Some models LG-2, J, SJ, select Ls included an actual dating a gibson banjo reading "Only a Gibson Is Good Enough" in the middle of the headstock. Throughout the war and even for some time after, each year had its own quirks around FON batch numbers and letters. It lists the 9" MB model as being made only during andwith the larger model replacing it in Function meets fashion in high school, dating going to be relatively easy to the stamped in contrast to mfa, dating a gibson banjo. It reads: RB MADE IN U. Replated, cut for flathead ring.
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Save Password, dating a gibson banjo. All Topics Active Topics. All Forums Other Banjo-Related Topics Other Banjo-Related Topics ARCHIVED TOPIC: Gibson Serial Number Dating Please note this is an archived topicso it is locked and unable to be replied to. Howdy Folks. Recently the age of my Gibson RB has come into question. Looking at the serial number, I assumed it was built inBUT, the only Gibson serial number system I am familiar with, is the line of Electric Guitars. I was wondering if there was any diferance.
And how you read a Gibson Banjo Serial number. I hope to be able to put a date on it Some photos of my banjo are located on my BHO homepage Thanks! And funny enough, I cannot get my to match that system Try this website if it is a dating a gibson banjo model Thanks for the link.
My number starts with So I could not find in there. But I do not exactly know, what makes it a Bowtie? Judging by the pics on your homepagee, yours isn't a Bowtie.
Kalle Kockum, Sweden I wish I was as cool as Levon Helm quote: Originally posted by jerrygarciasbanjofan Thanks for the link, dating a gibson banjo. This number could be a single, double or triple digit number. This number indicates which banjo in that batch, that particular model is.
For example, if the banjo was an RB and there was a 10 after the dash, that would mean that that particular banjo was the 10th RB built. SO, an RB with the serial number,would be a year model, built in February and it was the 10th one built that year. Hope this helps! Oh yeah, and sometimes the model number is stamped in front of the other numbers. For instance, Lynwood Lunsford "Alright. Its on the back of the headstock. Thanks Lynwood, good explanation, I appreciate it. New update I just took off the resonator, and looked at the label.
No date, or numbers, but it says, 'Kalamazoo, Mich'. I thought nowadays the Banjos are built in Nashville Chris, is the flange on your banjo a 2 piece or 1 piece? And is the rim black? If the flange is a 2-pc, the rim black and the neck a 3-pc which it appears to be, I may be wrong thoughyour is most likely from the '70s, dating a gibson banjo.
I've dating a gibson banjo told its a 2 piece Flange. Black rim. I do not know about the neck. Let me take some pics Looks just like my oldmade in the '70s. Yours has got less food on it though. quote: Originally posted by kallekockum Looks just dating a gibson banjo my oldmade in the '70s.
I;m a clean Banjo player. Ok, dating a gibson banjo 70's, dating a gibson banjo. Again the number is If that maybe puts a year on it The serial numbers Gibson used during the '70s are confusing to say the least so it may be difficult to determine the year of production. Ok, thats good to know. But is there some kind of system? quote: Originally posted by jerrygarciasbanjofan But is there some kind of system? If there dating a gibson banjo, I can't see it, dating a gibson banjo.
But I'm no expert. Perhaps somebody with a Ph. in Gibsoniana will chip in. Ok well, your help has been much appreciated. Thanks Kalle. And thanks to those you who chipped in. If anybody has anymore info, I'd love to hear it If it has "Made in USA" stamped underneath the serial number, it was made in or later. If not, it was made prior tobut not any earlier than The shape of dating a gibson banjo headstock was changed in from the "flyswatter" style seen on most of the "bowtie" models to the "fiddle style", which Gibson used throughout the 70's and '80's.
Well, 'Made In USA' is stamped above the serial number. It reads: RB MADE IN U. So we are looking at early 70's? For reference You say your serial number is I bought my rb new from Venemon music in Virginia in My serial number is Unless they dating a gibson banjo a really schizophrenic numbering scheme, I would say your banjo is or slightly older?
I have another with identical neck that has serial number Also has the "Made in USA. That number is puzzling me though Any ideas about that number? Thanks for the info Howard! I appreciate it. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved. Forgot Password. Browse Forums Active Topics Post New Topic. Classifieds Post New Ad Classified Rules. Browse Classifieds Banjos Banjo Parts Banjo Accessories Banjo-Related Services Instructional Materials Music CD's, LP's, etc Internet Auctions Other Instruments.
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This makes relying entirely on the physical features of a guitar potentially misleading. The thickness of the headstock, however, is not as vulnerable to modification or replacement.
Before mid, most Gibson headstocks were thinner at the top when looked at from a side profile. After , headstocks had uniform thickness. Gibson has historically used two different alpha-numerical formats to catalog its instruments: serial numbers and FONs Factory Order Numbers. Instruments will generally have one or both of these numbers stamped or written either inside the body generally the case on earlier models or on the back of the headstock.
These will generally date an instrument earlier than the serial number, as they were typically applied in the early stages of assembly. Some earlier lower-end models had no serial number at all, making the FON the sole numerical identifier in those cases. A FON usually consisted of a 3-, 4-, or 5-digit batch number followed by one or two other numbers in most cases.
From to , the FON included a letter suffix. The consistency around this stopped during WWII and resumed in the early s. To complicate matters further, there was sometimes a second letter from to indicating the brand G for Gibson, K for Kalamazoo, W for Recording King and sometimes even a third letter indicating "Electric" the letter E.
The year is indicated by the first letter in any series of letters for these years. Throughout the war and even for some time after, each year had its own quirks around FON batch numbers and letters. From to , a consistent letter code resumed, with the letter appearing before the batch number. Below is a table of the the highest known number for each production year. Early Gibson solidbody electrics received a serial stamp on the back of the headstock, with the first number indicating the year of production.
The serial number on this Les Paul Junior indicates that it was made in Starting in , Gibson implemented a new serialization system designed to cover its entire lineup. However, while the intent was to maintain a more organized catalog, this system in practice achieved the exact opposite. Numbers from this era were flipped, reused, and in many cases can date an instrument to several non-sequential years.
In Gibson began carving volutes-- small bumps of additional wood where the neck transitions to the headstock-- to cut down on warranty repair work.
Starting in , Gibson adopted the current date-based serial system which codes for the year and day of production.
The first number of the sequence indicates the decade of production, followed by the three digit day of the year, and finally the year. If you feel like your guitar could be highly valuable or just want as much information as possible, we recommend finding an official appraiser or reach out to a Gibson representative.
Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. Reverb Articles. Methods For Dating a Gibson Instrument. Sell Your Gear on Reverb. Gibson Headstock Logos Through The Decades.
Other Date-Linked Features. Dating a Gibson by Serial Number. Year Last Numbers Year Last Numbers A A A A A A A Year Approx Serial Range , , , , , , , , , Year Approx Serial Range , , , , , , , Year Approximate Serial Range , , , Year Approximate Serial Range The Volute: c.
DIY Dating vs. references at its website, lists as the last serial number of , and as the last FON of The reason that I think may be an FON rather than a serial number, is the hyphenation; the number after the hyphen was, I believe, the number of the individual instrument 15 in the numbered batch of 40 instruments I hope other more knowledgeable Cafe-ers will chime in and help out here.
Allen Hopkins Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello Natl Triolian Dobro mando Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back H-O mandolinetto Stradolin Vega banjolin Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola Eastmn: 'dola m'cello Flatiron 3K OM. Jan, pm 3. I came across both of those when researching this one before I bought it. Mine's number falls in between these two very similar looking tenor banjos model TB-0, not TB-JR htm , then those fall right in line with the date.
I found a Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars at my university's library. It lists the 9" MB model as being made only during and , with the larger model replacing it in It gives 8XXX as , as well. Now I'm just guessing at the model number, I suppose. This is where the guide is confusing me.
It says the MB-JR line was introduced in , and the description sounds right. Then, it says it was replaced in by the -0 line, but it says the -0 models had a I'm guessing mine must be a very late MB-JR model, produced early in Looks like the one Elderly had would have been an earlier MB-JR model or maybe just an unlabeled generic MB model.
I suppose the difference in condition makes up for the difference in vintage. Jan, pm 4. jeff mercer View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles. Actually, Allen has it right. Here is what noted Gibson expert A. R Duchossoir has to say about Factory Order Numbers FON ".. Gibson instruments were usually made in 'racks' or 'batches' of approximately 40 units of the same model " ".. At first, FON's consisted of a 3 to 5-digit number, which identified the batch under progress, plus a 1 or 2-digit suffix to rank each instrument in the lot.
Cheers,Nate Jeff. Jan, pm 5. Thanks for the help, both of you. It's amazing to hold and play something so old. Jan, pm 6. But it does make you wonder about an instrument's history, why it survived when so many of its contemporaries didn't, whose hands have touched it before ours.
Just remember to pass it on into the future! Mar, pm 7. Kokomo Jim View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles. I just joined mandolin cafe last week. So im having a hard time navagating this web site. So any help is welcome. Ibought aGibson MB-JR at auction on march Got it home and googled mandolin banjo and your thread come up and luckly i went to it. I saw your photos and read the replys to your question. My mb-jr is fon It is in a little more used condition.
One of the brackets is messing. I think it was taken off to accomadate a newer clam shell cover. I want to replace when I can find one. The bridge is a gretsch. The strings are very old put on in a style that does not rap around the peg. There is a lot I would like to know myself.
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