The best way to date Larrive instruments is by the instrument labels. JR3H, like JR, but with 3-piece back, herringbone binding & gold tuners. Similar to A-2 but with snakehead headstock, blonde finish, b/w binding, and A2-Z on the label. The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. 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. 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. The early models had shallow neck sets that increased in angle around 1908. There were 1424 made. (Folk Jumbo Natural and Folk-25). It shared many features with the L-5 archtop electric acoustic: The neck was basically an L-5 neck in scale, section and detail. Its not clear how it works during this period. Yet somehow, there's a certain cool factor to this one. The designations were. In 1947 a natural finish J-45 was finally offered and given the designation: J-50. The Gibson Southerner Jumbo was introduced in 1942 and discontinued in 1978. The last 4 digits are a neck number. The numbers are preceded by letters: A, B, C, or D which indicate the series. 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. The following are a rough guide. Research our price guide with auction results on 40 items from $35 to $2,928. The appointments of the Southerner Jumbo included more top binding and an additional set of rosette rings. Other similar details include: single-cutaway body, ebony fingerboard with block inlays, flowerpot headstock inlay, L-5 tailpiece with contrasting silver on gold with L-5 engraving (changed to TP-6 in 1978) and multilayer body binding throughout. . string peg perch is typically carved out from the side of the neck as shown The fingerboard typically has inlays made of silver or steel. The space between the headstock center and the top of the lathe bed is the radius of the lathe swing. Notable endorsers of this model include Leon Redbone. and What's it sound like? themselves through common hardware and design characteristics. They were now able to get better materials. . Rated 5.00 out of 5. One of the advantages of choosing a banjo made in a small shop environment is the easy availability of customization. Gibson started making banjos in 1917. Like everything else, we have seen exceptions to the listed dimensions; especially the nut widths. Only about a dozen were made. Pickguards between 1909 and 1921 +/- show a stamped patent date of Mar. 3 special model, serial number 8382, New York, circa 1920s, intricate abalone shell inlay to fingerboard and headstock which also bears the Company logo. 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. No serial numbers etc. 1970 onward: 1 piece maple. JM, jumbo size guitar with mahogany back & sides, chrome tuners. Some SJNs with plastic Special Bridges. 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). Features: Carved curly maple body, with ornate multilayer binding, laminated maple neck, ebony fingerboard with abalone block inlays, gold-plated hardware throughout, two gold plated pickups with separate volume and tone, three-way selector switch. They are available for binding that is .060 and .090 binding. The 1975 price was $549. Skip to main content. A total of 2,477 J-35s were made according to Gibson records. However there were and are many different types, most of which can be found on this page. By the records, between 200 and 300 were built. Dr. Michael Kasha was a chemical physicist and the director of the Institute of Molecular Biophysics at Florida State University. There were some 1 3/4 nuts available. Information gathered from many sources but there are a few that need to be acknowledged: Dan Beimborns original Mandolin Pages web site and later contributions to the Mandolin Archive. Silkscreen logos - Low end models. This can often be found on the back of the peghead or on the inside rim of the banjo. 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. 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. If1970s, would be Japanese, more likely. On 12 fret to the body guitars, in a break with tradition, the Larson brothers frequently inlayed the 10th fret instead of the ninth. 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). World War II changed many aspects of the guitar world. To most people all banjos look (and sound) the same. MK-72 models were rosewood back & sides, 3 piece ebony/rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. 1979 $1149 Antique Sunburst added to Fireburst, Cherry Sunburst and Natural. They were mahogany back & sides with single layer binding front and back. The USA distributors in the 60s and 70s used their own serial number systems and we do . 1959: Larger crown frets and the adjustable bridge. Headstocks say LoPrinzi. Body designation Style designation, Serial number. As a vintage instrument dealer, I see no collectors market for banjos like yours. Collector's Corner There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. A head on a long neck open back banjo might sound completely different on a 12-string banjo. Tuners, hardware and tailpieces were probably purchased from Lyon and Healy who had a factory just down the street from the Larson shop. Gold War era logo - This type is called "Banner logo". 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. Gibson TP-6 tailpiece became standard. AMF ceased production of LoPrinzi guitars. Following many prototypes, shapes and bracing patterns, the Mark Series was launched in 1975. which do not feature a paper label. How did you come to own it? 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). It was basically a slope shoulder dreadnaught like a J-45 or Southerner Jumbo and designed for the country and western market. Internally, changes from the J-35 included strengthening the top bracing by moving the X brace 1 additional inch behind the soundhole. Other singing cowboys who later owned Super Jumbos include Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. Gibson discontinued the A-3 around 1922. The soundhole size coincided with the overall size of the instrument. Late 1960's Gibson Logo around 1969 with no dot over the "i". The Gibson Company was formed in late 1902 and the early mandolins evolved from the original Orville Gibson designs. They were the J-45 and the Southerner Jumbo. 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 mikehalloran - Posted-12/27/2013: 17:21:06. serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long It is the only typical American (USA) instrument, starting off as an instrument of the African slaves, then via the Minstrel Shows becoming part of typical American music styles like Jazz, Dixieland, Bluegrass, etc. Introduced is the year of introduction. It had chrome plated standard friction pegs, rosewood finished neck and headstock with matchin resonator. The Kalamazoo plant kept going for a few years as a custom-instrument shop, including the Mark Series instruments, and was ultimately closed in 1984. Bottom belly ebony bridge with pyramids on the wings, Silk-screened script @ 15 degrees +/-: The Gibson, 3 on a plate open gear tuners white or black buttons, Top and body becomes all mahogany amber finish, Extra bridge pin centered below 6 in a line, L-0 Flattened lower bout increased to 14, Reintroduced as the least expensive Gibson flat-top @ $25, Body depth 3 ? at the neck and 4 3/8 at the heel, Pearl dot makers and double dots on the 12th fret, Old script silk-screened diagonal logo: The Gibson or just Gibson, Some striped tortoise plastic pickguards after 1933, Some bright white plastic pickguards after 1933, L-00 introduced as Gibsons lowest price flat-top @ $37.50, Small round amber area of sunburst just below the soundhole, Striped tortoise plastic pickguards added, Dot position markers on the fretboard edge, A few with banner logos decals on the headstocks, Light amber top Sheraton brown back & sides, Old script silk-screened diagonal logo: The Gibson, Flattened lower bout increased to 14 (possibly, Soundhole, bridge and bracing moved to compensate, Similar to the L-00 but with heavier braces, Pearl dot fretboard markers double on 12, Gold sparkle inlayed around top & soundhole, Tailpiece adjustable bridge option discontinued, Speckled celluloid pickguard added as an option, Some had 2 top braces under the fingerboard extension vs. one, Rosewood fretboard rectangle inlays at 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 & 15, Pearl diamond inlays in the rosewood rectangles, Gibson pearl diagonal headstock inlay in rosewood, in Pearloid, Pearloid headstock veneer replace with rosewood, Bound headstock, pearl Gibson, pearl truss rod cover and notched diamond inlay, No headstock binding, black truss rod cover and elongated diamond inlay, Body depth 4 at the neck and 4 5/8 at the heel, Brazilian rosewood pyramid bottom belly bridge, The Gibson pearl angled logo inlayed on headstock, Nick Lucas Special white label with picture of Nick Lucas, 14 fret neck to body joints (phased in by this time), Trapeze tailpiece with adjustable bridge option. 156137I know this is a mandolin forum, but the admins suggested I start here. No binding, no inlay and no decoration. The neck holds the strings secure using tuners, four of which are located at the peghead, with the fifth string tuning peg located almost halfway up the neck. Gibson changed the name again in the 1950s to the SJ-200. They had owner applied pick guards and multi-bound backs and tops (including red line highlights). In 1923 it appears that Gibson began to assemble A-2s with left-over blonde tops from A-3s. the teacher or distributor. The headstock face was veneered in black. Find the worth of your vintage banjo from 1920s to 1970s. They are essentially an Advanced Jumbo with minor compromises: they filled a gap between the J-35 and the J-55. made unmarked banjos for others to sell as well. Manchester University, All Forums 1940: #1 or #001 to 1965: approximately #84xxx. If you count the plies in the rim it is about 12 or 13 which is what I have seen in a lot of Asian banjos. You'll find Epiphone serial numbers in the standard places. Not many were sold and the production run was therefore limited to 2 years. Mythology has it that the Southerner Jumbo was specifically targeted at the Southern market honoring rising Country music trends. The Mark Series guitars were particularly interesting among the Gibson flat tops made in the 1970s due to their unique bracing. Augustino LoPrinzi has developed a fine reputation for classical guitars, ukuleles, steel string and 12-string guitars. Rettberg & Lange (1898-1920) banjos were initially similar to Buckbee-made 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. The Jumbo 55 (J-55) was introduce in late 1939 and discontinued in 1942. Other Banjo-Related Topics Western movies were tremendously popular and the singing cowboy heroes needed instruments as big and bold as untamed West. The Advanced Jumbo has been described by some as the finest no compromises most powerful flat-top guitar Gibson ever designed and built. MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. It marked the beginning of a new era for Gibson. During the period of 1909 through 1920 Gibson produced large numbers of mandolins. Timing is everything In 1969 the Gibson parent company: Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) was acquired by the South American brewing conglomerate: E.C.L. Though it was discontinued in 1942, the last Advanced Jumbo left the Kalamazoo plant in 1940. The further down the headstock the peg is, the shorter it will be. Vega continued to mark their banjos "A.C. Fairbanks" until the middle teens. I am the third owner, the previous owner researched it and, based on the serial number, headstock design and inlays declares it to be a 1976 Gibson RB 250 MASTERTONE model with the 20 hole metal tone ring. 1-6 digits stamped into the top edge of the headstock-often difficult to read. 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 tradition had been Bug style mandolins: bowl-backs with flat or bent tops. Larger top braces used, and bigger solid wood bridge plate and larger bottom-belly bridge. Slanted mid 1940's Gibson Logo. Why not post a little tune with it. Ebony Fretboards were generally thicker than other builders. Numerous articles in Vintage Guitar Magazine over the years. The following are believed to be accurate known numbers: The following serial numbers are approximate at best. The 1975 price was $879. ss stewart presentation banjo - Google Search. 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 . Mid to late 1944, the neck block revert back to mahogany, though poplar is occasionally used. They could be strung with steel or nylon strings. It took Gibson 2 years to develop their response: The Jumbo of 1934. The swing of a lathe is measured as the total diameter of a finished turned piece, such as a wood bowl. Nice playability, great tone, strong low end and good sustain all the way up the neck. 1952: The headstock gold decal logo was replaced by an inlayed pearl script and crown. F Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. LG-0 | Introduced 1958 | Discontinued 1973, LG-1 | Introduced 1947 | Discontinued 1968, LG-2 | Introduced 1942 | Discontinued 1962, LG-2- | Introduced 1949 | Discontinued 1962, LG-3 | Introduced 1946 | Discontinued 1963, B-25 | Introduced 1962 | Discontinued 1976, FJ-N | Introduced 1963 | Discontinued 1970, F-25 | Introduced 1963 | Discontinued 1970, B-15 | Introduced 1967 | Discontinued 1970, Brazilian rosewood rectangular through bridges, 2 screws in the bridge with MOP dot covers, Basically the same as LG-1 with a mahogany top, Single plastic tortoise shell binding top and back, Narrow neck design with 14 degree headstock angle, Same basic guitar as LG-2 with average wood, Wood imperfections covered by a dark sunburst, Tall scalloped braces change to low-profile rough cut, Enlarged rectangular bridge with closed slot, Fire striped plastic pickguard teardrop shape, Last use of the Banner decal on headstocks, Basically the same as an LG-2 with better materials, Bottom belly rosewood bridges with adjustable saddles, Back, sides and neck finished in walnut stain, Body shape: 16 wide, round shoulder dreadnought shape, Top: Select spruce, 2-piece bookmatched with scalloped X-bracing, Neck: mahogany, single piece, unbound, 19 fret, dot markers, Bridges: Rosewood belly-down. Deering Gabriella 5-string banjo headstock. 1916 into 1921: the pin to the bridge was dropped. $ 5,719.00 $ 5,149.00. Over time the J-35 braces began to appear scalloped. The saddles were wider than usual. DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device. The standard early Gibson A models had a soft V shaped neck. purchase these instruments and put their own names on them, but in many other Edited by - rfvelk on 12/26/2013 17:31:36, Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 22:24:21. 585 Grand Concert: rosewood back & sides, MOP, colored wood appointments and a Tree-of-Life fretboard inlay. It was Gibsons most prestigious solid body (and therefore expensive, with a couple of exceptions). 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. Many banjo manufacturers, in addition to making banjos under their own names, There are some examples of two piece bodies used with the transparent or natural finishes. A simpler variation on the SJ-200 with fewer appointments and a lower price tag was the SJ-100. The financial strain became too much and the company sold in 1940 to Gretsch. Ironically, the script logo on the headstock was old-style. It became the working mans choice and one of the most enduring instrument designs in history. At least one model, the Epiphone Spirit, was manufactured in the USA during the early 1980s in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI. The LG-Series is 2 narrower than the J-Series. All Rights Reserved. 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: The individual artist's touch on the . Gibson style one piece flange, probably zinc, also Gibson style flange brackets, 4 resonator screws. Similar to A, but with double purfling on the soundhole. These shoes are shown in an 1890s Washburn banjo catalog, on low end models with . My understanding is that only 12 of these particular banjos were ever manufactured by Kay. It appears that many mandolin owners of earlier models chose to upgrade their bridges to the fancy new adjustable models after 1921. I just received this mando-banjo I bought on e-bay and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the builder. MB -- mandolin banjo. Worthy of mention is the Jumbo Deluxe, though it is believed that only 3 were ever made in 1938. 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. In fact, he was part of a team of scientists paid as consultants by Gibson for their input on a project to create the finest sounding guitar based upon sound scientific logic, theory and research. The one delivered first to Ray Whitley was not the model now seen as the beginning of the Super Jumbos, but a simpler 12 fret version. Richard Schneider and assistant Abe Wechter acted as the on-site, full-time luthiers to collaborate and develop Kashas theories and bring them to a manufacturing reality. Due to the plain marks on the bracing, it is believed that every top was tuned by the same Gibson employee. STONE BANJO CO - PEGHEAD SHAPES. Depending on the selected source, there is disagreement about these numbers. Also, the first batch of J-45s had more binding both on the body and soundhole. JR, jumbo size guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners. These appear to have a unique serial number scheme. For a period of time, this was the top of the line. There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. 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. 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. 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. They are maintained by Donna LoPrinzi in Clearwater Florida. It might be a Fairbanks or Stewart, but there is no name anywhere on the instrument. The first number of the sequence indicates the decade of production, followed by the three digit day of the year, and finally the year. Introduced 1967, Basically an more economical LG-0. Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 15:42:17. Ohio banjo player Steven Moore has his first solo project, Just a Little Talk with Myself, just recently released. ARIA 921C. During 1880-1890 Fairbanks joined with William A. Cole, a successful performer and teacher, and produced approximately 9000 banjos as Fairbanks & Cole. It is not clear how Gibson decided to set their nut widths and neck thicknesses. Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. These bridges had movable saddles up to about 1917 when they changed to a one-piece compensating bridge design through early 1921. 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. George Youngblood of Youngbloods Music Workshop. Martin Flat Top Guitar Body Sizes and Designations: The body size designation is stamped on the neck block starting in October 1930. Each model of the Mark Series was available in natural or sunburst finish. J-L. M. N-P. Q-Sch. Since that day in 1989, Deering has breathed new life into the Vega name, blending over a century of tradition with Deering's banjo building expertise, to create a range of heritage rich open back and longneck banjos that are as integral to the modern folk . The 1934 version had a classic Gibson sunburst: the small amber center around the bridge about 1/4 of the top area. Then Gibson developed the adjustable bridge. serial number 8382, New York, circa 1920s, intricate abalone shell inlay to fingerboard and headstock which also bears the Company logo. Cherry Sunburst is still available. It appears to be all original except for the bridge, which appears to be a banjo bridge crudely slotted for 8 strings, and the head, which is probably plastic. New Location: This should be considered a guide to get you within a year of the correct date. 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. How to customize a Huber Banjo; . The Mark Series guitars had 16 3/16 lower bouts with very narrow waists, and a headstock like no other in Gibson tradition. The decade following saw a change in finish from varnish to shinier lacquer. CLB, Classic guitar of Brazilian rosewood, gold tuners. To accommodate the pickup, the standard production neck was pushed up to a neck-body joint at the 15th fret. Gibson Size 3 Gurian, either acoustic or amplified. The early models had shallow neck sets and low bridges that increased in angle around 1908 with taller bridges. It is, therefore, not unusual to find older mandolins with replacement bridges. Welcome to the Vintage Banjo Maker, please do sign up for email updates to keep in the loop about new additions to our research coming soon! The Gibson Super Jumbo first appeared in 1937. The 1975 price was $1,999. In some cases, teachers would 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. A Style mandolins were symmetrical and shaped like a teardrop. When it came out in 1942 it was the most expensive Gibson flat-top in the line. The Southerner Jumbo (later shortened to: Southern Jumbo and then SJ) was a fancier J-45. Occasionally the labels have fallen out or been removed during repairs making it a bit trickier to date the instruments. In late 1 the use of factory order numbers was discontinued. I have an open back banjo with a number 44 stamped in the ring, and May 2, 1899 carved in the support on the backside. The system is not known for certain but might have restarted as consecutive numbers beginning at 1000. Deering. The somewhat radical headstock shape was discontinued at Gibson with the Mark Series but appears to have been an influence on the young Paul Reed Smith who later used a similar shape for his electric instruments. G Edward Porgie - Posted - 06/16/2021: 14:40:30. I have owned a beautiful Kay company banjo for over 30 years. Banjo not included or available. Back & Sides: Mahogany but some released as Brazilian rosewood. Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. In mid 1944 bookmatched two piece Sispruce tops reappear. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues there are many exceptions. Electric guitars having the serial number on the back of the headstock. For example: B&D had several un-numbered models between 1913 and 1920. $80 in depression era dollars was beyond the means of most people of the time but 300+/- were built during its 3 year production run. Example of custom shape is well represented below with the "Tennessee Banjo". The flood of returning soldiers with a broader world-view brought new musical tastes and new hopes for the future. He was also a guitar enthusiast with a passion for physical and psycho-acoustics. Free or royalty-free photos and images. New Location: I have to say that it is most interesting. Martin Guitars seemed to take note of the successful sales of the Gibson acoustic-electrics J-160E and CF-100Es. MK-53 models were maple back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. The focus of the site is antique and vintage banjos and mandolins, but there are . Made in USA. 118 Midtown Ct # M A-series Factory location: New York City from start to 1971. White from 1928 to 1943/44. 1975 $899 The first catalog appearance of the L-5S was in the 1975 Gibson Solid Body catalog. This is the smallest model, chrome tuners. Late 1930s through 1942: ? adjustment wheels 2 feet and extensions on top of the base for the wheels. A-3s had refrigerator white tops with a black perfling line, adjustable truss rods and adjustable bridges.