tatman Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 I've got what I believe to be a 1930's L 50 with a fon of 2427 and a hand written 33. I can't figure out the year. It has f holes and the Gibson is in script and is pearl. Any help would be appreciated. I've had it about 30yrs. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 It's probably a WWII era guitar. 1943-ish. Can you share a pic with us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Unless there is a "letter" between the stamped numbers and the handwritten numbers, that FON is of little use in dating the instrument. I have found no comprehensible list of FON's from the period of about 1925 to 1935. In 1935 they starting using the "letter code" system. Photos are also helpful, as the L-50 features were in transition through the mid 30's. Such things as body size and shape, tailpiece style, fingerboard markers and bridge type changed during this period. There were also at least three different script "Gibson" logos used from the mid-30's though about 1948, small straight, large straight, and large slanted. There was also an even different decal script used on budget model guitars. All these things must be taken into consideration to get an approximate year of manufacture. Post some detailed photos and we'll see if we can help you further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Unless there is a "letter" between the stamped numbers and the handwritten numbers' date=' that FON is of little use in dating the instrument. I have found no comprehensible list of FON's from the period of about 1925 to 1935. In 1935 they starting using the "letter code" system.[/quote'] Good points That 2400 number, though, falls nicely in the 1943 zone. You can see a number of 1943-ish flattops on my Banner Gibson registry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Tatman was kind enough to send me some pics of his very nice L-50. Thanks! As you'll see below, it is a wartime guitar, circa 1943. It has the lack of a truss rod indicative of that tiem period and the way cool, very thin, peened-gear Kluson tunefrs used only during that time. the FON also corresponds to approximately 1943, as indicated in my registry. Cool guitar. Thanks for sharing it with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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