Was the Sam Bush the first Signature Model introduced by Gibson?

[Grandude]

What was the first signature model offered by Gibson, the Sam Bush? Who at Gibson spear headed this effort?

[lenf12]

The first one that I'm familiar with is the Bill Monroe signature model introduced by Gibson (Bozeman, MT) in the early 90's. There were 200 produced and have labels signed by BM and Steve Carlson or Bruce Weber. Other signature models were the Adam Steffey, Wayne Benson and Doyle Lawson which I think all preceded the Sam Bush model iirc. Other folks will chime in with more complete information.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[allenhopkins]

Ricky Skaggs signed labels on some of the Distressed Master Model mandolins as well; don't know if this counts as a "separate model," since he may have just hand-picked some DMM's to sign.

[AlanN]

The intro of the Sam Bush I think pre-dated the quartet that came later - Lawson, Benson, Steffey, Bibey (50 of each).

[f5loar]

The Monroe signature models were first and then there was a few (maybe 3 or 4) Bobby Osborne signature models and then came the Bush model. I'm pretty sure Charlie Derrington got the Bush models up and going with input from Sam Bush. I remember telling CD right after they came out why they just didn't copy what Sam's was when it was new in 1937, you know regular F5 fingerboard, pickguard and then if the new owners wanted to "Hoss" it up they could but at least give them that option like Sam did because those Bush models are far from what "Hoss" is.

[Grandude]

I thought that the Sam Bush was made in the Charlie Derrington era. Sim Daley would have most likely been involved. He is making a Hoss model now, according to his website.

[f5loar]

I believe I said it was during the CD era in my previous post. Sim and others as well as Sam were involved. It would be hard to list all those there at the time but I'm thinking Jim Triggs was still there but Greg Rich had already left.

[Willie]

I wonder how many alterations "Hoss" has gone through since it was new in `37? Sam probably doesn`t even know himself...Therefore it would be hard, but not impossible, to make one to sound the same....

Willie

[Philphool]

I wonder how many alterations "Hoss" has gone through since it was new in `37? Sam probably doesn`t even know himself...Therefore it would be hard, but not impossible, to make one to sound the same....

Willie

Well, it's been through a few. Here's part of an interview that I copied from somewhere a few years ago:

I bought "Hoss" in January, 1973 from Tut Taylor, who had acquired it in a trade from Norman Blake. While Blake owned "Hoss" he had Randy Wood shave the tone bars and that's when it came to life. I had heard the mandolin before the surgery and was amazed at the transformation. I begged Norman to let me know if he ever wanted to sell it, and so when he made the trade with Tut, he told him to give me the first call, which he did. When I went to pick up the mandolin I found that it had a beautiful new varnish finish, applied by Randy Wood. Apparently, since I had last seen it, Norman and John Hartford had scraped off the original finish one night. I really think that varnish finish has a lot to do with the sound of this instrument that I love. Since I've owned "Hoss", I've replaced the fingerboard twice. The current fingerboard was made by Harry Sparks and is slightly arched. I lost the original trussrod and tailpiece covers years ago, and have custom relplacements made for me by Diane Patrick. I also have installed new Waverly tuners. I used to replace tuners about once a year, but haven't had to do that with these Waverlys since they were installed 5 years ago.

[Ben Milne]

I think there was a fellow in the early 1920s endorsed by Gibson, he came up with a few custom appointments for his signature model... Lloyd Roar was his name if this site has it right.