NMM 12352.  Guitar by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, 1936. Century Model HG-C (Century of Progress) (14-3/4″).  Factory Order Number 458B. John R. Barmeyer Collection, 2006. Although superficially similar to the L-C model, the HG-C, designed for playing Hawaiian music, is held on one’s lap, with the strings raised above the frets, the notes played by touching the strings with a steel bar. This example is notable for its one-piece back and the absence of a truss rod. The neck is shorter, but the bridge, soundhole, and fret board are lower on the body, so the string length is the same. The neck heel is significantly wider. Front, Side, and Back Views Inscriptions:  Inlaid in mother-of-pearl on headstock: Gibson Rubber-stamped in purple ink on neck block:  458B / 2 [written in red pencil] Tuner plates stamped: GROVER Front and Back Views of the Body Body:  Soundboard:  two-piece spruce:  fine grain broadening toward the flanks. Back:  one-piece, semi-slab-cut maple: irregular broad curl and blister figure. Ribs:  two-piece, slab-cut maple:  irregular broad curl and blister figure; reinforced on interior with linen strips at waist. Head:  mahogany veneered with white pearloid and T-shaped rosewood piece, bound in white celluloid with black celluloid purfling strip; rosewood inlaid with mother-of-pearl notched diamond and mother-of-pearl Gibson. Neck:  mahogany; integral with head; very wide heel. Fretboard, Front and Back of Peghead, Bridge Trim:  Heel cap:  none. Fingerboard:  white pearloid bound in white celluloid with black celluloid purfling strip; 19 nickel-silver frets; rosewood block inlays behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and 15th frets; three mother-of-pearl diamonds inlaid in rosewood blocks behind 3rd, 9th, and 15th frets; two mother-of-pearl diamonds inlaid in rosewood blocks behind 5th, 7th, and 12th frets; single imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 15th frets; double imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 12th fret. Nut:  bone. Bridge:  rosewood; non-angled bone saddle; abalone dots behind saddle between E- and A-strings and B- and E-strings; white plastic bridge pins. Tuners:  six chrome-plated steel Grover worm-gear machine tuners with decoratively cut plate outlines; white celluloid heads. Endpin:  white celluloid. Pick guard:  imitation tortoise-shell celluloid. Lacquer:  dark red-brown sunburst with fine craquelure. Neck Heel, Soundhole, and Pick Guard Inlay:  Binding:  white celluloid. Rosette:  three ply (white-black-white) celluloid purfling strips set in from inside edge. Back stripe:  none. End graft:  none. Interior:  Linings:  kerfed maple. Neck block:  mahogany with beveled edges. End block:  mahogany. Top bracing:  spruce X-brace, the joint of main cross brace reinforced with white cloth; transverse and finger braces with tapered ends; maple bridge plate. Back braces:  four spruce back braces with tapered ends, the two in the lower bout wider. Back graft:  spruce. Bottom Rib Measurements:  Total guitar length:  975 mm (38-3/8″) Back length:  492 mm (19-3/8″) Upper bout width:  259 mm (10-3/16″) Waist width:  213 mm (8-3/8″) Lower bout width:  375 mm (14-3/4″) Rib height (including edging) at heel:  88 mm (3-1/4″) Rib height, at waist:  98 mm (3-27/32″) Rib height, at end block:  111 mm (4-11/32″) Head length:  170 mm (6-11/16″) Head width, top:  76 mm (3″) Head width, bottom:  63 mm (2-15/32″) Neck length (nut to ribs):  313 mm (12-5/16″) Neck width, nut:  49 mm (1-15/16″) Neck width, heel:  57 mm (2-1/4″) Soundhole diameter:  103 mm (4-1/16″) Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge):  630 mm (24-13/16″) Return to Gibson Acoustic Guitar Checklist Go to Other Century of Progress Guitar and Mandolin Models   Mandolin by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, 1937. Century model A-C.   Guitar by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, 1938. Century Model L-C. National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2006 Most recent update: October 23, 2007 You are the 2,551st visitor to this page since September 7, 2006 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page