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/fingerboard20 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