Gibson head luthiers

[jochemgr]

Thanks Trevor from saving this thread from obscurity! I believe it's Marvin Lamb, who later co-founded Heritage Guitars. I added him to the photoalbum on my Cafe profile a while ago but forgot to update this thread.

Updated list below, the ones with a * have a picture somewhere on these 4 pages.

Gibson F5 label signatories
Lloyd Loar (1922-1924) *
Stanley E. Rendell (1970-1975) *
Carl Spinoso (1976) *
Wilbur D. Fuller (1978) *
Richard J. Doan (1978-1981) *
Aaron Cowles (1978-1984) *
Herman Meints (1979-1980) *
Rick Brown (1980) *
Marvin Lamb (1980) *
Jerry Rowland (1981)
Jim Triggs (1986-1989)
Greg Rich (1989)
Steve P. Carlson (1986-1993) *
Bill Monroe (1991-1995) *
Phil Brug (1993-1994) *
Bruce D. Weber (1993-1997)
Larry Barnwell (1994-1995) *
Paul Schneider (1997-1998) *
Simeon C. Daley (1998-2001) *
Charles Derrington (1987-2005) *
Danny Roberts (2001-2005) *
Doyle Lawson (2003?)
Casey Q. Sullivan (2005-2007)
Ricky Skaggs (2007-2008)
David W. Harvey (2008-2015) *
Sam Bush (2012) *

I wonder how many names are still missing!

[Timbofood]

Trevor, I think that's Marvin Lamb as well

[KGreene]

According to Danny, during his tenure as "Mandolin Division Supervisor" and before Dave Harvey...only the Ferns and up were signed with some exceptions to custom work on other models. Since Harvey became the Division Supervisor, most are signed after inspection.

JMTCW.

[siminoff]

Jochemgr… It wasn't Marv. You are right that Marv was with Gibson and stayed in Kalamazoo to start Heritage Guitars with Rendall Wall and Jim Deurloo, but Marv didn't work in the mandolin shop and he never signed mandolin labels. I'll do more digging on that signature. Best to all… R

[Benski]

If the list above is including signers who weren't Gibson luthiers (e.g. Monroe, Lawson, Bush, etc.), then Bobby Osborne should be added. I had a 1996 F5L that was signed by both Bruce Weber and Bobby Osborne (see pics below).



Beyond mine, there are at least two other Bobby Osborne F5L's out there that were once listed at Gruhn's, one from 1993 (Carlson) and one from 1994 (Weber).

Cheers.

[siminoff]

Benski's comment that "… not all signatures were luthiers…." brought to mind that during Stan Rendell's tenure (1968-1976), he occasionally had various folks in the plant sign a label as a "thank you" for their service. I think the signature in question on that "April 2, 1980" mandolin (a page back) is that of Maurice McKlisch. Maurice was a maintenance guy at Gibson - he was NOT a builder. As I mentioned in a previous post, that instrument is pre-1978, and it could have been hanging around the plant (as many of them did) finally getting dated and released in 1980. Looking at how the date was written, it wouldn't surprise me if it was dated through the f-hole. And, of course Maurice's signature on the "president" line is silly because he wasn't president of Gibson at that time (or any time). A nice gesture that Stan made, but kind of ridiculous in the scheme of things. (And, it certainly complicates developing an accurate list of Gibson luthiers.) …R

[jochemgr]

If Stan Randell let various folks sign is there a chance it might be Marvin Lamb after all? That first name looks more like Marvin to me.

[MikeEdgerton]

That looks like Marvin Lamb to me.

[siminoff]

I've doubled back with Jim Deurloo, Rendell Wall, and Marv - and Marv did not sign any. …R

[Timbofood]

Thanks Roger, I was considering going down to the shop and asking Marv but, I am way too busy fiddling around on this site!

[MikeEdgerton]

Has anyone showed Marv that picture?

[Rick3628]

This clearly looks like a photoshop job...check the different colors and consistency of the inks.
Although I can't fathom why...

[Bernie Daniel]

It would be good to note that nobody was signing labels after Lloyd left until decades later.

Yeah I think there was a nationwide shortage of acoustical engineers,at least ones willing to move to Kalamazoo.

[travellerbytrade]

Interesting about Orville! Did he sign labels at all or did they just mention his name? I based it on the top tab on Mandolinarchive.com which says "Orville label 1900-1910".

Just found these two:
1981 Jerry Rowland - See Elderly current stock F-5L
1986 Jim Triggs - See Carter Vintage current stock F-5

That brings my rough list list to:
Orville Gibson (1900 - 1910)
Lloyd Loar (1923 - 1924)
Julius Bellson (1925 - ?)
Stanley E. Rendell (1970 - 1973?)
Arron Cowels (late 70s?)
Herman Meintz (1980)
Jerry Rowland (1981)
Roger Siminoff (?)
Jim Triggs (1986 - ?)
Steve Carlson (1986-1993) Bozeman
Dennis Balin (?) Bozeman
Phil Brug (199?) Bozeman
Larry Barnwell (1994 - 1995?) Bozeman
Bruce Weber (1994? - 1997) Bozeman
Charlie Derrington (2000 - 2004) Nashville
Danny Roberts (2004 - 2005) (signing since 2001) Nashville
Simeon Daley (?) Nashville
Casey Sullivan (2005 - 2007)
David Harvey (2008-)


Alan Jones (?)
Helen Beausoleil (?)
Paul Schneider (?)

Orville's title was 'superintendent,' the next super was George D. Laurian in 1907. Orville was back living in New York State by September of 1909. In my humble researcher's opinion, Orville would have never ever signed anything he didn't make himself...never...ever. He was like that.

I feel that when Lloyd Loar was hired, signing became a thing because he was the first person since Orville to have a public reputation that the company could take to the bank.

Documentation for the previous comments can be found in my (hopefully soon to be published) biography of Orville H. Gibson.

[Timbofood]

So Joyce, how many of O.H.G's instruments have you had the pleasure of inspecting? I have seen three, maybe four, time muddies memory.
I agree that he probably didn't sign anything that he had not built, very reasonable assumption.
I am ready for the book to come out! I want a signed copy!

[travellerbytrade]

So Joyce, how many of O.H.G's instruments have you had the pleasure of inspecting? I have seen three, maybe four, time muddies memory.
I agree that he probably didn't sign anything that he had not built, very reasonable assumption.
I am ready for the book to come out! I want a signed copy!

Only two, but I've seen detailed (inside and out) photographs of many. I'm ready for the book, too. It's been a long row to hoe.

[trevor]

"This clearly looks like a photoshop job...check the different colors and consistency of the inks.
Although I can't fathom why..."

Are you serious? If it was a photoshop job why do it that way?

[Benski]

Saw this today in an Ebay listing

[hank]

I lost touch with this thread and just caught up today. Here is Casey Q. Sullivan's signature in my April 2006 Goldrush, YellowBell. They got it right in this one. Thank you Mr. Sullivan. I posted a couple new photos on the Goldrush Facebook Registry.

[siminoff]

Jerry Rowland was a shaper operator (running the shaping machines that carved necks). He didn't build instruments nor did he work in any of the finishing departments. As I mentioned somewhere earlier in this post, Stan Rendall allowed various folks in the plant to sign labels as a courtesy for their involvement and efforts. (Sure doesn't help to keep track of who actually built instruments at Gibson.) Best regards to all… R

[dhmando]

Cool thread!
I actually started signing Gibson mandolins in the middle of 2007.
David Harvey
Master Luthier
Gibson Original Acoustic Instruments/Gibson Custom Shop

[hank]

I'm trying to imagine how much of the Master Model tuning Mr. Loar actually performed. The R&D photo of Loyd's work bench gives the impression that he did in fact have some hands on in the final tuning of his Master line of instruments as the signed labels inside states. Can we assume that he shop trained Gibson's luthier's to carve the proper graduations and recurve. Tuning of the plates and his tone bar bracing along with proper neck set for precise break angles most likely couldn't be taught solely in the classroom with details given in his Master Model drawings. It must have been quite a change in the methods from mandolin building to Stradivarius like plate tuning and bowed instrument neck angles. Mr. Siminoff's experience at teaching and training builders these methods both at Gibson and his luthier's classes makes him the most qualified person I can think of to accurately guess Mr. Loars active role in tuning besides signing the labels for sales purposes.

[jochemgr]

Thanks all for the input.. Below the updated list. Those with a * have a photo in this thread somewhere! There was an '81 F-5 signed by Donald Doans in the classifieds recently as well which I've added below too. The list keeps on growing!!

Lloyd Loar (1922-1924) *
Stanley E. Rendell (1970-1975) *
Carl Spinoso (1976) *
Wilbur D. Fuller (1978) *
Richard J. Doan (1978-1981) *
Aaron Cowles (1978-1984) *
Herman Meints (1979-1980) *
Rick Brown (1980) *
Marvin Lamb (1980) *
Donald L. Doans (1981)
Jerry Rowland (1981) *
Jim Triggs (1986-1989)
Greg Rich (1989)
Steve P. Carlson (1986-1993) *
Bill Monroe (1991-1995) *
Phil Brug (1993-1994) *
Bruce D. Weber (1993-1997) *
Bobby Osborne (1993-1996) *
Larry Barnwell (1994-1995) *
Paul Schneider (1997-1998) *
Simeon C. Daley (1998-2001) *
Charles Derrington (1987-2005) *
Danny Roberts (2001-2005) *
Doyle Lawson (2003?)
Casey Q. Sullivan (2005-2007) *
Ricky Skaggs (2007-2008)
David W. Harvey (2007-2015) *
Sam Bush (2012) *

[Timbofood]

"Head luthier" is a bit misleading given some of the signers.
Bill Monroe wasn't a luthier
Nor
Bobby Osborne
Doyle Lawson
Ricky Skaggs
Sam Bush

So it rather seems to me that this is not about whether or not they were luthiers but, more about simply who signed what label and when, isn't it?
I guess it's the contrarian in me.
Cool list no matter what you call it!

[MikeEdgerton]

"Head luthier" is a bit misleading given some of the signers.
Bill Monroe wasn't a luthier
Nor
Bobby Osborne
Doyle Lawson
Ricky Skaggs
Sam Bush

So it rather seems to me that this is not about whether or not they were luthiers but, more about simply who signed what label and when, isn't it?
I guess it's the contrarian in me.
Cool list no matter what you call it!

Agreed.