banjo headstock identification

The Gibson LG series of flat-top guitars were developed as the natural evolution of the earlier L-Series. Prices were typically 30-40% more than other Gibson solid bodies; the Les Paul Recording, LP Custom and SG Custom. During the Folk Boom of the 1960s, Gretsch produced a line of 5 string open back banjos with regular and long necks. It was available with a brown finish and came as a snakehead or paddle headstock. 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). In general, higher model numbers meant more binding and ornament. Why not post a little tune with it. No binding, no inlay and no decoration. Find the worth of your vintage banjo from 1920s to 1970s. Check out our banjo decal selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our bumper stickers shops. The narrower guitar sizes allowed for available materials. There are no manufacture's labels or stamps on it. The headstock carried an inlayed script Gibson. Banjo Head Types and Descriptions - Deering Banjo Company S. S. Stewart Guitars Born of a Banjeau Maker CLM, Classical guitar with mahogany back and sides. (Numerical ID) Example: Serial number 0191456 = Harmony Standard Series guitar built in 2019. 1916 into 1921: the pin to the bridge was dropped. Thanks for the history, I always love the story. Headstocks of US models also use the Gibson headstock shape. The 1970s are viewed by many collectors and players as the low point of Gibson manufacturing. A Style mandolins were symmetrical and shaped like a teardrop. Though it was discontinued in 1942, the last Advanced Jumbo left the Kalamazoo plant in 1940. The top and back bindings were black plastic. 15 Mahogany top, back & sides no binding, 17 Mahogany top, back & sides bound top. 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. Late 1930's Thicker Gibson Logo. Ohio banjo player Steven Moore has his first solo project, Just a Little Talk with Myself, just recently released. These can exist on any model numbers including the A-jr. Vega continued to mark their banjos "A.C. Fairbanks" until the middle teens. 1959: Larger crown frets and the adjustable bridge. Prairie State instruments have the patented rod and/or tube reinforcing, occasionally found on other Larson built guitars. They were mahogany back & sides with single layer binding front and back. Please see the, Epiphone: Current Serial Number Information, Gibson J-35 & Advanced Jumbo Flat-top Acoustic Guitars, Gibson Jumbo Deluxe and J-55 Flat-top Acoustic Guitars, Gibson J-45 and J-50 Flat-top Acoustic Guitars, Gibson Southern Jumbos and Country Westerns, Gibson J-160E Flat-top Acoustic-Electrics, Gibson CF-100 Flat-top Acoustic-Electrics, Gibson MK Series Flat-top Acoustic Guitars, Gibson L-5S Solid Body Electric Guitars, Guitars & Stringed Instruments General Information, Care & Feeding of a Wooden Musical Instrument, Identifying Vintage Guitars, Banjos & Mandolins, 41530 Transition from 12 to 14 fret necks, 1 Banjos from various contracted builders, 2028 Earliest reference to Forrest Dale VT, 30620 Symphonie, Sultana, and Senorita introduced, 35341 Gretsch purchases Fred Bacon Banjo Company. Pearl twin parallelogram inlays, Bridges: Rosewood belly-down. 67 Banjo Headstock Designs ideas | banjo, guitar inlay, mandolin In 1923 it appears that Gibson began to assemble A-2s with left-over blonde tops from A-3s. Have a vintage Harmony guitar? Gibson Like the SJ-100 of the same year, the J-55 had a stair-step headstock that persisted for only 2 years. Bodies: Rosewood, oak, mahogany, koa and maple. If you want to use any of this information: 1974 $895 This was the best sales year for the L-5S shipping 555 instruments. Martin introduced their versions of acoustic-electrics: the D-18E in 1958 and D-28E in 1959. I doubt you'll find this in a catalog. USA produced Epiphones of this era bear standard Gibson serialization and include the Made in USA stamp on the back of the headstock. better-grade offerings frequently had notched, rather than grooved stretcher 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. The birch sides and back were stained red. I would sure like to hear what it sounds like. The current bridge height and neck angle was reached around 1910. They had owner applied pick guards and multi-bound backs and tops (including red line highlights). You have your choice of 3 different peghead shapes. Numerous articles in Vintage Guitar Magazine over the years. MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. banjo headstock identification Starting in 1923, models included: the Silver Bell, the Super Banjo and the Blue Bell. There were 1424 made. It will be interesting of one of the BHO members has a vintage Kay catalog with that particular banjo. A2-Zs were theoretically made during the Loar period of 1921-25, but only between 1923 and 1924. It is most common after 1923 when most Gibson model As had this shape. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to, http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/276603, 'Pisgah Banjo Co. raffle for Arnold Shultz Fund extended to March 10, 2023', 'Pisgah Banjo Company banjo raffle extended to March 10', 'Flinthill FHB-300 - Killer bluegrass banjo for the money! The name evolved from De Luxe Jumbo to Super Jumbo in 1939, and then to the Super Jumbo 200 (reflecting the price at the time, the case would be $28 extra). The Mark Series guitars had 16 3/16 lower bouts with very narrow waists, and a headstock like no other in Gibson tradition. It was the innovations of the Loar period: 1921 through 1925 that saw the introduction of the truss rod, adjustable bridges, bracing adjustments, thinning and grading of the tops and numerous other refinements to create the standards that are still used today. Augustino LoPrinzi has developed a fine reputation for classical guitars, ukuleles, steel string and 12-string guitars. It was intended to be more affordable and more readily available than its main competition: the Martin D-18. This peghead is found on low end, turn of the century, Lyon & Healy banjos, often with the L&H or Mystic brand stamped into the strut. Dark stained plain birch back and sides. The space between the headstock center and the top of the lathe bed is the radius of the lathe swing. The further down the headstock the peg is, the shorter it will be. Larger top braces used, and bigger solid wood bridge plate and larger bottom-belly bridge. The numbers are preceded by letters: A, B, C, or D which indicate the series. The story of how Greg Deering came to own the over 130 year old Vega trademark is one of childhood dreams and an unmissable opportunity. 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. 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. They did provide paper labels for the instrument that they represented but did not provide labels for custom instruments or other shops or manufacturers. On rare occasions, some dates can be found on . It took Gibson 2 years to develop their response: The Jumbo of 1934. Mythology has it that the Southerner Jumbo was specifically targeted at the Southern market honoring rising Country music trends. Due to the plain marks on the bracing, it is believed that every top was tuned by the same Gibson employee. See LG-0 for materials and dimensions. Martins 1st steel string: 1922, 18 Mahogany body after 1917, no volute on headstock, 40 Rosewood body, MOP top & soundhole but not neck base, 41 Rosewood body, MOP top & soundhole but not neck base, 1969+ D-only, 42 Rosewood body, MOP top, soundhole & neck base but not sides, 45 Rosewood body, MOP top, soundhole, neck base & sides, S (1967 on) 12 fret neck, slotted headstock, Dyer (1906 1923?) Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. The following are believed to be accurate known numbers: The following serial numbers are approximate at best. MK-99 models were handcrafted and signed by Richard Schneider. David L. Day was in his 70s. Angled (Tilted-Back) Headstock. This is the smallest model, chrome tuners. The A.C. Fairbanks Company (incorporated 1875) was succeeded in 1903 by the Vega Company (established 1889). You may, . I'm thinking it was made by the Iida folks for a NAMM show or something. 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. Inlays and bindings are remarkably consistent through the years. At the time, the Nick Lucas model was the largest flat-top Gibson offered. It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. He was also a guitar enthusiast with a passion for physical and psycho-acoustics. How to Identify the Five-String Banjo - dummies Since Spruce was needed for the war-time effort, some J-45s in 1943 have a mahogany top. If you would like to use content from this page, see our Terms of Usage policy. Occasionally the labels have fallen out or been removed during repairs making it a bit trickier to date the instruments. Like all other companies, there are exceptions. 2005-2023 acousticmusic.org. Cherry Sunburst is still available. The more economical Student Grade instruments were often ladder braced. Width at nut 1 11/16, scale 24 3/4. MK-53 models were maple back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. I wouldn't be surprised if a few exist with other brand names. Similar to A-2 but with snakehead headstock, blonde finish, b/w binding, and A2-Z on the label. 1975 $899 The first catalog appearance of the L-5S was in the 1975 Gibson Solid Body catalog. Alternates can range from standard designs out there in the banjo world, old or new, or a custom. Post-war Gibson Banjo Serial Number Listing for "Bowtie Era Banjos" Many banjo manufacturers, in addition to making banjos under their own names, made unmarked banjos for others to sell as well. The following numbers are the earliest known serial number for the year listed. Many have no identification at all. 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. Design your own Huber Banjo. The name variations included Bacon and Day and B&D for all the instruments co-developed by Fred Bacon and David Day. The neck heal had a white plastic cap. There were 1229 made. Take your playing to the next level with the help of a local or online banjo teacher. Bridges: Ebony Sometimes with a flattened pyramid rectangular bridge shape. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/276603. A flourish inlay under The Gibson in the headstock. On 12 fret to the body guitars, in a break with tradition, the Larson brothers frequently inlayed the 10th fret instead of the ninth. It appears that they experimented right up to the point of discontinuing the line. the bins that were used to move instruments from . The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover. The standard "Huber' shape, the popular "Double Cut" shape or the "Fiddle Cut" shape. These bridges had movable saddles up to about 1917 when they changed to a one-piece compensating bridge design through early 1921. Asian Banjos - L-Z - Fastie expressed on the sides and back of the 1934 versions. banjo headstock identification new harrisonburg high school good friday agreement, brexit June 29, 2022 fabletics madelaine petsch 2021 0 when is property considered abandoned after a divorce The early instruments built in Nashville suffered from inexperienced workers and climate-control problems in the humid South. 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. The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) Vintage banjo from 1920s to 1970s - price guide and values - Carter's The back and sides were still mahogany but the Southerner Jumbo had a dark wooden stripe separating the 2 back pieces. Neck: mahogany single piece. Example: U8034853 U = Unsung, 8 = 1998, 03 = March, 4853 = manufacturing number. Gibson TP-6 tailpiece became standard. It would surprise me if there were 12 of those made as K banjos, however. Serial Numbers - Acoustic Music By 1936, with the depression still gripping the nation, Gibson moved to stay competitive and offer a more affordable option: The Advanced Jumbo (Advanced meaning that the size advanced: got bigger) with rosewood and fancier appointments that would compete with the Martin D-28 at $80 and the Jumbo 35 at $35 to compete with the Martin D-18. Silkscreen logos - Low end models. The above Peghead Shapes are existing patterns. Take a closer look at the serial number found on the back of the headstock and reference the guide below. The aluminum shell was chrome plated with 24 chrome-plated brackets. Our 19th Year * Sign Up Now 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. S2R3H, identical to S2R, but with 3-piece back, full herringbone purflings, gold tuners. The strings are tightly wound at the headstock so the banjo player can form cords along the fingerboard. 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. This technique of supplying interchangeable saddles/bridges was not new, it had been used by Selmer in France for their Maccaferri style instruments since the 1930s. and What's it sound like? Manchester University, Instruction * ConcertsJams * More The sunburst finish was generally $30 less than natural finish. 340 Rosewood back & sides, MOP, colored wood appointments & a Tree-of-Life fretboard inlay. The back and sides were Brazilian rosewood and the tops Adirondack red spruce. 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). It is, therefore, not unusual to find older mandolins with replacement bridges. 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. Between 1934 and 1938, Gibson only offered the sunburst finish. It was basically a slope shoulder dreadnaught like a J-45 or Southerner Jumbo and designed for the country and western market. Only about a dozen were made. The 2nd delivery to Ray Whitley was the more refined 14 fret SJ that is so well photo-dicumented. They were too late Gibson owned the market and the Martins were dropped 6 years later having only sold about 540 combined. 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 . They didnt sell well but did live up to their design intent of a. heavier, booming tone with good overall balance. The Aria 921C was a good quality 5-string banjo made in the early 1970s. Martin Flat Top Guitar Body Sizes and Designations: The body size designation is stamped on the neck block starting in October 1930. banjos, not surprising since they bought out the Buckbee factory in 1898. string peg perch is typically carved out from the side of the neck as shown The 1975 price was $549. gibson one-of-a-kind Christmas banjos! 587 Similar to 585 but with pearl (vs ivoroid) tuner buttons. To most people all banjos look (and sound) the same. The other digits in the serial number can tell you when your banjo was made. banjo headstock identification In some cases, teachers would purchase these instruments and put their own names on them, but in many other cases they carry no identifying name at all. The top and back bindings were black plastic with red line highlights. Gibson discontinued the A-3 around 1922. When I look at the rim, tone ring, tube and plate, and tailpiece they look like the same ones on my Ibanez 591.

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