kylecantdrivein Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 My great grandfather was a vaudeville entertainer in North Carolina for many years, and through my grandfathers recent death I have come across his old acoustic guitar. Using a little bit of google my friend and I have guessed it to be from 1908-1930-ish? I found a serial number and it is -53397- OR just 3397, it is possible the five is rubbed off due to a drop off some liquid smudging it, however if that is a number it is undoubtedly the number 5. It is definitely handwritten in pencil or pen. I have taken several pictures and will be around to answer any questions. I apologize for the cell phone pictures. I was mostly just curious as to the history behind it. Specifics really. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I think the missing 5 in the serial number is probably an 8. With the 5 it puts the guitar around 1919, with an 8 it puts around 1926. It looks more like a 1926. I'm not sure what model, either an L1, L2, L3. They were basically the same guitar with different trim, different finish, but the same size and construction. What I find odd is the Gibson logo. I don't see the word, The. As in The Gibson, which is more typical of 1926. Is the logo painted on or pearl? Do you see any lettering where The would have been? I don't see a truss rod cover, that would be a triangle shaped piece of plastic on the face of the headstock below the logo. The metal tailpiece may be a later replacement. The case looks original. Very nice to own your Great Grandfathers guitar and to know it was played by a performer. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylecantdrivein Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Thank you for the info Terry! The word Gibson is just that, "Gibson" It is pearl. There doesn't appear to be anything suggesting "The" was once there. Upon closer inspection the 5 could possibly be an eight, just had to put the flashlight at the right angle. I am also confirming that there is no truss rod cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 The headstock logo is mid-30's. The "5" in question is most likely a "9", which would date it 1936. 53397 would be 1919, which it is not because it would have "The Gibson" on the headstock. 83397 would put in in 1926, but the logo is still wrong for that era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Yes, the small gibson pearl logo is mid 30s, that is why I inquired about the logo. It doesn't fit on a guitar that was long out of production by the mid 30s especially one built without a truss rod. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylecantdrivein Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 So what exactly does that mean? the headstock is a replacement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Yes' date=' the small gibson pearl logo is mid 30s, that is why I inquired about the logo. It doesn't fit on a guitar that was long out of production by the mid 30s especially one built without a truss rod. Terry [/quote'] Nobody has said exactly what model this guitar is. I am not an expert on flat-tops or student model guitars. If as TM says, that is is an L-1, 2, or 3, the headstock logo could be period correct. The L-1 was in production until 1937 The L-2 was in production until 1935 The L-3 was in production until 1933 These dates look "mid-30's" to me. There has not been a headstock replacement on this guitar, you do not do major repairs such as that to a guitar that sold new for $35-$50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 The L-1, L-2 was a guitar as pictured, arch top, 13.5 body 13 fret neck until they were replaced by flat top guitars. The L1 and L2 continued into the 30s but as flat tops. The L1 became a flat top around 1926, the L2 around 1930, the L3 looks to have remained in the size and configuration into the 30s but became an oval hole guitar. When I see one of these sized guitars without a truss rod I think c.1926. To me the key is the lack of a truss rod. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KilgoreTrout Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 If the logo is indeed pearl inlay, then I agree we're looking at 1933 at the earliest. However, Gibson introduced a silk-screened horizontal script logo on some lower end models as early as 1928. That is still after the L1 and L2 archtop models were discontinued. According to Gruhn's Guide, the L3 switched to an oval soundhole circa 1927, but back to a round soundhole in 1929. He also says the L3 had a bound fingerboard, and a raised fingerboard by 1932. Furthermore, the later model had three soundhole rings, with a checkered or diamond pattern on the middle one. There are so many variants that all of this has to be taken with a grain of salt, but based on this I'd lean towards a 1929ish L3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 So what exactly does that mean? the headstock is a replacement? Don't worry, I'm sure you guitar is all original. If you want to pay for an opinion go to Gruhn guitars online. They will require some photos and money for an appraisal. You can also do your own research. Just search for Gibson L-1. That will get you started. Gibson is a confusing company with model numbers used more than once for very different guitars. You will run across guitars such as yours. Good luck! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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