Alan_R Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Hi all, I got a beat up old L5 from my grandfather. I tried to ID it but I just couldn't figure it out. No labels other than the "Gibson" brand on the headstock. The only thing that even comes close to a serial number is inside the "f" cutout there's a stamped number "122A" then "-40" in red color pencil. Any thoughts? My granfather said it was a gift from around the 30-40's but he was 99 years old so I'm not putting too much stock on that date. Any help is appriciated! Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 It's not an L-5. An L-50 maybe. Big difference. The number you found inside is called the Factory Order Number. Maybe someone can chime in with more info about the FON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Hi all, I got a beat up old L5 from my grandfather. I tried to ID it but I just couldn't figure it out. No labels other than the "Gibson" brand on the headstock. The only thing that even comes close to a serial number is inside the "f" cutout there's a stamped number "122A" then "-40" in red color pencil. Any thoughts? My granfather said it was a gift from around the 30-40's but he was 99 years old so I'm not putting too much stock on that date. Any help is appriciated! Alan I'm no expert, but I love a challenge... From http://home.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html#serial, I found this: Gibson Factory Order Numbers with a Letter, 1935 to 1941. Many instruments from 1935 to 1941 have a letter designating the year within the Factory Order Number (FON). The FON consists of a batch number, usually 4 digits. Then there is a letter (and sometimes a space), followed by a 1 or 2 digit sequence (ranking) number. 1935-1937: Letter is between the batch number and the sequence number. Code is ink stamped on the inside back. <P style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr>And there's this: Gibson Factory Order Numbers, 1942 to 1951. Serial numbers are seldon found on instruments made during WW2. But most (not all) have Factory Order Numbers (FON). These contain a four digit batch number stamped in ink, followed by a two digit sequence number written in red pencil (during WW2 only). After the war, the red pencil wasn't used (and on instruments made during the war, sometimes it's really hard to see the red penciled sequence number). Usually there is no more than 46 instruments (sequence numbers) per batch. Also no batch number with a "1" as the first digit was used during WW2. The FON is usually located on the neck block. The war-time list that follows is not definative but includes FONs that I have seen. *** 1945 1xx to 10xx, but many with no FON. The red pencil suggests war-era (1945?), but my betting money is on the 1935-1937 era. Can't wait to hear what our resident experts have to say. Your guitar looks like a lovely piece...I hope you get to hear it sing soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 what's the body width on your box? that would tell us something. The fancier models were 17" across & had fingerboard inlays, so we know its not one of those. 14.75 would be like an L37 or L50(as noted). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 The "factory order number" listed would indicate a manufacture date of 1935 by the letter code "A". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 1935 sounds right, as looking at the pic it appears to have bracing on the inside of the back. I know early L-50s had flat backs (and therefore cross braces) but I'm unsure of the exact time frame. I figured they went to a 16" f-hole in 1935 or so, so it all fits. Enigma-less Friday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Enigma-less Friday! What? No way! Wait..... oh.... " enigma"....... sorry, thought you said "Enema-less Friday!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Well, that too. I only concentrate on the MALfunctioning items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 what's the body width on your box? that would tell us something. The fancier models were 17" across & had fingerboard inlays, so we know its not one of those. 14.75 would be like an L37 or L50(as noted). Hi Everyone, thanks for all the help- I at least know it's not an L5 model now. the body is 20" long by 16" wide the fret board is 17 1/4" is the L37 or L50? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 ALso, if it helps, the brand "Gibson" is not at an angle, but rather sitting parallel on top of the tuner posts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 The best I can determine is that it is an L-50. The L-37 of that era would have had the smaller 15" x 19" body. '35/'36 was also a transition period for the L-50 as it was changed from a 16 1/2" x 19" slope shouldered model to the 16" x 20" "Grand Auditorium" style. At some point in this transition the tailpiece crossbar also got the raised diamond. What you seem to have is a VERY early "advanced" model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 The best I can determine is that it is an L-50. The L-37 of that era would have had the smaller 15" x 19" body. '35/'36 was also a transition period for the L-50 as it was changed from a 16 1/2" x 19" slope shouldered model to the 16" x 20" "Grand Auditorium" style. At some point in this transition the tailpiece crossbar also got the raised diamond. What you seem to have is a VERY early "advanced" model. Good dig, Larry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Whatever she is....Looks old and tired, but not dead yet....Hopefully! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 The best I can determine is that it is an L-50. The L-37 of that era would have had the smaller 15" x 19" body. '35/'36 was also a transition period for the L-50 as it was changed from a 16 1/2" x 19" slope shouldered model to the 16" x 20" "Grand Auditorium" style. At some point in this transition the tailpiece crossbar also got the raised diamond. What you seem to have is a VERY early "advanced" model. This is great stuff, thanks alot larry. This is my first venture into gibson and vintage guitars. Not that I'm thinking of selling it, but I'm thinking about sending it to nashville to see what it would run me to get it restored... Since you guys know more about this stuff, I'm wondering what you guys think about how much I should realistically spend to try to fix it? it's got three cracks, but maybe the most critical thing is that the mid joint running down the back of the guitar has come unglued. I've read that that could be a death blow...a guitar shop offered my grandfather $700 as is about two years ago... thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Considering the work it needs, $700 two years ago was a very fair offer. The value of these guitars topped out a few years ago, before the big recession hit, at around $1000-$1200. They generally sell in the $700-$900 range in playable "original" (non-repaired) condition. A "repaired" instrument is also devalued by as much as 50%, so my semi-expert opinion is that after repair this guitar would probably sell in $500-$700 range, and at that price would probably NOT support the investment in the repairs. If you plan to keep it and play it then reasonable repair costs could be justified. Cost wise you would be MUCH better off having it repaired locally, check with your local "Mom & Pop" music stores for a recommendation. Also remember that repairs of this nature are right up the alley of someone who does violin, cello, or other stringed orchestra instrument repairs, so a store that does band instrument rentals to school kids is also a source for a repairman recommendation. One of our members here "ksdaddy" is very knowledgeable about guitar restoration and maybe he'll chime in (or shoot him a PM). The L-50 was a "student model" budget guitar, that originally sold for.......$50, hence the name "L-50". Gibson built and sold hundreds, if not thousands, of these guitars, and many of them are still around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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