wopoq Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 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-guitars.com/Gibson-Made_Brands.html I'm sure Paul will come along soon to help clarify this for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 More info here: http://www.paulvernonchester.com/GibsonFDH.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 WOW! Good bit of detective work Jim! I have never seen one either but looks like Gibson. Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Ive owned a few of these R.Ks.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 With the Gibson logo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wopoq Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 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-guitars.com/Gibson-Made_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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Here's a sales flyer from 1937 showing the FDH Special - "The Guitar That Gives You Everything" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 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.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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