View Full Version : Old Gibson inlaid pickguards
Here's a nifty Gibson from the Orville Label period that's currently on ebay.. This pickguard inlay is a particularly cool one, but there sure were lots of neat ones..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/3550_pickguard.jpg
Here's 2526.. earliest one we know of (Siminoff has suggested to me that serials may start at 2500..)
This is a plain model. Watch the contours of these..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/2526_pickguard.jpg
Here's the first Gibson I know of with a fleur-de-lis, #2825.
Later this would go on the A4 & H2 pegheads.
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/2858_top_label.jpg
3063 is a mandola..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/3063_pickguard.jpg
3196 is a rope-bound F3!
Note also the optional "Artist Model" inlay on the fingerboard (like many a 30's banjo!)
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/3196top.jpg
One of Frank's superb macro shots here. Note- so far no two alike.. This is 3376.
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/3376_pickguard.jpg
3425 is a little beat up (ebay photo) but another cool pattern..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/3425_top_crack.jpg
A near-match to the F3.. my friend Chippers F. Order # 190, but label damaged. 3800-4500 most likely..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/6000_face.jpg
Dave's 4259 (elswhere on the boards) has a really cool inlay.. This motif is unlike the fleur-de-lis family ones that I've seen several of..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/4259_pickguard.jpg
4419 is a match for 2819!
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/4419_pickguard.jpg
4429 is a lefty, and has 2 guards like 3425
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/4429_face.jpg
4795 has a simpler version of the double fleur-de-lis:
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/4795_top.jpg
one serial up is an F with artist model inlay, 4976..
*edit* oops, wrong link!
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/4976_front.jpg
Lowell had this one a while back, groovy eh? 6042..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/6042_face2.jpg
6254 has my favorite inlaid guard.. there are at least 3 of these exact same ones in the archive, one appears in the gruhn book.. Nice extra "hook" to it, slender outline, and the "mysterious" star & crescent (rumors tell of an Arabic artisan working at Gibson at the time) motif
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/6254_pickguard.jpg
The last of the inlaid guards show up just before serial #8000. 8064 has no inlaid guard. Say it ain't so Orville!
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/elderly/90U-3529_body-front.jpg
Jim Garber
Jan-28-2005, 5:10pm
I especially love those "south Jersey"-shaped pickguards. Thanks, Dan.
I wonder if any of those were custom orders or just Gibson as a small shop catering to the whims of their craftspeople.
Jim
keithd
Jan-28-2005, 5:12pm
Stunning collection of images - I love those inlaid pick-gaurd Gibsons. Thanks Dan!
Had you thought about having an inlaid guard put on Pokey (I read in the also wonderful pick-guard thread that you were having a clip-on made, but i think you mentioned here that typically, 3-pointers would have had inlaid guards))?
Keith
Keith- mine's old enough that it should have an inlaid one.. so it might have a 1907 top? It's hard to say for sure, but I guess every one I've seen has inlaid guards up to 8xxx serials. Darryl's making me a clip-on, which already looks great.. I was flirting with letting pokey go, but now I think I'll keep it with that repro guard!
keithd
Jan-28-2005, 6:15pm
Yeah - I like the raised pick-guard for right hand reference as well. My mandolin instructor has suggested taking it off to see how it might affect the sound; I've just been too lazy to try it yet. My guard also masks a face crack.
The variation and whimsey of the inlaid pick-guards is very appealing; they also hint at the Gibson type's connection to its lute-backed predecessors. It would be interesting to archive these images as a group on the M'Archive...?
Sorry if asked already, but will your new CD feature any tracks with your 3-point? I'd love to hear you play it.
Keith
it'll be on there. Here's one on Pokey just for fun:
The First of October (http://www.mandolinarchive.com/foo/tasting/3263_first_october.mp3)
Pokey makes nice snappy triplets..
http://www.mandolinarchive.com/images/3_point_face.jpg
Btw, the raised guard will stop you resting your hand on the face, or worse.. the bridge.. they give some freedom of resonance, IMO more so than they steal it..
Ken Waltham
Jan-28-2005, 7:06pm
Dan; that was really cool!
Ken
MANDOLINMYSTER
Jan-28-2005, 7:14pm
Dan your always bringing cool stuff to the cafe, I never relized how many different types of inlayed pick-guards there were. Thanks for further edge-u-ma-cating us. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Spruce
Jan-29-2005, 9:30am
Great tour...
Thanks!
Fun seeing all that funky mismatched wood, some with 2-3 grains per inch...
Like #6042
Who said the wood was better back then??
Michael Gowell
Jan-29-2005, 10:04am
Thanks, Dan. #You say inlaid pickguards cease around #8000 -can you estimate a date for that? #I have a 3-point F-2, #8431, which has no inlaid guard - the ghost impression from the upper clip for a raised guard can be seen in the side varnish.
The main point is that it seems the 3-point style continued for a year or two after the inlaid guards were dropped.
3-points lasted until 10500-11000.. It's pretty hard to guess in the middle there. The Gibson charts seem inaccurate compared to some scattered provenance I have, but beyond that.. I'd guess 1907-1909 for yours Michael..
Eugene
Jan-29-2005, 4:40pm
Thank you, Dan, for the visual feast. I am certainly in the minority, but the early Gibson A styles with inlaid pickguards are my favorite of Gibson's output. Snakeheads rank a close second.
I couldn't say why, exactly, but I find 3 points more appealing than 2.
The 2 point f style is widely copied. Is anyone making a knock-off of the 3?
Hans Brentrup made this one a while back.. and at least 1 other gorgeous one since..
That's beautiful! Black face with a 'burst back? I like that!
pd
s1m0n: I agree, 50% more points can't be bad!
Looks kinda silly with F-holes though, sadly.
mandolooter
Jan-30-2005, 12:07am
Thanks again Dan for the pic's and info to go with them. #I noticed on my last tour ya had a lot of Gibson guitars in the archives too. I have a 30 something TG-1 tenor guitar I just acquired and would love to have it included if your interested. #I can supply pic's, etc. here in a few days when my wife returns with our camera.
Jeff
BTW the string guages info you helped me with have worked out wonderful and both my tenors are sounding way better, thanks!