But not a final verdict. The first thing that comes to mind is that it's a factory second, which means some (often minor) flaw, no warranty, and no serial number. I have actually become more trustful of people. Floating Floyd Rose style trem or string thru or stop tail piece bridges. Youre probably thinking that this is why the Trash or Treasure column exists, but I promise most of you will find that researching guitars (or any musical instruments) can be very interesting you never know what you may learn! If you're wondering where your favorite is, it may be coming next time, or we might not be aware of it, so feel free to leave your faves in the comments section. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Dot inlays and 24 frets in a Rosewood board 25.5"scale. His research over the past few years led him to realize the provenance of the instrument in his possession, and he ultimately confirmed his findings with us at Rumble Seat Music in Nashville, where this legendary instrument is now proudly offereda perfect example of the kind of rock n roll artifact we love! Fortunately, Gibson was making more changes to its instruments during the 60s and 70s than any other period, so dating these instruments by features alone is relatively clear-cut in most cases. Anthony Zemaitis was a British born cabinet-maker-turned-luthier. Rich models, both imported and USA hand made's implement this same year time date stamp and guitar production number format: 121XXXXX first digit = year of manufacture, second digit = means nothing until double-digit years began (ie: 2010, 2011, 2012 etc). At the moment, I don't actually have any money to buy anything even if I wanted to. The George Harrison Rocky Stratocaster features an alder body hand-painted with a replica of Harrisons famous psychedelic brushstrokes. The controls are two tone dials with on-off switches for each, plus a master volumewith a missing knobon the upper body. Despite being purchased by the Norlin corporation in 1970, Gibson maintained the same confusing 6-digit serial system through 1975, meaning instruments with the same serial number could be from either the 60s or the 70s. Take a closer look at Palmer instruments. When you walk into that garage sale, pawn shop, or guitar show this spring, the first thing you need to figure out is what it is. This bass was with him for early Faces performances and could easily have been used on some of these classic recordings, including the albums First Step and Long Player. Though all of Tonys designs are one-of-a-kind, this stands out as a bass guitar truly unlike any other weve ever seen. Headstocks were timber capped with an R logo. Gibson has historically used two different alpha-numerical formats to catalog its instruments: serial numbers and FONs (Factory Order Numbers). 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 U.S. series were all made from Mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard and dot inlays. no longer featured tremolos, instead cheap stop tail piece fixed bridges like the Bronze Series. featured a block tremolo (licenced under Floyd Rose pats.) Many older instruments may have reproduction or other non-original parts, including a non-original finish. From 1943 to 1947, the logo was a thick golden script, known as the banner logo. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. Orangewood Guitars Oliver Acoustic Giveaway! The reason I didn't mention the seller or the manufacturer is precisely the reasons you witnessed in some of the above comments & in previous comments I read after I started the cheap Eastman thread. After 1986 the B.C. The consistency around this stopped during WWII and resumed in the early 1950s. This instrument has a chambered body with a neck-through design and features a 6-screw heel plate purely for cosmetics. Numbers from this era were flipped, reused, and in many cases can date an instrument to several non-sequential years. All guitars should have some kind of logo, label, or identification that makes it unique (think the Flying F for Fender, or the K for Kay). Guitar builders affix their guitars with names so people know what they are playing. Powered by Invision Community. 1995-2019 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. guitars The wear and tear he put on the bass and the music he made with it are part of his lasting legacy. And while long-gone favorites like Manny's Music (New York) and Black Market Music (San Francisco) came up again and again, there were even more current shops topping readers' favorites list. This is as much a work of art as it is a unique instrument with an inspiring tone. As an aside, a funny thing happened to me while being on Ebay for so many years. The U.S. series have a single humbucker pickup and Kahler tremolo. The original logo featured the words "The Gibson" inlaid in pearl at a slant, with an almost hand-written cursive font. Palmer instruments are developed with input and guidance from professional musicians. What are. Breakbeats, not the bankShop Beatmaking Week deals nowLearn more. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: All of the above, and perhaps even a counterfeit. These Models look like USA guitars with the "R" logo, but had dot inlays and a serial number that started with "U". I think Abando took his serial number ball and went home. His love of folk and country music even left its mark upon early Rod Stewart solo records on which Lane and his Faces bandmates played a large part. warnes jennifer jance 1944 hook bass dr Then we can find out if the serial number is supposed to be stamped on the head stock, on a decal, a label inside the sound hole, etc. From 1952 to 1961, a consistent letter code resumed, with the letter appearing before the batch number. This makes it especially important to first identify the general era during which your instrument was made before pinning down the exact date of manufacture with a serial number. He's punishing us for trying to get him to mistrust eBay sellers. ), the pickups, the type of finish, and the electronics inside that can give clues as to when an instrument was made. Both the headstock and end of the fretboard are delicately carved into a crown-like pattern, perhaps drawing inspiration from mandolins and lutes of the previous century. Just was looking for some information. Serial numbers on the Hondo guitars appeared from 1984. A FON usually consisted of a 3-, 4-, or 5-digit batch number followed by one or two other numbers in most cases. FWIW, I see a lot of honest eBay sellers, but I also see a bunch of them say stuff like "the serial number is filed off, and it has a 'B' stamped on the headstock, but I have no idea what that means.". Diamond inlays in a 24 fret Rosewood 25.5"scale. Also, many fakes or copies will have all the features of a popular brand, but they dont have a name (probably due to the fact the faker couldnt come up with a creative name). "We asked PG readers what is the coolest guitar shop they've been to in the US. Eventually this bass found its way to a pawn shop in the southern United States, where its second owner purchased it, unaware of its famous history. By 1933 Gibson had dropped the "The" from all of their logos while retaining the script "Gibson." Our hope is to make the dating process and, in turn, the valuation as easy, accurate and transparent as possible. The most general physical piece of evidence on the instrument, however, is going to be the logo on the headstock. Palmer instruments are developed with input and guidance from professional musicians, music educators and most importantly,Palmer Customers.Palmer is committed to providing an instrument that will encourage the artistic skills A lot of my guitars don't have serial numbers because I built them myself out of parts or from scratch. We promise you will see the tradition, quality and innovation that goes into each and every one of our instruments. I know not everybody has access to the wide variety of books I do, but that is why libraries exist, and if you can afford an order at B&N, any guitar junkie will appreciate some good guitar literature. I'm still careful, but I have grown less cynical. maton His ad simply says that the reason he is selling the guitar so cheap is because the manufacturer sent him two new guitars with no serial numbers. In some very rare cases, there were also some Handmade NJ series guitars, hollow body semi acoustics with solid spruce tops. That could provide some clue as to why you might not have a ser. the possible reasons why a new guitar from an established manufacturer wouldn't have a serial number? Some models (LG-2, J-45, SJ, select L-50s) included an actual banner reading "Only a Gibson Is Good Enough" in the middle of the headstock. It may seem like I have a magic wand that instantly finds the answers to your many questions, but I spend quite a bit of time researching each guitar before I respond. Glad the neck blocks are stamped with the SN. Early Gibson solidbody electrics received a serial stamp on the back of the headstock, with the first number indicating the year of production. Working with a potentially very valuable old Gibson can be intimidating, particularly for someone who doesnt have experience with vintage instruments. However, while the intent was to maintain a more organized catalog, this system in practice achieved the exact opposite. Summer Rig Giveaway from D'Angelico, Supro, and Pigtronix! Abando, October 15, 2009 in Acoustic Guitars, Noticed a great price on a guitar. Fender previously released a limited number of meticulous Rocky recreations via the Fender Custom Shop in 2020, but now this release gives fans the opportunity to enjoy the sound and history behind this iconic guitar. If you know the backstory around when the instrument was purchased, this can provide some rough clues about its era. The import guitar models built in before November will have a serial number starting with the letter "F". We promise you will see the tradition, quality and innovation that goes into each and every one of our instruments. Where to find the serial number The bass pictured here was one of his earliest custom designs for Ronnie Lane. Every detail is captured, from the artwork on the pickguard and plastic parts to a replica decal on the back of headstock from Grimstones - the original music store where the guitar was purchased. Whereas Martin guitars have been using a single, consistent numbering system since the 19th century, Gibson has used several different serial number formats since its inception in 1902, meaning that some formats and numbers overlap across decades. All "licenced by" platinum guitars feature two humbuckers except the ST which had a Humbucker and two singles. of its owner and to help make music a part of more lives. Gibsons earliest serialization system was more or less sequential, where each new instrument was assigned the next highest available number. This started on the January 2001 models. squeeze roadrunner I am a free guitar! After the Faces folded in 1975, all five members went on to continue making great music, but their chemistry together was undeniable. A blind horse wouldnt be impressed, but this beautiful, double-horned instrument with one-of-a-kind engravings helped make luthier Tony Zemaitis famous. Below is a table of the the highest known number for each production year. The general system was as follows, though with instruments from this era its important to consult key features to get a more accurate age approximation. I remember telling people on this forum about a well established retail seller selling two Eastmans cheap & a few of you directly accused the seller of selling stolen merchandise because they were so low in price. Seller said he was selling it so cheap because the manufacturer sent it out with no serial number. the Internet. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. Starting in 1970, Made in USA was stamped on the headstock below the serial number. phillips The next after that is that it's counterfeit. Numbers were devised for the factory, month of production, year, etc. If it's a Martin it would be an employee model-built for a factory employees own use. music educators and most importantly,Palmer Customers. palmer amanda record personal charitybuzz voicemail message fear After 1950, headstocks had uniform thickness. The Les Paul with a Backup Output Jack? There are numerous iconic photos of the band onstage where this bass can be seen, but its value goes well beyond pure memorabilia. I didn't want the seller or manufacturer badmouthed without sufficient evidence they were doing something wrong. The hollow chambers on either side of the neck block were stuffed with cotton to eliminate feedback below a laminate-wood carved top. Engraver Danny OBriens handiwork on the heel plate and control cavity covers are on display in this view of the bass back. The first line of N.J. series guitars were high quality guitars and featured the "RXXXXXX" serial numbers. What brand and model is it and how much is it selling for? The Korean company Samick Musical Instruments Co. founded in September 1958, is one of the world's largest producer of musical instruments. They added a number to the end of the serial until they decided to change systems completely. elp crimson king lake greg covers guitars talks cd mvd band 70s gary moore late rock Just saw a guy selling a guitar on Ebay. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. The Bass platinums had P-J EMG select pickups. Since I cant include everybodys guitar in my column, Im going to help you properly identify, date, and evaluate guitars. The last three (or four as of 2005) digits signify the location of production and batch number, respectively, but this information isnt necessary to accurately dating your instrument. You should be able to use this guide to determine the year of your instrument and then consult the Reverb Price Guide to find its value, all for free. FONs were Gibsons way of internally tracking batches of instruments throughout production. Some flattop guitars of this era started to omit the word "The" from the inlay. labels can be stickers and due to being placed on dusty surface when applied, they can fall out. Ronnie Lane is hardly the most famous name associated with the Faces, but it could be argued that the spirit of the band was largely due to his influence. Throughout the war and even for some time after, each year had its own quirks around FON batch numbers and letters. Said to have higher quality parts than NJ guitars. Will feature a F8XXXX, F90XXXX or F91XXXX serial. The F2XXXXX in 1992 had a six digit serial. How old is it? In the year 2000 their "F" serial system was changed. Below is an example of the number scheme. If you want to know the production year of your Samick guitar, you can decipher it with the serial number decoder. Thanks for all the answers. This headstock has flourishes fit for a kingpossibly of clubs. Please check the fields highlighted in red. Yup. I am not a serial number. Some earlier specimens from 1903 to 1907 did not slant the logo, or went without a logo entirely. You may have something there mate. As one of the oldest and most widely recognized brands in music, Gibson has crafted some of the most cherished and valuable instruments of all time. The script logo continues without the slant. For many vintage instruments, determining the date of manufacture involves little more than running the serial number through a reference guide. <> >. Some earlier lower-end models had no serial number at all, making the FON the sole numerical identifier in those cases. When the original serial system reached 999,999 in 1947, Gibson started over with an A prefix. Some guitars only have a serial # on a label. We compiled the 20 most mentioned stores and quickly realized there were too many great photos we'd have to cut in order to get them all in one gallery. Lore Reverse Soundscape Generator from Walrus Audio. This makes relying entirely on the physical features of a guitar potentially misleading. Can you post a link? Take a closer look at Palmer instruments. What is this stupid thing? The next is that it's stolen and the serial number was removed. The sad loss of Ronnie Lane to multiple sclerosis in 1997 makes this instrument even more special. If there is nothing on your guitar in question, chances are the original label or logo has fallen off. These won't carry a serial number nor model designation. Headstocks were usually the curved six inline headstock however some of the Bich's had a traditional 3 aside. So here's the first installment in no particular order. The only custom option you could order on these guitars was the electronics, however many did come with custom graphics. oversized headstock that says "Licenced by B.C. Learn More, Gibson Headstock Logos Through The Decades. These guitars were machine made in Japan and assembled in the USA. What kind of guitar is it? Just wanted to know all the reasons why an established manufacturer might send out new guitars without serial numbers. Oops, looks like you forgot something. 2022 Palmer Guitars USA, All Rights Reserved. Models available in 1984 were: Mockingbird, Stealth and Warlock. The year is indicated by the first letter in any series of letters for these years. They still kept the N.J. model on these guitars even though they were. Didn't even email the seller. Aside from the logos, each era of manufacturing included certain identifying traits such as the hardware (tuners, knobs, plates, etc. From 1935 to 1942, the FON included a letter suffix. phillips paul obituary tributes eugene France, #. Determining exactly when your Gibson specimen was made can have high stakes attached to it. The two best resources in my opinion are books and (gasp!) This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Zemaitis instruments hold a special place in the evolution of guitar design, and the masterful engravings of Danny OBrien are unmistakable. lake greg christmas talked hit final elp interview RICH N.J.: R2xxx to R8xxx, R83xxxx to R92xxxx. How to Date a Gibson Using Serial Numbers, FONs and Logos, 1 to 7900 (some with letter, some without), 907, 910, 923, 2004, 2005, 7000s (all with banner logo), 1100s to 3700s (move from script to block logo). Now I got it my above comment was directed at the seller not you. The labels on my Martin and Guild have both fallen off. That's the important question. I know I hear questions like this several times a day, and Im sure many of you who are enthusiastic about guitars have found yourself asking these questions as well. 1995-2019 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. Most models get a dotted i again in 1972, with the rest following suit from 1981 onward. A quick search of acoustic guitars on eBay for "no serial number" turned up 300+ hits. The most common place to find identification is on the headstock or on a label inside of the guitar, if applicable. The serial number on this Les Paul Junior indicates that it was made in 1956. The only difference in the Bronze and Platinums in the late 90's was the timber choice. The thickness of the headstock, however, is not as vulnerable to modification or replacement. Instruments will generally have one or both of these numbers stamped or written either inside the body (generally the case on earlier models) or on the back of the headstock. Name as many reasons as you can think of. I'm wondering if there is some reason why you are not divulging the alleged maker of the guitar. By Rich" in small font just above script logo. The serial number is stamped or as a sticker on the back of the headstock, the neck plate or on (semi) acoustic guitars on the bottom inside the body. paul I see a lot of used guitars without labelsdoesn't mean squat. The block logo debuted after WWII and remains the face of the company. Samick started producing acoustic guitars in 1965 and electric guitars in 1972. To complicate matters further, there was sometimes a second letter from 1938 to 1941 indicating the brand (G for Gibson, K for Kalamazoo, W for Recording King) and sometimes even a third letter indicating "Electric" (the letter E). Every piece of metal, from the pickup surrounds, knobs, tailpieceeven the heel plate and control cavity coverhave been intricately engraved by OBrien. In 1969 Gibson began carving volutes-- small bumps of additional wood where the neck transitions to the headstock-- to cut down on warranty repair work. Rich NJ Series was also being made by Cort in Korea. in 1985 they added the Ironbird and Bich to the list. the only real difference between a late 90's platinum and NJ is that the NJ came with a floating tremolo licenced floyd rose bridge. Before mid-1950, most Gibson headstocks were thinner at the top when looked at from a side profile. Around 1987 (Samick's own models) began to provide serial numbers. Gibson stopped dotting the i in their logo on some of their instruments. ", Helmer's How-Tos: 8 Steps to Float Your Strat Trem, Phil Collen on What Your Vibrato Says About Your Ego, First Look: Eastwood Black Box Pedal Series, Mojo Hand FX Introduces the Octaverse Reverse Octave Delay, GALLERY: 20 Coolest Guitar Stores in the US - Volume 1, Fender Announces the George Harrison Rocky Stratocaster, Top 10 Acoustic Guitars: Rig Rundown Best-Ofs, Mod Garage: The Alternative Brent Mason Telecaster Wiring, Fjord Fuzz Aims to Usher in a Psych RevolutionIn More Ways Than One, Way Huge Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Revamped Red Llama Overdrive MkIII, Hooked: Tamino on Soundgarden's "Limo Wreck". The serial numbers from this period are generally as follows: Starting in 1977, Gibson adopted the current date-based serial system which codes for the year and day of production. Good quality copies, including the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul, were made in 1976 and released under the Hondo II brand. EUR After having hundreds of dealings on Ebay & only being ripped off once, I have grown to believe that most people are pretty darn honest. By continuing to use Reverb, you agree to these updates, and to our cookie policy. . The distinctive suit of cards inlays along the 32"-scale neck would become a signature of Ronnie Lane, but this is perhaps the earliest example of that motif on one of his instruments. Currency: This is sometimes referred to as the slanted script logo. There were minute changes to which letters were connected in the font between 1961 to 1981, but the main logo had the same look. If you feel like your guitar could be highly valuable or just want as much information as possible, we recommend finding an official appraiser or reach out to a Gibson representative. They were called the U.S. Production Series in the catalogs but received the nickname "U series" due to being recognized by the letter U before the serial number stamped in the back of the headstock. These will generally date an instrument earlier than the serial number, as they were typically applied in the early stages of assembly. My first installment focuses on determining the make and model of a guitar. palmer amanda record personal charitybuzz voicemail message supported vh1 supports bid adventures foundation power All B.C. The above comment reminds me of another thread. Because it's probably hot and he knows it. A huge part of their unique sound and stage presence came from the unusual instruments often employed by bassist Ronnie Lane and guitarist Ron Wood. Unless it is a guitar built from parts, a build-it-yourself kit, or a blatant fake, a manufacturer name exists you may just have to do some research to find it. His guitars distinctive metal tops, often with elaborately engraved designs provided by Danny OBrien, can be seen with some of the eras most legendary guitar players, but it was his connection to the Faces that really put Zemaitis instruments on the map. The original thin script was replaced with a thicker font on higher-end models in the mid-30s, and across the entire lineup by the end of the decade. Specimens built before 1902 had a star inlay or crescent in place of a logo. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. Though they never reached the commercial success of some of their peers, the Faces have no doubt earned a place as one of the seminal rock n roll bands of the late 60s and early 70s. Starting in 1961, Gibson implemented a new serialization system designed to cover its entire lineup. Combining influences as varied as instrumental funk la the Meters, traditional folk music, and a heavy dose of rhythm and blues, the Faces brand of rock n roll can be heard in some way or another in the music of countless bands that followed.