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: Replacement pickguard The neck has been reset and the fingerboard re-fretted. There are two repaired top cracks with finish touch up around the neck joint. A pickup has been mounted to the new pickguard
Source: Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey Auctions and Carter Vintage
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)