Here is My Old Gibson Guitar
It’s not for lack of trying, I just continue to get confusing information on the “vintage” of my small-body Gibson guitar.
Here’s what I know:
Pre-WWII silkscreen logo on the peghead
14 (or a little smaller) in width at the lower bout.
12 frets to the body.
“smaller” sunburst
Amber-like tortis-looking pickguard.
White tuning knobs.
White string pegs.
Bound top and bottom.
Spruce top and mahogany sides and back.
Fret markers at 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 15th.
Four-digit number on the neck block, block lettering in blue ink – 9511
Four digit number on the underside of the top (north of the soundhole) preceded by a hyphen and a letter (handwritten in pencil). The letter appears to be in script and appears as a “Q” even though it looks closer to the number 2 followed by 3127. So, it would be Q-3127 (if it is a “Q”). The reason that I don’t think it to be the number 2 is because there is a 2 in the number and it is written completely different.
I’ve looked at some web-page information and have always felt it was an L-0, L-00 or an L-1. I guess with the binding, maybe more likely to be an L-1. From all appearances I’ve always considered it a thirty’s guitar. Where I get confused is trying to figure it out in light of the information shown at this web page:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson.html#serial
******* UPDATE*******
Here is what George Gruhn had to say:
From: "George Gruhn"
This guitar is a real oddball which does not match up to any standard catalog specs. It looks like a late 1920s style L-1 structurally, but the logo on the peghead, finish, and pickguard appear to be from the 30s. Since Gibson had a repair shop and did many restorations, my guess is that it is a late 20s L-1 which was sent back for warranty or other repair in the 30s at which time Gibson refinished it.
I’m pleased to have been able to help you, but keep in mind that the theory I have presented is my best guess. It clearly looks like an old L-1 brought up to 30s specs so my theory makes sense, but the Gibson company occasionally did things which defy logic.
George Gruhn
********UPDATE-2*********
Here's what BigJoe Vest has to say (Gibson Guy)
Without seeing the guitar first hand everything we have to say is totally speculation. I propose the guitar is a later 30's due to the color, the headstock logo, the pickguard material, and the fingerboard. This may well have been a guitar that was laying around the factory for some time and they finally put it together or it was a special order. It is an oddity because none of it really fits any one time period. In mandolins such a thing would not be unusual. They had parts from the early 20's that appear on mandolins a decade later. That is just my guess.
Gibson, and most other companies of the day, did repairs from a different standpoint than we do now. They did not know they were building vintage instruments. When they got one for repair they thought they were doing the consumer a favor by making it look new and current, and most consumers appreciated that. Now we know better and would not consider doing such a thing. Now we always look to keep a vintage instrument as original as possible and still make it playable. No alterations are done without discussing this with the consumer before any such work is done. Many consumers want their old guitars refinished and we carefully explain to them why that is not a good idea. They are nearly always greatful.
Cool guitar Fatt-dadd!!! [sic]
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Some additional measurements:
From nut to top of peghead – 6-¾ in
Width of peghead (top) – 2-7/8 in
Width of peghead (below lower tuning pegs) – 2-3/8 in
Scale length – 24-5/16ths (about)
fatt-dad@comcast.net
