Gibson CF-100 Anyone?

[Stoopalini]

Another interesting guitar I came across in the collection. I think the owner wants to keep this one, and it's obviously been a real players guitar over the years. I think the back of the neck is the coolest part! :)

 

I think this is a 1950 - 1959 CF-100 due to a hand written piece of paper which was in the case cavity; although I'm not sure. My "Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars" book hasn't arrived yet, so I don't have a resource to look it up :(

 

There's no serial number on it, but there is a stamped code of "4681 27"on the heel of the neck (see pic). I think 4681 is probably the FON, and 27 the sequence number, does that sound right?

 

Anyone know how to decode this to determine year of production?

 

This guitar certainly has quite a story to tell! The tuners have been replaced with Grovers, It's split down the side, but not all the way through and there's 2 metal plates rivited to the body (probably to cover up holes left from electronics which were installed at one point in time). It sounds really good though. I can't believe the warm, full body, sound which comes out of this little guitar!

 

There's a rumor that Keith Richards wanted to buy it from the owner back in the 70's, but I dunno ... I tend not to believe everything I hear LOL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crack:

 

Metal Plates:

 

[TM]

You are correct the 4681 is the FON. Was first year for these CF 100 51? it probably is a 1951. In 1952 Fons went to the revese alphabet system. The bridge is a replacement. Never owned one or played one, but always thought they were cool guitars. Blues, rag time player Leon Redbone played one for years.

[Stoopalini]

Thanks TM. I actually think it's a 1950, based on what I read here.

 

I think these started production in 1950 based on 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. Unfortunately I don't have every range of FON's during this period.

 

Year Factory Order Number

---- --------------------

1941 G (letter code sometimes seen after FON, i.e. 2586G).

1942 907, 910, 923, 2004, 2005, 7000ish (i.e. 7119) - all 'Banner' logo.

1942 H (letter code sometimes seen after FON, i.e. 7116H). Range 5xxxH to 8xxxH

1943 Range generally 9xx to 22xx, depending on the model.

1944 Range generally 22xx to 29XX, depending on the model, some with no FON.

1945 1xx to 10xx, but many with no FON.

1946 n/a ('Banner' logo no longer used, now script logo with no banner).

1947 700s to 1000s

1948 1100s to 3700s ('Script' logo no longer used, block logo used.)

1949 2000s

1950 3000s to 5000s

1951 6000s to 9000s

[retrorod]

HMmmmmmm! I NEED that case....

[Slim Chance]

Right, think of all the guitars that Keith Richards was "going to buy but didn't" over the years ...

 

Have always had a weakness for CF-100 models, I have a late (probably) 1950 model with FON 574x-32.

 

With that FON 4687-27 the CF-100 in your pix is an early 1950 model ... not the earliest as those featured the decal logo and no crown on the headstock (only about 300 of them sent out).