Need help identifing acoustic archtop guitar...

[Kenny Burford]

I have an acoustic archtop guitar that has Gibson on the headstock; however, I have some questions about its validity. I am wanting to sell the guitar, but the more I examine the guitar the more I question whether it is actually a real Gibson guitar. A woman brought into our music shop three or four years ago and told me it was her husbands and that he bought it in either the late 40s or early 50s. I didn't want to buy it, but she insisted she needed the money, so I broke down and bought it. But like I said the more I examine the guitar the more I question whether it is really a Gibson guitar, so in despiration I am hoping to find some assistant here on the SGF to establish if it is a real Gibson or a fake.

1. It does not have a sticker inside of the guitar identifing it as made by Gibson.

2. It does not have a steel rod in the neck.

3. It does not have "Made in USA," stamped in the guitar anywhere.

4. It does not have a serial number.

Tomorrow I am going to have my resident genious, my wife take pictures of the guitar and post them for everyone to take a look at and maybe solve this question further.

[Bill Hatcher]

[quote="Kenny Burford"
1. It does not have a sticker inside of the guitar identifing it as made by Gibson.

2. It does not have a steel rod in the neck.

3. It does not have "Made in USA," stamped in the guitar anywhere.

4. It does not have a serial number.

quote]

1. Many of the old Gibsons don't.
2. Gibsons made during the war do not as well as Gibsons made before they started using rods.
3. Many old ones don't.
4. Many old Gibsons don't, however many of these will have a production number stamped on the back.

Pics of the top, the headstock, the back are imperative for ID. Look forward to seeing them.

[Joel Paterson]

It will be easy to identify with photos.

[Frode Bjoernstad]

Is it something like this? This is my 1950 Gibson L-50. It does not have a serialnumber or other signs of Gibson than the headstock logo. The P90 and electronics are not original.

This is a good resource for Archtops: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/gibson2.html

[Kenny Burford]

Resident genious it busy right now downloading some video I took of Johnny Clark playing pedal steel guitar, but once that is done maybe I can get her to take the necessary pictures of this guitar and then post them here to be seen.

I appreciate all of the info received so far, now it's back to the basement where I need to continue sanding sheetrock in the Resident Genious' new laundry room or these pictures may not get loaded at all.

[Al Johnson]

the Gibson from 1950 in Norway has a tailpiece patented by Epiphone for many years, Never waw it on a Gibson before. al

[Savell]

Frode, did you just give that axe a shower?