It's crazy enough to think that Adolf Hitler was still alive and well, while probably not being a huge fanatic yet. But here's another one: Radium Paint was "safe" for you, despite being known to at least cause burns since 1901. It's crazier that the last Radium Watch Factory by "Luminous Processes Inc." closed in *1978.* You might guess that I just got done reading "The Radium Girls" book. Ah, history, how both beautiful and also vapidly chasing the fog you are as a whole.
Hitler's economic theory, which was the basis of his world view, his anti-semitism, and his decision to pursue politics in the direction he did, was probably already at least in development during WWI. He was a member of the national socialist party, was part of the bier hall putsch, and he published Mein Kampf in 1925. @@101Volts
Makes me think about how many old guitars out there that no one even knows about. Just sitting in an old house somewhere. Makes me want to go out and look for old abandon house and search them lol.
I have this recurring dream of walking down a side street to some walk-down storefront resale store, where they just happen to have a secret room FULL of vintage instruments. I feel like a teenager in a liquor store!
I have a 1924 Gibson. The fretboard is worn on the lower frets. It still sounds great. I gave it to my dad who is a self taught luthier for restoration. You should hook up with him. Steve Reid who owns Mr. Reid's Workshop in Independence Kansas. He also teaches people to build guitars at the local college.
Ancient guitars just seem to have their own souls, don’t they? The stories they could tell… hearing this old girl sing again was wonderful. It’s the sound of a bygone era.
The Schaller Tuners were probably a result of tuning stability with the old tuner rotting,For playability and stability was the best choice to make,as far as reselling value was completely detrimental in Value.But it was made to be played,not stared at lol Thank you for the Content!
Jeremy I made a thin wall brass bushing for little E on my 36 National. It lightly pressed into ferell and took up slop between post and ferell. It stays in tune and didnt permanently modify anything. Great videos Sir!
I understood the story that the Kalamazoo was Robert's, and the Gibson in recording. I don't care which one of us is accurate, only which story is accurate.
For what it’s worth, Kalamazoo guitars were made by Gibson so it wasn’t just some cheap guitar. They were definitely more “affordable”, but it was still a quality instrument.
I lived right by the original Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Beautiful smokestack still remains and some of the Gibson folks reformed into Heritage.
Definitely, it would not be a a mistake to remove those locking tuners and put a set of period accurate reissue there. The guitar does have mojo. Great find.
You should fix them. many times it doesn't make sense fixing tunner because it will be more expensive than a great set but about this guitar or any guitar that you love makes sense.
I love what you said there: "Guitars are cool and they will find you". There must be truth in it. I started playing ukulele not so long ago and decided to also take on learning guitar. A few weeks of searching for the right one for me brought no result and last week a guitar has found me. A handmade one from a luthier, who built it after a deposit for somebody in 2016, but that was the last the luthier heard of it. Even though the price was reduced by more than half, as a none-refundable deposit had already been made on order, it still costs me more than twice of what I had initially thought of, but it's worth it for me. It's a parlour guitar with cherry wood back and sides and spruce top. Perhaps that is why it hasn't yet found it's person. Parlour guitars don't look as cool as cool as a dreadnought on stage. Unless, of course when George Harrison played one for "And I love her" and as a bonus, my parlour guitar is the only one of its kind 🙂
The Gibson employee who made that guitar in 1914 couldn't have imagined the guitar would be in a RUclips video 108 years later. Edit for the less intelligent: the point is how far technology has come in just 100 years, not the existence of youtube in 1914.
If that were my guitar, I would ditch the cheesy modern tuning pegs, and install period, retro tuners. I would also ditch all the electronics just to keep this old classic, well, classic. I would have also cleaned up all the wood with Murphy's Oil Soap, and polished it up nicely with wood polish; not to mention dress up the frets. And for that guitar, I would put silk and steel, light gauge strings on it. I have a 1958 Harmony archtop, with the trapeze tailpiece. I restored it to it's original condition. A lot of work. And now she's beautiful.
I don't think that guitar is worth a full restore. To do it right you could buy one in better condition. I hope he didn't pay too much it's a nice walk piece but if it gets played regularly I could see it falling apart. It is cool but it just goes to show some people will buy anything with the name Gibson on it.
@@captaintony1227 Well, I would restore it nicely, without spending too much on it, just for the historical, vintage value of it. Why let an old classic die and throw it in the trash when there still might be some life left in her?
@@bobblowhard8823 that'd be like using tissue to blow your nose, but since your snot didn't get to all corners, you save it for continued use...its old, yeah. I wouldn't look that good of I was born in 1914. But, let's not get it twisted here....it's not going to be going on tour anytime soon lol
John Lennon's mom, Julia, taught the young John and his Quarrymen friends how to tune four strings of the guitar with a banjo tuner. I assume they tuned the other two strings using the tuned ones as reference. Maybe it was a common practice, and could possibly explain the banjo tuner in the case.
Yes, that's right. I remember my oldest brother had a whistle of some sort and when one particular string was in tune, he tuned the other strings with this reference. I've tried that once with my ukulele and the result was hilarious :-)
@@jeffbosch1697 Don't underestimate the uke ;-) They're awesome little critters :-) But I can't play melancholic song on it, so I have decided to also learn guitar 🙂
@@libelle8124 George Harrison is the only player I ever heard who made it sound like a real instrument. (I think Tiny Tim may have prejudiced me against ukes.)
@@jeffbosch1697 I tell you why I started uking ;-) . I'll be 58 years old later this year and I always wanted to learn an instrument. My mother, however, told me that we a family without a musical atom inside of us and I think she said that, because back then I wanted to learn the violin and she probably thought about me having to practise at home ;-) . Then came a time when I didn't have the time, then forgot all about and a few months ago I woke up thinking this is what I'll do today, I'll learn to play an instrument. So I looked up what was realistic to learn in my age and among the few was the ukulele :-) . Once I started I just couldn't stop smiling, as they sound so quirky. Having said that, I also found them a bit limiting, they sort of lack in drama and you're right that George Harrison was great on the uke. I now have three of these little critters. They sort accumulate. A bit like the Tribbles :-) and they sound a bit like them, too :-)
I found an old nylon string at an antique mall. Payed $12.50 for it. No markings, no numbers, has a floating fretboard. It has the most amazing tone! Ended up putting a fishman mic inside.
Its Phenomenal that its in as good of shape as it is. This is a crazy find I think it speaks to the excellence of craftsmanship that it's still as in tact as well as it is.
In the 80s my former son in law did repairs on stringed instruments for his family music retail store. A customer brought in a Gibson that had a 1918 sticker inside. The guitar looked much like yours but was in very good condition other than that it needed fret and neck work. This was well before cell phones with cameras so no pictures were taken.
Jeremy, you should get a bore scope for such occasions. My buddy got one from harbor freight and we use it when working on cars and stuff, it's not a tool you use often but when you need it it's really handy.
Everytime I see one of those old Gibson archtops I always hope that it belongs to Robert Johnson, considering it went missing in the mid 30s when he died. Beautiful guitar.
I just picked up from a family member a 1926 Martin. Was easy to date cause of the serial number. I suspect in the US such guitars would be easier to stumble upon, out here rather unusual. 😎👍
I have my grandpas 1930 L-0. I took ownership of it in 1968. The case had already fallen into pieces. Recently, I replaced the machine heads as the plastic had dried out and fallen off. I’ve added a pickup to it and it plays beautifully. The neck is straight as an arrow. It’s beautifully constructed. It’s all mahogany and sound beautiful.
I have a 1928 Dobro in its original case and that case looks just like that on the outside the guitar has been in the family since it was new and all of us who play love that guitar
Such a nice guitar that just needs some help to get to play again. Very great to see it this worked on. 🎸👍👏🏻 And seeing the person it is going to, is nice, also.
It's an L-3, & yes someone has put Sealed Geared Tuners on it which are actually a huge upgrade for this Guitar as they're alot sturdier & allow it to hold tune better.
Im almost exclusively an amp tech, but I repaired guitars in a shop for 10 years. We had a Gibson mandolin in for a refret, I don't remember the year but I remember is in the first few years of the 1900s. I was working on something, and the guy who owned the shop was at another bench heating the frets up with a soldering iron to loosen them before pulling them. I hear "F'ck" and see a flash out the corner of my eye. When I looked over I saw green flames engulfing the entire top of the mandolin. The lacquer was gummy from age and he held the soldering iron too long and hit the flashpoint, and woosh.
I also recently found on of these old Gibsons. Mine is an L-1 Flat top. My research says that a Gibson employee invented the truss rod in 1921. Since mine (and yours) has a truss rod cover, I assume it is and early 1920's model. Mine requires a new bridge, but otherwise is in pretty good shape. I still have the original tuners, but no case. I can't wait to get it playable again.
This past winter I stumbled upon a 50 year old Harmony H165 at a thrift store for $10. It had a pinless bridge but I'm a lefty player so drilling out wider holes on the treble side was a no-go, so I eventually flipped it for $30 and used that to buy a decent Ibanez which was already discounted. And the shop that got the Harmony can clean it up and put a $200 price tag on it and hope for the best. Win-win.
I instantly click on this clip as soon as I see the thumbnail. I love to see some old piece of instrument come back to life. Especially guitar cuz I love me some good six strings on the crafted out wood. I also just subbed to you as well man.
I had a privilege in the 80s. In LA on Sunset Blvd. opposite GuitarCenter there were several shops. One was called vintage guitars. The owner showed me a Gibson from the late 18:00s with a snail headpiece much like a violin, and the neck was very much triangular. O will never forget! I'd love the hear a comparison with a parlor from this year!
I'm not a guitar guy, but my buddy showed me this I thought gidson was like frigerator stuff, well I got a banjo with the Gibson logo on the top thing in a box very old it was in the attic were cleaning, I almost tossed it a banjo! But it dats 1926, and I think the tuney thing broke one they put one down on neck, the Kool thing is the backing is like seal skin or lamb idk. I got it hanging over my fire place. It's no way a guitar like that so just a banjo! Thank you!!
Gave my son my Granpas old Gibson archtop... It was an L4 with a white label discrepancy... I was told it was a 1916... The appraisal guy called it a 41...I don't know but that 4 was really nice...00 thin with the archtops and back around the edges
You mentioned the neck. I love the neck on really old guitars. There was a recent period where everybody was clamoring for thin, round. necks, thinking they were "faster" somehow, and we're stuck there
Very cool - I made a replacement pickguard for a 1930’s Gibson L-30 archtop. Material came from StewMac and I found photos to give me the shape of the missing guard. This one could be traced for shape.
Holy crap! I bet the tone on that is rich and deep. I got a 1938 archtop Gibson and due to war scrap metal drives it has no trussrod but sounds great. If only it could speak...Good luck on your work.
What a great find. I hope it gets played and not hung up as art (which it is) Over 100 years bringing music to the world should continue for that very interesting piece.
I do. I have a banjo that belonged to my grandfather. The case is not quite that beat up but it definitely shows it's age. I don't know how old the banjo is but I'm looking to restore it.
I'm thinking, in order to fit those Shcallers on there, they might have had to widen the holes, which opens up a whole knew can of worms if you want to restore it back to the original tuners. If that's the case, Idk... Cool 110 year old little strummer just the way it is. Amazing.
My grandfather's saxophone case sort of looks like that... I did fall on my bike while carrying it though... but the alligator faux skin is definitely shredded.
What a beauty, the sound is the big deal ! These old guitars really sing and sustain forever. The neck is likely still straight and playable. I just found a 30s Regal on craigslist for 175.00 with the original case too. Great video,keep em comin,thanks
I have always been drawn to guitars but could never get my hands and fingers to stretch across 6 strings (I have really small hands and short fingers). I was handed down a guitar and was discouraged that I wasn't able to play like I expected to be able to (it now hangs on the wall for aesthetic purposes in our loft/nook). One day I was searching online and ran across a ukulele and decided to purchase it. After a week of playing I have fallen head over heals for this small and quaint instrument. Having only 4 strings meant the width of the neck is small enough for me to wrap my fingers around. If you're like me and want to play but have small hands too, I highly recommend picking up a ukulele! You won't regret it!
A friend of mine needed a case for his guitar. He saw this old black man in a parking lot where people often has yard sales and he had a case for sale. He asked the guy about it and the guy quoted him $25.00 but he had to take the guitar in it. The guitar was a very old Gibson that the top and binding had come loose at the rear of the guitar. No cracks on top or bottom. My friend was the repair guy. He reglued the top and binding and the guitar played great. I offered the guy his money back and to buy him a new case. He still has the old Gibson and case.
2 years ago I found my grandpa's old guitar... From what he told me this Guitar had almost 60 years, at first when I found it it was horrible, cracked in the side and quite difficult situation to clean, but still managed (with the help of some professionals) to get it fixed, best thing I could do, only after i found out how it actually meant a lot also to my dad
I found a 1908 The Gibson. With a wood belly and a oval sound hole. Even the case had a belly shape to it. I needed money in 1975 so I traded it for $600.00 and a new Ovation.
Are you sure it’s an L-3? Usually they have another inlay on the peghead. Also looks like the heel is cracked. It’s definitely from the mid 1920’s, there would have also been ivoroid binding on the neck which seems to be missing. Sad that it has so many issues but your friend seems to like it! Those Sperzel tuners have got to go - Stewart Macdonald has very good replacements that would be more appropriate.
The instrument that i am talking about had a full blown v neck made from spanish ceder. Three on a stick tuners,big ebony floating adjustable bridge, brass trapeze tail piece,oval sound hole,and the gibson inlaid on the head stock.
There should be a number stamped on the neck block inside the guitar. Even with the label gone you should be able to date it with that Factory Order Number (FON). The truss rod assuming it is original would date it as post 1922 and I believe that the logo on the peg head not slanted might make it even later. This is a very maltreated guitar even if you want to call it mojo. I have seen some teens guitars that were in excellent shape. Still it could be fun for some one to play and love but the market value is pretty low. This would be considered to be in poor condition. Then again we can appreciate the history just to think of who played it and what they played on it. Post the FON and I can tell you the date it was shipped from Gibson.
I watch this video and so many things come to my mind. On the one hand, when I bought a second hand Gibson SG in a pawn shop and, I realized, how clear the angle, between the neck line and the body's profile line was, I mean, I held the instrument and it was as if a violin builder, adapted the way violins neck and body are attached and introduced that technique to the process of making guitars, my first conclusion was that, if the first classic guitars were made in Spain then, those Spanish builders, probably, little or nothing knew about building violins or mandolins (which might mean a long disconnection between Spain and the rest of Europe). On the other hand, the guitar evolution (from classic nylon stringed acoustic guitars, metal stringed acoustic guitars and, finally, electric guitars) makes me believe that, at the beginning, those first acoustic nylon stringed guitars might be conceived as "chill-out" instruments (for they didn't have enough volume to be heard by a massive audience, whereas, as soon as the first guitars arrived in the USA, the instrument started being played not for relaxing, but for making people dance...
I wish I had kept my 1966 Gibson G35 but it was the most uncomfortable guitar I ever played because I bought it from a Baldwin piano store and they didn't set it up and the action was so high and my uncle talked me into selling it with the case that came with it for 100 dollars. He literally gave me a dry screw without a kiss. He adjusted the action and sold for thousands of dollars.
Nice vid... Thanks for sharing. I'm a former guitar maker. That would be glued with Hide glue. The cracks indicate humidity shift. I'm guessing it's moved around the country, or maybe even further afar. If the fingerboard was fitted in a humid environment that would account for the FB shrinkage and cracks on the soundboard and back. The binding looks like a repair. Is he going to have the cracks repaired?
Wow! Always interesting to hear such old guitars in good quality)) Think this one is in proper hands now P.S. It's 2022 and Gibson still uses crappy tuners that almost everybody replaces)) Tradition!
Yep, me too. I wonder if the even still exist. I would some good $ to buy back now. One I gave to a new player needing a guitar to play on and learn. Had a Mosrite Ventures model
At one time my cousin had a luthiers shop,and had always been a master carpenter and begin to make and repair guitars. In his collection of parts and pieces of musical instruments he had a very old gibson archtop somewhat like this one ,that was disassembled. He had obtained it from the collection of mr. Clifford biltz of evansville indiana. His ex brother in law bought the instrument from him and we took it to seymore indiana to the home of retired gibson luthier and tech mr. Ron Paton. He said that it was hand carved out of European pear wood and he was about 98 percent sure it was carved by Orville gibson himself. He was contracted to put the instrument back together and make it playable. He put a light honey sunburst finish on it . The finish hurt the originality of the instrument ,but not the sound. The paticular instrument i am referring to now resides in new orleans in the hands of a professional blues and jazz master.
When you said "The right guitar will find you." You were speaking the absolute truth. The same goes for Dogs and golf clubs. It doesn't seem to work that way with women though, at least in my experience.
My friend Guy played tenner bingo would use some bingo cords different gage strings and bango tuning when playing guitar ironically he is 108 years old hope he gets to see this video could have learned on one like it😊
I have a 1911 L3. With all the original Tortoise tailpiece and Pickguard. Sounds just like this one. All patents on the Tortoise. I'm not above selling this. I'm in Tennessee. Contact if interested.
It’s crazy to think that this guitar is so old that by the time les Paul’s came out this still would have been considered vintage
it's crazy to think that this guitar was made a year before les paul himself was even born
It's crazy enough to think that Adolf Hitler was still alive and well, while probably not being a huge fanatic yet. But here's another one: Radium Paint was "safe" for you, despite being known to at least cause burns since 1901. It's crazier that the last Radium Watch Factory by "Luminous Processes Inc." closed in *1978.*
You might guess that I just got done reading "The Radium Girls" book. Ah, history, how both beautiful and also vapidly chasing the fog you are as a whole.
Hitler's economic theory, which was the basis of his world view, his anti-semitism, and his decision to pursue politics in the direction he did, was probably already at least in development during WWI. He was a member of the national socialist party, was part of the bier hall putsch, and he published Mein Kampf in 1925. @@101Volts
Not crazy, just maths! They wouldn't of even had RUclips back then either!
8:39 yeah! you did it!
You opened the case and changed the strings!
We are all so proud of you too.
Dad? Is that you?
@@JeremySheppard😂
:)@@Munchable420
@@JeremySheppard
That Gibson reminds me of Robert Johnson
Makes me think about how many old guitars out there that no one even knows about. Just sitting in an old house somewhere. Makes me want to go out and look for old abandon house and search them lol.
A good way to get arrested.
@@kipawbrey4750 Buzz kill
I have this recurring dream of walking down a side street to some walk-down storefront resale store,
where they just happen to have a secret room FULL of vintage instruments. I feel like a teenager in a liquor store!
Exactly. 🙂 It became literally a treasure hunt.
Yeah inherited or fallen in the hands of people that don’t understand what they have.
I have a 1924 Gibson. The fretboard is worn on the lower frets. It still sounds great. I gave it to my dad who is a self taught luthier for restoration. You should hook up with him. Steve Reid who owns Mr. Reid's Workshop in Independence Kansas. He also teaches people to build guitars at the local college.
Ancient guitars just seem to have their own souls, don’t they? The stories they could tell… hearing this old girl sing again was wonderful. It’s the sound of a bygone era.
The Schaller Tuners were probably a result of tuning stability with the old tuner rotting,For playability and stability was the best choice to make,as far as reselling value was completely detrimental in Value.But it was made to be played,not stared at lol Thank you for the Content!
Jeremy I made a thin wall brass bushing for little E on my 36 National. It lightly pressed into ferell and took up slop between post and ferell. It stays in tune and didnt permanently modify anything. Great videos Sir!
Robt.Johnson had a 1929 Gibson L-1.However,i think in his recordings he uses a very new Kalamazoo discount guitar(1936 maybe)
I understood the story that the Kalamazoo was Robert's, and the Gibson in recording. I don't care which one of us is accurate, only which story is accurate.
the gibson was only used for the photo & was not RJs.
i believe it was someone at the recording or photo studio. I did read it somewhere so it is documented.
For what it’s worth, Kalamazoo guitars were made by Gibson so it wasn’t just some cheap guitar. They were definitely more “affordable”, but it was still a quality instrument.
They are still excellent instruments I have one Kalamazoo arch-top guitar
It's a beast
I lived right by the original Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Beautiful smokestack still remains and some of the Gibson folks reformed into Heritage.
I own a 1917 L1. This one has the same vintage bluesy sound as mine. Love it!
Definitely, it would not be a a mistake to remove those locking tuners and put a set of period accurate reissue there. The guitar does have mojo. Great find.
I totally agree
Yep. Stew Mac to the rescue.
Or fix the origonals
@@JeremySheppard sounded really cool. It had a great tone different for sure from modern gutairs.
You should fix them. many times it doesn't make sense fixing tunner because it will be more expensive than a great set but about this guitar or any guitar that you love makes sense.
The sound of that guitar at its age and the fact that it’s an arch top is absolutely amazing!
I love what you said there: "Guitars are cool and they will find you". There must be truth in it. I started playing ukulele not so long ago and decided to also take on learning guitar. A few weeks of searching for the right one for me brought no result and last week a guitar has found me. A handmade one from a luthier, who built it after a deposit for somebody in 2016, but that was the last the luthier heard of it. Even though the price was reduced by more than half, as a none-refundable deposit had already been made on order, it still costs me more than twice of what I had initially thought of, but it's worth it for me. It's a parlour guitar with cherry wood back and sides and spruce top. Perhaps that is why it hasn't yet found it's person. Parlour guitars don't look as cool as cool as a dreadnought on stage. Unless, of course when George Harrison played one for "And I love her" and as a bonus, my parlour guitar is the only one of its kind 🙂
I'm so happy you've found it 🥰
This is a cool story ☺️
The Gibson employee who made that guitar in 1914 couldn't have imagined the guitar would be in a RUclips video 108 years later.
Edit for the less intelligent: the point is how far technology has come in just 100 years, not the existence of youtube in 1914.
That's how time works
Yeah
He didn’t even imagine youtube lol
,
Exactly. I wonder where he's at now.
@@Jae_MaV I think he plays guitar in The Rolling Stones.
Let’s not forget that the wood this was made of was probably planted around 1500
good point!! so real!! I never thought that wood could be older than everyone watching this video!
Actually, I have something that’s getting there. A Guild D25 that my gf gave me for my 18th birthday in 1970. Sounds so rich. Beautiful ❤️
So awesome to see the history of all the items in the case! Super rad piece! Thanks for sharing this
Nice one. I have a 1923 L-Jr. I bough at a garage sale in '87. Plays and sounds amazing.
If that were my guitar, I would ditch the cheesy modern tuning pegs, and install period, retro tuners. I would also ditch all the electronics just to keep this old classic, well, classic. I would have also cleaned up all the wood with Murphy's Oil Soap, and polished it up nicely with wood polish; not to mention dress up the frets. And for that guitar, I would put silk and steel, light gauge strings on it. I have a 1958 Harmony archtop, with the trapeze tailpiece. I restored it to it's original condition. A lot of work. And now she's beautiful.
I think you're right! Especially about the silk and steels.
I don't think that guitar is worth a full restore. To do it right you could buy one in better condition. I hope he didn't pay too much it's a nice walk piece but if it gets played regularly I could see it falling apart. It is cool but it just goes to show some people will buy anything with the name Gibson on it.
@@captaintony1227 Well, I would restore it nicely, without spending too much on it, just for the historical, vintage value of it. Why let an old classic die and throw it in the trash when there still might be some life left in her?
@@bobblowhard8823 that'd be like using tissue to blow your nose, but since your snot didn't get to all corners, you save it for continued use...its old, yeah. I wouldn't look that good of I was born in 1914. But, let's not get it twisted here....it's not going to be going on tour anytime soon lol
John Lennon's mom, Julia, taught the young John and his Quarrymen friends how to tune four strings of the guitar with a banjo tuner. I assume they tuned the other two strings using the tuned ones as reference. Maybe it was a common practice, and could possibly explain the banjo tuner in the case.
Yes, that's right. I remember my oldest brother had a whistle of some sort and when one particular string was in tune, he tuned the other strings with this reference. I've tried that once with my ukulele and the result was hilarious :-)
@@libelle8124 Ukeleles can be tuned? 😀
@@jeffbosch1697 Don't underestimate the uke ;-) They're awesome little critters :-) But I can't play melancholic song on it, so I have decided to also learn guitar 🙂
@@libelle8124 George Harrison is the only player I ever heard who made it sound like a real instrument. (I think Tiny Tim may have prejudiced me against ukes.)
@@jeffbosch1697 I tell you why I started uking ;-) . I'll be 58 years old later this year and I always wanted to learn an instrument. My mother, however, told me that we a family without a musical atom inside of us and I think she said that, because back then I wanted to learn the violin and she probably thought about me having to practise at home ;-) . Then came a time when I didn't have the time, then forgot all about and a few months ago I woke up thinking this is what I'll do today, I'll learn to play an instrument. So I looked up what was realistic to learn in my age and among the few was the ukulele :-) . Once I started I just couldn't stop smiling, as they sound so quirky. Having said that, I also found them a bit limiting, they sort of lack in drama and you're right that George Harrison was great on the uke. I now have three of these little critters. They sort accumulate. A bit like the Tribbles :-) and they sound a bit like them, too :-)
way cool video. I have a 1914 Gibson mandolin. The old instruments sound so great. Keep the videos rolling.
I would have loved to see a complete restoration on this old beauty
It’s done! There’s a second video linked at the end and you can also search my channel for it.
I found an old nylon string at an antique mall. Payed $12.50 for it. No markings, no numbers, has a floating fretboard.
It has the most amazing tone! Ended up putting a fishman mic inside.
Its Phenomenal that its in as good of shape as it is. This is a crazy find I think it speaks to the excellence of craftsmanship that it's still as in tact as well as it is.
Incredible! What an amazing guitar! Love the sound. So glad I discovered your site! Absolutely fascinating. Thankyou! 👍
In the 80s my former son in law did repairs on stringed instruments for his family music retail store. A customer brought in a Gibson that had a 1918 sticker inside. The guitar looked much like yours but was in very good condition other than that it needed fret and neck work. This was well before cell phones with cameras so no pictures were taken.
Jeremy, you should get a bore scope for such occasions. My buddy got one from harbor freight and we use it when working on cars and stuff, it's not a tool you use often but when you need it it's really handy.
What a wonderful piece of history. Thanks for sharing with us.
Everytime I see one of those old Gibson archtops I always hope that it belongs to Robert Johnson, considering it went missing in the mid 30s when he died. Beautiful guitar.
I just picked up from a family member a 1926 Martin. Was easy to date cause of the serial number.
I suspect in the US such guitars would be easier to stumble upon, out here rather unusual.
😎👍
Jesus Christ loves you ❤️
"out here" are you somewhere near Mars? ,:)
@@ben2808 nah, he just wants your guitar
Maybe harder to stumble on in the U.S. They're so common that everybody knows what they're worth!
@@jgunther3398 generally when something is very common it's worth drops
I have my grandpas 1930 L-0. I took ownership of it in 1968. The case had already fallen into pieces. Recently, I replaced the machine heads as the plastic had dried out and fallen off. I’ve added a pickup to it and it plays beautifully. The neck is straight as an arrow. It’s beautifully constructed. It’s all mahogany and sound beautiful.
I have a 1928 Dobro in its original case and that case looks just like that on the outside the guitar has been in the family since it was new and all of us who play love that guitar
Such a nice guitar that just needs some help to get to play again. Very great to see it this worked on. 🎸👍👏🏻 And seeing the person it is going to, is nice, also.
It's an L-3, & yes someone has put Sealed Geared Tuners on it which are actually a huge upgrade for this Guitar as they're alot sturdier & allow it to hold tune better.
Jesus Christ loves you ❤️
Im almost exclusively an amp tech, but I repaired guitars in a shop for 10 years. We had a Gibson mandolin in for a refret, I don't remember the year but I remember is in the first few years of the 1900s.
I was working on something, and the guy who owned the shop was at another bench heating the frets up with a soldering iron to loosen them before pulling them. I hear "F'ck" and see a flash out the corner of my eye.
When I looked over I saw green flames engulfing the entire top of the mandolin.
The lacquer was gummy from age and he held the soldering iron too long and hit the flashpoint, and woosh.
I also recently found on of these old Gibsons. Mine is an L-1 Flat top. My research says that a Gibson employee invented the truss rod in 1921. Since mine (and yours) has a truss rod cover, I assume it is and early 1920's model. Mine requires a new bridge, but otherwise is in pretty good shape. I still have the original tuners, but no case. I can't wait to get it playable again.
I was wondering if there's a truss rod there or did someone just screw on a cover plate because of looks.
As it turns out it’s a 1926 L-3. Original truss rod.
This past winter I stumbled upon a 50 year old Harmony H165 at a thrift store for $10. It had a pinless bridge but I'm a lefty player so drilling out wider holes on the treble side was a no-go, so I eventually flipped it for $30 and used that to buy a decent
Ibanez which was already discounted. And the shop that got the Harmony can clean it up and put a $200 price tag on it and hope for the best. Win-win.
I love old Guitars. This Guitar is vintage and lovely.
I instantly click on this clip as soon as I see the thumbnail. I love to see some old piece of instrument come back to life. Especially guitar cuz I love me some good six strings on the crafted out wood. I also just subbed to you as well man.
Same, I love RUclips's algorithms sometimes
We are working on it. The restorer should have it by Christmas. I’m sure videos will follow!
thats literally a piece of history, im genuinely surprised your not wearing gloves just handling the case
From the first few notes ya could tell that ol Gibby had found its guitarist
Nice to see & hear
I had a privilege in the 80s. In LA on Sunset Blvd. opposite GuitarCenter there were several shops. One was called vintage guitars. The owner showed me a Gibson from the late 18:00s with a snail headpiece much like a violin, and the neck was very much triangular. O will never forget! I'd love the hear a comparison with a parlor from this year!
Love seeing your enthusiasm for these beautiful pieces of guitar history. Keep up the great videos pal. 👊
I'm not a guitar guy, but my buddy showed me this I thought gidson was like frigerator stuff, well I got a banjo with the Gibson logo on the top thing in a box very old it was in the attic were cleaning, I almost tossed it a banjo! But it dats 1926, and I think the tuney thing broke one they put one down on neck, the Kool thing is the backing is like seal skin or lamb idk. I got it hanging over my fire place. It's no way a guitar like that so just a banjo! Thank you!!
Gave my son my Granpas old Gibson archtop...
It was an L4 with a white label discrepancy...
I was told it was a 1916...
The appraisal guy called it a 41...I don't know but that 4 was really nice...00 thin with the archtops and back around the edges
Wow! I would LOVE that beautiful old guitar fantastic 😍
The people that made that guitar were born and raised in the 1800s that’s crazy
You mentioned the neck. I love the neck on really old guitars. There was a recent period where everybody was clamoring for thin, round. necks, thinking they were "faster" somehow, and we're stuck there
I also had a 1914 L1 also with original case. I loved it so much.
Very cool - I made a replacement pickguard for a 1930’s Gibson L-30 archtop. Material came from StewMac and I found photos to give me the shape of the missing guard. This one could be traced for shape.
I enjoyed watching this video, so very cool to see a century plus Gibby!
What a beautiful instrument! Gorgeous colour and shape. Shows the quality of the craftsmanship that’s contributed to it’s longevity.
Tune it down 1/2 or full step and use a lighter gauge strings on it to keep it from disintegrating.
It’s been fully restored. Good for another 100 years.
Holy crap! I bet the tone on that is rich and deep. I got a 1938 archtop Gibson and due to war scrap metal drives it has no trussrod but sounds great. If only it could speak...Good luck on your work.
What a great find. I hope it gets played and not hung up as art (which it is) Over 100 years bringing music to the world should continue for that very interesting piece.
I do. I have a banjo that belonged to my grandfather. The case is not quite that beat up but it definitely shows it's age. I don't know how old the banjo is but I'm looking to restore it.
I'm thinking, in order to fit those Shcallers on there, they might have had to widen the holes, which opens up a whole knew can of worms if you want to restore it back to the original tuners. If that's the case, Idk... Cool 110 year old little strummer just the way it is. Amazing.
My grandfather's saxophone case sort of looks like that... I did fall on my bike while carrying it though... but the alligator faux skin is definitely shredded.
What a beauty, the sound is the big deal ! These old guitars really sing and sustain forever. The neck is likely still straight and playable. I just found a 30s Regal on craigslist for 175.00 with the original case too. Great video,keep em comin,thanks
This is my dream guitar. Thanks for a great video.
Lite strings they didn't come with lite strings in 1914 . It is a nice sound sounding Guitar.
I have always been drawn to guitars but could never get my hands and fingers to stretch across 6 strings (I have really small hands and short fingers). I was handed down a guitar and was discouraged that I wasn't able to play like I expected to be able to (it now hangs on the wall for aesthetic purposes in our loft/nook). One day I was searching online and ran across a ukulele and decided to purchase it. After a week of playing I have fallen head over heals for this small and quaint instrument. Having only 4 strings meant the width of the neck is small enough for me to wrap my fingers around. If you're like me and want to play but have small hands too, I highly recommend picking up a ukulele! You won't regret it!
My wife and I own 3, including a Martin Iz Ukulele featured on this channel.
A friend of mine needed a case for his guitar. He saw this old black man in a parking lot where people often has yard sales and he had a case for sale. He asked the guy about it and the guy quoted him $25.00 but he had to take the guitar in it. The guitar was a very old Gibson that the top and binding had come loose at the rear of the guitar. No cracks on top or bottom. My friend was the repair guy. He reglued the top and binding and the guitar played great. I offered the guy his money back and to buy him a new case. He still has the old Gibson and case.
Daniel looked like a kid at Christmas time opening that guitar case. And I dont blame him one bit. Here is to another 100 years, Daniel!! (toast)
It`s Amazing !
Love it , he must be thrilled .
I know I would be !
Cheers Jeremy
I think it was Chet Atkins that said one time, that it takes a guitar 20 years to figure out it’s not a tree anymore.
2 years ago I found my grandpa's old guitar... From what he told me this Guitar had almost 60 years, at first when I found it it was horrible, cracked in the side and quite difficult situation to clean, but still managed (with the help of some professionals) to get it fixed, best thing I could do, only after i found out how it actually meant a lot also to my dad
I found a 1908 The Gibson. With a wood belly and a oval sound hole. Even the case had a belly shape to it. I needed money in 1975 so I traded it for $600.00 and a new Ovation.
Are you sure it’s an L-3? Usually they have another inlay on the peghead. Also looks like the heel is cracked. It’s definitely from the mid 1920’s, there would have also been ivoroid binding on the neck which seems to be missing. Sad that it has so many issues but your friend seems to like it! Those Sperzel tuners have got to go - Stewart Macdonald has very good replacements that would be more appropriate.
The restoration is nearly complete: it’s actually a ‘26 L-3.
The instrument that i am talking about had a full blown v neck made from spanish ceder. Three on a stick tuners,big ebony floating adjustable bridge, brass trapeze tail piece,oval sound hole,and the gibson inlaid on the head stock.
This guitar has that parlor guitar sound with out the parlor guitar look.....awesome looking guitar!!!
There should be a number stamped on the neck block inside the guitar. Even with the label gone you should be able to date it with that Factory Order Number (FON). The truss rod assuming it is original would date it as post 1922 and I believe that the logo on the peg head not slanted might make it even later. This is a very maltreated guitar even if you want to call it mojo. I have seen some teens guitars that were in excellent shape. Still it could be fun for some one to play and love but the market value is pretty low. This would be considered to be in poor condition. Then again we can appreciate the history just to think of who played it and what they played on it. Post the FON and I can tell you the date it was shipped from Gibson.
At least the L3 Archtop Jazz Guitar is still working despite it being 108 years old, but yeah this Guitar needs a new case.
Awesome save I just saved a 1932 Gibson L1! Picked it up for 350! I put 700 into it and she rips again
I watch this video and so many things come to my mind.
On the one hand, when I bought a second hand Gibson SG in a pawn shop and, I realized, how clear the angle, between the neck line and the body's profile line was, I mean, I held the instrument and it was as if a violin builder, adapted the way violins neck and body are attached and introduced that technique to the process of making guitars, my first conclusion was that, if the first classic guitars were made in Spain then, those Spanish builders, probably, little or nothing knew about building violins or mandolins (which might mean a long disconnection between Spain and the rest of Europe).
On the other hand, the guitar evolution (from classic nylon stringed acoustic guitars, metal stringed acoustic guitars and, finally, electric guitars) makes me believe that, at the beginning, those first acoustic nylon stringed guitars might be conceived as "chill-out" instruments (for they didn't have enough volume to be heard by a massive audience, whereas, as soon as the first guitars arrived in the USA, the instrument started being played not for relaxing, but for making people dance...
I wish I had kept my 1966 Gibson G35 but it was the most uncomfortable guitar I ever played because I bought it from a Baldwin piano store and they didn't set it up and the action was so high and my uncle talked me into selling it with the case that came with it for 100 dollars. He literally gave me a dry screw without a kiss. He adjusted the action and sold for thousands of dollars.
I think if my uncle had done that to me I wouldve punched him.
Nice vid... Thanks for sharing. I'm a former guitar maker. That would be glued with Hide glue. The cracks indicate humidity shift. I'm guessing it's moved around the country, or maybe even further afar. If the fingerboard was fitted in a humid environment that would account for the FB shrinkage and cracks on the soundboard and back. The binding looks like a repair. Is he going to have the cracks repaired?
Check out the restoration video that came out 5 months ago.
Wow! Always interesting to hear such old guitars in good quality)) Think this one is in proper hands now
P.S. It's 2022 and Gibson still uses crappy tuners that almost everybody replaces)) Tradition!
i think its cool to wonder where my old guitars are in the world, looking back on the ones ive sold or traded
Yep, me too. I wonder if the even still exist. I would some good $ to buy back now. One I gave to a new player needing a guitar to play on and learn. Had a Mosrite Ventures model
I let that Mosrite go without a thought. Just an old man that wishes he could play his old Friends again.
@@erneastersr8298 maybe one day !
7:23 Yeah we'd have to get a new Pickup for this Guitar, this one has a Short in it.
What an AMAZING find! Also... 12:13 - 13:38 Whoopsie in editing lol
Amazing find and such a player still!
At one time my cousin had a luthiers shop,and had always been a master carpenter and begin to make and repair guitars. In his collection of parts and pieces of musical instruments he had a very old gibson archtop somewhat like this one ,that was disassembled. He had obtained it from the collection of mr. Clifford biltz of evansville indiana. His ex brother in law bought the instrument from him and we took it to seymore indiana to the home of retired gibson luthier and tech mr. Ron Paton. He said that it was hand carved out of European pear wood and he was about 98 percent sure it was carved by Orville gibson himself. He was contracted to put the instrument back together and make it playable. He put a light honey sunburst finish on it . The finish hurt the originality of the instrument ,but not the sound. The paticular instrument i am referring to now resides in new orleans in the hands of a professional blues and jazz master.
When you said "The right guitar will find you." You were speaking the absolute truth. The same goes for Dogs and golf clubs. It doesn't seem to work that way with women though, at least in my experience.
Wow so amazingly priceless beauty.Hope you can fix that because it's so unique kind of guitar.not everyone can have that.
Just imagine if it turns out a famous musician had played on this 🤷♂️
My friend Guy played tenner bingo would use some bingo cords different gage strings and bango tuning when playing guitar ironically he is 108 years old hope he gets to see this video could have learned on one like it😊
Oh the story that piece would tell,I love the old ones too,don't get me wrong,but we have to respect our elders gentlemen, good day...
Sounds absolutely incredible ...the typical warm and soft acoustic guitar sound only Gibson have 😊
I guess I wasn't the only one to immediately think of Robert Johnson.
I love old guitars - just not rich enough to own any!
How can anyone not love a Gibson from back in the day?
I have a 1911 L3. With all the original Tortoise tailpiece and Pickguard. Sounds just like this one. All patents on the Tortoise. I'm not above selling this. I'm in Tennessee. Contact if interested.
Ill let you know what to do. Send it in for some restoration.
Already restored. New video up.
Wow I love the sound of that guitar
What an awesome guitar loved the vid
That guitar deserves a full restoration and refinish. Send it to Twoodford!
in my day a refinish would cut the value in half, no matter how bad the original was. maybe it's different now?
Thanks for the recommendation. The guitar ended up going to Nathaniel Wright, who will get it before Christmas. Videos to follow.
@@jgunther3398 - a restoration would hurt its value but this guitar has already been poorly restored, so a good restoration could increase its value
You should review CMG guitars made in the US. I hear great things about them. They are also affordable to more people unlike Gibsons.
I doubt anyone wants to know about CMG guitars.
I'd like to direct you to the Verlon Thompson video, The Guitar, a song written by Guy Clark. Fitting for us guitar hunters.