banjo headstock identification
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. They did provide paper labels for the instrument that they represented but did not provide labels for custom instruments or other shops or manufacturers. Example of custom shape is well represented below with the "Tennessee Banjo". 1940: #1 or #001 to 1965: approximately #84xxx. It shared many features with the L-5 archtop electric acoustic: The neck was basically an L-5 neck in scale, section and detail. In 1935, binding was added to the fretboard. Its price tag was $55 as compared to the Martin D-18 at $65 and D-28 at $100. No serial numbers etc. It was initially called the De Luxe Jumbo for the few versions that were delivered before the model went into production. Late 1960's Gibson Logo around 1969 with no dot over the "i". 1921 onward: Metal 90-degree pickguard support screwed into the body and additional screw to the neck. The grade of top wood was tighter grained. I own the book and have found it to be an invaluable resource in identifying these old guitars. Prices were typically 30-40% more than other Gibson solid bodies; the Les Paul Recording, LP Custom and SG Custom. Nice playability, great tone, strong low end and good sustain all the way up the neck. Skip to main content. themselves through common hardware and design characteristics. Then Gibson developed the adjustable bridge. Made in USA. However there were and are many different types, most of which can be found on this page. I just received this mando-banjo I bought on e-bay and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the builder. The sunburst finish was generally $30 less than natural finish. MIDWEST BANJO CAMPJune 1-4, 2023New Manchester, IN and many were left unmarked. the bins that were used to move instruments from . The first group in late 1936 had larger soundholes and long scales: 25 1/2. Gibson believed that these choices would allow them to focus on their more profitable lines. Late 1974 gold covered recording pickups are replaced with humbuckers. Gibson. Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. The back and sides were Brazilian rosewood and the tops Adirondack red spruce. What's the history on the this jo, are you the original owner? the teacher or distributor. These digits should match the 4 digits found on the back of the peghead of your banjo. beautiful banjo. My understanding is that only 12 of these particular banjos were ever manufactured by Kay. Cherry Sunburst is still available. The strings are tightly wound at the headstock so the banjo player can form cords along the fingerboard. 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. 1923 into 1970: 1 piece mahogany necks. Over time the J-35 braces began to appear scalloped. There was some amber color. If you would like to use content from this page, see our Terms of Usage policy. The appointments matched the MK-35 but the bracing was modified to accommodate the additional string tension of 12 strings. 562 Standard size with rosewood back & sides, MOP and colored wood appointments. Our 19th Year * Sign Up Now For example: The custom series of Epiphone Texans built with cooperation from Paul McCartney: some were built in Bozeman Montana and some in Japan. Identify vintage banjo fleur de lis inlays on headstock & carved heel. This was adapted to the mandolin over the next few years. Back & Sides: Mahogany but some released as Brazilian rosewood. 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. The space between the headstock center and the top of the lathe bed is the radius of the lathe swing. Semi-hollow guitar serial numbers are found inside the 'top' F-hole on a label. Style Designations (There are many exceptions to the following). It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. Scott Zimmerman may be able to shed some light on this. To accommodate the pickup, the standard production neck was pushed up to a neck-body joint at the 15th fret. Prairie State instruments have the patented rod and/or tube reinforcing, occasionally found on other Larson built guitars. All Rights Reserved. The numbers are preceded by letters: A, B, C, or D which indicate the series. Body designation Style designation, Serial number. This can often be found on the back of the peghead or on the inside rim of the banjo. Gibson started making banjos in 1917. Starting in 1923, models included: the Silver Bell, the Super Banjo and the Blue Bell. peghead shape. Unfortunately, the information is confusing and inconsistent. Saga Bella Voce 70/80. A2-Zs were theoretically made during the Loar period of 1921-25, but only between 1923 and 1924. S2R, size 2 guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. 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. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/276603. Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. Gibson style one piece flange, probably zinc, also Gibson style flange brackets, 4 resonator screws. Lyon & Healy routinely used talon or patent 1897 They were popular with the Cowboy Singing Stars like Bob Baker (National Barn Dance WLS). Some early necks were cherry before 1912. There were 5226 made. It was bound on the top, back, sides and around the fretboard. In 1926 Gibson introduced the L-series guitars with the L-0 at $35 and the L-1 at $50 (1928 prices). Dark stained plain birch back and sides. They were available in steel string or classical. 1921 early: 3/8 adjustment wheels, short base and aluminum compensated bridge top. Gretsch appears to have started a new numbering system at about that time. F Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. Internally, changes from the J-35 included strengthening the top bracing by moving the X brace 1 additional inch behind the soundhole. Sha-Sw. T-V. W-Y. Though you were told there was only12 of this model made, it will not be any more valuable than if there 10,000 made. During the war years women played a greater role in manufacturing while young men were fighting overseas. At the time, the Nick Lucas model was the largest flat-top Gibson offered. By the records, between 200 and 300 were built. 541 Concert: rosewood back & sides with colored wood appointments. 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: $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. The Gibson Company was formed in late 1902 and the early mandolins evolved from the original Orville Gibson designs. No binding, no inlay and no decoration. By the end in 1985-86, Gibson was basically down to the Les Paul model alone. The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover and inlaid in headstock. banjos. Ohio banjo player Steven Moore has his first solo project, Just a Little Talk with Myself, just recently released. The name variations included Bacon and Day and B&D for all the instruments co-developed by Fred Bacon and David Day. The above Peghead Shapes are existing patterns. MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. 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. To confuse matters, they also manufactured Bacon banjos that had been developed by Fred Bacon: the Professional, the Orchestra and the Blue Ribbon. Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 15:42:17. At least one model, the Epiphone Spirit, was manufactured in the USA during the early 1980s in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI. To complicate matters, the Larson brothers appear to have used different numbering techniques for different brands that they supplied. New Location: They did not imprint the instruments with any particular brand. Serial number records exist for instruments built before 1975 and after 1980. Width at nut 1 11/16, scale 24 3/4. This moved the X away from the soundhole a bit. The Gibson LG series of flat-top guitars were developed as the natural evolution of the earlier L-Series. The 2nd delivery to Ray Whitley was the more refined 14 fret SJ that is so well photo-dicumented. These were Gibsons first flat-top cutaways. Larrivee Serial Numbers (approximate). 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. He was also a guitar enthusiast with a passion for physical and psycho-acoustics. serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long Several cost-cutting measures existed between the Advanced Jumbo and the J-35 including scalloped braces on the advanced Jumbo and not on the J-35. The body dimensions basically match the LG-series: 14 1/8 wide by 19 1/2 long by 4 1/2 deep. Banjo Headstock Designs. Kay company banjos were normally not that high-quality but this one is different. Yes, please do post your tune here on this page. The swing of a lathe is measured as the total diameter of a finished turned piece, such as a wood bowl. 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). expressed on the sides and back of the 1934 versions. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. 587 Similar to 585 but with pearl (vs ivoroid) tuner buttons. The 1975 price was $549. The USA distributors in the 60s and 70s used their own serial number systems and we do . The neck was a broad round profile single piece mahogany with a bound coffewood fretboard and dot markers. set of identifying characteristics can be found at Buy in monthly payments with Affirm on orders over $50. The financial strain became too much and the company sold in 1940 to Gretsch. Early 1970's block shaped no dot over the "i" closed "b" and . 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: . The 5th string on a banjo lies within easy reach of the right-hand . The banjo's fingerboard is where the magic happens. The binding on the top is b/w. The fingerboard was rosewood with 9 inlaid position markers. The individual artist's touch on the . USA produced Epiphones of this era bear standard Gibson serialization and include the "Made in USA" stamp on the back of the headstock. Its difficult to positively Some laminated maple necks with two walnut stripes down the center (5 piece neck), most with no truss rod (war time meallocations), Neck shape large and round (Baseball Bat) due to lack of truss rod, Poplar neck blocks. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues - there are many exceptions. Where no serial numbers are shown they simply are not known. Never seen one with an inlay on the back of the neck. Many have no identification at all. Huber Banjos offers our new owners the option of either customizing one of our stock models, or "designing your own dream banjo" from among the various wood and metal configurations, and the many . Most were 3-piece solid maple bodies. Pickguards between 1909 and 1921 +/- show a stamped patent date of Mar. It's difficult to positively identify the manufacturer of these . 1979 $1149 Antique Sunburst added to Fireburst, Cherry Sunburst and Natural. 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. George Gruhns Guide to Vintage Guitars by George Gruhn and Walter Carter. 1978 $1079 Tobacco sunburst is dropped for Fireburst; Maple is now described as Natural. In some cases there are no pickguards. Carl and August Larson built instruments between 1900 and 1944. Research our price guide with auction results on 40 items from $35 to $2,928. 1959: Larger crown frets and the adjustable bridge. Brown or black finish, some binding only on the top and in the soundhole with one ring around the soundhole. Information compiled by Leonard Wyeth 2008, L Wyeth, Century General Introduced 1933 for the Century of Progress Exhibition @ $55. (The 1st year of the J-45 actually had similar appointments but they were reduced and simplified for model clarity in 1943). Gold script Gibson logo, Pickguard: Tiger-striped & teardrop shape, Finish: brown sunburst top finish, dark brown mahogany back and sides and neck, Body Binding: 7-ply top binding and single ply back binding, Tuners: Kluson Mfg Chicago and Pat. stamped into the plate in a circle around the attachment screws, plastic button usually white but sometimes black), Tortoise-shell teardrop pickguard replaced the tiger stripe material, Single bound top and back, multi-bound rosette, Mahogany neck but a few Maple necks with a single walnut stripe down the center (3 piece neck), Three layer w/b/w tops and single layer back binding, Mahogany neck block with beveled sides, changed to a mahogany neck block with square sides, Tuners were 3-on-a-plate Klusons with exposed gears and Kluson Mfg Chicago and Pat. stamped into the plate in a circle around the attachment screws, plastic buttons (usually white but sometimes black) and 1/4 diameter posts. A head on a long neck open back banjo might sound completely different on a 12-string banjo. On rare occasions, some dates can be found on . This is a high-quality instrument. So, take a look and . 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.
