1934

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: 90140

Shipped: 1934

FON: 696 (possibly 969)

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide pearloid block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: The tailpiece, pickguard and truss-rod cover are replacements. The tuners also appear to be non-original and a strap hanger has been added (see pictures below). Ebony bridge

Source: Lewis Thomas

Serial Number: 90204

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Two Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 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 individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys (not original to the guitar but period correct). Long bound pickguard

Notes: There are two small cracks in the top and a small, repaired crack in the back. Though we would expect a guitar of this vintage to have block inlays, Gryphon Stringed Instruments assure us that the fingerboard is original

Source: Gryphon Stringed Instruments (gryphonstrings.com)

Serial Number: 90206

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 642

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: See Notes below

Notes: All hardware, including bridge and pickguard, is missing. Needs refret and repair to the top seam

Source: Gruhn Guitars

Serial Number 90207

Year Shipped: 1934

FON 612

(See Type Two Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides. Solid top braces

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece

Notes: Has been refretted and there is extensive playwear to the back of the neck, which has not been over-sprayed. Holes cut in top for a pickup and control knobs have been filled and the lacquer restored to blend with the original finish. Back and sides have original finish.The tuners have been replaced and the pickguard is a period correct reproduction

Source: John Harms

Serial Number: 90208

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with pointed end and wide block inlays from the first fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece. Ebony bridge and long bound pickguard

Notes: Tuners have been replaced and the guitar has been fitted with a pickup. The top was re-graduated and X-braced in the 1980s by luthier Ken Parker. At the same time, the neck profile was reduced and the back of the body and neck were refinished.

Source: Dutch Archtop Guitar Museum

Serial Number: 90293

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Neck/fingerboard: Dot inlaid fingerboard

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 90298

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Neck/fingerboard: Block inlays from the third fret

Body: There is a small crack beneath the pickguard

Hardware:

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number:  appears to be 9030x but may be 9036x

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard

Notes: Has original hardshell case

Source: tcgae music

Serial Number: 90302

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 90303

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide pearloid block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Ebony bridge

Notes: The pickguard is missing

Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions

Serial Number: 90315

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end, wide block inlays from the third fret (see Notes below)

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Long bound pickguard

Notes: The original fingerboard – which would have had block markers – has been replaced with a dot-neck board. There are a few small touch-ups to the guitar’s sunburst finish and the front and back of the headstock have been over-sprayed. The tuners and tailpiece are replacements (a later style solid L-5 tailpiece appears to have been mounted to the guitar at some point)

Source: Musurgia

Serial number: 90363

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: See Notes

Body: Maple back and sides, has ‘kerfed’ top braces

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. The bridge top is a replacement but the base remains originalNotes: The ebony fingerboard, the bone nut and the celluloid pickguard are replacements. The original tuners were removed but have since been re-installed. There is a one and half inch crack at the waist on the bass side of the top and two short cracks on the treble side next to the tailpiece. The body shows several sealed grain cracks. A section of the centre seam that extends approximately four inches from the tail block, has been resealed. There is minor finish disturbance near the fingerboard, suggesting that a DeArmond pickup was installed in the past. The neck angle has been reset. Has original black hard shell case.

Source: Retrofret

Serial Number: 90366

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Notes: This guitar was registered with the Gibson L-5 Club card on 25th April 1934. The original owner was Mr. Clifford Rausch of 1741 Grove Street, Brooklyn, New York.

Source: Gibson L-5 Club membership card

Serial number: 90405

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 322

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and narrow block inlays from the first fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Ebony bridge

Notes: This L-5 was formerly owned by jazz guitarist Al Avola. It has been refretted and fitted with a replacement pickguard

Source: Gruhn Guitars (guitars.com)

Serial Number: 90502

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 

Neck/fingerboard: Block inlaid fingerboard

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 90505

FON: 812

Year shipped: 1934

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard shows some deterioration but remains intact

Notes: The binding down the right side of the fingerboard and bottom edge is missing

Source: Craig Brody of guitarbroker.com

Serial Number: 90693

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 90729

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 883

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and Waverly three-on-a-strip tuners

Notes: Reproduction pickguard. Has original hardshell case

Source: Dexter Johnson, Carmel Music Co. (carmelmusic.com) 

Serial Number: 90840

Year shipped:

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece. Long bound pickguard shows signs of celluloid rot

Notes: Has a patched jack hole in the side. Replacement tuners

Source: Gryphon Stringed Instruments

Serial Number: 90841

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 90865 (possibly 90365)

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts, pickguard missing and replacement truss rod cover

Notes: Repair to end block and top seam and DeArmond pickup fitted

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial number: 90901

Year shipped: 1934 

FON: 792 

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: See Notes below

Body: See Notes below

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece

Notes: This guitar was converted to an electric in the 1950s. It has since been restored by luthier Michael Heiden (heideninstruments.ca) who replaced the neck binding and installed a new dot inlaid fingerboard (the original fingerboard had block inlays). The guitar was refinished with a black top to conceal the repair work. The pickguard is missing and the tuners and bridge have been replaced. Has original Redline hardshell case.

Source: Richard Poitras

Serial Number: 90905

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘The Gibson’ logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard

Notes: Has original hardshell case

Source: Intermountain Guitar and Banjo (guitarandbanjo.com)

Serial Number: 90983

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 90997

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide (pearloid?) block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’  tuners with butterbean keys. Ebony bridge

Notes: There is some older overspray on the neck, which has been reset. Replacement pickguard by Mirabella (www.mirabellaguitars.com). A floating pickup with thumbwheel volume control and pickguard mounted 1/4″ jack has been fitted (see pictures below)

Source: Cory Brackett at Rudy’s Music and Joe Vinikow

Serial Number: 90999

Years shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end, wide pearloid block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Ebony bridge and long bound pickguard

Notes: Belongs to guitarist Mark Goldenberg

Serial number: 91052

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides. Kerfed top braces

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece

Notes: The tuners have been replaced Replacement pickguard and the pickguard is missing. The name ‘Maebelle Carter’, which is engraved on the pearl truss rod cover, is a later addition (see serial number 85558)

Source: Matt Bergstrom

Serial Number: 91053

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 91100

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo. The name Frank M. Scully is engraved on the truss rod cover

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys (with the exception of the low E which was replaced by an identical, albeit slightly later Grover model)

Notes: Replacement pickguard, pickguard bracket and bridge. A small crack on the back was cleated, the heel cap was replaced, and the neck reset. Has original hardshell case

Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions and Musurgia

Serial Number: 91122

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 947

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: See Notes below

Body: Maple back and sides. Top braces appear to be solid but with a cap as one would see in the kerfed variety.

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Ebony bridge

Notes: New dot inlaid fingerboard (the original fingerboard would have had bock inlays), replacement  pickguard and bridge. Some binding missing from the headstock. Has original Redline hardshell case

Source: Gruhn Guitars (guitars.com) and Lane Comeaux at Dying Breed Guitars(dyingbreedguitars.com)

Serial Number: 91166

Year shipped: 1934 

FON: 948

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys.

Notes: The bridge and pickguard are replicas (the original bridge is in case)

Source: Name withheld

Serial Number: 91198

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 947

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys. Long bound pickguard

Notes: Has original hardshell case

Source: John G. Stewart (myjazzhome.com)

Serial Number: 91239

(See Type Three Gallery)

Year shipped: 1934

FON:

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo

Neck/fingerboard: 24 fret fingerboard with square end and wide block inlays from the third fret – see Notes below

Body: Maple back and sides

Hardware: Gold-plated metal parts including regular tailpiece and individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys

Notes: A sharp ‘Florentine’ cutaway has been added and the pickguard replaced to accommodate this. The extended fingerboard may have been installed at this point

Source: Charlie Reason

Serial Number: 91345

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 91389

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 

Source: www.mandolinarchive.com

Serial Number: 91304

Year shipped: 1934

FON: 947

(See Type Three Gallery)

Headstock: Horizontal ‘Gibson’ script logo, truss rod cover engraved with the name ‘Wesley Massey’

Neck/fingerboard: 19 fret fingerboard with square end and block inlays from the third fret (see notes below)

Body: Maple back and sides with three-piece back (which would likely have been concealed beneath the original sunburst finish)

Hardware: Gold plated metal parts including individual open-back Grover 98G ‘Sta-tite’ tuners with butterbean keys

Notes: The guitar has been completely refinished and the positioning of the inlays suggests that fingerboard may have been replaced at some point. The truss rod cover is likely a later replacement. There is a degree of binding shrinkage at the upper bout bass-side edge and there are finish cracks on either side of pickguard and next to the tailpiece mount. The pickguard has been removed due to deterioration, the patent stamped ebony bridge has been shaved down and the tailpiece has been replaced. Has original hardshell case

Source: Bernunzio Uptown Music (bernunzio.com)