SkyRider Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 OP here. Can someone confirm the authenticity of this guitar??? I have never seen a Gibson with no serial on the back of the headstock. As you can see from pics below, there are serial on the label and neck block. I did some Google search for J-50 in early 2000 and all I have found had serial stamped on the head. Why would mine not have the stamped serial? Thank you very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyRider Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 If it's ink-stamped on the neck block, that's OK. This is one of Gibson's quirks, depending on the period the guitar is supposed to represent. In your case, the guitar would be representative of post-1954 up to mid-60's guitars. No stain on the mahogany, batwing pickguard, block logo, and 20-fret neck. In that period, there would have been an ink-stamped FON on the neck block, no label, and nothing stamped on the back of the headstock. Not quite sure when the double rosette ring came in, but either in the late 1950's or early 1960's on the J-45 and J-50. It's a lovely guitar, by the way. What's a FON number? Does it literally say "FON" followed by numbers? I ask because as you can see from photo does not have any "FON" . It only has numbers stamped on the neck block. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 It's authentic. As Nick said just trying to replicate the years it copies. It is an '02 copy of a '54-mid '60s J50. I will add a pic of mine later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 What's a FON number? Does it literally say "FON" followed by numbers? I ask because as you can see from photo does not have any "FON" . It only has numbers stamped on the neck block. Thanks Modern Gibsons like yours have a serial number rather than the old Factory Order Number system. The serial number is eight digits, where the first two represent the year (2000, in your case), the next three are the day of the year (with December 31 being 365 in non-leap years), and the last three digits being the daily production sequence number (where 001 would be the first guitar stamped that day). I have two modern Gibson acoustics which have the serial number ink-stamped on the neck block, and nothing on the back of the headstock, as would be typical of the production years the guitars represent. One is the L-00 Legend, which has only an ink-stamped neck block. The other is a 1943 SJ repro for Fuller's Guitar, which has an ink-stamped neck block and an orange label, exactly like yours. Your guitar appears to be completely genuine, and in beautiful condition. Enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Mine is also stamped on the neck block only. It sees a lot of play! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Modern Gibsons like yours have a serial number rather than the old Factory Order Number system. The serial number is eight digits, where the first two represent the year (2000, in your case), the next three are the day of the year (with December 31 being 365 in non-leap years), and the last three digits being the daily production sequence number (where 001 would be the first guitar stamped that day). I have two modern Gibson acoustics which have the serial number ink-stamped on the neck block, and nothing on the back of the headstock, as would be typical of the production years the guitars represent. One is the L-00 Legend, which has only an ink-stamped neck block. The other is a 1943 SJ repro for Fuller's Guitar, which has an ink-stamped neck block and an orange label, exactly like yours. Your guitar appears to be completely genuine, and in beautiful condition. Enjoy it. Maybe I'm missing something here , but is below not correct ? Bozeman numbering is YXXXYDDD where: Y = year XXX = day of year DDD = guitar stamped sequence for that day. Making this a 2002 , on the 014th day of the year .... Help 😐 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Why J-50 not talked about compared to J-45? I don't think there are as many, they certainly don't make very many anymore. But J-50 is the only acoustic that I ever talk about because that's all I have. :) The one on the left is a 1965 with the original adjustable rosewood bridge/saddle. Got it almost two years ago and it's the only one I play anymore, the others spend most of the time in their cases. The middle one is a 1974 J-50 Deluxe that I got when it was new, it was my first acoustic. And that's a 2008 J-50 Modern Classic on the right that I got about three years ago. As I said, the 1965 is by far my favorite - the skinny neck is just perfect for me. Lots of memories from the 1974, it's one of the few things that I still have from those years! The 2008 is nice enough, but I don't like the neck. It sounds like most of the other recent Gibsons to me, so the good thing is that it cured any GAS I had for a new Gibson, they just don't do much for me and I'm happy with what I've got. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Maybe I'm missing something here , but is below not correct ? Bozeman numbering is YXXXYDDD where: Y = year XXX = day of year DDD = guitar stamped sequence for that day. Making this a 2002 , on the 014th day of the year .... Help I understand that to be correct. FWIW on the guitar dater project they call the DDD the "Production Number". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Neanderthals! All the talk of J50s but not a mention of Lightnin' Hopkins? BluesKing777. Or Jorma! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I still own the missing link J-50. According to JT, the FON places it squarely in the batch of J-50s built in 1942. When it was, however, discovered that one of the book matched top pieces had been flip flopped, evidently somebody down the line decided to shoot a burst on it to cover up the mistake. So I guess that would make the guitar a J-47 1/2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Maybe I'm missing something here , but is below not correct ? Bozeman numbering is YXXXYDDD where: Y = year XXX = day of year DDD = guitar stamped sequence for that day. Making this a 2002 , on the 014th day of the year .... Help 😐 You're right. My mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Mine is also stamped on the neck block only. It sees a lot of play! A beauty, Alias. That pumpkin is ripening nicely. 'Must be as close to it's case as it often gets. Fine looking saddle set up, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Funny thing is, I got my first J-50 because it was the only acoustic that I could afford - not because it represented some kind of ideal to strive for. Think it cost about $350 which was a lot of money for me in 1974. And now we have come full circle with Gibson selling a limited edition for $3200 and a 1947 re-issue for $4000. Using the government's inflation calculator, $350 in 1974 is the equivalent of $1710 today. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 My 2002 J-45 Rosewood has the serial number stamped on the headstock. Interesting that the OP's 2002 J-50 has it stamped on the neckblock. Haven't previously seen that from the era around the early 2000s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 My 2002 J-45 Rosewood has the serial number stamped on the headstock. Interesting that the OP's 2002 J-50 has it stamped on the neckblock. Haven't previously seen that from the era around the early 2000s. It really depends on the model, but even then, don't look for absolute consistency. We're talking Gibson here. In someone's mind, there is a reason for it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Congrats on the J50 ..... love my J50TV and don't see any need for a J45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 ove my J50TV and don't see any need for a J45. What is a J-50 TV (assume that means "true vintage")? What year? Don't think I've ever seen one of those... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 What is a J-50 TV (assume that means "true vintage")? What year? Don't think I've ever seen one of those... TV is made to be similar to other TV ( ie. J45). Has Adirondack top, banner, white button tuners, bracing like AJ, hide glue, tortoise pick guard and gold script name plate. You've probably not seen one because, to the best of my knowledge, only three were made as a special order for Bailey Brothers in Birmingham. Since I spoke for the first before they were made, they even put my name on the oval as "made for J... D..." A fine punchy sound and a pleasure to play. 2012 just before they stopped doing "custom" orders. Thanks to Keith for this and my L00TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 TV is made to be similar to other TV ( ie. J45). Has Adirondack top, banner, white button tuners, bracing like AJ, hide glue, tortoise pick guard and gold script name plate. You've probably not seen one because, to the best of my knowledge, only three were made as a special order for Bailey Brothers in Birmingham. Since I spoke for the first before they were made, they even put my name on the oval as "made for J... D..." A fine punchy sound and a pleasure to play. 2012 just before they stopped doing "custom" orders. Thanks to Keith for this and my L00TV. Very cool! Pics?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 You've probably not seen one because, to the best of my knowledge, only three were made as a special order for Bailey Brothers in Birmingham. Well that explains it - nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 In the Gibson area of origin, back in the day, the J-50 was more favored by Gibson employees and their cohorts than was the J-45. The 50's were considered to have a better selection of top wood 'cause, unlike J-45 tops, there was no option of hiding stuff under the sunburst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrain77 Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 This is my 1950 Gibson J50. All original except for the recently installed Waverlys. Woody and warm. Far and away my favorite acoustic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 This is my 1950 Gibson J50. All original except for the recently installed Waverlys. Woody and warm. Far and away my favorite acoustic. Beautiful pure and honest guitar - welcome aboard. You should treat us an A/B with the 50 and the 45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayoubengal1954 Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 This is my 1950 Gibson J50. All original except for the recently installed Waverlys. Woody and warm. Far and away my favorite acoustic. Very cool! My '48 is my avatar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted December 4, 2016 Share Posted December 4, 2016 In the Gibson area of origin, back in the day, the J-50 was more favored by Gibson employees and their cohorts than was the J-45. The 50's were considered to have a better selection of top wood 'cause, unlike J-45 tops, there was no option of hiding stuff under the sunburst. Yes indeed, that was the name of the game for many years in Kalamazoo. Natural finish versions got the most attractive wood and were priced slightly higher than the same basic model in sunburst. So unfortunately for me, my preference is natural finishes & on at least one occasion, I've paid dearly for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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