banjo headstock identification banjo headstock identification

Wyatt Fawley's banjo, model for the "Retrotone" banjo design : 1949 : 3399-86 -100 : 1-piece: Dots : I/N Auction 2/2007 with flathead ring from 1963 RB180 and 1959 RB100 neck : 1949 : 3399-90: RB-150: . They are available for binding that is .060 and .090 binding. USA produced Epiphones of this era bear standard Gibson serialization and include the Made in USA stamp on the back of the headstock. Gibson had changed its neck profiles and headstock shape on the successful J-Series. Hard-stamped serial numbers. My understanding is that only 12 of these particular banjos were ever manufactured by Kay. Inlays and bindings are remarkably consistent through the years. Serial Numbers. Laminated maple back and sides is discontinued (FON batch 2828 used maple back and sides). 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 designations were. 1923 into 1970: 1 piece mahogany necks. New Location: I have to say that it is most interesting. ECL changed its name shortly afterwards to: Norlin Inc. for ECL president Norton Stevens and CMI president Maurice Berlin. So far as I can find Gibson appears to have only made "Stewart" instruments for a couple of years in the early 1930s. For example: Gretsch stopped production of Bacon and B&D banjos. I have owned a beautiful Kay company banjo for over 30 years. The aluminum shell was chrome plated with 24 chrome-plated brackets. The early models had shallow neck sets and low bridges that increased in angle around 1908 with taller bridges. Description: Internally constructed from dense EPS foam, the exterior of this Gator banjo case is covered in rugged 600-denier ballistic . serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long Australian zither . Mid 1921 through late 1930s: larger base with 2 feet, 3/8 adjustment wheels and wooden compensated bridge top. USA produced Epiphones of this era bear standard Gibson serialization and include the "Made in USA" stamp on the back of the headstock. Like all other companies, there are exceptions. The concept behind the J-45 was a high quality, affordable, big-sounding acoustic flat-top guitar. MK-53 models were maple back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. S3R3H, Like S3R, with 3-piece back, full herringbone binding, gold tuners. These appear to be the easiest to find and quite reasonable to buy. better-grade offerings frequently had notched, rather than grooved stretcher Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. 1975 $899 The first catalog appearance of the L-5S was in the 1975 Gibson Solid Body catalog. Gretsch appears to have started a new numbering system at about that time. S3M, Size 3 guitar with mahogany back & sides. Several other forces were at work for change: Introduced 1963, these were designed as dual-purpose instruments. Worthy of mention is the Jumbo Deluxe, though it is believed that only 3 were ever made in 1938. S2R3H, identical to S2R, but with 3-piece back, full herringbone purflings, gold tuners. How to customize a Huber Banjo; . The headstock face was veneered in black. 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. The 1975 price was $549. Ironically the first blond J-45s were actually built in July of 1942 (Called the J-45N for Natural) and the actual number of these shipped is not known for sure. The strings are tightly wound at the headstock so the banjo player can form cords along the fingerboard. Bridges: Ebony Sometimes with a flattened pyramid rectangular bridge shape. . Some banjo . It was basically a slope shoulder dreadnaught like a J-45 or Southerner Jumbo and designed for the country and western market. Late 1930s through 1942: ? adjustment wheels 2 feet and extensions on top of the base for the wheels. cases they carry no identifying name at all. $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. Wiley Morris of the Morris Brothers Hillbilly Band and Charlie Monroe (Bill Monroes brother) took to the instrument for its potential in the roots of Bluegrass music. mikehalloran - Posted-12/27/2013: 17:21:06. See LG-0 for materials and dimensions. Rated 5.00 out of 5. There are some examples of two piece bodies used with the transparent or natural finishes. See Martin Serial Numbers for a dating information. MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. gibson one-of-a-kind Christmas banjos! 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 Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. 1946 onward: No feet the bottom of the bridge flush on the instrument top. 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. 1916 into 1921: the pin to the bridge was dropped. It was intended to be more affordable and more readily available than its main competition: the Martin D-18. 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. 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. 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 following numbers are the earliest known serial number for the year listed. These bridges had movable saddles up to about 1917 when they changed to a one-piece compensating bridge design through early 1921. Dr. Michael Kasha was a chemical physicist and the director of the Institute of Molecular Biophysics at Florida State University. Each model of the Mark Series was available in natural or sunburst finish. About Larrive Guitar Labels Augustino LoPrinzi Guitar Maker Clearwater Florida (LoPrinzi name bought back from AMF) Instruments designed and built by Augustino and Donna LoPrinzi (daughter). The only available finish was sunburst until 1954. Manchester University, Instruction * ConcertsJams * More There are no manufacture's labels or stamps on it. Gibson. 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. It's always made of hardwood such as ebony and makes up the front-facing top half of the banjo's neck. 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. Deering Gabriella 5-string banjo headstock. string peg perch is typically carved out from the side of the neck as shown (The 1st year of the J-45 actually had similar appointments but they were reduced and simplified for model clarity in 1943). The sunburst finish was generally $30 less than natural finish. The Aria 921C was a good quality 5-string banjo made in the early 1970s. In any event, these should be used only as a guide and not assumed to be absolutely correct. Example: S3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February . This was available in brown, black or blonde finish. The first number of the sequence indicates the decade of production, followed by the three digit day of the year, and finally the year. LoPrinzi Guitars Plainsboro, New Jersey AMF years (serial numbers: high 3,000 4,000s) Tom LoPrinzi was still with the company. Sounds great and the instrument is very easy to play. Alternates can range from standard designs out there in the banjo world, old or new, or a custom. Start your day off right, with a Dayspring Coffee 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. According to the Gibson catalog, natural finish was the only option in 1939 but we are told that at least 2 examples exist of a cherry sunburst from the same period. The other digits in the serial number can tell you when your banjo was made. By the end in 1985-86, Gibson was basically down to the Les Paul model alone. As a vintage instrument dealer, I see no collectors market for banjos like yours. These had black plastic laminate headstock overlays with Bacon engraved in blockletters and a small, metal plate engraved Bacon Folk Model. identify the manufacturer of these banjos in many cases, but some identify 1940: #1 or #001 to 1965: approximately #84xxx. 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 . English mandolin banjo, by cuckoo, circa 1900s, of typical form, 'Cuckoo' imprinted on the headstock, 55 cm long American Orpheum mandolin banjo , by Rettberg & Lange, no. 30, 1909. Headstocks say LoPrinzi. No binding, no inlay and no decoration. Modern Gibson Logo open "b" and "o". On 12 fret to the body guitars, in a break with tradition, the Larson brothers frequently inlayed the 10th fret instead of the ninth. Yet somehow, there's a certain cool factor to this one. The Mark Series guitars were particularly interesting among the Gibson flat tops made in the 1970s due to their unique bracing. Sunburst was the only finish available for the J-45 until much later as the sunburst finish can hide flaws in the wood; this was a significant advantage during WW2 when clear wood was being used for the war effort. See also: Gibson J-160E for more historical context. beautiful banjo. tailpieces (see fourth row of pictures below) on many of their unmarked banjos, and their The fingerboard typically has inlays made of silver or steel. Naming the parts of a banjo. If1970s, would be Japanese, more likely. 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: Made in USA. Steel Guitar. The selected tuners varied randomly by model and year. Though it has gone through a number of refinements over the years, the basic design has not changed since. Kay company banjos were normally not that high-quality but this one is different. Higher numbers also meant more money. They did not imprint the instruments with any particular brand. I own the book and have found it to be an invaluable resource in identifying these old guitars. Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. The following versions evolved quickly to 14 frets clear of the body. banjo headstock identificationleap year program in python using for loop. I like it. The Jumbos had a slight V shaped neck with the Gibson truss rod and a pointed French heal somewhat unusual for Gibson. Brown or black finish, some binding only on the top and in the soundhole with one ring around the soundhole. Headstocks of US models also use the Gibson headstock shape. It was a refinement of the slope-shoulder design of the original Jumbo but slightly deeper: 4 13/16. During the period of 1909 through 1920 Gibson produced large numbers of mandolins. A total of 2,477 J-35s were made according to Gibson records. Heads have different effects on different kinds of banjos. The standard "Huber' shape, the popular "Double Cut" shape or the "Fiddle Cut" shape. Neck: mahogany single piece. They had owner applied pick guards and multi-bound backs and tops (including red line highlights). Gibson needed to revitalize its lineup of flat-top guitars the LG-Series was born. The neck heal had a white plastic cap. 2: The Histories of Cool Guitars". The hardshell case had a green or red silk lining. The back and sides were Brazilian rosewood and the tops Adirondack red spruce. There is a steel tone ring on the maple rim, and the rim has a maple cap. and What's it sound like? 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. Example: U8034853 U = Unsung, 8 = 1998, 03 = March, 4853 = manufacturing number. 15 Mahogany top, back & sides no binding, 17 Mahogany top, back & sides bound top. 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. The Gibson Super Jumbo first appeared in 1937. Art Studios. There was some amber color. This is the smallest model, chrome tuners. Another useful An entire bin was a "lot" and would contain MK-35-12 models were only made in 1977. RRRR = Ranking number (may be more or less digits) Example: 3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February / unit 1234. Bodies: Rosewood, oak, mahogany, koa and maple. 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. Since Spruce was needed for the war-time effort, some J-45s in 1943 have a mahogany top. The first versions of the Super Jumbo guitar had a neck joint with 12 frets clear of the body placing the moustache bridge geometrically in the center of the distinctly round 16 7/8 lower bout. Some rectangular examples, Headstock appointments: Decal Only a Gibson is Good Enough banner. 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. Collector's Corner $ 5,719.00 $ 5,149.00. The appointments of the Southerner Jumbo included more top binding and an additional set of rosette rings. In general, higher model numbers meant more binding and ornament. LoPrinzi Guitars most from Plainsboro New Jersey. Our 19th Year * Sign Up Now Similar to A-2 but with snakehead headstock, blonde finish, b/w binding, and A2-Z on the label. 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. Pearl twin parallelogram inlays, Bridges: Rosewood belly-down. He was also a guitar enthusiast with a passion for physical and psycho-acoustics. The space between the headstock center and the top of the lathe bed is the radius of the lathe swing. They were the J-45 and the Southerner Jumbo. When I look at the rim, tone ring, tube and plate, and tailpiece they look like the same ones on my Ibanez 591. To complicate matters, the Larson brothers appear to have used different numbering techniques for different brands that they supplied. This is a high-quality instrument. Its difficult to positively Manchester University, All Forums It worked. However there were and are many different types, most of which can be found on this page. Weve seen some serial number lists that are as much as 8 years out-of-sync with this list. In 1926 Gibson introduced the L-series guitars with the L-0 at $35 and the L-1 at $50 (1928 prices). 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. GB -- guitar banjo. Format: 2 (Identifier) YY (Year) XXXX (Numerical ID) Example: Serial number . 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. 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. JM, jumbo size guitar with mahogany back & sides, chrome tuners. Most were 3-piece solid maple bodies. serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long In 1935, binding was added to the fretboard. B&D models stopped around 1968 following Baldwins (Gretschs parent company) 1967 purchase of the ODE company. It took Gibson 2 years to develop their response: The Jumbo of 1934. 541 Concert: rosewood back & sides with colored wood appointments. 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! These were Gibsons first flat-top cutaways. The headstock shape is very similar and it has the hexnut . Gibson hoped to score the same type of success that had occurred with Lloyd Loar in the 1920s: redefining the acoustic guitar for generations to come. Martin Guitars seemed to take note of the successful sales of the Gibson acoustic-electrics J-160E and CF-100Es. 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. 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. Pickguards between 1909 and 1921 +/- show a stamped patent date of Mar. 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 final production versions had a double-braced red spruce top and rosewood back and sides with a sunburst finish. It is very showy though. The best way to date Larrive instruments is by the instrument labels. The labels with an image of Orville Gibson are generally found on instruments with serial numbers below 10,000. serial number 8382, New York, circa 1920s, intricate abalone shell inlay to fingerboard and headstock which also bears the Company logo. CLR, Classic guitar with Indian rosewood back and sides, decorated binding, gold tuners. 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 . 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 Some SJNs with plastic Special Bridges. Many have no identification at all. Instruction * ConcertsJams * More Mismanagement was so severe during the final Norlin years that the Gibson Guitar Corp. was within 3 months of going out of business when it was bought by young Harvard Business grads: Henry E. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman and Gary A. Zebrowski in January of 1986. They were available in steel string or classical. It was available with a brown finish and came as a snakehead or paddle headstock. The Gibson Company was formed in late 1902 and the early mandolins evolved from the original Orville Gibson designs. The neck was a broad round profile single piece mahogany with a bound coffewood fretboard and dot markers. See the notes below. It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. Between 1934 and 1938, Gibson only offered the sunburst finish. The top and back bindings were black plastic. They were mahogany back & sides with single layer binding front and back. Gibson changed the name again in the 1950s to the SJ-200. The promotional material in the Gibson catalog of 1934 said: This greater body size produces a heavy, booming tone so popular with many players who do vocal and small combination accompaniment for both personal and radio appearances. Yuletide. They didnt sell well but did live up to their design intent of a heavier, booming tone with good overall balance. Gibson TP-6 tailpiece became standard. Find the worth of your vintage banjo from 1920s to 1970s. The top and back bindings were black plastic with red line highlights. This moved the X away from the soundhole a bit. The Jumbo 55 (J-55) was introduce in late 1939 and discontinued in 1942. Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2600s to 2700s. The back and sides were still mahogany but the Southerner Jumbo had a dark wooden stripe separating the 2 back pieces. The body dimensions basically match the LG-series: 14 1/8 wide by 19 1/2 long by 4 1/2 deep. Deering. I just received this mando-banjo I bought on e-bay and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the builder. It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. White from 1928 to 1943/44. 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. Instrumental. Width at nut 1 11/16, scale 24 3/4. The introduction of a truss rod cover to the headstock caused the inlay patterns to adjust as well. Yes, paging Scott to the Collector's Corner, please. The original partners were Fred and Cassie Bacon and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Winship. The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) 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. This is a strong playing. Depending on the selected source, there is disagreement about these numbers. J-L. M. N-P. Q-Sch. 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 . 1973 $895 L-5S a few instruments shipped and cherry sunburst is the only available finish. There can easily be more numbers within each year listed. The 1975 price was $1,999. Known Problems with Gretschs Serial Number System: Due to the various renumbering schemes, there are Gretsch-built Bacons and B&Ds with 3 digit, 4 digit and 5 digit serial numbers, which confuses identification of instruments made between 1910 and 1940. They had dot markers on the fretboard and a moustache bridge with individual adjusters on each string. 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. Hand Engraving. Martin introduced their versions of acoustic-electrics: the D-18E in 1958 and D-28E in 1959. All Rights Reserved. Because there are few of these instruments around, little has been written about them, though some did find their way into the hands of influential artists of the day. Other Banjo-Related Topics It had chrome plated standard friction pegs, rosewood finished neck and headstock with matchin resonator. The 5th string is not only shorter than the other four banjo strings, but this string is also the highest in sound (or pitch ). The 1975 price was $879. 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 Advanced Jumbo has been described by some as the finest no compromises most powerful flat-top guitar Gibson ever designed and built. MIDWEST BANJO CAMPJune 1-4, 2023New Manchester, IN, 'Pisgah Banjo Co. raffle for Arnold Shultz Fund extended to March 10, 2023' 2 hrs, 'Pisgah Banjo Company banjo raffle extended to March 10' 2 hrs, 'Lost Indian: Samuel Bayard collection ' 3 hrs, 'Lost Indian: Samuel Bayard collection' 3 hrs, 'Flinthill FHB-300 - Killer bluegrass banjo for the money!' CLM, Classical guitar with mahogany back and sides. Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. Information compiled by Leonard Wyeth 2008, L Wyeth, Century General Introduced 1933 for the Century of Progress Exhibition @ $55. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. Over time the J-35 braces began to appear scalloped. 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.