With the exception of the UB trapdoor banjo ukes, and the three late 1930s instruments made for export, I've only seen or heard of serial numbers on the UB-4 and UB-5 models produced by Gibson. I started compiling this list a couple of years ago to get an idea of how many banjo ukes Gibson made over the years. My original intent was to not include the UB models, but when I decided to put this list on the web site it seemed appropriate to list them also.

Undoubtedly there are many more Gibson banjo ukes that I don't know of. If you have one, information would be greatly appreciated for inclusion on this list.

Pre 1925

11159A-29 UB (trapdoor)
11192 A-45 UB (trapdoor

112224A-5 UB (trapdoor

1925

8079-14 UB (trapdoor)

1926

8457-5 UB-4 SN chalked on resonator and stamped in rim
8457-20 UB-4
8457-30 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator

8457-40 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator
8457-44 UB-4
8457-45 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator

8498-10 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator and rim
8498-13 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator
8498-15 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator
8498-30 UB-4 SN on rim and resonator
8498-46 UB-5 Gold plated. (this was described on a dealer's site as "refinished and replated" which begs the question, how can you tell that it isn't a UB-4 that has been gold plated?)

1927

8597-16 UB-4 SN on rim and resonator
8597-42 UB-4
8597-43 UB-5
8597-52 UB-4 SN on rim and resonator
8597-53 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on resonator
8597-84 UB-5 Gold plated; SN on rim and in two places on resonator

8597-96 UB-4
8695-89 UB-4
8818-19 UB-4
8818-24 UB-5
8818-83 UB-5

 

1928

8945-9 UB-5
8945-11 UB-5

1935

F380-16 UB-5
F380-25 UB-5 (the serial number and MADE IN THE U.S.A., indicating that it was made for export, are stamped on the back of the peghead)

1936

800-2 UB-5. Serial number in two places and "MADE IN THE U.S.A." label, per eBay seller.

1937 and later

F2046-4 UB-3 Short Scale, S. Africa Export Model; dot inlay
F2046-34 UB-3 Short Scale, S. Africa Export Model; dot inlay
F2046-76 UB-2 Short Scale, S. Africa Export Model; dot inlay

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