I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here!

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I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - brettyboy - 04-11-2011

Today my uncle gave me a Gibson acoustic he said was from 1937, however I know that not to be the case because it has the new block style design which is post WWII. I am trying to date this guy, and also find out what model it is? I am thinking it is a J-45 or maybe an LG- model? I'm not sure? What is your guys take on it? The s/n on it is in a 5G(insert two numbers) 36 format and also has a FON on the neck block, I can't seem to find when it was made? I do know it is a sweet guitar.

[Image: SAM_0958.jpg]

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - ReellyScary - 04-11-2011

The only info I came up with was 1941

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - brettyboy - 04-11-2011

awesome that helps, how did you get that info?

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - brettyboy - 04-11-2011

So I actually now believe it is a J-50. I am still trying to find out the year for sure.

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - clownnation - 04-11-2011

(04-11-2011, 01:41 PM)brettyboy link Wrote: So I actually now believe it is a J-50. I am still trying to find out the year for sure.

Gibson's F O N System
In addition to the above serial number information, Gibson also used Factory Order Numbers (F O N) to
track batches of instruments being produced at the time. In the earlier years at Gibson, guitars were
normally built in batches of 40 instruments. Gibson's Factory Order Numbers were an internal coding that
followed the group of instruments through the factory. Thus, the older Gibson guitars may have a serial
number and a F O N. The F O N may indicate the year, batch number, and the ranking (order of production
within the batch of 40).

F O Ns for the years 1935-1941 usually consisted of the batch number, a letter for the year and the
instrument number.

Code Letter and Year
A 1935
B 1936
C 1937
D 1938
E 1939
F 1940
G 1941

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - clownnation - 04-11-2011

Here is a PDF of the basic history of Gibson Acoustic serial numbers

http://www.gibson.com/Files/downloads/bluebook/GibsonAcoustics.pdf

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - SUCKFACE - 04-11-2011

you lucky sod Smile

that has to be worth a sweet sounding amount of cash especially as it looks to be in pretty bloddy good condition given the age

awsome uncle you have, what other fortunes does he has stashed away ?lol Smile

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - brettyboy - 04-11-2011

lol actually I called Gibson and they said my serial number is 56xx36 and that the alphanumeric character wouldn't be in there. They told me to email them pictures of it front and back and the headstock. I'm waiting to hear back from them. Oh he has another sweet old Gibson that was my great grandpa's. It is a ES-150 (gibson's first acoustic electric) and he has a nice Fender showman all tube full stack as well. I'll have to add the picture of that stuff on here tonight when I get home.

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - goaliehack - 04-11-2011

(04-11-2011, 01:41 PM)brettyboy link Wrote: So I actually now believe it is a J-50. I am still trying to find out the year for sure.

What you have is a J-50, which didn't begin production until 1947. Your particular guitar has 19 frets, which puts it before 1955, a wide slotted fixed saddle which puts it before '53, but a large reverse bridge which started in 1950. So the guitar is somewhere between 1950-1952. Those turners are non-original, but besides that it looks to be in pretty good shape for it's age.

By the way, Gibson is notorious for horrible serial number coding on vintage instruments.

I Need Some Help From The Guitar Players Here! - puckface - 04-11-2011

I feel like we are on an episode of pawn stars.