Gibson banjo serial number list. Gibson USA 2014 - Mid 2019.

Gibson banjo serial number list Identifying a Gibson Banjo. I recommend that you post your inquiry in the Collectors Corner of the Banjo Hangout. Allen Hopkins Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello Natl Triolian Dobro mando and that's currently the most widely accepted Gibson serial number list for that period. flange, with pancake tuners, double rods and clamshell TP. Shop By Collection. The Blue Book of Guitars guide to Gibson serial numbers, which is what Gibson Inc. I would love to learn more about it if anyone might know a Jump to content. So double check the serial numbers on those 1970s L-5s, Super 400s, and Super 5 BJBs! Gibson's F O N System In addition to the above serial number information, Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers (F O N) to track batches of instruments being produced at the time. It does have wear, so please refer to the photos. Les Paul 00 plus 6 means 6 numbers after the00. factory order numbers) is a catalog-standard TB-3 with two-piece flange, notched tension hoop, diamonds and squares inlay, and a fiddle-shaped peghead. Earl Scrugg and RB 250's had a standard non-numbered Stu-mac ring at that time. Gibson’s 1927 banjo catalog described the PB-1 as “worthy of every confidence, priced for every purpose and guaranteed by Gibson. 00: Pre War Converted 1939 TB-00 Gibson banjo. The Mastertone line was revived in 1954 with the introduction of style 250; style 800 was added to #FA-5101 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Vintage instrument dealers like George Gruhn, John Bernunzio, Stan Werbin, Stan Jay This website is your headquarters for serial numbers, dating, information and identification of vintage Gibson banjos, both Mastertone and non-Mastertone models. Style 1 was a mainstay of Gibson’s lower-end, non-Mastertone banjo line from the 1920s through World War II. Recording King #507 tenor banjo #9779-15. Recording King model 803 tenor banjo #485. Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year; List of Historical Owners; Missing Prewar Gibson These shipping totals have been compiled from surviving Gibson shipping records covering the period from March 1935 through September 1951. I was wondering if there was any diferance. These appear to be the easiest to find and quite reasonable to buy. Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year; List of Historical Owners; Missing Prewar Gibson Photographs of your old Gibson banjo can be sent to me by e-mail. Gibson Banjo Serial Number Reference: 1925-1935. chauncey. #9477-4 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. For guitars made prior to 1977 use the extended search function. The neck and resonator of the banjo have been refinished since its return to 9690 as a serial number would date to late 1930. The age of a banjo is determined by the manufacturer’s serial number, which is usually found on the back of the headstock. Factory Order Numbers; Prewar Gibson Banjo Shipping Totals by Month; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style. 29,1963. The banjo Gibson Banjo Serial Number Dating - Gibson banjo dating. Earl Scruggs Models Standard: Sequential production number, starting at 001 '49 Classic: YY-RR This original five-string RB-1 is quite unusual in that it features the rare “Coke bottle” peghead shape, the diamonds and squares inlay pattern normally seen on style 3 banjos from the 1920s, and a Mastertone label inside the rim even 1928 Gibson RB-3 "The Sonny Osborne" Original 5-String. Earl Scruggs Models Standard: Sequential production number, starting at 001 '49 Classic: YY-RR NOTE - Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005. Style 0. Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year; List of Historical Owners; Missing Prewar Gibson First and foremost, a serial number can assist you in validating the authenticity of the banjo by providing a fulcrum for provenance of that particular banjo. Recording King #507 tenor banjo #9779-6. This example dates to 1928 (see Gibson banjo continued to use the 6 digit serial numbers through 1978 and 1979. Gibson Banjos 1925 and Later: Philes Home: Serial number in refinished rim, no other original parts, no decal, cut for FH ring: I/N Auction 8/2008 : 1929 : Gold Plated, holes in skirt, grooved hoop, 4-hump t/p, N/O One-piece flange installed, w/b/w bound rim, Walnut Style 4 resonator #9581-4, script Gibson guar decal in rim, no neck I/N auction 10/2007 Davis Kennedy worked at Gibson as the Supervisor of the Custom Department from 1965 through 1968 and collected his data firsthand from the Gibson factory employees during that period. The new model year typically launches in the fall as the current model year winds After the hiatus caused by World War II, Gibson resumed banjo production in the late 1940s with the new non-Mastertone styles 100 and 150. $19,999. “A. D. While serial numbers were placed on instruments at the time of shipment and were intended to be used for warranty issues, factory order numbers were issued at the time that a production order for an instrument or group of instruments was sent to the production During the period of 1909 through 1920 Gibson produced large numbers of mandolins. com. The serial number is the first 4 digits of the FON, followed by a one or 2-digit number. I can be contacted at gearnest@mindspring. The rim from your banjo comes from a known batch of Gibson banjos made in 1955. Contact; Gibson TB-150 #1057-16. There are also lots of Gibson fakes out there, as well as Gibsons made from parts of several old Gibson banjos. Photographing your old Gibson banjo. Gibson USA 2014 - Mid 2019. meaning, a great many banjos were manufactured and sold. 1975 is 99 plus 6 1976 is 00 plus 6 1977 is 06 plus 6 Who came up with these codes at Gibson? Bowtie Era Gibson Banjos - Descriptions and Serial number history Click below for more info: Locating your banjo’s serial number. #20-6 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. In 1994, Gibson's Centennial year, many instruments have a serial number that begins with "94" for the year, with the remaining 6 digits indicating the ranking number. Hello againThis is the updated list as of 25/1/2008. Would also advice caution when looking at Gibson banjo’s. A I'm pretty new to banjos for the most part and don't know a whole lot about Gibson banjos either. aliasphobias. Postwar Gibson banjos; Miscellany; For Sale; About Me. A native of East Tennessee, Clark was featured for over fifty years as a singer, dancer, and comedian on Kentucky’s Renfro Valley Barn Dance where later in his career he performed Gibson’s 1930 catalog described the TB-2, the highest-priced non-Mastertone tenor banjo offered by the company at the time, as “a real ‘pal’ for the banjo lover”, providing “a snappy, brilliant tone, powerful volume, reliable trueness and a world of ‘good looks’”. Gibson Banjos 1925 and Later: Philes Home: 20-hole flathead, walnut style 4 resonator but listed in Gibson ledgers as a PB-75, PB neck not present, Hello! I have a Gibson banjo that I have been playing on for the past 6 months or so, yet I know little to nothing about it. After me viewing the very clear photos it is a 2 pc. By the 1930, the year of this example (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. The original owner of #F5883-5 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Photos courtesy of Steve Wyse. #240-10 began life as a style 3 mandolin-banjo dating to 1932 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. It is HIGHLY likely that is would be a TB-1 - a non-Mastertone banjo (no tone ring). Like many style 11 banjos, this example in not marked with This KRB, or Kalamazoo Regular Banjo, was originally owned by Tom Bill Draughn (1917-1985) of Yadkinville, North Carolina. You’ll typically My dad left me his gibson banjo, and I would love to learn all I can about it. Gibson Banjos 1948-Non-Mastertone Banjos: Style 100. A in 2010. Serial number 1142 was the first of the new model. At this point, Gibson often did not use serial numbers. Any others missing or any info that is wrong? Serial number 1141 was the last of the “yellow” first run of Scruggs banjos. The serial number is only one piece of information that can help establish originality. Style 11 was Gibson’s attempt to dress up a lower-priced banjo through the use of pearloid decorated with red and black silkscreened designs on the back of the resonator as well as the fingerboard and peghead, along with a colored finish on the rim, the sides of the resonator, and the back of As is frequently the case with style 11 banjos, there is no serial number or factory order number. S. Serial numbers (or FONs) and catalog model descriptions were very in-exact with these early Gibson banjos, so I also have doubts that this was a TB-3, more likely a TB-2 or TB-1. Style 500 Gibson Non-Hyphen Serial Numbers Last Number (1903-1947) Gibson Hollow Body Serial Numbers (1947-1961) Gibson Solid Body Model Serial Numbers First Number (1952-1961) Gibson Serial Numbers (1961-1977) Made in USA Stamp, Volute on Headstock: 1970-1975; Gibson 8 Digit Pattern 1977-Present; Gibson 9 Digit Serial Number Quick Gibson Guitar Serial For the most part, prewar Gibson banjos have factory order numbers rather than true serial numbers. Looking at the serial number, I assumed it was built in 2001, BUT, the only Gibson serial number system I am familiar with, is the line of Electric Guitars. MT on PH, 's bowties installed, 18 inscr in truss rod paper and on serial at neck joint. Style 1 had nickel-plated hardware and a dark-finished maple neck and resonator, with white binding on the neck Gibson introduced the RB-75 Mastertone in 1937; the company’s catalog of that year described their five-string, or “regular”, banjo offerings as representing “The ‘old time’ banjo brought up to date by Gibson” and claimed that “this instrument is the most beautiful of all banjos in the hands of an artist”, with the player provided “extra twang and ring in a Gibson Regular #8035-10 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year; List of Historical Owners; Missing Prewar Gibson Style 3 was the least expensive model in Gibson’s prewar Mastertone line; it was introduced in 1925 and remained in production through 1937, when its price was lowered from $100 to $75 and it was renamed style 75. 1989 1350-first of this year; 1518 i read a lot of posts where someone will post a serial number of a gibson and someone will chime in with the date it was made and other pertinent information. com! Locating Your Banjo’s Serial Number; Photographing Your Old Gibson banjo; Serial Numbers vs. Several people I spoke with feel that it's from the mid to late 1960s. Recording King model 803 tenor banjo. Gibson Banjo Serial Number Factory Order Number Information; Pre-war banjos, Flathead, Mastertone. Then, having a look at the guitar or photos, if you know what to look for, is This TB Gibson banjo is listed as a 1968. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to walter carter For This Useful Post: #0369-81 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. factory order This PB-11 has no factory order number or serial number but would date to the early- to mid-1930s; it features the larger-diameter brass tone hoop which was replaced circa 1937 by the smaller-diameter hoop, and most Gibson banjos were marked with a factory order number or serial number on the back of the peghead beginning in 1938. factory order numbers); there is no number or Mastertone label inside the rim, a common occurrence in late “floor-sweep” banjos. Here you will find the Pre-War serial numbers divided into 3 groups, starting with serial number 8000 in 1925. Prewar Gibson Banjo Information. There appears to be two spots (one in resonator, one inside rim) where there used to be stickers, but now they're just faded. ” From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock. A” on the back of headstock, below the six digit serial number. factory order numbers) was shipped from the Gibson factory on December 16, 1937 to W. There are a number of distinct time periods for Gibson’s serial numbers, where the systems differed. references at its website, lists 80300 as the last serial number of 1924, and 9839 as the last FON of 1918 Gibson’s line of Mastertone banjos debuted in 1925 with style 5 as its highest-priced model; the company’s sales projections for this high-end model seem to have been overly optimistic, with the result that a number of these instruments Gibson’s 1930 catalog described the TB-2, the highest-priced non-Mastertone tenor banjo offered by the company at the time, as “a real ‘pal’ for the banjo lover”, providing “a snappy, brilliant tone, powerful volume, reliable trueness and a world of ‘good looks’”. The Mostly mandolins and guitars; earliest mention of a banjo in the Gibson product line was 1918. factory order numbers). factory order numbers) was originally shipped from the Gibson factory on May 24, 1940 to the company store of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company in Stearns, Kentucky. I think he bought it in 1949 or 1950. It also matches other Gibson tenor banjos that I have seen from that period. This is a quick way to tell if you have a post 69 Gibson. factory . This banjo appears in Gibson’s factory shipping ledgers being returned to Wittich’s Music in Reading, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1949 Photographing Your Old Gibson banjo; Serial Numbers vs. By banjo3 July 30, 2011 in Gibson Original Instruments. If you’d like to share photos of your old Gibson banjo, or if you have are looking to sell a vintage Gibson banjo, please let me hear from you at gearnest@mindspring. references at its website, lists 80300 as the last serial number of 1924, and 9839 as the last FON of 1918 As is frequently the case with style 11 banjos, there is no serial number or factory order number. Gibson needs photos and the serial# for a proper ID. Style X . Style 00. Model - Last 2 digits of year - sequential number, so a RB 250 serial number from 1989 would look something like this 250 - 89 - XXX I believe the serial number with made in the USA was a 70s gibson thing. That, coupled with the fact that the seller called it a “MASTERTLINE” banjo and didn’t list the banjo’s model, year, serial number, or history, would make me want to run far Gibson Banjo Serial Number Factory Order Number Information; Pre-war banjos, Flathead, Mastertone. Most of the known examples from that batch were TB-100's. Graham Prewar Gibson Banjo Information. It did definitely have a trap-door and it probably was also fitted with an The Oriole banjo of the 1920s featured a very basic, open-back pot construction and, typical of Gibson budget-brand instruments, no adjustable truss rod in the neck. , Y1234 23). Style 75. An Gibson Banjo Serial Number Factory Order Number Information; Pre-war banjos, Flathead, Mastertone. It was repatriated to the good old U. Contact; Postwar Gibson banjos. Style 2. It is my goal to provide a resource for people interested in the history of vintage banjos and also the re-creation of that desired "old" banjo tone, focusing on recordings of various banjos with different components and setups. Although some Kalamazoo banjos had factory order numbers or serial numbers stamped on the back of As is typical of later prewar Gibsons, the factory order number is stamped on the back of the peghead. weighs about 13 lbs. On this banjo, the FON or Factory Order Number is 9478-159; the 9478 indicates a particular lot of instruments, and the 159 is the position of this instrument in Besides lending “color” and “flash”, the pearloid and paint provided Gibson with a way to use cosmetically flawed wood which might not have been suitable for more expensive models. Unlike most earlier TB-1s, this banjo’s Gibson Serial Numbers on Solid Body Electric Guitars. I do see a lot of people talking about their Greg Rich era Gibson banjos as a selling point. Can anyone help to identify the model,style and year of mfg of this Gibson banjo? It seems to be some sort of 'transitional' model (as it seems many Gibson banjos were). Roger Siminoff began building on that early data when Pickin’ Magazine published his Gibson Banjo “Serial Number” list in the 1970's. Gibson’s 1930 catalog described the TB-4 as “the materialization of the dreams of the most distinguished artist”, yet “not too costly. This is one of the most sought-after of all prewar Gibson banjos — an original flathead five-string RB-3 Mastertone with a one-piece flange and This banjo lacks a Mastertone label and has no factory order number stamped on the back of the peghead or inside the rim; instead there is a paper label glued inside the rim with the typed order number 2758 (see Gibson banjo serial #8836-6 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Mastertone Banjos: Style 250. Some Gibsons made between 1957 and 1961 may have a 6 digit ink stamp number. Start new topic; Recommended Posts. Used - Very Good Condition Gibson Banjos 1988 to present. Stewart-labeled tenor banjo model for New York City-based musical instrument distributor Buegeleisen and Jacobson which was essentially the same banjo as the #8727-22 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Electric Guitars. I found a Gibson Banjo on line with a serial number #920-34 and it was a 1949 so my friends Banjo might be a 49 or older. For instance, a Gibson Mastertone banjo from the 1930s is worth more than a contemporary Washburn banjo. Stewart-labeled tenor banjo model for New York City-based musical instrument distributor Buegeleisen and Jacobson which was essentially the same banjo as the Ever since, the pre-war Gibson Flathead banjo has been THE axe of choice for the bluegrass banjo player. 1984 009 093 298 1985 330 433 467 520 532 703 740 NOTE - Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005. After August the serial numbers were added to the list along with tonering numbers for Granada. Gibson Banjo Serial Number Reference: 1925 1928 Gibson RB-3 "The Sonny Osborne" Original 5-String. These are no longer made and playable ORIGINAL ones are next to impossible to find! the previous owner researched it and, based “The flashiest five-string banjo made” was how Gibson’s 1935 catalog described the RB-11. factory order numbers) dates to the 1927-1928 period in which Gibson produced some banjos under a sequence of factory order numbers with leading zeroes and also equipped a number of Mastertone banjos with the no-hole version of the raised-head tone ring as seen here. A VERY STRONG EMPHASIS ON THE WORD "ASSIST". By chauncey February 22, 2018 in Gibson Acoustic. For instance, banjos made by Gibson are typically from the late 1800s to the 1960s. no images were found. Gibson’s 1930 catalog touted the TB-1 as “(t)he maximum in practical values with plain beauty, rather than ornamentation. However, it is a very powerful piece of information. For questions about your banjo’s serial number, please send me an e-mail. Gibson Banjos 1988 to present. Introduced in 1931, style 11 used pearloid, blue paint, and silkscreened designs to dress up what was one This type of head bearing was also used in the least expensive Gibson-brand banjo, style 00. factory order numbers) dates to 1927 and features the no-hole archtop tone ring frequently associated with that year’s production. Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year; List of Historical Owners; Missing Prewar Gibson Photographing Your Old Gibson banjo; Serial Numbers vs. The style 2 of the 1930s was, like style 11, a lower-priced model which dressed itself up through the use of a “This model is alive with flash and color and yet is not gaudy”, proclaimed Gibson’s Catalog X of 1936 in describing the TB-11. But with a little bit of research, you should be able to find out when your Gibson was built and, in some cases, where. Gibson Serial Code 1952-1961 – Factory Order Number. I hope to be able to put a date on it For the most part, I don't believe great numbers of banjos remained at the Gibson factory prior to the Great Depression. All Sam, that is a 1950's Gibson serial number. Chears Jewelry in Sanford, North Carolina, pictured above on a World-War-I-era postcard. In the earlier years at Gibson, guitars were normally built in batches of 40 instruments. 81232560 The Gibson Serial Number Decoder currently supports 6 formats from 4 Factories. factory order numbers), surfaced in 2020 in Reidsville, North Carolina; the banjo is reported to have spent most of its life Recording King model 731 tenor banjo, the “Paul Binder” Recording King #507 tenor banjo #9779-1. of ESS serial numbers which have been collated to date. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. The FON may indicate the year, batch number, and the ranking (order of production within the batch of 40). ”The model’s specifications included what the catalog described as “beautiful, compelling Burl Walnut” and chrome (or “Chromium”) plating, “the best wearing plate known to science. As is also the case with some of Gibson Banjos 1988 to present. Style 1. Clearly it cannot be a 60's Gibson banjo with that description. Be sure to include shots showing the entire front and back of the instrument: Many, but not all, prewar Gibson banjos have serial numbers (actually a factory order number in most cases). This banjo is in completely original condition with the exception of the fingerboard; in the fifties, #9528-3 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. It has a littermate which was shipped on the same day (#1288-2) which still resides in South Africa. I guess starting with the date. It is likely that your banjo consists of a TB-100 pot which has had a tone ring added to it, along with a 5 string neck that does not appear to have been made by The factory order number #258-1 is stamped on the wooden rim and written twice in chalk inside the resonator (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Recording King model 1584 “M-6” five-string banjo Prewar Gibson Banjo Information. Here's one site that shows the 4-2522 number to be from 1954, although the "157" is not specifically listed. F. Posted May 16, 2009. The maple resonator is single-bound on the back edge only. factory order numbers) lived in Greencastle, Pennsylvania; the banjo was later owned for forty-two years by Vince Gettel of Spring Run, Pennsylvania. 0121-32 Exceptions: Gibson used a space between the prefix and consecutive number until the total production per year exceeded 4 digits. g. Most pre-war Gibson banjos have a serial # or more likely an FON on the inside of the rim. All Access; 868 Posted February 22, 2018. factory order numbers); This MB-3 is listed in Gibson’s factory ledgers as being returned to Hissong Music Store on February 11, 1936 following an unspecified repair. The Mastertone line was revived in 1954 with the introduction of style 250; style 800 was added to the line in 1964 and was the first gold-plated, engraved Gibson banjo model of the postwar period, as well as marking the first time Gibson Prewar Gibson Banjo Information. Photos courtesy of Banjotown. the bins that were used to move instruments from department to department had 40 cubbyholes. Share This is the serial number for my newly purchased Gibson RB 150 banjo. Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Style; Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year; List of Historical Owners; Missing Prewar Gibson I'm pretty new to banjos for the most part and don't know a whole lot about Gibson banjos either. factory order numbers) dates this example of 1925. #25-17 dates to 1931 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. One in particular claims to be from the early '60s. Style 150 . Style 11. At least one other banjo from this lot, #9527-18 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. There are a bunch of "banjophile" websites out there, just like the guitar sites. factory order numbers) but it was not uncommon for slow-moving banjo models, such as five-string Msatertones, to remain unsold at the factory for long periods of time, and this example first appears in Gibson’s factory ledgers “This banjo was originally shipped on May 28, 1937 to H. After the hiatus caused by World War II, Gibson resumed banjo production in the late 1940s with the new non-Mastertone styles 100 and 150. Bound Rim, pearl buttons, M'tone straight on PH. This is one of the most sought-after of all prewar Gibson banjos–an original flathead five-string RB-3 with a one-piece flange and the rare #518-3 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Recently the age of my Gibson RB-250 has come into question. The sunburst finish on this banjo is also quite similar to the one found on style 00, although in the case of the Kalamazoo banjo the resonator back is flat rather than arched. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows: In 1977, Roger Siminoff began building on that early data when Pickin’ Magazine published his Gibson Banjo “Serial Number” list in the 1970's. Here is a list of Gibson Earl Scruggs Standard banjo Serial Numbers and production dates I compiled from several previous posts. The letter preceding the serial number in the FON, and indicates the year of production. Condition is another factor when determining the value of a banjo. factory order numbers), the specifications for style 1 included a pot metal one-piece flange and three-ply maple rim with nickel-plated hardware and a dark-finished maple neck and resonator; there Gibson Acoustic ; Epiphone Banjo ID Epiphone Banjo ID. Posted February 22, 2018. For these years only, the first number indicates the year of The prewar flathead five-string RB-3 could be considered the classic bluegrass banjo; Rudy Lyle, J. The longtime owner of this TB-4 was Harold F. The new model year typically launches in the fall as the current model year winds This example dates to 1929 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. You'll have to It's a gDGBD (Gosh Darn Good Banjo Day)! Tony Proud Member of The Gibson Chapter "if ya got time to breathe, ya got time for music" Briscoe Darling - Apr. It has the gibson logo in script pearl. RB-Granada #9584-3 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. While some banjos are in excellent This TB Gibson banjo is listed as a 1968. Guitar Dater is a just one tool you can use to see if the serial number might be valid. Factory Order Numbers; Prewar Gibson Banjo Shipping Totals by Month; Prewar Gibson Banjo List. Likewise, production numbers were much larger prior to the Depression too. I'm really not sure what year it is. The banjo plays well, and there are no problems with the tuners. What other ways can one date an old acoustic Gibson without relying on the serial number? Thanks for any help. These serial numbers cannot be dated to a specific day of the year. Condition. factory order numbers) is unusual in that its factory order number dates to 1925, at which time all Mastertones featured a ball-bearing tone ring, grooved tension hoop, and flat hooks; this example, however, has the forty-hole archtop tone ring, notched hoop, and round hooks one would associate with Although in many cases the ownership history of a vintage banjo is lost over time, whenever possible I have included the names of the original owners of the banjos featured on this site. The original owner lived in The Gibson Serial Number Decoder currently supports 6 formats from 4 Factories. Older Gibson banjo numbers are pretty well documented. In some cases, I have also included names of people who, though not original owners, did own and use the banjo in question for a significant part of its history. factory order numbers) dates to 1931 and retains its original finish and hardware with the exception of a postwar tension hoop and one replacement prewar bracket nut. These are no longer made and playable ORIGINAL ones are next to impossible to find! the previous owner researched it and, based Enter Serial Number eg. Mastertone Banjos: Style 3. Gibson at the time was not concerned with historical accuracy, and simply installed a fingerboard with bowtie Almost the only market remaining for the five-string banjo was among string-band musicians of the rural southeast, and it’s therefore not surprising that RB-1 #213-10, dating to 1930 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Style 5 What Bob said: Since Gibson recycled serial numbers for some reason, photos will be the only way anyone here can tell you the type and likely age. It's pretty simple: If the serial number means 1964, the banjo will have bowtie inlay and a full weight tone ring if an RB-250 and dot inlays and tone hoop if an RB-100. factory order numbers) is one of these transitional models. If so, the above dating chart does not apply. Most prewar and wartime Gibson banjos are actually marked with factory order numbers rather than serial numbers, but for right now you don’t need to be Banjo serial numbers: During the 1920s, Gibson instruments were made in lots of 40s (for the most part, this procedure continues today). Dating a Gibson by Factory Order Number (FON) Gibson has historically used two different alpha-numerical formats to catalog its instruments: serial numbers and FONs (Factory Order Numbers). factory order numbers) and for the most part features typical style 1 appointments for the period including bracket-shoe rim construction, a flange plate with hexagonal holes, straight-grained maple with a uniform dark finish, and a silkscreened “The Gibson” peghead logo. It did, however, feature the same pot metal one-piece flange and three-ply maple rim as the Mastertones of the same period. Solid body electrics made between 1952 and 1961 received a stamp on the back of the headstock. For Gibson’s made after 1977, the first and fifth digit is the year made. Welcome here. Philes Home. This was done on archtop models from 1952 to 1961 and is stamped Lately there have been a few Gibson J-45's floating around for sale where apparently the serial numbers are too faint to see. Maple, Deluxe Engraving, 5 inlay on back RB-4 Mastertone #9639-1 would date to 1930 based on its factory order number (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. #9602-5 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. After 1950, headstocks had uniform thickness. Fewer than twenty of these banjos were produced, making them many times rarer than Martin’s famed prewar D-45 guitars. Used - Excellent Condition Posted 1/8/2025 1:46:16 PM by Ceres Banjo Works - Country: United States - State: TN Last Updated 1/8/2025 2:09:34 PM. The wood is straight-grain maple with a dark brown finish and binding on both edges of the resonator, Simply checking a serial number with Gibson yields just about the same result, becuase real numbers are showing up on fakes. J. Crowe and Sonny Osborne are among the legendary players who established their reputations on flathead RB-3s from the 1930s. You can tell a lot by noting the actual ship-dates where they are Here is a Table of Serial Numbers and the approximate year of production for banjos Serial Numbers and history of Post-war Gibson Banjos with specifications and history Philes Home Gibson Banjos - Post-War Serial Numbers and Factory Order Numbers From 1975-1977 the number is typically found on a decal on the back of the headstock. They painted on the 9690 Gibson serial numbers are difficult. Non-Mastertone Banjos: TB. factory In addition to the above serial number information, Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers (FON) to track batches of instruments being produced at the time. With regard to the "serial number," not clear whether you have a serial number or a factory order number, both of which were affixed to Gibson instruments. #5820-1 remains in excellent, fully original condition. factory order numbers) is a fine example of just such a banjo. If anyone can help me in this search I would be very grateful! SN 8 3077-117 sincerely, Don Sargent Quote This website is your headquarters for serial numbers, dating, information and identification of vintage Gibson banjos, both Mastertone and non-Mastertone models. Locating Your Banjo’s Serial Number; Photographing Your Old Gibson banjo; Serial Numbers vs. All of the 9690 batch appear to be TB-1. Prewar Gibson banjo shipping totals by year Before mid-1950, most Gibson headstocks were thinner at the top when looked at from a side profile. The serial number is 4887-2. Anyhow, we have an older tenor gibson banjo that belonged to my wife's grandfather. Serial Number 3-8905-72 Something odd about this one is that it has the name, "Nick Kimmons" and the following: 6-13-89 R-3-53 F-53 all penciled on the An ICONIC BLUEGRASS Banjo! Gibson Banjos have long been the standard for bluegrass musicians. This is a nice 4 string Tenor Banjo by Gibson. The lot #8036 written in pencil on the neck heel (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Nick Lucas inlays, single-bound res, no metal skirt, presto, mute,. Description: Gibson TB-(?) Model Tenor Banjo (but more likely MB; banjolin or soprano banjo?) (1920-1923?), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, FON # 11428-6. Serial numbers vs. Polliack & Company, Ltd. in Johannesburg, South Africa. The banjo remains in its original hard shell case. If you are unsure how to locate the serial number or factory order number of your vintage Gibson banjo or Gibson Mastertone banjo, I have full illustrated instructions here. Gibson Banjos 1925 and Later: Philes Home: Serial number in refinished rim, no other original parts, no decal, cut for FH ring: I/N Auction 8/2008 : 1929 : Prewar Gibson Banjo Information. When style 1 made the transition from the earlier “bracket-shoe” design to the one-piece flange circa 1929, some examples were made with the new rim construction while retaining most of the cosmetic appointments of the 1920s design. This system is useful in helping to date and This listing will be subject to revision as we continue to gain more insight into Gibson’s factory order numbers, serial numbers, and production practices in the prewar and wartime periods. This should be an 8 digit number that can be dated by the 1st and 2nd digits as follows: In 1977, Prewar Gibson Banjo List by Year Gibson Banjos 1919-1944 “Wherever there are civilized nations, there you will find Gibson owners–telling with pride of their instruments. It would have followed the format. This original five-string RB-1 is quite unusual in that it features the rare “Coke bottle” peghead shape, the diamonds and squares inlay pattern normally seen on style 3 banjos from the 1920s, and a Mastertone label inside the rim even though style 1 was a sub-Mastertone model. Gilliangirl. 1 2 After the hiatus caused by World War II, Gibson resumed banjo production in 1948; factory shipping ledgers indicate that on June 9th of that year, Gibson The Gibson Serial Number Decoder currently supports 6 formats from 4 Factories. The serial number is 907-4, and there are no stickers inside. . In 1930 only, Gibson made an S. This banjo shows one small idiosyncrasy: The “Gibson” decal is placed on the same side of the rim as the factory order number stamp, rather than on the opposite side as was June and July of 87 only have banjo models and dates listed. Banjos often have serial This style 1 tenor banjo dates to late 1931; the factory order number #157-38 is stamped on the wooden rim and written inside the resonator (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. ” #9553-44 (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. The list I have includes all banjo models as they were assembled by the final set-up Nick Kimmons. This new function will try to match the serial number against older formats, details required for an exact match are listed in yellow. Style 4. Earliest Known Serial Number That Year; 1906: 1 Banjos from various contracted builders: 1907: 212: 1908: 376: 1909: 510: 1910: 800: 1911: 1129: 1912: 1700: 1913: 2028 Earliest reference to Gibson Guitars Most Famous Serial Numbers Here are the top 10 most famous Gibson guitar serial numbers and who they belonged to: Serial Number 1 – Owned by Les Paul himself, this 1952 Gibson Les Paul was the Serial number help on master built banjo Serial number help on master built banjo. Factory Order Numbers; Prewar Gibson Banjo Shipping Totals by Month; For Sale; About Me. If you want to see what it looked like prior to having a new neck and a tone ring put in the banjo, you can look at TB-1 serial number 9690-8. A word about the dating of vintage Gibson banjos. main. If you’d like to share photos of your old Gibson banjo, or if you have Thus, the older Gibson guitars may have a serial number and a Factory Order Number. It was not uncommon for higher-end or less popular banjos to be shipped multiple times; where multiple shipping dates of the same banjo can be identified by serial number or factory order number, only the first documented instance of Prewar Gibson Banjo Information. factory order numbers) and conforms to standard specifications for the style 3 Mastertone of the time with With regard to the "serial number," not clear whether you have a serial number or a factory order number, both of which were affixed to Gibson instruments. i've always been curious about this so today googled gibson banjo serial numbers and found this site: am i right in saying that the banjo with the serial number 9102-41 was made in Hello everybody / I have a friend with an old Gibson Banjo / Serial # 920-33 / Flattop guitars is my gift in information and playing music / don't know much about Banjo's. Used - Very Good Condition An ICONIC BLUEGRASS Banjo! Gibson Banjos have long been the standard for bluegrass musicians. Any For many of the banjos listed below, I am able to provide full shipping information from original factory records. &” is stamped several times on the inside of the resonator sidewall; the significance of this marking is unknown, but it was likely Gibson guitar serial numbers are, like a lot of serial number systems from guitar manufacturers, a complicated beast. The prewar flathead five-string RB-3 could be considered the classic bluegrass banjo; Rudy Lyle, J. Thanks in advance Yes, by 1989 the format of the serial number changed, and was located on the rim. Serial Number 3-8905-72 Something odd about this one is that it has the name, "Nick Kimmons" and the following: 6-13-89 R-3-53 F-53 all penciled on the The factory order number is stamped on the back of the peghead as was standard practice by this time (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. Identifying The Age Of A Banjo By Its Serial Number. The style 1 of the 1930s was a non-Mastertone model and therefore had no true tone ring–only a small-diameter brass hoop on top of the rim. ”Style 1 made the transition from the earlier “bracket-shoe” design to the one-piece flange in 1929, with lot #9464 being the first known batch of style 1 banjos in the new design (see Gibson banjo serial numbers vs. The general rule is the more photos and the more detailed, the better. The style 2 of the 1930s was, like style 11, a lower-priced model which dressed itself up through the use of a In 1970, Gibson started stamping “Made In U. This new function will try to match the serial number against older formats. And how you read a Gibson Banjo Serial number. Note: Date ranges listed here are approximate, as the batch numbers were many times used out of sequence. Fender banjos are usually from 1949 to the early 2000s. In the pre-World-War-II period it was common, particularly in the rural south, for jewelry stores, furniture stores, and even This RB-75 was shipped from the Gibson factory on March 22, 1940 to City Music Company and for many years was the working banjo of Manuel Dewey “Old Joe” Clark (August 6, 1922-February 20, 1998). This letter must be before the FON serial number (e. I would say, from 1925 to early 1929, the banjo business was pretty lucrative. Gibson Mastertone Banjos 19 18-194 4. factory order numbers. Gibson only used this scheme for 3 years. Crowe and Sonny Osborne are among the legendary players who established their reputations on flathead RB-3s from the In the world of prewar Gibson banjos, there is no model more legendary than the original five-string Granada with one-piece flange and flathead tone ring. Lot# Bin# Model/Style Tone Ring Flange Type Tension Hoop Notes; 9101 : 01 : PB-6 : Flathead : Tube & Plate : Notched : earliest example of flathead tone ring : 9109 Gibson Mastertone banjo’s have significant price range depending on year, model, condition, etc. For example, 80920334 would be made in 1980. factory order numbers) was sent back to Gibson to have its worn-out fingerboard replaced. Crowe and Sonny Osborne are among the legendary players who established their reputations on flathead RB-3s from the 1930 s. ”T he PB, or plectrum banjo, is a four-string banjo with the same scale length and tuning as a five-string; it allows for chord melody playing without a fifth string to get in the way. Serial number DW 07053586. Serial number is 11406-18. qqlppfw zgsyy gddkt hvz zmnx fqle tutx qzwyssa mqd wavlb