banjo headstock identification

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 5th string is a crucial distinguishing characteristic of the five-string banjo, both in the instrument's appearance and in the sound of the music. Introduced 1967, Basically an more economical LG-0. During the war years women played a greater role in manufacturing while young men were fighting overseas. Though you were told there was only12 of this model made, it will not be any more valuable than if there 10,000 made. Here's the photo gallery that I put together:velkdesign.com/assets/banjo/. 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. Rettberg & Lange (1898-1920) banjos were initially similar to Buckbee-made 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: Most You'll find Epiphone serial numbers in the standard places. Instruction * ConcertsJams * More The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) Tuners, hardware and tailpieces were probably purchased from Lyon and Healy who had a factory just down the street from the Larson shop. 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. The fretboard was bound but without extension and The Gibson was stamped into the tailpiece cover. which do not feature a paper label. Cherry Sunburst is still available. (Folk Jumbo Natural and Folk-25). Unfortunately, the information is confusing and inconsistent. Banjos with pegheads like that shown in the first picture below are usually made by Buckbee. Similar to A-2 but with snakehead headstock, blonde finish, b/w binding, and A2-Z on the label. Gibson needed to revitalize its lineup of flat-top guitars the LG-Series was born. Materials and methods of production were reviewed and revised. The name variations included Bacon and Day and B&D for all the instruments co-developed by Fred Bacon and David Day. The appointments matched the MK-35 but the bracing was modified to accommodate the additional string tension of 12 strings. Presentation banjos often turned up at NAMMand other shows. The tuners were individual. Similar to an A2 except for the top color: an orange top in the teens, and a white top (refrigerator-top) in the late teens and early twenties. and many were left unmarked. It would surprise me if there were 12 of those made as K banjos, however. The standard "Huber' shape, the popular "Double Cut" shape or the "Fiddle Cut" shape. The soundhole had an additional thick white purfling ring. better-grade offerings frequently had notched, rather than grooved stretcher 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). Semi-hollow guitar serial numbers are found inside the 'top' F-hole on a label. Deering Gabriella 5-string banjo headstock. Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. It was bound on the top, back, sides and around the fretboard. STONE BANJO CO - PEGHEAD SHAPES. I visited his place once when I was kid (probably mid - late 1970's) and his finished basement was filled with guitars, banjos, lots of different instruments. They were well suited for orchestral arrangements as well as individual play and accompaniment. 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: . Over time the J-35 braces began to appear scalloped. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. The standard early Gibson A models had a soft V shaped neck. Not many were sold and the production run was therefore limited to 2 years. Several other forces were at work for change: Introduced 1963, these were designed as dual-purpose instruments. Acoustic Guitars. Brown or black finish, some binding only on the top and in the soundhole with one ring around the soundhole. MK-99 models were handcrafted and signed by Richard Schneider. The neck was a broad round profile single piece mahogany with a bound coffewood fretboard and dot markers. There is a steel tone ring on the maple rim, and the rim has a maple cap. Due to the plain marks on the bracing, it is believed that every top was tuned by the same Gibson employee. target no need to return item. S3R, Size 3 guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners. MK-35-12 models were only made in 1977. Other attempts by Gibson to make-do with the materials available to them include laminated maback and sides finished in a dark mahogany stain and a few were built with a laminate maple back and a mahogany top. middle-sized, chrome tuners. Yet somehow, there's a certain cool factor to this one. Serial number records exist for instruments built before 1975 and after 1980. All Rights Reserved. Art Studios. The guitar designs, however, were not the problem. banjos. Some early necks were cherry before 1912. 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. See the notes below. ARCHIVED TOPIC: VINTAGE BANJO IDENTIFICATION. 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. JM, jumbo size guitar with mahogany back & sides, chrome tuners. Collector's Corner The Southerner Jumbo (later shortened to: Southern Jumbo and then SJ) was a fancier J-45. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright 2023 Banjo Hangout. 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. Labels say: A. their better banjos is also distinctive, with a small additional bump on either RB -- regular banjo (5-string) TB -- tenor banjo. They were now able to get better materials. In some cases there are no pickguards. No binding, no inlay and no decoration. 1978 $1079 Tobacco sunburst is dropped for Fireburst; Maple is now described as Natural. To accommodate the pickup, the standard production neck was pushed up to a neck-body joint at the 15th fret. 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. 2. Augustino & Thomas LoPrinzi Guitars usually have the date of manufacture on the label. During the period of 1909 through 1920 Gibson produced large numbers of mandolins. Like all other companies, there are exceptions. The tuners cogs are peened on the shafts (the peening sometihas a waffle design). LoPrinzi Rosemont, New Jersey built by Augustino LoPrinzi (and apprentices) with Augustino on the headstocks. If1970s, would be Japanese, more likely. It was available with a brown finish and came as a snakehead or paddle headstock. Music Love. It is very showy though. Approximate Chronology (there are always exceptions): There were a few natural finished J-45N models made during 1942. There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. Design your own Huber Banjo. Most information about Larson Brothers instruments comes from their catalog published around 1930. You can buy the book here on Amazon and I would highly recommend it. Body designations and style designations of Martin guitars are letter-number combinations separated by a hyphen. This is a high-quality instrument. CMI acquired Gibson around May 1944. The appointments roughly followed the Southerner Jumbo but the design was primarily electric: it had a 3-ply top with ladder bracing to reduce the low-end response for the single coil pickup placed at the base of the fretboard. The 5th string is not only shorter than the other four banjo strings, but this string is also the highest in sound (or pitch ). They generally had birch or walnut back and sides sometimes flat and later (1904+/-) carved. 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. To confuse matters, they also manufactured Bacon banjos that had been developed by Fred Bacon: the Professional, the Orchestra and the Blue Ribbon. Example: U8034853 U = Unsung, 8 = 1998, 03 = March, 4853 = manufacturing number. The following numbers are the earliest known serial number for the year listed. Higher grade models (such as the Super 400, L-5, J-200, etc.) 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. In 1926 Gibson introduced the L-series guitars with the L-0 at $35 and the L-1 at $50 (1928 prices). The first number of the sequence indicates the decade of production, followed by the three digit day of the year, and finally the year. The selected tuners varied randomly by model and year. 156137I know this is a mandolin forum, but the admins suggested I start here. There was some amber color. Late 1930s through 1942: ? adjustment wheels 2 feet and extensions on top of the base for the wheels. Research our price guide with auction results on 40 items from $35 to $2,928. Introduced August 1942 and J-45s are still available today. 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. 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 They did not imprint the instruments with any particular brand. See more ideas about banjo, guitar inlay, ukulele. During 1942 two new models were introduced to the Gibson line-up to replace the J-35 and J-55. PB -- plectrum banjo. In some cases, teachers would Bridges: Ebony Sometimes with a flattened pyramid rectangular bridge shape. 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 original price in 1942 was $45. 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). MB -- mandolin banjo. Another useful Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues - there are many exceptions. For sale for $50 cash, firm. They had owner applied pick guards and multi-bound backs and tops (including red line highlights). 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 narrower guitar sizes allowed for available materials. Between 1934 and 1938, Gibson only offered the sunburst finish. 1908 into 1916: Elevated pickguards of plastic tortoise shell clamped to the body with a removable clamp and pinned to the bridge. 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 Larrivee Serial Numbers (approximate). They were the J-45 and the Southerner Jumbo. 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. 1952: The headstock gold decal logo was replaced by an inlayed pearl script and crown. The Southerner Jumbos were the most expensive flat-top guitars Gibson offered at the time. expressed on the sides and back of the 1934 versions. Most have the patented L&H tailpiece shown in the inset. This is a strong playing. Ebony Fretboards were generally thicker than other builders. Gold War era logo - This type is called "Banner logo". No serial numbers etc. 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. 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. Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2600s to 2700s. 2 foot pressed arm rest and flat head tone ring. . I just received this mando-banjo I bought on e-bay and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the builder. The current bridge height and neck angle was reached around 1910. Pearl twin parallelogram inlays, Bridges: Rosewood belly-down. Each model of the Mark Series was available in natural or sunburst finish. 541 Concert: rosewood back & sides with colored wood appointments. This moved the X away from the soundhole a bit. Prairie State instruments have the patented rod and/or tube reinforcing, occasionally found on other Larson built guitars. The bracing was revised to accommodate the moustache bridge and generally heavier than earlier models. "F" Style mandolins have a carved nautilus shaped curl on the upper left-hand bout. CLB, Classic guitar of Brazilian rosewood, gold tuners. Nice playability, great tone, strong low end and good sustain all the way up the neck. There's a small snag in the outer pocket webbing - otherwise it's like new. Jul 15, 2021 - A study of banjo head peg heads. Kay company banjos were normally not that high-quality but this one is different. The Mark Series, though not a wild success in terms of overall sales, did sell reasonably well. 2005-2023 acousticmusic.org. It might be a Fairbanks or Stewart, but there is no name anywhere on the instrument. The hardshell case had a green or red silk lining. There were 1424 made. Though it has gone through a number of refinements over the years, the basic design has not changed since. Rated 5.00 out of 5. The intent is to provide a rough dating guide. Other singing cowboys who later owned Super Jumbos include Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. 1-6 digits stamped into the top edge of the headstock-often difficult to read. They are available for binding that is .060 and .090 binding. 1968: Changed to a bottom belly bridge and 1960 style pickguard, 1969: Changed to a square shoulder dreadnaught, Original version: solid mahogany back but laminated mahogany sides, 1 piece mahogany neck & 17 degree headstock angle, Bound Brazilian fretboard with trapezoid inlayed markers, Individual Kluson tuners with white buttons later: keystone Pearloid buttons, P-90 single coil pickup with adjustable pole pieces.