The A.C. Fairbanks Company (incorporated 1875) was succeeded in 1903 by the Vega Company (established 1889). Most were 3-piece solid maple bodies. For sale for $50 cash, firm. 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). Some banjo . Worthy of mention is the Jumbo Deluxe, though it is believed that only 3 were ever made in 1938. These shoes are shown in an 1890s Washburn banjo catalog, on low end models with . The intent is to provide a rough dating guide. Gibson believed that these choices would allow them to focus on their more profitable lines. 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. in the third row of pictures below: Lyon & Healy (1864-1940) made many grades of banjos in many styles,
I have owned a beautiful Kay company banjo for over 30 years. MK-99 models were handcrafted and signed by Richard Schneider. USA produced Epiphones of this era bear standard Gibson serialization and include the Made in USA stamp on the back of the headstock. First factory order number (FON) on neck block of J45s in 1942 was 907 and 923. Starting in 1977, Gibson adopted the current date-based serial system which codes for the year and day of production. The neck was basically the neck stocks from the L-5 archtop: 3 ply maple with single wide bound scalloped fretboard ends and headstocks and the early models had the L-5 flowerpot inlay on the headstock. Laminated maple back and sides is discontinued (FON batch 2828 used maple back and sides). Gibson discontinued the A-3 around 1922. department to department had 40 cubbyholes. Never seen one with an inlay on the back of the neck. Lyon & Healy routinely used talon or patent 1897
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. The above Peghead Shapes are existing patterns. I doubt you'll find this in a catalog. Rettberg & Lange (1898-1920) banjos were initially similar to Buckbee-made
The pot fairly screams Iida to me. Many banjo manufacturers, in addition to making banjos under their own names,
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. tailpieces (see fourth row of pictures below) on many of their unmarked banjos, and their
FLC, Flamenco guitar with Canadian cypress back and sides, friction pegs (machine heads on some examples). The labels with an image of Orville Gibson are generally found on instruments with serial numbers below 10,000. At the time, the Nick Lucas model was the largest flat-top Gibson offered. 587 Similar to 585 but with pearl (vs ivoroid) tuner buttons. 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. 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. They were the J-45 and the Southerner Jumbo. Headstocks say LoPrinzi. As a vintage instrument dealer, I see no collectors market for banjos like yours. Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2600s to 2700s. Ironically, the script logo on the headstock was old-style. The necks were 1-piece mahogany V shape with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard at 12 radius. 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). It also had a black veneered headstock (front and back) and a black inlay in the back of the neck. They didnt sell well but did live up to their design intent of a heavier, booming tone with good overall balance. The designations were. The introduction of a truss rod cover to the headstock caused the inlay patterns to adjust as well. The hurricane of September 1938 destroyed the companys ability to manufacture anything. Headstocks say LoPrinzi. Skip to main content. Thanks for the feedback! The bridge were early simple rectangular with through-saddles. Your banjo is Asian made, likely Korea, but maybe Japan. 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 current bridge height and neck angle was reached around 1910. Where no serial numbers are shown they simply are not known. However there were and are many different types, most of which can be found on this page. The 2nd delivery to Ray Whitley was the more refined 14 fret SJ that is so well photo-dicumented. The narrower guitar sizes allowed for available materials. LG-0 | Introduced 1958 | Discontinued 1973, LG-1 | Introduced 1947 | Discontinued 1968, LG-2 | Introduced 1942 | Discontinued 1962, LG-2- | Introduced 1949 | Discontinued 1962, LG-3 | Introduced 1946 | Discontinued 1963, B-25 | Introduced 1962 | Discontinued 1976, FJ-N | Introduced 1963 | Discontinued 1970, F-25 | Introduced 1963 | Discontinued 1970, B-15 | Introduced 1967 | Discontinued 1970, Brazilian rosewood rectangular through bridges, 2 screws in the bridge with MOP dot covers, Basically the same as LG-1 with a mahogany top, Single plastic tortoise shell binding top and back, Narrow neck design with 14 degree headstock angle, Same basic guitar as LG-2 with average wood, Wood imperfections covered by a dark sunburst, Tall scalloped braces change to low-profile rough cut, Enlarged rectangular bridge with closed slot, Fire striped plastic pickguard teardrop shape, Last use of the Banner decal on headstocks, Basically the same as an LG-2 with better materials, Bottom belly rosewood bridges with adjustable saddles, Back, sides and neck finished in walnut stain, Body shape: 16 wide, round shoulder dreadnought shape, Top: Select spruce, 2-piece bookmatched with scalloped X-bracing, Neck: mahogany, single piece, unbound, 19 fret, dot markers, Bridges: Rosewood belly-down. GIBSON GARAGE FIND A DEALER GIBSON APP. The strings are tightly wound at the headstock so the banjo player can form cords along the fingerboard. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. The only available finish was sunburst until 1954. During the Folk Boom of the 1960s, Gretsch produced a line of 5 string open back banjos with regular and long necks. Body designations and style designations of Martin guitars are letter-number combinations separated by a hyphen. The following are believed to be accurate known numbers: The following serial numbers are approximate at best. The 1934 was single bound, front and back with dot markers on the rosewood fretboard and a horizontal script logo inlay on the headstock. Occasionally the labels have fallen out or been removed during repairs making it a bit trickier to date the instruments. Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2800s to 2900s and 300s to 500s and some in the 600-800s and 1000s range. The original price in 1942 was $45. 1973 $895 L-5S a few instruments shipped and cherry sunburst is the only available finish. 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 Tuners, hardware and tailpieces were probably purchased from Lyon and Healy who had a factory just down the street from the Larson shop. The top and back bindings were black plastic with red line highlights. Introduced is the year of introduction. Several other forces were at work for change: Introduced 1963, these were designed as dual-purpose instruments. The selected tuners varied randomly by model and year. There are a few examples of A-2Zs with black tops, though this was probably used to cover some imperfection in the selected tops. These were Gibsons first flat-top cutaways. The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover and inlaid in headstock. The more economical Student Grade instruments were often ladder braced. There are no manufacture's labels or stamps on it. New guitars were supplied with user applied pick guards, and extra saddles of different heights that could be easily inserted to adjust the string action to accommodate the swelling of the instrument with seasonal humidity changes. banjos. The headstock carried an inlayed script Gibson. The Gibson Company was formed in late 1902 and the early mandolins evolved from the original Orville Gibson designs. 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. At least then you will know the model name. By 1941, either natural or sunburst were available. Serial number records exist for instruments built before 1975 and after 1980. Larger top braces used, and bigger solid wood bridge plate and larger bottom-belly bridge. 156137I know this is a mandolin forum, but the admins suggested I start here. 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. Start your day off right, with a Dayspring Coffee B. Schall (1878-1907) manufactured many unmarked banjos for
These had black plastic laminate headstock overlays with Bacon engraved in blockletters and a small, metal plate engraved Bacon Folk Model. 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. Body shape changed to square shoulder dreadnought. Instrumental. mikehalloran - Posted-12/27/2013: 17:21:06. The necks and heels were rounder. Style Designations (There are many exceptions to the following). Introduced 1954, discontinued in 1978, reintroduced in the 1980s and still produced today. Description: Internally constructed from dense EPS foam, the exterior of this Gator banjo case is covered in rugged 600-denier ballistic . Vega continued to mark their banjos "A.C. Fairbanks" until the middle teens. Martin Flat Top Guitar Body Sizes and Designations: The body size designation is stamped on the neck block starting in October 1930. Other similar details include: single-cutaway body, ebony fingerboard with block inlays, flowerpot headstock inlay, L-5 tailpiece with contrasting silver on gold with L-5 engraving (changed to TP-6 in 1978) and multilayer body binding throughout. There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. This was expanded in 1935 to about 1/3 of the top area. Gibson had changed its neck profiles and headstock shape on the successful J-Series. The Gibson Southerner Jumbo was introduced in 1942 and discontinued in 1978. purchase these instruments and put their own names on them, but in many other
Gretsch appears to have started a new numbering system at about that time. I would sure like to hear what it sounds like. I just received this mando-banjo I bought on e-bay and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the builder. 1930s-40s R S Williams and Sons built "Stewart" 1940s R S Williams and Sons built bird's eye maple archtop 1940s R S Williams and Sons built bird's eye maple archtop headstock 1940s R S Williams and Sons built bird's eye maple archtop back Gibson. Between 1974 and 1984 production of Gibson guitars was slowly being shifted from Kalamazoo MI to Nashville TN.