Gibson L-1 1930 Restoration
The L-1 was the first Gibson flat top guitar played by Robert Johnson and picked up much later by Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder and Jack White. 1930/31 was the first year the lower bout changed from a rounded bottom to a 'modern Martin-like' shape and was increased to 14.5 inches for a fuller sound.
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| Stevie Ray |
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| Project Guitar purchased from Seattle Goodwill |
Background Gibson L-1 (Wikipedia - flat top years 1926-1937)
1902 L-1 introduction specs (acoustic archtop): single bound round soundhole with 2 rope pattern wood rings, single bound top, ebony fingerboard, dot fingerboard inlays, orange top finish, dark mahogany back and sides, 2 sizes.
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| Robert Johnson |
1912 L-1 specs: No pickguard.
1914 L-1 specs: Pickguard added again.
1918 L-1 specs: Sheraton brown finish.
1920 L-1 specs: Double 5 ply soundhole rings.
1925 Discontinued.
1926 Re-introduced as a flat top. This model cost $50 ($751.82 2018 equivalent). The L-1 featured a tighter grained two piece spruce top and Honduran mahogany back and sides. In some cases the back was single piece and in others it was two. Top and back were bound in ivoroid.
1930 Gibson squared off the bottom to a more traditional shape as apposed to the previously "egg shaped" bottom commonly known as the Robert Johnson style.
specs: 14.75" wide, body more squared at bottom, 12 frets clear of body, spruce top with stained shaded finish, mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, 3-on-strip tuners, longer modern type rectangle bridge, unbound fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets.
1932- Main changes include neck attachment went to 14th fret and pickguard included.
specs: 14.75" wide, 14 frets clear of the body, 24.75" scale length, small sprayed sunburst finish, mahogany back and sides, bound top and back, fire striped tortoise pickguard, rectangle bridge, unbound fingerboard with dots at 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th frets. Individual tuners, "Gibson" peghead logo (no "the"), reduced $37.50 list retail price.
1937 L-1 discontinued as the L-00 is similar to the 1936 L-1 specs.
Gibson L series flat top guitars are just a shade larger than parlor guitars providing more voice while retaining a comfortable couch guitar feel. A Martin sized equivalent would be a OO. Standard x-bracing on all models. Over the production years and various models Gibson would switch between the neck joint at the 12th or 14th fret. These instruments were considered to be Gibsons' "budget" guitar. That being said these were produced during the depression era when the unemployment rate was 25% and the average household weekly income was between $7 and $17.
Project Guitar
Damage includes large side cracks, missing braces
Dating the L-1
Facebook help request
Trying to pin down date of an old L-1 but I don't have a copy of Spann's with me. Looks like FON can be 367 or 867. Possible faded 1 as last digit so maybe 3671 or 8671. Appreciate any help. Around 1930 is best guess so far.
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From Joe Spann-
In this thread I will provide my "new chronology" and the SOURCES and the REASONS why I think it is so. This covers the period 1925-1931.
In 1932 Gibson "rolled-over" from batch #9999 and started all over again, re-using earlier numbers. What is not so widely known is that the new FON were not issued in sequential order. The numbers are so far out-of-sequence that it seems the pile of pre-printed forms used in the weekly production meetings must have fallen off a shelf, been picked up and straightened, but not returned to sequential order. In the end, it wouldn't matter anyway. As long as a unique number was assigned to each batch of instruments the purpose of the FON was fulfilled and the accountant upstairs would be happy.
In 1935 Gibson re-started their FON's again. This time adding a letter between the batch number and the bin number. This happened each year afterwards, changing the letter each time. So, for example there was a batch 314-A, batch 314-B, batch 314-C, etc., etc. These FON's also appear to have been used in a random order.
Here is my "new chronology" for Gibson FON between 1925 - 1931.
8012 – Feb 1925 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Mastertone banjos with tube & plate flange and full resonator. Gibson banjos of this type were in production by February 1925 according to Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 14 Feb 1925.
8233 – Jan 1926 – Lowest known FON for an L-1 guitar. They were introduced in February 1926.
8552 - Feb 1927 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Florentine or Bella Voce banjo. Florentine & Bella Voce banjos were available for purchase by March 1927 according to Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 12 Mar 1927.
8958 – Jan 1928 – Lowest known FON for a certain permutation of the L-0 guitar. This particular change in construction is known to have taken place in 1928.
8989 – Jan 1928 – Lowest known FON for a Nick Lucas guitar. The Nick Lucas guitar was introduced in the spring of 1928.
9106 - Sep 1928 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Style 6 banjo. Style 6 banjos were available for purchase by August 1928 according to Mastertone Magazine. Also confirmed in Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 24 Nov 1928.
9242 - Dec 1928 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Royal PT banjo. The Royal PT banjos were available for purchase by January 1929 according to Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 12 Jan 1929.
9400 - Apr 1929 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Gibson banjos with a one-piece flange. The first production change on the one-piece flange blueprint is dated 27 Apr 1929, thus showing that flanges were in production by that point. Style 2 banjos of this type were available for purchase by September 1929 according to Mastertone Magazine. The new style 3 (and Granada) banjos with a one-piece flange and double cut “scroll” peghead were available for purchase by October 1929 according to Mastertone Magazine. Also confirmed in Music Trade Review magazine, issue of Dec 1929.
9478 – Oct 1929 – A banjo from this batch was purchased in November 1929. Interview with original owner.
9515 – Nov 1929 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Kel Kroydon instruments of any kind. The Kel Kroydon banjos (models KK-10 & KK-11) were available for purchase in 1930 according to a Jenkins Music Company catalog of that date.
9587 - Apr 1930 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of All-American banjo. Harry Reser had received the first All-American banjo by April 1930 according to Mastertone Magazine.
9652 - Feb 1931 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Style 11 banjo. The style 11 banjos were available for purchase by March 1931 according to Mastertone Magazine.
9688 – 1931 – Lowest known FON for a certain permutation of the Nick Lucas guitar. This particular change in construction is known to have taken place in 1931.
9942 – Late 1931 – Last known FON for a proven batch of Kel Kroydon instruments of any kind. Kel Kroydon production ceased in 1931 and was replaced by the Kalamazoo brand in 1932 according to Julius Bellson’s history of Gibson.
Rollover of FON’s occurs on or about January 1932. After this point FON’s are re-used, but NOT in sequential order.
In 1932 Gibson "rolled-over" from batch #9999 and started all over again, re-using earlier numbers. What is not so widely known is that the new FON were not issued in sequential order. The numbers are so far out-of-sequence that it seems the pile of pre-printed forms used in the weekly production meetings must have fallen off a shelf, been picked up and straightened, but not returned to sequential order. In the end, it wouldn't matter anyway. As long as a unique number was assigned to each batch of instruments the purpose of the FON was fulfilled and the accountant upstairs would be happy.
In 1935 Gibson re-started their FON's again. This time adding a letter between the batch number and the bin number. This happened each year afterwards, changing the letter each time. So, for example there was a batch 314-A, batch 314-B, batch 314-C, etc., etc. These FON's also appear to have been used in a random order.
Here is my "new chronology" for Gibson FON between 1925 - 1931.
8012 – Feb 1925 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Mastertone banjos with tube & plate flange and full resonator. Gibson banjos of this type were in production by February 1925 according to Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 14 Feb 1925.
8233 – Jan 1926 – Lowest known FON for an L-1 guitar. They were introduced in February 1926.
8552 - Feb 1927 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Florentine or Bella Voce banjo. Florentine & Bella Voce banjos were available for purchase by March 1927 according to Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 12 Mar 1927.
8958 – Jan 1928 – Lowest known FON for a certain permutation of the L-0 guitar. This particular change in construction is known to have taken place in 1928.
8989 – Jan 1928 – Lowest known FON for a Nick Lucas guitar. The Nick Lucas guitar was introduced in the spring of 1928.
9106 - Sep 1928 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Style 6 banjo. Style 6 banjos were available for purchase by August 1928 according to Mastertone Magazine. Also confirmed in Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 24 Nov 1928.
9242 - Dec 1928 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Royal PT banjo. The Royal PT banjos were available for purchase by January 1929 according to Music Trade Review magazine, issue of 12 Jan 1929.
9400 - Apr 1929 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Gibson banjos with a one-piece flange. The first production change on the one-piece flange blueprint is dated 27 Apr 1929, thus showing that flanges were in production by that point. Style 2 banjos of this type were available for purchase by September 1929 according to Mastertone Magazine. The new style 3 (and Granada) banjos with a one-piece flange and double cut “scroll” peghead were available for purchase by October 1929 according to Mastertone Magazine. Also confirmed in Music Trade Review magazine, issue of Dec 1929.
9478 – Oct 1929 – A banjo from this batch was purchased in November 1929. Interview with original owner.
9515 – Nov 1929 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Kel Kroydon instruments of any kind. The Kel Kroydon banjos (models KK-10 & KK-11) were available for purchase in 1930 according to a Jenkins Music Company catalog of that date.
9587 - Apr 1930 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of All-American banjo. Harry Reser had received the first All-American banjo by April 1930 according to Mastertone Magazine.
9652 - Feb 1931 – Lowest known FON for a proven batch of Style 11 banjo. The style 11 banjos were available for purchase by March 1931 according to Mastertone Magazine.
9688 – 1931 – Lowest known FON for a certain permutation of the Nick Lucas guitar. This particular change in construction is known to have taken place in 1931.
9942 – Late 1931 – Last known FON for a proven batch of Kel Kroydon instruments of any kind. Kel Kroydon production ceased in 1931 and was replaced by the Kalamazoo brand in 1932 according to Julius Bellson’s history of Gibson.
Rollover of FON’s occurs on or about January 1932. After this point FON’s are re-used, but NOT in sequential order.
Edited by - Joe Spann on 02/27/2010 06:51:30
