J45dale Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 This was my late ex-mother in laws guitar. It has the banner type, script Gibson headstock logo. vs the block type of the 48 models.Scalloped top braces, tall thin back braces,solid Mahogany neck vs.a pieced together neck,A firestripe pickguard, I remember when it had a highly checked sunburst top, but in the early 70's my late father in law had the top refinished like a J50 " natural". The tuners are open, but not factory, needs new nut at least one back brace cracked,4 back cracks that need repair,a add on jack hole on the lower side bout...in other words,not an mint collectors item, but one of the best feeling and sounding guitars I have ever played. On the neck block I can faintly see I think 5 numbers,could be 6,the first two I think are 35?? And of course any label is gone. She purchased it after the war used. It now belongs to her son, who will never sell, but wonders about its worth. He will soon make needed repairs as he is quite a picker himself. With no banner, but a script logo it must be a 46? But could it be a 47?, As I read the block logo started in 48. Are there any visual differences? I feel it is well worth at least any repair costs. Thanks, Dale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I thought banner headstocks were only on '43's and '44's???...Those in the know will be able to help you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 '46 would seem to be more likely than '47 with a script logo and no banner, but perhaps some of these headstocks lasted until 1947. There are no real 'hard and fast' rules for that period, or other periods, come to think of it, at Gibson. Lots of exceptions to rules. Which is why I say: "Gibson -- always exceptional!" Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 It has the banner type, script Gibson headstock logo. With no banner, but a script logo it must be a 46? On the neck block I can faintly see I think 5 numbers,could be 6,the first two I think are 35?? OK, we've got a little contradiction, and "could be" information furnished here. Hard factual information is needed, and in most cases photos always help. Does it have the banner logo or not? Which script logo does it have? What is the serial number? 5 digits, 6 digits, all numbers, combination of numbers and letters, spaces between numbers/letters, no spaces? You're going to have to spend a little more time and effort on your end to furnish us with enough information to answer your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 On the neck block I can faintly see I think 5 numbers,could be 6,the first two I think are 35?? And of course any label is gone. ... With no banner, but a script logo it must be a 46? But could it be a 47? It's going to be hard to do much without that FON from the neck block. '46 or '47 would be the standard dating for a J-45 with the same script logo as the banners but no banner. However, an FON that starts out "35" would suggest '48, and fairly far along in '48 at that. Try bright illumination from various angles to see whether that helps. Some people have had luck enhancing photos of hard-to-read FONs using Photoshop. [He] wonders about its worth The cracks, jack hole, and even the replaced tuners, are not a huge deal, but the refin is a huge deal -- it reduces the value by around 50%. I'd probably say something like $3000 for insurance purposes, but how much he could actually get selling it depends a lot on how nice the refin is and how well the repairs are done. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J45dale Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 I am back, and thanks for the responses. Sorry about the confusion. The headstock does not have a banner, but does have the cursive or banner style Gibson logo. In other words a large G. So it would be a 46 or 47??, as I understand by 48 all headstocks had the modern style small g or block letters. The owner looked inside again, and says the neck block has the following numbers in black 32250, then a space, and in red the number 27. I don't know if that is a serial # or a fon #. Thanks again for your help. Dale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Photos please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 The owner looked inside again, and says the neck block has the following numbers in black 32250, then a space, and in red the number 27. This doesn't appear to be consistent with any known Gibson numbering scheme. It looks like an FON, with a batch number stamped in black and the number of the specific guitar in the batch (27) in red pencil. But I don't think 5 digit batch numbers were used at any time close to the right era. Anyway, you can check for yourself here. Good luck! -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 The post war guitars with the script only logo are typically called 1946 and usually don't have any FON (that is the number on the neck block. The script only guitars should have a rectangle bridge, not the upper belly bridge which came around 1950. As stated above the FON in this era are four digits. With the refinish it may be that the bridge was changed. terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Photos please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J45dale Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks for the replies, The bridge is a Rosewood rectangle. The #s on the neck block are too many, and should not be there, but there they are. I only saw this guitar once Sunday night,after at least 14 years away, and I have no way to get any pictures. As I said, this was a former wife's, mothers and dads guitar,and I am not exactly around that often. But it is either a very fine 46 or 47 model J45, only in need of a few repairs to be a good players guitar. The same former brother in-law has his late dads 1966 Gibson ES-335 thinbody, Sunburst Electric,which is in great condition. His Dad was quite a guitar player, who taught me a lot, and is still greatly missed, now for over 37 years. we all played together a lot back in those days, and to own even one Gibson was a dream, as most folks played Kays, and Yahamas. He is a very good player who will keep these units in the family and hand down to his son, who plays, when the time comes. I have given all of my guitars, on paper, to my son who plays. This includes my Grandfathers Depression Era resonator, and my Dads late 40s LG-2. Its a family joke, we never sell anything, and only have "hand-me-downs". Thanks for the help, Dale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J45dale Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 Well folks the riddle of this old Gibson was finally solved. By getting the owner on the phone with the guitar in his hands, and going to the vintage guitar web site. We decided the fire stripped pick guard was not shaped like a J45. The old style logo was white but had aged to a yellow color, as well as had the back binding. The faded black stamped Fon # on the neck block, when brightly lit, did not end with a 0 but G, then was followed by a penciled in Red # 27. So 3225G 27. This is a match to a pre war, 1941, Jumbo 35 Flat Top, or J35. All other info matches, braceing, rosette rings, bridge shape ect. To think that even its first owners thought it was a J45. Whatever, its one great feeling and sounding guitar. Thanks again, Dale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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