the Southerner Jumbo had a dark wooden stripe separating the 2 back pieces. ARIA 921C. The soundboard was so large and the body so deep that the sound was immense. The bridge was a small rectangular block type with a through saddle. (Numerical ID) Example: Serial number 0191456 = Harmony Standard Series guitar built in 2019. At the time, the Nick Lucas model was the largest flat-top Gibson offered. The instruments had modified fan bracing and asymmetrical bridges. The second type of headstock, as you can tell by its name, is the angled or tilted-back headstock. Gibson discontinued the A-3 around 1922. For photographic examples of the Gibson Cf-100 and CF-100E Click Here. The body dimensions basically match the LG-series: 14 1/8 wide by 19 1/2 long by 4 1/2 deep. 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. target no need to return item. The sunburst finish was generally $30 less than natural finish. banjos. LoPrinzi Rosemont, New Jersey built by Augustino LoPrinzi (and apprentices) with Augustino on the headstocks. The saddles were wider than usual. Some FONs for 1942 include 7116-7119, 7434, 7705, 7721, 907, 910, 923, 928, 2004-2006, 2059, 2098, 2110, 2119. There are no manufacture's labels or stamps on it. Western movies were tremendously popular and the singing cowboy heroes needed instruments as big and bold as untamed West. A maple, prewar style bluegrass banjo made like the classic banjos of the 1930's with the same materials and the same weight, design and features, the Golden Era is one of our most popular banjos for traditional bluegrass bands. The swing of a lathe is measured as the total diameter of a finished turned piece, such as a wood bowl. This should be considered a guide to get you within a year of the correct date. For example: The custom series of Epiphone Texans built with cooperation from Paul McCartney: some were built in Bozeman Montana and some in Japan. As a vintage instrument dealer, I see no collectors market for banjos like yours. teachers who sold them to students, some of which are tagged with the name of 1979 $1149 Antique Sunburst added to Fireburst, Cherry Sunburst and Natural. The early models had shallow neck sets and low bridges that increased in angle around 1908 with taller bridges. They were now able to get better materials. Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2800s to 2900s and 300s to 500s and some in the 600-800s and 1000s range. 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 . It was a refinement of the slope-shoulder design of the original Jumbo but slightly deeper: 4 13/16. Late 1940's "i" touches the "G" on "Modern" non cursive/script Gibson Logo. The neck was basically the neck stocks from the L-5 archtop: 3 ply maple with single wide bound scalloped fretboard ends and headstocks and the early models had the L-5 flowerpot inlay on the headstock. See LG-0 for materials and dimensions. At the time, the Nick Lucas model was the largest flat-top Gibson offered. There was some amber color. There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. Sunburst finish changes slightly: a cremona brown fading from the center amber to a reddish brown perimeter. 587 Similar to 585 but with pearl (vs ivoroid) tuner buttons. The new design was thinner and much easier to handle and play. Research our price guide with auction results on 40 items from $35 to $2,928. It was available in red, black or two-tone sunburst finish, fleur-de-lis under The Gibson; Handel inlaid tuner buttons prior to 1916 (WWI) with a dotted + in each button. 1974 $895 This was the best sales year for the L-5S shipping 555 instruments. 615-264-4959. 1959: Larger crown frets and the adjustable bridge. 2 foot pressed arm rest and flat head tone ring. In 1947 a natural finish J-45 was finally offered and given the designation: J-50. They were too late Gibson owned the market and the Martins were dropped 6 years later having only sold about 540 combined. I own the book and have found it to be an invaluable resource in identifying these old guitars. Only about a dozen were made. 1940: #1 or #001 to 1965: approximately #84xxx. (Folk Jumbo Natural and Folk-25). Factory Order Numbers (FON) include the 2100s to 2500s, The adjustable truss rod reappeared in 1944, Tuners cogs got slightly thicker and with beveled edges. 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. Martin Flat Top Guitar Body Sizes and Designations: The body size designation is stamped on the neck block starting in October 1930. Here's the photo gallery that I put together:velkdesign.com/assets/banjo/. In 1935, binding was added to the fretboard. Similar to A-2 but with snakehead headstock, blonde finish, b/w binding, and A2-Z on the label. feature both a serial number and a FON. MB -- mandolin banjo. The 1975 price was $879. The 31 year old part time musician has mostly been found on the contest stages in recent years, taking first in the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship twice, and in the RockyGrass, RenoFest . 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). Higher grade models (such as the Super 400, L-5, J-200, etc.) The neck heal had a white plastic cap. A total of 2,477 J-35s were made according to Gibson records. Edited by - rfvelk on 12/26/2013 17:31:36, Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 22:24:21. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. B&D models stopped around 1968 following Baldwins (Gretschs parent company) 1967 purchase of the ODE company. The 5th string on a banjo lies within easy reach of the right-hand . expressed on the sides and back of the 1934 versions. Carl and August Larson built instruments between 1900 and 1944. ', 'Pisgah 12 Builders Choice Custom Walnut Dobson 5+1 String Banjo', 'Custom 12inch Billybilt Banjo w Figured Maple neck and Curly maple RIckard Pot and Balch head', '11inch Billybilt Banjo with Antique Spunover SS Stewart Pot and Curly Maple neck'. The L-5S was the first high end jazz solid body guitar. I'll have to record it and post a tune. Gibson developed the truss rod in 1921. The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) If you have additional information or corrections, please contact us. The fingerboard typically has inlays made of silver or steel. Weve seen some serial number lists that are as much as 8 years out-of-sync with this list. Augustino LoPrinzi has developed a fine reputation for classical guitars, ukuleles, steel string and 12-string guitars. It took Gibson 2 years to develop their response: The Jumbo of 1934. Timing is everything In 1969 the Gibson parent company: Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) was acquired by the South American brewing conglomerate: E.C.L. The Lyon & Healy peghead shape used on most of After October 1930 the body and style designations and the serial number appears stamped on the neck blocks: Since the Larson brothers built guitars for many brand names, identification can be difficult, but there are a number of stylistic and structural building techniques that help narrow the exercise. They generally had birch or walnut back and sides sometimes flat and later (1904+/-) carved. All Rights Reserved. MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. Have a vintage Harmony guitar? In 1987, after the Gretsch family had re-acquired their name, re-introduced the B&D Silver Bell but the market didnt seem to care. This was available in brown, black or blonde finish. Yuletide. Width at nut 1 11/16, scale 24 3/4. Electric guitars having the serial number on the back of the headstock. Google Play. and many were left unmarked. Neck: mahogany single piece. Mark Johnson; Regular Hours Mon-Fri: 10:00am-4:00pm Extended Hours January-April 8:30am-5:00pm; 239 West 400 North, Lindon UT; 801-785-3161 The passage of time confuses matters even further: They made some non-SilverBell models that had been developed in the 1930s that bore the B&D label like the Seniorita, and some later Gretsch SilverBells that carried only the Bacon label. Naming the parts of a banjo. Gibson. 3 special model, serial number 8382, New York, circa 1920s, intricate abalone shell inlay to fingerboard and headstock which also bears the Company logo. Instruction * ConcertsJams * More It had a double ring of purfling around the soundhole, pearl dots on the fretboard, dark stained birch back and sides and The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover. A New Leaf from Steven Moore. MK-81 models were rosewood back & sides, ebony fingerboard with figured abalone block inlays & gold plated hardware. Gibson Banjos 1925 and Later: . Laminated maple back and sides is discontinued (FON batch 2828 used maple back and sides). Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. How to customize a Huber Banjo; . Though it has gone through a number of refinements over the years, the basic design has not changed since. J-L. M. N-P. Q-Sch. CLR, Classic guitar with Indian rosewood back and sides, decorated binding, gold tuners. There can easily be more numbers within each year listed. Larger top braces used, and bigger solid wood bridge plate and larger bottom-belly bridge. Gold-plated tuning gears, LOTS of abalone inlay. Like all other companies, there are exceptions. The early instruments built in Nashville suffered from inexperienced workers and climate-control problems in the humid South. Body shape changed to square shoulder dreadnought. These were Gibsons first flat-top cutaways. All Rights Reserved. Banjo serial numbers: During the 1920s, Gibson instruments were made in lots of 40s (for the most part, this procedure continues today). Our 19th Year * Sign Up Now Style Designations (There are many exceptions to the following). Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2600s to 2700s. See more ideas about banjo, guitar inlay, ukulele. The 1975 price was $659. banjo headstock identificationleap year program in python using for loop. Larrivee Serial Numbers (approximate). The 5th string is a crucial distinguishing characteristic of the five-string banjo, both in the instrument's appearance and in the sound of the music. S2R, size 2 guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners. It was available with a Snakehead and had a shaped fingerboard extension. They are maintained by Donna LoPrinzi in Clearwater Florida. serial number 8382, New York, circa 1920s, intricate abalone shell inlay to fingerboard and headstock which also bears the Company logo. As a consequence, the details were grand in scale and the bindings high in contrast to look good in black and white on the silver screen. The sides and back were tinted mahogany with a sunburst red spruce top. My understanding is that only 12 of these particular banjos were ever manufactured by Kay. See more ideas about banjo, guitar inlay, mandolin. 1923 into 1970: 1 piece mahogany necks. I removed the resonator today and there is a hand written number 8 and that's it. At least one model, the Epiphone Spirit, was manufactured in the USA during the early 1980s in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI. The bracing for the new larger models was X braced: there were 3 transverse tone bars between the braces 1 more than the Martin as Gibson experimented with bracing design heavy enough to support the large tops and light enough to be resonant and responsive. Gretsch appears to have started a new numbering system at about that time. Gibson Banjo Serial Number Factory Order Number Information; Pre-war banjos, Flathead, Mastertone. 1908 into 1916: Elevated pickguards of plastic tortoise shell clamped to the body with a removable clamp and pinned to the bridge. However there were and are many different types, most of which can be found on this page. It also had a black veneered headstock (front and back) and a black inlay in the back of the neck. The Larson bridge, if not otherwise specified by another company, is a rectangular flattened pyramid ebony style similar to those used by Lyon and Healy. Pearl twin parallelogram inlays, Bridges: Rosewood belly-down. Script Gibson logo, Fretboard: Twin parallelograms inlays unbound 19 fret. Most were 3-piece solid maple bodies. The Gibson Southerner Jumbo was introduced in 1942 and discontinued in 1978. It was intended to be more affordable and more readily available than its main competition: the Martin D-18. Serial numbers are addressed elsewhere on the web site but can be found also on Gibsons website and George Gruhn & Walter Carters book: Gruhns Guide to Vintage Guitars. Most information about Larson Brothers instruments comes from their catalog published around 1930. The flood of returning soldiers with a broader world-view brought new musical tastes and new hopes for the future. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Labels say: A. Dark stained plain birch back and sides. and What's it sound like? Some rectangular examples, black bridge pins (2 pearl dots on rectangle bridge), Headstock appointments: gold decal: Only a Gibson is Good Enough banner. Semi-hollow guitar serial numbers are found inside the 'top' F-hole on a label. Notable endorsers of this model include Leon Redbone. 1916 into 1921: the pin to the bridge was dropped. Download Old Banjo stock photos. They had dot markers on the fretboard and a moustache bridge with individual adjusters on each string. The 1970s are viewed by many collectors and players as the low point of Gibson manufacturing. The Aria 921C was a good quality 5-string banjo made in the early 1970s. The Gibson Company was formed in late 1902 and the early mandolins evolved from the original Orville Gibson designs. Banjo Headstock Designs. LoPrinzi Guitars most from Plainsboro New Jersey. Similar to A, but with double purfling on the soundhole. The exceptions are those guitars sold by Selmer in the UK which will (probably) have a number stamped into the back of the headstock and guitars sold by Van Wouw in the Netherlands. The concept behind the J-45 was a high quality, affordable, big-sounding acoustic flat-top guitar. The ones up until 1924 had either at best a ball bearing tone ring -- spring loaded ball bearings with springs to keep the skin heads tight. Acoustic Guitars. It was bound on the top, back, sides and around the fretboard. The necks and heels were rounder. Higher numbers also meant more money. The first Gibson J45 guitars were only slightly different from the discontinued J-35. Customers can choose from these shapes or provide an alternate. It is very showy though. Number on headstock, Open Back, Pink OHC liner, Klusons with white plastic buttons, bound f/b: I/N Auction 8/2007 : 1962 : 88909: RB-180 . For more detailed information, get the following book: The Larsons Creations Guitars & Mandolins by Robert Carl Hartman. 2: The Histories of Cool Guitars". S3M, Size 3 guitar with mahogany back & sides. It might be a Fairbanks or Stewart, but there is no name anywhere on the instrument. Pearl dots on fretboard. Between 1975 and 1979, Gibson worked with Dr. Michael Kashas acoustic theories for guitar and Luthier Richard Schneiders design applications to create a unique instrument for the Gibson acoustic lineup. There is a utility market though. This information is approximate and has not been verified by the LoPrinzi family. Late 1960's Gibson Logo around 1969 with no dot over the "i". The choice to discontinue the Mark Series had to do with the general turmoil of the Gibson company in the last years of ownership by Norlin. The Jumbo 55 (J-55) was introduce in late 1939 and discontinued in 1942. Any dealer would want to find this as part of an estate sale and put it out to see what the market would bear - but none would have high hopes for its value. The numbers are preceded by letters: A, B, C, or D which indicate the series. Gibson TP-6 tailpiece became standard. These digits should match the 4 digits found on the back of the peghead of your banjo. 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). This can often be found on the back of the peghead or on the inside rim of the banjo.