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| Help ID an Archtop? http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=13910 |
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| Author: | KenH [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:38 pm ] |
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One of my neighbors sent me this link and asked me to see if I could tell them anything about this guitar. I have asked for any markings inside the guitar, but in the mean time HERE is the link to the pictures. I am pretty sure I have seen this headstock before, but right now I cant say who made it. Any help? |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:23 pm ] |
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It certainly looks to me like a Gibson built archtop, probably for the Recording King, or perhaps Cromwell brands. Certainly refinished and embellished with later inlay, but definitely looks like a 30's Kalamazoo Gibson product. |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:48 pm ] |
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I'd be interested to get a look at the binding on the top and the side of the fretboard. It seems a bit odd, because I don't know of any Cromwell or Recording Kings that Gibson OEM'd with purfling like that. The thing is, it certainly looks like original Gibson purfling that they used on their banjos. They made a lot of weird stuff, but if you can't find a listed model that was decorated with that purfling I wouldn't write off the possibility of a Gibson employee guitar. We see plenty of those around here. |
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| Author: | KenH [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:31 pm ] |
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The owners seem to think it is a gibson also, but they are unsure. The owner is a collector and found it at a yard sale while he was on business out in Texas. My first impression was that it is an old Kay guitar. They used similar headstock shapes. I may be way off base though. I have seen the "dash-dot-dash" fretboard inlays before, but cant put a name on that inlay brand. I'm not an archtop guy, but I have done a lot of research on headstocks. After you get past the shape of the headstock, I'm lost. I am most confident that the back and sides are quilted mahogany with a spruce top. Any differing views on that? |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:48 pm ] |
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It's definitely Gibson made, not Kay. Some of there's were similar, but not quite like this. The tailpiece is original, bridge likely replaced, refinished, peghead binding added later. The purfling could be original from a model I'm not familiar with, or done as an employee project guitar, or added later though I think the first two options as the most likely. It's laminate maple back and sides, and I'm not sure about the top. As to the headstock and fingerboard inlay, it sure looks after-market to me, though I wouldn't rule it entirely out as original without viewing it and researching it a bit further. It's pretty much an L-48 or L-50 style, and I would guess from '32-'39. Gibson made these for a number of companies and catalogs. Some interior shots of the bracing, kerfing, etc., would make it more clear. |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:57 pm ] |
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| Author: | KenH [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:22 pm ] |
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Thanks David! Sure looks like an old gibson to me now that I see those headstocks. I'll pass along the info. I have asked them to try to get some pictures of the side of the neck and also of the inside of the guitar. If they send me any, I'll post them here |
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