1929
The shipping dates listed below relate to the instrument’s serial number and are based on information provided in Spann’s Guide To Gibson by Joseph E. Spann
Note that the serial number indicates the date at which the instrument was shipped rather than its date of manufacture
All examples have maple back and sides unless otherwise indicated
If an instrument appears in one of our picture galleries this is noted beneath the serial number
Serial Number: 84259
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9251
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 84471
Year shipped: 1929
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo, truss rod cover engraved ‘William Hengold’
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and banjo style pearl inlays. ‘Billy’ engraved on pearl block at end of fingerboard
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard.
Notes: The tailpiece has been replaced.
Source: Gryphon Music
Serial Number: 84540
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9291
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo, pearl truss rod cover engraved with the name ‘Ray Baker’
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the fifth fret with double dots at the 12th and 17th frets
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Source: George Gruhn (guitars.com)
Serial Number: 84677
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9306
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end and dot inlays from the fifth fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard and ebony bridge
Notes: This guitar belonged to cartoonist Robert Armstrong.
Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions (www.guernseys.com)
Serial number: 84679
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9306
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the fifth fret with double dots at the 12th and 17th frets
Body: Maple back and sides. Has the Master Model lable
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece. Short bound pickguard
Notes: The truss rod cavity has been enlarged – presumably to allow the use of a larger wrench. There are a number of cracks in the binding, a six-inch length of which may have been replaced. The bridge is a reproduction from Cumberland Music fitted by Mark Tossman and the tuners and truss rod cover have been replaced. At some point the neck may have been reset and the fingerboard re-fretted. The pickguard shows a small area of discolouration (see pictures below). Has original hardshell case
Source: Jet City Guitars
Serial Number: 85104
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9352
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with square end, dot inlays from the third fret
Body: Maple back and sides. Has Master Model label
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including individual Grover 98G, ‘Sta-tite’ tuners. Short bound pickguard cut to accommodate pickups
Notes: At some point three pickups and seven controls were installed. The guitar has undergone various other modifications including a strap hook attached to the back of the headstock.
Source: AJs Music and Vintage Guitars
The owner of this guitar (2021) has since removed the electronics and plugged the holes.
Serial Number: 85107
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9352 (possibly 9852)
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the fifth fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including wrap-over tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard.
Notes: Has Master Model label
Source: Gryphon Stringed Instruments (gryphonstrings.com)
Serial Number: 85205
Year shipped: 1929
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the fifth fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated wrap-over tailpiece, reproduction tuners (originals in the case) and reproduction pickguard. Ebony bridge
Notes: Has Master Model label and original hardshell case
Source: Laurence Wexer Ltd. (wexerguitars.com)
Serial Number: 85243
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9418
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: New fingerboard by luthier Jim Weaver
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Non-original
Notes: The f-holes have been enlarged and bound
Source: Kennard Machol and Michael S. Horowitz
Serial Number: 85254
Year shipped: 1929
FON: 9418
(See Type Two Gallery)
Neck: Fingerboard and headstock: see Notes below
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Non-original trapeze tailpiece, DeArmond pickup and short pickguard
Notes: This guitar belonged to Alvino Rey, who sent it back to Gibson in the mid 1930s to have a new neck with a two-inch wide nut fitted. The tuners were replaced in the 1950s with gold-plated Klusons. The internal braces have been replaced and various cracks repaired
Source: Lynn Wheelwright
Serial Number: 85259
Year shipped: 1929
FON:
Notes: ‘Master Model’ label
Source: www.mandolinarchive.com
Serial Number: 85296
Year shipped: 1929
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the fifth fret
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard
Source: Dan Biemborn
Serial Number: 85298
Year shipped: 1929
FON:
(See Type Two Gallery)
Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo
Neck/fingerboard: 20 fret fingerboard with pointed end, dot inlays from the fifth fret with double dots at the 12th and 17th frets
Body: Maple back and sides
Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners. Short bound pickguard. Replacement tailpiece made by Mirabella Guitars
Notes: This guitar belongs to Marty Grosz
Source: Marty Grosz