banjo headstock identification

How to customize a Huber Banjo; . It is very showy though. Considering that Gibson was using a double X bracing for most of its other flat top guitars during that period, these instruments, with their modified fan bracing, stand out as some of the better sounding Gibsons of the time. Q: What is the first step in determining the age of my banjo? of their later banjos had elite tailpieces, Orpheum-like hardware, and long, Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 15:42:17. 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. Augustino & Thomas LoPrinzi Guitars usually have the date of manufacture on the label. It was Gibsons most prestigious solid body (and therefore expensive, with a couple of exceptions). Example: S3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February . There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. A-series Factory location: New York City from start to 1971. The L-5S was the first high end jazz solid body guitar. The only available finish was sunburst until 1954. These shoes are shown in an 1890s Washburn banjo catalog, on low end models with . One of the advantages of choosing a banjo made in a small shop environment is the easy availability of customization. The original V shape of the necks of the J-35s was replaced by distinctly round necks (baseball bats) and a tear drop pickguard. ', 'Pisgah 12 Builders Choice Custom Walnut Dobson 5+1 String Banjo', 'Custom 12inch Billybilt Banjo w Figured Maple neck and Curly maple RIckard Pot and Balch head', '11inch Billybilt Banjo with Antique Spunover SS Stewart Pot and Curly Maple neck'. Mid 1921 through late 1930s: larger base with 2 feet, 3/8 adjustment wheels and wooden compensated bridge top. 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). At least then you will know the model name. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. Factory numbers (when the exist) appear in pencil inside on the block where the neck meets the body. At the turn of the century, Orville Gibson was refining his notion of the superior mandolin: carved in the tradition of violins for greater volume and tone as well as comfort. 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. which do not feature a paper label. 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. 1921 onward: Metal 90-degree pickguard support screwed into the body and additional screw to the neck. These were Gibsons first flat-top cutaways. What's the history on the this jo, are you the original owner? The tuners were individual Kluson with amber buttons. These instruments live a bit outside that critique. Description: Internally constructed from dense EPS foam, the exterior of this Gator banjo case is covered in rugged 600-denier ballistic . The strings are tightly wound at the headstock so the banjo player can form cords along the fingerboard. First factory order number (FON) on neck block of J45s in 1942 was 907 and 923. DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device. LoPrinzi Rosemont, New Jersey built by Augustino LoPrinzi (and apprentices) with Augustino on the headstocks. The current bridge height and neck angle was reached around 1910. MK-35-12 models were only made in 1977. Some rectangular examples, black bridge pins (2 pearl dots on rectangle bridge), Headstock appointments: gold decal: Only a Gibson is Good Enough banner. 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 MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. feature both a serial number and a FON. At the time, the Nick Lucas model was the largest flat-top Gibson offered. CLM, Classical guitar with mahogany back and sides. Martins 1st steel string: 1922, 18 Mahogany body after 1917, no volute on headstock, 40 Rosewood body, MOP top & soundhole but not neck base, 41 Rosewood body, MOP top & soundhole but not neck base, 1969+ D-only, 42 Rosewood body, MOP top, soundhole & neck base but not sides, 45 Rosewood body, MOP top, soundhole, neck base & sides, S (1967 on) 12 fret neck, slotted headstock, Dyer (1906 1923?) This moved the X away from the soundhole a bit. The tuners cogs are peened on the shafts (the peening sometihas a waffle design). The flood of returning soldiers with a broader world-view brought new musical tastes and new hopes for the future. Sounds great and the instrument is very easy to play. The more economical Student Grade instruments were often ladder braced. They are available for binding that is .060 and .090 binding. There is a steel tone ring on the maple rim, and the rim has a maple cap. 1975 $899 The first catalog appearance of the L-5S was in the 1975 Gibson Solid Body catalog. Edited by - mikehalloran on 12/27/2013 17:30:00, Charles in SC - Posted-12/27/2013: 20:38:42. STONE BANJO CO - PEGHEAD SHAPES. C-series Factory location: Hinsdale, New Hampshire from 1973 to 1979, D-series Factory location: West Sansei, New Hampshire from 1980 to 1981, The designation S refers to the body size: 2 & 3 (increasing with number value). 585 Grand Concert: rosewood back & sides, MOP, colored wood appointments and a Tree-of-Life fretboard inlay. Some banjo . 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. In 1893, he patented a banjo neck fitted with a channel for the 5th string to pass through so it could be tuned at the headstock instead of its usual location. It marked the beginning of a new era for Gibson. Banjo serial numbers: During the 1920s, Gibson instruments were made in lots of 40s (for the most part, this procedure continues today). The aluminum shell was chrome plated with 24 chrome-plated brackets. 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. 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. Rettberg & Lange (1898-1920) banjos were initially similar to Buckbee-made That being said, and allowing for the large numbers of prototypes and other Gibson anomalies, the following can be used s a guide to help get close to a proper model identification and its year of production. The selected tuners varied randomly by model and year. All listed sizes are for 12 fret to body models: These dimensions were similar for all Larson made instruments. 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. banjo headstock identificationleap year program in python using for loop. The system is not known for certain but might have restarted as consecutive numbers beginning at 1000. The further down the headstock the peg is, the shorter it will be. 1970 onward: 1 piece maple. They were popular with the Cowboy Singing Stars like Bob Baker (National Barn Dance WLS). This is the smallest model, chrome tuners. Headstocks of US models also use the Gibson headstock shape. There were some 1 3/4 nuts available. 30, 1909. Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. For example, one head might sound right for one player on a five string banjo, but be disappointing on another players tenor banjo. They were now able to get better materials. It was intended to be more affordable and more readily available than its main competition: the Martin D-18. Gretsch appears to have started a new numbering system at about that time. Semi-hollow guitar serial numbers are found inside the 'top' F-hole on a label. Jun 24, 2020 - The Art of Banjo Headstocks. The 1970s are viewed by many collectors and players as the low point of Gibson manufacturing. G Edward Porgie - Posted - 06/16/2021: 14:40:30. 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. These digits should match the 4 digits found on the back of the peghead of your banjo. In 1923 it appears that Gibson began to assemble A-2s with left-over blonde tops from A-3s. . The bracing was revised to accommodate the moustache bridge and generally heavier than earlier models. The necks were 1-piece mahogany V shape with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard at 12 radius. See the notes below. Gretsch was contracted to make banjos for them. The early models had shallow neck sets that increased in angle around 1908. Ss. I wouldn't be surprised if a few exist with other brand names. It's difficult to positively identify the manufacturer of these . First published as a folk music magazine in 1971 by Michael I. Holmes before going online in 1997, Mugwumps is a no-frills, highly informative site that's packed with well-written articles, detailed photographs, and historical ads of old instruments and parts. 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 . Our 19th Year * Sign Up Now 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 Gibson Super Jumbo first appeared in 1937. I'm leaning more in that direction. When it came out in 1942 it was the most expensive Gibson flat-top in the line. The Jumbos had a slight V shaped neck with the Gibson truss rod and a pointed French heal somewhat unusual for Gibson. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues there are many exceptions. The standard "Huber' shape, the popular "Double Cut" shape or the "Fiddle Cut" shape. These appear to have a unique serial number scheme. By 1939 the 3 tone bar system was reduced to 2 tone bars and the angle of the X braces change to approximately 95 degrees. They generally had birch or walnut back and sides sometimes flat and later (1904+/-) carved. Gibson changed the name again in the 1950s to the SJ-200. Headstocks of US models also use the Gibson headstock shape. 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). 615-264-4959. Depending on the selected source, there is disagreement about these numbers. World War II changed many aspects of the guitar world. Gibson Banjos 1925 and Later: . He was also a guitar enthusiast with a passion for physical and psycho-acoustics. The centerline of the neck had the black inlay. George Youngblood of Youngbloods Music Workshop. Why not post a little tune with it. In general, higher model numbers meant more binding and ornament. Serial Numbers. 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. 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. The name variations included Bacon and Day and B&D for all the instruments co-developed by Fred Bacon and David Day. They were mahogany back & sides with single layer binding front and back. Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. Sunburst finish changes slightly: a cremona brown fading from the center amber to a reddish brown perimeter. >I see no collectors market for banjos like yours.<. Mid to late 1944, the neck block revert back to mahogany, though poplar is occasionally used. RB -- regular banjo (5-string) TB -- tenor banjo. There are also examples of A-2Zs without the Z on the lable but still sporting the black perfling line. These had black plastic laminate headstock overlays with Bacon engraved in blockletters and a small, metal plate engraved Bacon Folk Model. If you want to use any of this information: See LG-0 for materials and dimensions. 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. Start your day off right, with a Dayspring Coffee Research our price guide with auction results on 40 items from $35 to $2,928. A: One of the easiest ways to determine the age of your banjo is to inspect the serial number, if it has one. The necks and heels were rounder. As for how I came to own the instrument, my grandmother's cousin was an instrument collector. The financial strain became too much and the company sold in 1940 to Gretsch. Where possible, these numbers are in agreement with existing sales receipts. The Advanced Jumbo has been described by some as the finest no compromises most powerful flat-top guitar Gibson ever designed and built. Body shape changed to square shoulder dreadnought. The fingerboard typically has inlays made of silver or steel. Identification: "A" Style mandolins were symmetrical and shaped like a teardrop. They were too late Gibson owned the market and the Martins were dropped 6 years later having only sold about 540 combined. These bridges had movable saddles up to about 1917 when they changed to a one-piece compensating bridge design through early 1921. Sha-Sw. T-V. W-Y. The pot fairly screams Iida to me. The last of the Mark Series was built in 1979. MK-99 models were handcrafted and signed by Richard Schneider. Yet somehow, there's a certain cool factor to this one. Yes, please do post your tune here on this page. serial number 8382, New York, circa 1920s, intricate abalone shell inlay to fingerboard and headstock which also bears the Company logo. Ironically, the script logo on the headstock was old-style. Materials and methods of production were reviewed and revised. It had binding on front, back, soundhole and the fretboard; The Gibson inlaid into the headstock and a better grade of spruce top. All Rights Reserved. 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. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues - there are many exceptions. 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! I just have a few questions. 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 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. serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long Australian zither . The Mark Series guitars were particularly interesting among the Gibson flat tops made in the 1970s due to their unique bracing. They did not imprint the instruments with any particular brand. ss stewart presentation banjo - Google Search. These can exist on any model numbers including the A-jr. 519,409 In 1894, he patented this wild banjo with a neck that folds in on itself at the 10th fret in order to facilitate transportation. The bridge were early simple rectangular with through-saddles. This information is approximate and has not been verified by the LoPrinzi family.