Old serial number on a Bard 12

[JohnHorton]

Hey all. I have an older (Mid-70s) Bard 12 acoustic that I've been trying to learn about. My mother had it in a folk band she was in during college. It has the serial number (on a sticker): 1146838, and no other markings other than the blue model sticker inside the body. It also says "Made in Japan". I've tried looking around, but the serial number doesn't conform to any standard I've read. Any ideas?

[TommyK]

Hey all. I have an older (Mid-70s) Bard 12 acoustic that I've been trying to learn about. My mother had it in a folk band she was in during college. It has the serial number (on a sticker): 1146838' date=' and no other markings other than the blue model sticker inside the body. It also says "Made in Japan". I've tried looking around, but the serial number doesn't conform to any standard I've read. Any ideas?[/quote']

 

"Blue"? Is this a Gibby or an Epi?

[milod]

http://www.guitar-list.com/epiphone/acoustic-guitars/epiphone-ft-112-bard

 

That it?

 

m

[JohnHorton]

That's it! I didn't know it was that old. Now I have even more reason to take good care of it.

[stevef]

I don't know where you've looked but....

Here's a link to a "1970s" Bard - FT-165 http://www.greatguitars.com.au/Epiphone.Bard.12string.htm

Here's someone on the Epi forums trying to get the same info!

http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=10425

 

And a good site for info http://home.provide.net/~cfh/epiphone.html

Shows 2 models from the 70s

160 FT 12 string Mahogany Flattop

165 FT 12 string Rosewood Flattop

 

Also, there's a link somewhere around for a "guitar dater" tool (check Epi forum or the Acoustic section here).

Happy Hunting!

[TommyK]

That's it! I didn't know it was that old. Now I have even more reason to take good care of it.

 

Look at the back of the FT165 in the following:

http://www.greatguitars.com.au/Epiphone.Bard.12string.htm

Note the cover plate at the neck end of the body. If yours has one of these it is an FT165 made in Japan. The plate covered to counter bored screw holes which holds the neck on. If it has a blue label it was made between 1972 and 1977. In 1977 Epiphone Corporate operations moved to Lincolnwood' date=' IL. This is about when the larger, tan labels appeared.

 

 

If this is a Norlin era FT with a blue label, the serial number means next to nothing. The serial numbers were anything but serial.

 

 

Here is what a cat over on the Epiphone board who goes by the name Larens says about the evolution of the Norlin era Epiphones: I've added a little commentary about what I know.... or what I THINK I know.

 

1957- Chicago Musical Instrument (CMI) purchases Epiphone (announced May 10, 1957). It had previously acquired Gibson in the spring of 1944.

 

December 19, 1969- ECL Industries Inc. ( "Ecuadorian Company Limited"-incorporated in Delaware and a U.S. subsidiary of a Panamanian corporation of the same name)officially takes over CMI. Norlin is an amalgamation of the first syllable of ECL's chairman's first name, Norton Stevens and the last syllable of CMI's president M.H. Berlin's last name.

 

1970- ECL's U.S. operation becomes "Norlin Industries Inc." and the Panamanian corporation becomes "Norlin Corporation". CMI remains a subsidiary of the U.S. operation.

 

August 1970- Epiphone production in Kalamazoo is halted. Domestic Epiphone guitars are still shipped into early 1971.

 

1971- Beginning in the spring of 1971, Norlin imports Matsumoku/Aria-made models from Japan which have been re-branded as Epiphones. These models use the familiar blue "Kalamazoo"-type Epiphone interior labels and early models make use of actual left-over Kalamazoo labels bearing the "Union Made" designation. The first year (1971) the model nomenclature was carried-over from the Aria models. In 1972 new model designations using the alpha prefixes "FT", "EA" and "ET" were used on these imported Epiphones.

 

1972- A merger of Norlin Industries Inc. and CMI operations creates "Norlin Music Inc." A few years later the name was again changed back to "Norlin Industries Inc.

 

I have read some internet sites which indicate Norlin had purchased one or several US band instrument manufacturers like OLDS and CONN. This might be when "Norlin Music, Inc." came about... .this is a hypothesis.

 

 

1975- Matsumoku begins production of a Japan-exclusive line of higher-end Epiphones. These at first are sold only in Japan but by 1979 the arch top line is distributed world-wide.

 

1975- Norlin opens the Nashville operation producing the higher volume instruments such as the Les Paul models while the Kalamazoo operation' date=' now antiquated, continues making the lower volume models. By 1977 the corporate center of Gibson's universe was Nashville. Epiphone corporate operations are moved to Lincolnwood, Illinois. [b']At about this point Epiphone began using the "Norlin" square label replacing the blue K-Zoo-type label. The higher-end line of Matsumoku-made Epiphone labels continue to reference "Epiphone/Kalamazoo"[/b]

 

Not sure if "at about this point" means 1975 or 1977. Notice that even though Epis are not being made in K'zoo, the name of the city still persists on the label. But... the label doesn't say "Made In Kalamazoo".

 

June 1979- Norlin merges Gibson Inc. into Norlin Industries Inc. and Gibson ceases to exist as a manufacturing operation becoming only a brand name as Epiphone had previously become.

 

1979/1980- The "FT" acoustic line is replaced by the "PR" Presentation line of acoustics. The "PR" series continues production in Korea after production is moved there in 1983.

 

July 1983- he decision to close the Kalamazoo factory is made and a year later in September' date='1984 operations ceased in Kalamazoo. For the last year of operation the Kalamazoo factory diversified into making things like clock cases, water bed frames and conversion van parts to keep the employees working.

 

1983- Most Epiphone guitar production is moved to Korea and contracted out to Samick. Matsumoku continues to make the higher-end line of Epiphone instruments in Japan. Some Epiphone instruments at this point in time are also made in Taiwan and Indonesia

 

January 15,1986- "Gibson Guitar Corp." is created when Henry Juszkiwwicz, David Berryman and Gary Zebrowski purchases Norlin's fretted instrument division. GGC later becomes Gibson Musical Instruments (GMI).

 

1985/1986- While Henry J and company were negotiating for the Gibson name, three former Gibson employees, Jim Deurloo, Marvin Lamb and J.P. Moats were working their own deal to take over the former Gibson factory at 225 Parsons Street in K-Zoo and begin making "Heritage" guitars.

 

June, 1989- Gibson opens up their Bozeman, Montana acoustic operation Gibson having previously used the Nashville factory whose climate was determined to be unsuited for acoustic production.

 

 

Hopes that clears some things up regarding dates and such. For more fascinating information check out " Gibson Guitars: 100 Of An American Icon" by Walter Carter.

....

 

Larens[/quote']

 

 

The Blue label and tan label FT's were essentially the same, except for cosmetics and the early blue label FTs suffered from a weak neck block which were fixed, mostly, under warranty. By the time the tan labels came about, the neck block issue was mostly remedied.