The intent is to provide a rough dating guide. The financial strain became too much and the company sold in 1940 to Gretsch. Gibson developed the truss rod in 1921. It shared many features with the L-5 archtop electric acoustic: The neck was basically an L-5 neck in scale, section and detail. http://www.mugwumps.com. Why not post a little tune with it. During 1880-1890 Fairbanks joined with William A. Cole, a successful performer and teacher, and produced approximately 9000 banjos as Fairbanks & Cole. The 1975 price was $879. There are a few examples of A-2Zs with black tops, though this was probably used to cover some imperfection in the selected tops. Since Spruce was needed for the war-time effort, some J-45s in 1943 have a mahogany top. MK-53 models were maple back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. Use them in commercial designs under lifetime, perpetual & worldwide rights. Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. Also, the first batch of J-45s had more binding both on the body and soundhole. target no need to return item. MB -- mandolin banjo. The following site helps identify the labels with the date and location of production: All Gurian Guitars have serial numbers stamped on the neck block in characters visible through the soundhole. 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. You'll find Epiphone serial numbers in the standard places. and What's it sound like? What's the history on the this jo, are you the original owner? The Aria 921C was a good quality 5-string banjo made in the early 1970s. This was adapted to the mandolin over the next few years. Introduced 1967, Basically an more economical LG-0. There is a Kay company logo on the headstock but absolutely no other identifying marks. ARCHIVED TOPIC: VINTAGE BANJO IDENTIFICATION. At least then you will know the model name. themselves through common hardware and design characteristics. Dimensions: 16 wide, 10 1/4 long and 4 1/2 deep. This is a strong playing. Banjo serial numbers: During the 1920s, Gibson instruments were made in lots of 40s (for the most part, this procedure continues today). mikehalloran - Posted-12/27/2013: 17:21:06. Notable endorsers of this model include Leon Redbone. This is a high-quality instrument. The bracing for the new larger models was X braced: there were 3 transverse tone bars between the braces 1 more than the Martin as Gibson experimented with bracing design heavy enough to support the large tops and light enough to be resonant and responsive. Since that day in 1989, Deering has breathed new life into the Vega name, blending over a century of tradition with Deering's banjo building expertise, to create a range of heritage rich open back and longneck banjos that are as integral to the modern folk . Some laminated maple necks with two walnut stripes down the center (5 piece neck), most with no truss rod (war time meallocations), Neck shape large and round (Baseball Bat) due to lack of truss rod, Poplar neck blocks. They could be strung with steel or nylon strings. See more ideas about banjo, guitar inlay, ukulele. The Jumbo 55 (J-55) was introduce in late 1939 and discontinued in 1942. The top and back bindings were black plastic with red line highlights. ECL changed its name shortly afterwards to: Norlin Inc. for ECL president Norton Stevens and CMI president Maurice Berlin. Higher numbers also meant more money. There were some 1 3/4 nuts available. Another useful The original V shape of the necks of the J-35s was replaced by distinctly round necks (baseball bats) and a tear drop pickguard. These bridges had movable saddles up to about 1917 when they changed to a one-piece compensating bridge design through early 1921. To complicate matters, the Larson brothers appear to have used different numbering techniques for different brands that they supplied. Post war logo, 1947/8 to '60s found on various guitar like Melody Maker, Les Paul Jr, Special, Lg0, Lg2, Sg Jr, Special, ecc, ecc.Note the dot link to G. '70 Gold logo - Decal instead silkscreening. They are very pricy at over $20.00 each, but worth it if you want . B-series Factory location: Grand Street, New York City from 1972 to 1973. A head on a long neck open back banjo might sound completely different on a 12-string banjo. Ebony Fretboards were generally thicker than other builders. The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover. If you count the plies in the rim it is about 12 or 13 which is what I have seen in a lot of Asian banjos. Electric guitars having the serial number on the back of the headstock. They had owner applied pick guards and multi-bound backs and tops (including red line highlights). feature both a serial number and a FON. The neck is the long piece of wood that attaches to the banjo body that guides the strings along the instrument's fretting surface (called the fingerboard ). My understanding is that only 12 of these particular banjos were ever manufactured by Kay. The following numbers are the earliest known serial number for the year listed. Script Gibson logo, Fretboard: Twin parallelograms inlays unbound 19 fret. It had a double ring of purfling around the soundhole, pearl dots on the fretboard, dark stained birch back and sides and The Gibson stamped on tailpiece cover. The grade of top wood was tighter grained. There's a small snag in the outer pocket webbing - otherwise it's like new. The only available finish was sunburst until 1954. Because there are few of these instruments around, little has been written about them, though some did find their way into the hands of influential artists of the day. The labels with an image of Orville Gibson are generally found on instruments with serial numbers below 10,000. As a vintage instrument dealer, I see no collectors market for banjos like yours. Many banjo manufacturers, in addition to making banjos under their own names, made unmarked banjos for others to sell as well. Music Love. In 1926 Gibson introduced the L-series guitars with the L-0 at $35 and the L-1 at $50 (1928 prices). Grupo Musical. 1968: Changed to a bottom belly bridge and 1960 style pickguard, 1969: Changed to a square shoulder dreadnaught, Original version: solid mahogany back but laminated mahogany sides, 1 piece mahogany neck & 17 degree headstock angle, Bound Brazilian fretboard with trapezoid inlayed markers, Individual Kluson tuners with white buttons later: keystone Pearloid buttons, P-90 single coil pickup with adjustable pole pieces. The strings are tightly wound at the headstock so the banjo player can form cords along the fingerboard. The early instruments built in Nashville suffered from inexperienced workers and climate-control problems in the humid South. The pot fairly screams Iida to me. A total of 2,477 J-35s were made according to Gibson records. There were 1229 made. better-grade offerings frequently had notched, rather than grooved stretcher The bass of this model will amaze you, and of course the clear brilliant treble is in perfect balance. For once, the hyperbole may have been closer to the truth. It is very showy though. Some FONs for 1942 include 7116-7119, 7434, 7705, 7721, 907, 910, 923, 928, 2004-2006, 2059, 2098, 2110, 2119. Cherry Sunburst is still available. Gibson hoped to score the same type of success that had occurred with Lloyd Loar in the 1920s: redefining the acoustic guitar for generations to come. Some J-45 models with non-bookmatched two piece Adirondack spruce tops and some examples with four piece tops. The tuners were individual. The Kalamazoo plant kept going for a few years as a custom-instrument shop, including the Mark Series instruments, and was ultimately closed in 1984. The back and sides were Brazilian rosewood and the tops Adirondack red spruce. The fretboard was bound but without extension and The Gibson was stamped into the tailpiece cover. Michael Wright has compiled one of the largest picture galleries of headstock photos in his book "Guitar Stories Vol. All listed sizes are for 12 fret to body models: These dimensions were similar for all Larson made instruments. MK-35 models were mahogany back & sides, rosewood fingerboards with dot inlays & nickel hardware. It's always made of hardwood such as ebony and makes up the front-facing top half of the banjo's neck. Research our price guide with auction results on 40 items from $35 to $2,928. When it came out in 1942 it was the most expensive Gibson flat-top in the line. Towards the end, the line actually continued to increase in sales. The sunburst finish was generally $30 less than natural finish. The hurricane of September 1938 destroyed the companys ability to manufacture anything. Edited by - mikehalloran on 12/27/2013 17:30:00, Charles in SC - Posted-12/27/2013: 20:38:42. 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. Pearl dots on fretboard. The birch sides and back were stained red. For a period of time, this was the top of the line. Gibson Banjos 1925 and Later: . Unfortunately, the information is confusing and inconsistent. Sha-Sw. T-V. W-Y. Hard-stamped serial numbers. Yes, please do post your tune here on this page. The first Gibson J45 guitars were only slightly different from the discontinued J-35. JR, jumbo size guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners. George Youngblood of Youngbloods Music Workshop. Collector's Corner For more detailed information, get the following book: The Larsons Creations Guitars & Mandolins by Robert Carl Hartman. For example, the serial number 90237XXX corresponds to a production date of 1/23/97. A2-Zs were theoretically made during the Loar period of 1921-25, but only between 1923 and 1924. RB -- regular banjo (5-string) TB -- tenor banjo. 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). Schall hardware is pretty unique and the fifth The 2nd delivery to Ray Whitley was the more refined 14 fret SJ that is so well photo-dicumented. The headstock had a black wood face veneer. The model started production in 1938 as Gibsons top-of-the-line flat top guitar. 1955: Gibson stopped scalloping the bracing it was faster to produce but not as strong. Other attempts by Gibson to make-do with the materials available to them include laminated maback and sides finished in a dark mahogany stain and a few were built with a laminate maple back and a mahogany top. The following are believed to be accurate known numbers: The following serial numbers are approximate at best. You have your choice of 3 different peghead shapes. There were 431 made. In 1947 a natural finish J-45 was finally offered and given the designation: J-50. Western movies were tremendously popular and the singing cowboy heroes needed instruments as big and bold as untamed West. Headstocks of US models also use the Gibson headstock shape. S2M, size 2 guitar with mahogany back & sides. During the period of 1902 to approximately 1909 the mandolins sported tailpiece covers with a curly top and internal white labels with an image of Orville Gibson holding a lyre mandolin. The swing of a lathe is measured as the total diameter of a finished turned piece, such as a wood bowl. The early models had shallow neck sets that increased in angle around 1908. DVD-quality lessons (including tabs/sheet music) available for immediate viewing on any device. Worthy of mention is the Jumbo Deluxe, though it is believed that only 3 were ever made in 1938. The Larson bridge, if not otherwise specified by another company, is a rectangular flattened pyramid ebony style similar to those used by Lyon and Healy. Internally, changes from the J-35 included strengthening the top bracing by moving the X brace 1 additional inch behind the soundhole. During 1942 two new models were introduced to the Gibson line-up to replace the J-35 and J-55. Bridges: Ebony Sometimes with a flattened pyramid rectangular bridge shape. Kay company banjos were normally not that high-quality but this one is different. Hard-case rugged and gig-bag light! Style Designations (There are many exceptions to the following). Example: S3021234 = Samick Korea / 1993 / February . The numbers are preceded by letters: A, B, C, or D which indicate the series. 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. 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. Buckbee (1861-1897) banjos can frequently be identified by their Martin introduced the large body dreadnaught in 1932 It was bigger, bolder, and louder than anything Gibson had to offer. 1959: Larger crown frets and the adjustable bridge. The body dimensions basically match the LG-series: 14 1/8 wide by 19 1/2 long by 4 1/2 deep. In general, the Larsons used fancier hardware on the more expensive instruments so the date of the hardware should coincide with similar instruments of the period. During the war years women played a greater role in manufacturing while young men were fighting overseas. The best way to date Larrive instruments is by the instrument labels. I have never seen one like this in person or even a picture of one. You may, . The system is not known for certain but might have restarted as consecutive numbers beginning at 1000. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright 2023 Banjo Hangout. Though it was discontinued in 1942, the last Advanced Jumbo left the Kalamazoo plant in 1940. 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). Gibson 1-6 digits stamped into the top edge of the headstock-often difficult to read. Like everything else connected to instrument identification issues - there are many exceptions. Gretsch used a new serial format showing: Month/Year/Production Number (3-4 digits), stamped as follows: Its not clear whether the 3-4 digit production number is the total production for the month or for the year. The FON is the only identification number on Gibson's lower grade models (like the ES-125, ES-140, J-160E, etc.) 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. They were available in steel string or classical. English mandolin banjo, by cuckoo, circa 1900s, of typical form, 'Cuckoo' imprinted on the headstock, 55 cm long American Orpheum mandolin banjo , by Rettberg & Lange, no. The following are a rough guide. Though there appear to be exceptions, necks between 1912 and 1923 are 3-piece mahogany. tailpieces (see fourth row of pictures below) on many of their unmarked banjos, and their The Gibson CF-100 was introduced in 1950 (the CF-100E was introduced 1951) and discontinued in 1960. These can exist on any model numbers including the A-jr. The examples weve seen vary from the Gibson catalogs quite a bit. Thanks for the history, I always love the story. 562 Standard size with rosewood back & sides, MOP and colored wood appointments. The following versions evolved quickly to 14 frets clear of the body. 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. I have an open back banjo with a number 44 stamped in the ring, and May 2, 1899 carved in the support on the backside. Saga. Knob changes usually following other Gibson electrics. White from 1928 to 1943/44. The Advanced Jumbo has been described by some as the finest no compromises most powerful flat-top guitar Gibson ever designed and built. Every banjo has a story. I am the third owner, the previous owner researched it and, based on the serial number, headstock design and inlays declares it to be a 1976 Gibson RB 250 MASTERTONE model with the 20 hole metal tone ring. It was during the years of 1977 through 1986 that most of the high-end lines at Gibson were discontinued: The ES-350T, L-5S and the Mark Series among them. There was a line of black inlay (or ebony layer) along the centerline of the back of the neck. A flourish inlay under The Gibson in the headstock. Due to the plain marks on the bracing, it is believed that every top was tuned by the same Gibson employee. Gold script Gibson logo, Pickguard: Tiger-striped & teardrop shape, Finish: brown sunburst top finish, dark brown mahogany back and sides and neck, Body Binding: 7-ply top binding and single ply back binding, Tuners: Kluson Mfg Chicago and Pat. stamped into the plate in a circle around the attachment screws, plastic button usually white but sometimes black), Tortoise-shell teardrop pickguard replaced the tiger stripe material, Single bound top and back, multi-bound rosette, Mahogany neck but a few Maple necks with a single walnut stripe down the center (3 piece neck), Three layer w/b/w tops and single layer back binding, Mahogany neck block with beveled sides, changed to a mahogany neck block with square sides, Tuners were 3-on-a-plate Klusons with exposed gears and Kluson Mfg Chicago and Pat. stamped into the plate in a circle around the attachment screws, plastic buttons (usually white but sometimes black) and 1/4 diameter posts. Gibson believed that these choices would allow them to focus on their more profitable lines. In late 1 the use of factory order numbers was discontinued. peghead shape. At least one model, the Epiphone Spirit, was manufactured in the USA during the early 1980s in the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI. Body designations and style designations of Martin guitars are letter-number combinations separated by a hyphen. The binding on the top is b/w. 1973 $895 L-5S a few instruments shipped and cherry sunburst is the only available finish. It had a 24 3/4 scale and was constructed of all solid woods. There is a utility market though. The further down the headstock the peg is, the shorter it will be. The public seems to have favored this shape over time as it fetches better prices now. See also: Gibson J-160E for more historical context. Most were 3-piece solid maple bodies. It appears that many mandolin owners of earlier models chose to upgrade their bridges to the fancy new adjustable models after 1921. There was some amber color. 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. CLM, Classical guitar with mahogany back and sides. ARIA 921C. Late 1940's "i" touches the "G" on "Modern" non cursive/script Gibson Logo. The LG-Series is 2 narrower than the J-Series. J-L. M. N-P. Q-Sch. banjos, not surprising since they bought out the Buckbee factory in 1898. In some cases, teachers would purchase these instruments and put their own names on them, but in many other cases they carry no identifying name at all. I wouldn't be surprised if a few exist with other brand names. which do not feature a paper label. Gibson introduced their first adjustable belly bridge 2 screws to raise and lower the bridge. Augustino & Thomas LoPrinzi Guitars usually have the date of manufacture on the label. The L-series is very difficult to properly identify and date as they were inconsistent in their appointments and the catalog descriptions do not always agree with the actual instruments produced. $ 5,719.00 $ 5,149.00. Presentation banjos often turned up at NAMMand other shows. The Southerner Jumbos were the most expensive flat-top guitars Gibson offered at the time. It was the heart of the depression and the instruments cost $60 without a case. Late 1960's Gibson Logo around 1969 with no dot over the "i". The new design was thinner and much easier to handle and play. Wiley Morris of the Morris Brothers Hillbilly Band and Charlie Monroe (Bill Monroes brother) took to the instrument for its potential in the roots of Bluegrass music. Some rectangular examples, black bridge pins (2 pearl dots on rectangle bridge), Headstock appointments: gold decal: Only a Gibson is Good Enough banner. 1921 early: 3/8 adjustment wheels, short base and aluminum compensated bridge top. serial number impressed to verso, 60 cm long gibson one-of-a-kind Christmas banjos! It might be a Fairbanks or Stewart, but there is no name anywhere on the instrument. 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. Occasionally the labels have fallen out or been removed during repairs making it a bit trickier to date the instruments. Ironically, after almost 40 years of making some of the worlds finest banjos, the Bacon and Day banjos were the first to carry David L. Days name. The soundhole binding does not extend the full depth of the soundhole. Some early necks were cherry before 1912. Identification. Yet somehow, there's a certain cool factor to this one. The final production versions had a double-braced red spruce top and rosewood back and sides with a sunburst finish. Factory numbers (when the exist) appear in pencil inside on the block where the neck meets the body. If the fretboard was bound, they generally added a stripe of black under the side binding. Where possible, these numbers are in agreement with existing sales receipts. 1946 onward: No feet the bottom of the bridge flush on the instrument top. Free or royalty-free photos and images. The designations were. Martin Guitars seemed to take note of the successful sales of the Gibson acoustic-electrics J-160E and CF-100Es. 1980 $1249 By late 1980, the Gibson deluxe tuners with Crank button, and Posi-Lok strap button were added. string peg perch is typically carved out from the side of the neck as shown Identify vintage banjo fleur de lis inlays on headstock & carved heel . (The 1st year of the J-45 actually had similar appointments but they were reduced and simplified for model clarity in 1943). >I see no collectors market for banjos like yours.<. . I'm leaning more in that direction. Even the group of inexperienced entreprenuers could see and understand the value of the Gibson name. Not many were sold and the production run was therefore limited to 2 years. Materials and methods of production were reviewed and revised. Gibson changed the name again in the 1950s to the SJ-200. middle-sized, chrome tuners. Google Play. Plectrum. Our 19th Year * Sign Up Now LoPrinzi Rosemont, New Jersey built by Augustino LoPrinzi (and apprentices) with Augustino on the headstocks. Prairie State instruments have the patented rod and/or tube reinforcing, occasionally found on other Larson built guitars. 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. Tuners, hardware and tailpieces were probably purchased from Lyon and Healy who had a factory just down the street from the Larson shop. There are some examples of two piece bodies used with the transparent or natural finishes. It also had a black veneered headstock (front and back) and a black inlay in the back of the neck. thin heel footprints as shown below in the second row of pictures: J. Mid to late 1944, the neck block revert back to mahogany, though poplar is occasionally used. Like everything else, we have seen exceptions to the listed dimensions; especially the nut widths. MK-81 models were rosewood back & sides, ebony fingerboard with figured abalone block inlays & gold plated hardware. I like it. 615-264-4959. Late 1930's Thicker Gibson Logo. As a consequence, the details were grand in scale and the bindings high in contrast to look good in black and white on the silver screen. Gibson discontinued the A-3 around 1922. S2R3H, identical to S2R, but with 3-piece back, full herringbone purflings, gold tuners. To most people all banjos look (and sound) the same. Jul 15, 2021 - A study of banjo head peg heads. However there were and are many different types, most of which can be found on this page. (Folk Jumbo Natural and Folk-25). 14" resonator on the banjo examined is probably non original (Korean). These were Gibsons first flat-top cutaways. Kluson tuners no longer had circle stamp (exposed gears riveted instead of screwed in place) and shaft size of 7/32 to save wartime metal. Introduced August 1942 and J-45s are still available today. Larrivee Serial Numbers (approximate). Q: What is the first step in determining the age of my banjo? CLR, Classic guitar with Indian rosewood back and sides, decorated binding, gold tuners. Dark stained plain birch back and sides. By the end in 1985-86, Gibson was basically down to the Les Paul model alone. The Gibson Southerner Jumbo was introduced in 1942 and discontinued in 1978. In some cases, teachers would This is the smallest model, chrome tuners. When he passed, my grandmother bought it for me from his brother who was attempting to liquify his collection. These appear to have a unique serial number scheme. World War II changed many aspects of the guitar world. The top and back are lightly arched, producing the deepest measurement in the center of the guitars body. 15 Mahogany top, back & sides no binding, 17 Mahogany top, back & sides bound top. Laminated maple back and sides is discontinued (FON batch 2828 used maple back and sides). Gretsch appears to have started a new numbering system at about that time. If you want to use any of this information: beautiful banjo. The top and back bindings were black plastic. A Style mandolins were symmetrical and shaped like a teardrop. The tuners were individual Kluson with amber buttons. Edited by - rfvelk on 12/26/2013 17:31:36, Blake507 - Posted-12/26/2013: 22:24:21. Scott Zimmerman may be able to shed some light on this. There is a steel tone ring on the maple rim, and the rim has a maple cap. G Edward Porgie - Posted - 06/16/2021: 14:40:30. Brown or black finish, some binding only on the top and in the soundhole with one ring around the soundhole. Weve seen some serial number lists that are as much as 8 years out-of-sync with this list. 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. 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 ones up until 1924 had either at best a ball bearing tone ring -- spring loaded ball bearings with springs to keep the skin heads tight. A-3s had refrigerator white tops with a black perfling line, adjustable truss rods and adjustable bridges. This is a "fit-all" banjo case. S3R3H, Like S3R, with 3-piece back, full herringbone binding, gold tuners. It was reintroduced in limited editions in 1991. It would have helped if the Larson brothers had sequential serial numbers but there is just enough contradictory evidence to prevent one from trusting numbers that appear to be sequential. They didnt sell well but did live up to their design intent of a heavier, booming tone with good overall balance. Some rectangular examples, Headstock appointments: Decal Only a Gibson is Good Enough banner. In 1923 it appears that Gibson began to assemble A-2s with left-over blonde tops from A-3s. The L-5S was the first high end jazz solid body guitar. Customers can choose from these shapes or provide an alternate. S3R, Size 3 guitar with East Indian rosewood back & sides, chrome tuners.