BANJO SERIAL NUMBERS

Banjo Serial Number Notes

∑ Although the banjo serial numbers are listed in numerical order, it should be noted that the 11,000 series were the “first designs” and included 10 ½” heads, trap-doors, early ball bearings (no springs), etc.

∑ Numbers used around 1935 and after appear to have no continuous number sequence.

∑ 1931 and 1932 production lapse can be attributed to Depression Years.

∑ The “second design” with full resonator was announced in February of 1925.

CODE TO NOTES

A Hearts & Flowers N Snake peghead (“A” head)

B Wreath O Fiddle peghead (“B” head)

C Eagles P “Double Cut” (“C” head)

D Snowflake Q Rosewood fingerboard

E Notched tension hoop R Ebony fingerboard

F Grooved tension hoop S 1-piece flange

G Walnut T Tube and plate flange

H Mahogany U Engraved

I Curly Maple V Ball Bearing

J Nickel W Mastertone in peghead

K Gold X Mastertone on fingerboard

L Archtop Y Argentine Grey

M Flattop

Approx.

Ser. Const.

No. Model Date Notes

8033-8 TB-4 1925 A,V,W

8041-47 TB-3 1925

8049-29 TB-3 1925 V

8059-12 TB-5 1925 Std.

8064-16 TB-3 1925 F,V,W

8103-10 TB-3 1925 A,F,V,W

8124-45 TB-3 1925 D,F,J,O,Q,S,V

8124-29 TB-3 1925 D,V

8127-14 TB-3 1925 A,F,O,V,W

8156-1 TB-5 1925 G,K,B,L,U,E,V

8156-25 TB-5 1925 G,K,B,L,U,E,V

8161-22 RB-3 1925 D,F,J,O,Q,S,V

8169-12 RB-4 1925 A,T,V,W

8171-1 TB-3 1925 V

8205-5 TB-3 1925

8208-7 TB-3 1925 F,K,O,T,V

8210-9 TB-1 1926

8247-41 TB-3 1926 D,F,V

8250-14 Gran. 1926 A,F; originally a ball bearing mastertone at

15th fret

8281-34 TB-3 1926

8326-34 TB-3 1926 F,J,O,R; name painted diamond holes in

flange position dots

8340-41 TB-2 1926 Diamond Flange

8377-13 TB-5 1926 B,G,J,L,Q,T,U; (leaf engravings)

8380-1 TB 1926 Bella Voce

8412-79 TB-1 1926 F; Screened peghead diamond holes in

flange

8428-24 TB-4 1926 A,V,T

8443-15 Gran. 1926 A,K,X

8444-8 TB-5 1926 G,K,O

8482-50 TB 1927 J,O,Q,T; No outside tone holes; reg. maple

8527-33 TB-3 1927

8535-2 TB-1 1927

8541-13 GB-2 1927 F,V; “The Gibson” in peghead

8584-19 PB-1 1927 F,R

8592-23 MB 1927

8649-29 TB-1 1927

8661-8 Gran. 1927 A

8661-22 Gran. 1927 A, K, Black & White purfling

8662-6 TB-1 1927 C,E,H,L,O,Q,T

8663-1 PB Gr. 1927 A,I,K,O,Q; Black & White purfling

8649-29 TB-1 1927 F; Screened peghead

8673-1 TB-3 1927 L; No holes

8676-5 TB-5 1927 B,K; Leaf engraving

8684-3 GB-1 1927 F,J; Diamond holes in flange

8699-21 TB-1 1927 Diamond hole flange

8700-4 TB-3 1927 D,L,O,T

8701-9 TB-4 1928 A,E,H,L,O,T

8702-10 Gran. 1928 A,L

8719-57 1928 E,L,R

8756-10 TB 1928 Bella Voce, Holley, L

8760-45 RB-4 1928 C,E,I,K,L,P,Q,T

8782-13 TB-4(5) 1928 A,E,I,KL,P,T; Bella Voce peghead inlay

8834-4 TB-3 1928 D,E

8834-71 TB-3 1928 D,E,O,T,J,L; (no holes)

8836-34 TB-4 1928 A,E,H,J,Q,T; Kirschner tailpiece

8852-14 GB-3 1928 E,J,L,T; Cordovan color; reg. maple

8919-1 TB 1928 Granada A, L, W

8936-4 PB 1928 Florentine, White Holley

8948-13 TB-3 1928

8948-72 TB-3 1928 D,E,J,L,O; Cordovan color; reg.

8977-54 TB-3 1928* L,T (*purchase date May 19, 1928)

9024-60 TB-3 1929 L,V

9025-93 TB-3 1929 D,P,T

9027-5 TB-4 1929 A,J,LP,T,Q; “Gibson” straight

9028-4 Gran. 1929 A,E,I,K,L

9029-25 TB-5 1929 B,E,I,K,V,X

9032-7 RB-3 1929 D,E,L

9058-28 TB 1929 Granada, A,K,L,T

9101-1 PB-6 1929 E,M,Y

9113-3 TB-3 1929

9113-48 TB-5 1929 B,K,L; 39 holes

9114-4 TB-4 1929 E,J,L; Bella Voce peghead

9135-3 All-Am 1929 (TB) Standard All-Amer. Components

9157-6 TB-3 1929* D,L (*purchase date Feb. 23, 1929)

9189-28 TB-1 1929 F; Screened Gibson; Diamond holes in

flange

9204-42 TB-3 1929 A,E,I,KL,O,T

9222-3 TB-4 1929 A,E,L,O,T

9226-27 TB-6 1929

9226-31 TB-6 1929 A,E,I,K,L,O,T,Y; Mute, engraved

9242-24 PT 1930 F,M, Gold binding

9248-13 TB-1 1930 Diamond hole flange

9260-74 TB-3 1930

9262-10 TB-6 1930 K,L

9264-10 PB-3 1931 D,L,T

9266-7 PB-6 1931 K,L, checker binding

9281-8 Trujo 1931

9308-12 PB-3 1931 T

9309-10 MB-1 1932 Screened Gibson, Diamond flange

9356-29 Gran. 1932 A,E,I,L,O

9360-25 PT 1932 A,E,I,K,L,O,T

9360-30 PT 1932 I,K,L; Gold binding

9360-35 PT 1932 A,I,K,L; “Roy M. Sells” in truss rod cover;

gold sparkle binding

9408 TB-6 1932 A,E,I,K,M (19 hole) O,T

9441-1 GB-3 1932 F,X

9470-42 Gran. 1932 C,E,I,K

9472-4 PB 1933 Granada, C,I,M,P,Q

9472-5 PB 1933 Granada, C,I,M,P,Q

9478-112 TB-3 1933

9526-4 PB 1933 Granada, A,I,K,M,P,Q,S,W, mute

9539-84 TB-1 1933 E,K,O,R,S. reg. maple dots

9549-64 TB-4 1934 K,Q, reg. maple

9584-1 Gran. 1934 A,I,K,M,T,U

9602-1 TB-3 1934 D

9633-2 All Am 1934 All American

9639-9 RB-4 1934 A,E,G (Burl) J,L,P,Q,S

9691-1 TB-11 1934 E,G,O

9711-19 TB-2 1934 E (CAST ZAMAC), J, O,R,S, Fleur de lis,

Tone rim

9711-24 TB-2 1934 E (CAST ZAMAC), J, O,R,S, Fleur de lis,

Tone rim

9779-10 TB 1934 Recording King

9812-15 TB-3 1935 F,J,O,Q,SV; Reg. maple, Fleur de lis

9903-4 TB-3 1935 D,L,P,S

9947-2 All Am 1935 All American; Florentine resonator

9968-9 RB-5 1935 A,F,G,K

186-1 PB 1935 A,H,P,Q

0263-3 PB 1935 Florentine, L, Wh. Holley

276-18 RB-4 1935 A,Q,P,L,E

281-12 PB-3 1935 E, Fleur de lis in fingerboard

0283-85 TB 1936 Bella Voce, K, L

390-6 TB-7 1936 Top tension, J

763-3 TB-7 1936 J,M

1003-3 PB 1937 Trujo Delux

1227-1 PB-6 1937 K,L, Checker Binding

1227-7 PB-6 1937 K,L, Check Binding

11008-A TB-3 1921 I,V; Fleaur de lis; 2 coord. Rods; trap door

11039 A-1 TB-1 1921 F; 10 ½” head

11076 A-25 TB-1 1922 F,J,N; 10 ½” head

11084 A-7 RB-1 1923 F; No peghead inlay

11097 A-13 TB-4 1923 N,V; Trapdoor, 10 ½” head, 3 pc neck

11101 A-25 RB-3 1923 F; “The Gibson”; Fleur de lis in peghead,

trapdoor

11109-14 TB 1923 F,J,N; 9” rim; Fleur de lis; Sunburst;

trapdoor

11117 A-31 TB-1 1924 N; Trapdoor

11141 A-35 TB-5 1924

11194 A2 TB-Jr. 1924 Open back

11813-17 TB 1924 Trap Door

11844-11 TB-3 1924 V; Fleur de lis; 10 ½ ” head; Trapdoor; wire

arm rest

11863-15 MB-3 1925 F; Sunburst; 10 ½” head; Fleur de lis