Gibson uke, 1919 ?

Sofiane · Mar 9, 2021

Hi everyone,

I am interested by a vintage Gibson soprano ukulele.
I saw a beautiful one in a store in Paris, France.
The buyer says it is from 1919, I'm not conviced at all that it could be from this period.
In my opinion, It is at least 30 years younger.

Am I wrong ?

(It is my grandpa year of birth, so it could be an additional reason for buying it

)

lakesideglenn · Mar 9, 2021

You are correct you can tell by the logo on the headstock. I would guess late 40s early 50s

EDW · Mar 9, 2021

lakesideglenn said:
You are correct you can tell by the logo on the headstock. I would guess late 40s early 50s

Yes. I second that

SailingUke · Mar 9, 2021

Yep, the logo says newer.

NotJake · Mar 9, 2021

Here is a link to a site that shows the history of Gibson logos: https://www.vintageguitarprice.com/blog/2018/data_gibson_guitar_headstock_logo/ (If the link does not work, just search for Gibson logo history and you should find this or other relevant sites.) This specific site is referencing guitars but I think it was the same for other instruments. Note that apparently Gibson used "The Gibson" in its logo until approximately 1933.

There is an interesting article in the April, 2019 issue of Ukulele Magazine on the history of the Gibson Ukulele. (I am not sure if I can put a link to that article here, but it is easy enough to find.)

Sofiane · Mar 9, 2021

Thank you all for your feedback !
Here is the link to the merchants's website :

https://www.galerie-casanova.com/portfolios/gibson-ukulele-soprano-1919/

I emailed him and asked him to acknowledged his error.

EDW · Mar 9, 2021

You can get some info here

https://www.ukulelemag.com/stories/great-ukes-gibsons-ever-changing-ukuleles

If you search you can see significant differences in the stylings of the earlier instruments. The quickest giveaway is that the early ones said "The Gibson"

Sofiane · May 18, 2021

Thank you all for your answers and information.
I finally found a nice Gibson Style 1 from the 1920s in fair condition and very nicely playable.
I has 3 cracks in the back, one of them seems to need to be fixed.
The fretboard seems to be paited in black, I wonder if it is painted orginally by Gibson.
Anyway, here is a video sample
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcAY2qj7c64

hendulele · May 18, 2021

Very nice. I found one of that vintage a couple of years ago with a number of surface dings but no cracks. It plays so smoothly. The sound is very bright and chirpy. Love it. Enjoy yours!

Wiggy · May 18, 2021

Sofiane-

'The Gibson' has a nice round tone sounding much bigger than it is.

EXcellent playing!

-Wiggy

Gibson uke, 1919 ?

Sofiane

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lakesideglenn

Well-known member

EDW

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SailingUke

Uke legend in my own mind

NotJake

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Sofiane

Active member

EDW

Well-known member

Sofiane

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hendulele

Check your fleas

Wiggy

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