bolero Posted April 10, 2019 Posted April 10, 2019 ask Johnny? *edit* well I guess that's not possible. I wasn't aware he'd passed away RIP
skydog52 Posted April 12, 2019 Posted April 12, 2019 I talked to Marv yesterday and asked him how many Johnny Smith models they made. He didn't really know. He called me back today after talking to Bill and he thought it was a little less than 50. Not exactly a concrete answer but a good guesstimate, if that's a word. Marv said they made a little over 100 Golden Eagle's. They where concentrating on that model a lot.
pressure Posted April 12, 2019 Posted April 12, 2019 When Gibsons we're making Johnny Smiths they also produced very few, some years just 2.
skydog52 Posted April 13, 2019 Posted April 13, 2019 Makes sense to me. That model has to have a lot of man hours in it and turns into a long build. Beautiful models!
funkapus Posted April 14, 2019 Posted April 14, 2019 I talked to Marv yesterday and asked him how many Johnny Smith models they made. He didn't really know. He called me back today after talking to Bill and he thought it was a little less than 50. Not exactly a concrete answer but a good guesstimate, if that's a word. Marv said they made a little over 100 Golden Eagle's. They where concentrating on that model a lot.I'm sorry, just to make sure I understand you: only ~50 Johnny Smiths, and only ~100 Golden Eagles, ever made by Heritage, from 1984 to the present day?Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
skydog52 Posted April 14, 2019 Posted April 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, funkapus said: I'm sorry, just to make sure I understand you: only ~50 Johnny Smiths, and only ~100 Golden Eagles, ever made by Heritage, from 1984 to the present day? Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk Yes. This is according to Marv Lamb and Bill Paige.
Gitfiddler Posted April 14, 2019 Posted April 14, 2019 That is an extremely low number of JS and GE model builds. The first run of Golden Eagles all had registration numbers in addition to their serial numbers. My '93 GE registration number is '363'. I always thought that represented the 363rd GE made. If only100 were made, then what does the registration number represent? Sorry for the slight diversion from the Johnny Smith topic.
ElNumero Posted April 14, 2019 Posted April 14, 2019 And only 20 Alex Skolnicks, to futher divert from the topic.
Spectrum13 Posted April 14, 2019 Posted April 14, 2019 2 hours ago, Gitfiddler said: That is an extremely low number of JS and GE model builds. The first run of Golden Eagles all had registration numbers in addition to their serial numbers. My '93 GE registration number is '363'. I always thought that represented the 363rd GE made. If only100 were made, then what does the registration number represent? Sorry for the slight diversion from the Johnny Smith topic. I thought they made a hundred with the eagle on the back of the headstock alone. Humans have less than perfect memories.
Steiner Posted April 14, 2019 Posted April 14, 2019 2 hours ago, Spectrum13 said: I thought they made a hundred with the eagle on the back of the headstock alone. Humans have less than perfect memories. My GE is #826. I could have sworn they numbered the first 1000 and then they made them without serial #s.
skydog52 Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Spectrum13 said: I thought they made a hundred with the eagle on the back of the headstock alone. Humans have less than perfect memories. Especially older humans. They where both guessing at it. I can see the around 50 Johnny Smiths. Around 100 Golden Eagles I don't know. We all know that book keeping wasn't one their best skills. Making Great Guitars was though.
funkapus Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 1 hour ago, Steiner said: My GE is #826. I could have sworn they numbered the first 1000 and then they made them without serial #s. Where is that number located? I have a 2003 GE with an eagle on the back of the headstock. Below the eagle, there's a three-line sticker-ish thing that says "Reg. No 869" -- is that what you're referring to? The label inside the soundbox just has the serial number, no other number.
Steiner Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 1 hour ago, funkapus said: Where is that number located? I have a 2003 GE with an eagle on the back of the headstock. Below the eagle, there's a three-line sticker-ish thing that says "Reg. No 869" -- is that what you're referring to? The label inside the soundbox just has the serial number, no other number. Yes. Although mine is built into an inlay. Just above the # is the eagle in my avatar.
High Flying Bird Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 7 hours ago, Steiner said: My GE is #826. I could have sworn they numbered the first 1000 and then they made them without serial #s. What year is yours? 12 hours ago, Gitfiddler said: My '93 GE registration number is '363'. I always thought that represented the 363rd GE made. Are you sure it is a 3 and not an 8? Those stencils sometimes are quite cryptic looking.
houndhome Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 My Golden Eagle is no.103 with the serial no. E00201 which I calculate is 30th December 1988. My understanding was that the first 1000 had a reg no. on the back of the headstock and I have seen photos of ones that havent got a reg no. so presumably were after the first 1000
Steiner Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 13 hours ago, High Flying Bird said: What year is yours? It's an "S", so, 2003 3 hours ago, houndhome said: My Golden Eagle is no.103 with the serial no. E00201 which I calculate is 30th December 1988. My understanding was that the first 1000 had a reg no. on the back of the headstock and I have seen photos of ones that havent got a reg no. so presumably were after the first 1000 Agreed!
skydog52 Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 Well after hearing all this, I wondered about the misinformation I may have received. I reached out to Ren at the shop and asked him. He sent me this text. This sounds more like it: "Registration stopped at 1000 units. We kept them in production but they where not registered. Approx., maybe another 500 made with no Registration MOP engraved back plate on back of HD Veneer were made. I will also ask JD when he gets back from Hawaii, next week. If I am wrong I will let you know, if more or less. Good to hear from you. Stay well, and come and visit. It's been awhile and the shop has really changed." Ren Hope this helps. I will visiting the shop maybe Friday. Report to follow.
Gitfiddler Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 Thanks for checking further, Paul. The first 1,000 'Registered' GE's sounds more correct. The very limited number of those fine Johnny Smith models, however, makes it such a special archtop.
skydog52 Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 24 minutes ago, Gitfiddler said: Thanks for checking further, Paul. The first 1,000 'Registered' GE's sounds more correct. The very limited number of those fine Johnny Smith models, however, makes it such a special archtop. Thanks Tim. Sometimes when I'm talking to Marv on the phone he gets a little confused I think. Not listening or he can't hear me. His daughter has told me he doesn't always put that hearing aid in. Hell to get old. Glad we got it straightened out. I haven't been to the shop in awhile and look forward to visiting. The last time I was there I didn't recognize anyone there. Ren was out to lunch and I missed him. Great guy and fun to talk to. He has so many stories from his time with Gibson and Heritage.
Gitfiddler Posted April 15, 2019 Posted April 15, 2019 18 minutes ago, skydog52 said: Thanks Tim. Sometimes when I'm talking to Marv on the phone he gets a little confused I think. Not listening or he can't hear me. His daughter has told me he doesn't always put that hearing aid in. Hell to get old. Glad we got it straightened out. I haven't been to the shop in awhile and look forward to visiting. The last time I was there I didn't recognize anyone there. Ren was out to lunch and I missed him. Great guy and fun to talk to. He has so many stories from his time with Gibson and Heritage.
Hfan Posted April 20, 2019 Posted April 20, 2019 On 4/14/2019 at 2:35 PM, Gitfiddler said: That is an extremely low number of JS and GE model builds. The first run of Golden Eagles all had registration numbers in addition to their serial numbers. My '93 GE registration number is '363'. I always thought that represented the 363rd GE made. If only100 were made, then what does the registration number represent? Sorry for the slight diversion from the Johnny Smith topic. FWIW there is a 95 Golden Eagle I've seen that is reg# 463 under the Eagle on the back and appears to be in an inlay.
Gitfiddler Posted April 20, 2019 Posted April 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Hfan said: FWIW there is a 95 Golden Eagle I've seen that is reg# 463 under the Eagle on the back and appears to be in an inlay. Yes, mine is also a pearl inlay Reg. No. on the reverse of the headstock. I double-checked it for accuracy, and it is very clearly #363. If the '95 model you spotted is #463, that averages out to 50 Golden Eagles per year during that time period.
ironmike Posted April 21, 2019 Author Posted April 21, 2019 Thanks for the info ,all of you..I just bought another JS
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