[wopoq]

Hi Gibson Forum,
My friend has asked me to identify a guitar he has lying around, here are some pictures.


I ask on your kindness and knowledge to help and identify this guitar. I've asked my friend to look for a FON on the outside, and inside the f-holes but he says he can't see any. I've done some google searching and the closest match is an L-50, but has motable differences (pickguard, fret inlays, logo font etc.) so it can't be that, but it's obviously an L series. Thanks to any repliers, my friend, Andy Jones, would really appreciate this.

[JimR56]

Not sure what to make of the unusual "Gibson" head inlay, but the guitar appears to be a "Recording King" model M5, which was made by Gibson but marketed by Montgomery Ward. A web search should provide you plenty of details.

Another possibility is a Gibson-made instrument distributed in the UK by Francis Day & Hunter (the "FDH" model).

One of our members, Paul Fox, has a webpage devoted to the subject: http://www.fox-guita...ade_Brands.html

I'm sure Paul will come along soon to help clarify this for you.

[JimR56]

More info here: http://www.paulverno...m/GibsonFDH.htm

[JimR56]

I've never seen one of these in person, but this FDH looks like the same guitar. Good photo, but I can't quite make out what is inlaid on the headstock. I never thought that these guitars that Gibson made for other companies ever had "Gibson" inlaid on the head, but I learn something every day around here.

[retrorod]

WOW! Good bit of detective work Jim! I have never seen one either but looks like Gibson. Cool!

[slimt]

Ive owned a few of these R.Ks..

[retrorod]

With the Gibson logo?

[wopoq]

Nice detective work indeed! I can't argue with the photo match, neck and body wise it's a perfect match. My friend will be really happy with this, thanks.

[pfox14]

JimR56, on 14 April 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

Not sure what to make of the unusual "Gibson" head inlay, but the guitar appears to be a "Recording King" model M5, which was made by Gibson but marketed by Montgomery Ward. A web search should provide you plenty of details.

Another possibility is a Gibson-made instrument distributed in the UK by Francis Day & Hunter (the "FDH" model).

One of our members, Paul Fox, has a webpage devoted to the subject: http://www.fox-guita...ade_Brands.html

I'm sure Paul will come along soon to help clarify this for you.

Way to go Jim. It is a FDH Special. This was the only Gibson-made brand to carry the Gibson name on the peghead. As Jim mentioned, it was made for a large UK-based Gibson dealer called Francis, Day & Hunter between 1937-1940. There were only 123 of these made, so it is a fairly rare guitar. Steve Howe of Yes plays one. Any possibilities of sending me some higher quality pix? Email: info@fox-guitars.com Thanks

[pfox14]

Here's a sales flyer from 1937 showing the FDH Special - "The Guitar That Gives You Everything"

[JimR56]

pfox14, on 15 April 2012 - 05:38 AM, said:

There were only 123 of these made, so it is a fairly rare guitar.

Wow, I'd say that's pretty rare indeed, especially since many of them may not have survived the past 70 years.

Great looking guitars, by the way.

[slimt]

retrorod, on 14 April 2012 - 07:21 PM, said:

With the Gibson logo?

No.. Just the Recording King logo. Model 5 and 6s... kinda wierd seeing a Gibson Logo.. there actually a decent guitar..