Serial Number Help (Gibson)

[Ace]

Can someone give me information on my Gibson by using my serial number?

The number is: 30220050

Thanks...

Ace

[John Jenkins]

I think this is the info you're lookin' for (I know somebody will correct me if I'm wrong!)

made at the Bozeman Plant , MA
on: January 22nd, 1930
Number: 50

[Jim Broyles]

I'm pretty sure there was no Bozeman plant in 1930. Sorry if you were just kidding.

[MikeEdgerton]

Bozeman, MA as in Massachsusettes, and you're right Jim, there was no Gibson plant in Montana in 1930.

[earthsave]

They made Gibson's in Bozeman, Mass?

[Big Joe]

How about made in Nashville in 03 (as in 2003...)

[Ace]

Ok I understand there is not a Bozeman plant in 1930 and I know this instrument is not a 1930.
If this is what Joe says it is, is this a good year? It's a F5G and plays very easy and it's REALLY loud! I'm actually the 3rd owner since new. The first owner NEVER played it, the second owner played in a band and played it often, and I'm playing it all I can at home! My teachefr played it and says it sounds better than any other he has ever played and he's played since he was 6 yrs old. He's in his late 30's now!

Thanks for any other information you can provide!

Ace

[woodwizard]

Sounds to me like you've got your hands on a nice one. I believe that Danny Roberts was signing labels mostly back then although F5G's weren't normally sighed and only had the one serial number label. keep pickin' ... I think that '03 was a good year for Gibson mandolins as well as on both sides of '03

[man dough nollij]

According to my database, that one should have been made in Kalamazoo on July 9th, 1924. Probably signed by some LL guy.

I hope you didn't pay too much for it-- it's just a really old one.

Sorry to be the one to break the news.

[f5loar]

There were no F5s signed by Loar on July 9th in 1924. Fact is stranger than fiction.

[man dough nollij]

Oh, I guess I meant 1923. Shucks.

[Ace]

OK can someone with REAL knowledge chime in?

I know for a fact it was not made in the 20's!

Thanks...
Ace

[MikeEdgerton]

Big Joe worked for Gibson at the time, he has real knowledge. If he says Nashville in 2003 you can bank on that. Beyond that the F5G's weren't signed (actually a very few were, mine wasn't). I do understand that Sim Daily may have signed the underside of the top in pencil if he was the one that carved it. I don't know if yours falls in his time period.

[Big Joe]

The F5G is a modern mandolin and not made in the 20's or 30's. It is a fine mandolin and certainly worth owning. The 03 models were/are great mandolins. Enjoy it. It will likely go up in value over the years and will give you many years of playing pleasure.

[Ace]

Joe thanks! I knew it wasn't an old old mandolin as I knew the original owner who purchased it. I bought it from the middle owner as I am the third! It won't be going anywhere for a while anyway. I have had way too many compliments on it for the way it sings and the incredible bark it has. A friend of mine traded for a newer F5G from Danny Clark and although he loves it and it's a good one, he says it doesn't even come close to the one I have. I guess the few years mine has on it along with the playing time makes a difference. He says his will never catch up to mine due to the age difference!
From your professional experience, is there that much difference from my year which from what you say is a 03 to his, which I think is an 07?
Only physical difference I see in the two are my white bindings around the edge are turning yellow where his is bright white and his back graining is a lot different! Mine is more pronounced!
Hey thanks for your time and knowledge!

Ace

[mrmando]

Glad I found this thread ... my F5G is 71208029, so I gather that means it's from 2007. Stick that number in the "serial number search" application at Gibson.com and you'll get 1978 for the year, since it reads the first and fifth digits to get the year. I guess in the current system the fifth digit means something else ... don't know what.

[f5loar]

Going to Gibson to find when your Gibson was made is the last place you want to go. Fact is stranger then fiction.

[mrmando]

I find the Gibson SN search helpful when trying to date prewar instruments. Maybe in another 64 years they'll have accurate information about the instruments they're making now.

[allenhopkins]

Self-righteous curmudgeon alert: took 'way too many posts to actually give the OP the info he was looking for. Thanx to Big Joe Vest for providing his expertise. Let's give actual, informative support before we start the jokes and semi-serious responses. Many people come to the Cafe to get the benefit of the assembled wisdom here; this was a pretty straightforward question about a recent Gibson mandolin, and we dragged it to Bozeman, Massachusetts, and Lloyd Loar F-5's, and all around Robin Hood's barn. When the OP said, "Can someone with the real knowledge chime in?" -- well, that's what we should have been doing from the get-go.

[man dough nollij]

Not to mention that it was almost six months ago...

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Glad I found this thread ... my F5G is 71208029, so I gather that means it's from 2007. Stick that number in the "serial number search" application at Gibson.com and you'll get 1978 for the year, since it reads the first and fifth digits to get the year. I guess in the current system the fifth digit means something else ... don't know what.

F5G's did not exist in 1978. Here's how to read your serial number. Reverse the 1st and last number. That equals 1997. The (12) signifies the month...December. The (08) signifies the 8th day of Dec. The (02) signifies the 2nd F5G built that day.

Therefore, your F5G was built on Dec. 8, 1997 and was the 2nd one built that day.

[Mike Snyder]

Mine is #50121010, that's Jan 21 of 2005 and first out of the gate. It's paid for, it' mine, and I'm keepin' it.

[KMaynard]

"The number is: 30220050"

The serial number above would be made on February 20, 2003 and was the 5th one of that batch signed that day.

[mrmando]

Funny ... the very F5G that I posted about three years ago is now for sale on the Dallas Craig's List:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/2897153089.html

Trying hard to recollect the transaction details. Believe I traded Skip Kelley F5 #16 to a guy in Ohio to obtain the F5G, then traded the F5G to a fellow in North Carolina for a Rigel G110 plus cash. No idea how it got to Texas.