Description: Gibson HG24, HG22, HG20 flat top guitars
Available: 1931 to 1933.
Collectibility Rating: the HG-24 with a 16" wide body and rosewood (or maple) back and sides is the more desirable of the three HG models. (the smaller HG-20 and HG-22 models have 14.75" wide with maple back and sides). None of the models are highly collectible, but are interesting historic pieces. This was the first Gibson model shown in catalog illustrations with a 14 fret neck (though L series guitars had a 14 fret neck first, a 14 fret neck was not shown in any Gibson catalog until the HG came along.) Also at the time this was the biggest guitar Gibson sold at 16" and 14.75" wide (bigger than any Martin for the period.) It was also Gibson's most expensive flat top at the time at $160 for the HG-24.

General Comments: These are rare odd guitars in that they have a normal flat top J-45 (or mini J45) jumbo body style with a round soundhole. But they also have an internal inner sound wall and four small "f" holes cut into the top. Though marketed as a Hawaiian guitar, nearly all were sold set up for Spanish style playing with frets (and an added high nut adjuster). But this was the beginning for the "J" style Gibson guitars, and what the Jumbo, Advanced Jumbo, J-35, J-45 started from, and I would love to find the HG24 model. Please contact me if you have one for sale.

If you need to figure out the exact year of your Gibson HG-24, HG-22, HG-20 guitar, use the serial number/FON. This is located inside the body's sound hole on a white paper label. See the Gibson Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year. Note that FON numbers seem to indicate 1931 as the introduction year, no earlier. Also the Gibson price lists show late 1931 as the introduction of the HG models.

If you have a vintage Gibson HG guitar for sale, please contact me at cfh@provide.net

Using Joe Spann's book on Gibson FON numbers, here's a list of known Gibson HG models factory order numbers (not all inclusive.) Note there's not a lot of FONs listed as HG models.

1932:
• 160 = HG24
• 197 = HG22
• 209 = HG24
• 282 = HG20
• 283 = HG22
• 284 = HG24
• 302 = HG20
• 308 = HG22 tenor
• 318 = HG20
• 340 = HG20
• 358 = HG20
1933:
• 883 = HG-24

1931-1933 Gibson HG-24 guitar specs:

16" wide J-45 style body, maple (some rosewood) back and sides, spruce top, round sound hole, inner sound wall, two small and two large "f" holes in the top, 14 frets clear, single bound rosewood fingerboard slightly elevated off the top, single bound top and back, rectangle fingerboard or 5 multiple piece rectangle/dot inlays, gold Grover G-98 tuners, white serial number tag inside sound hole, sometimes has a pickguard (sometimes not), pearloid block fingerboard inlays, large fleur-de-lis peghead inlay, "the Gibson" peghead logo, rectangle pin bridge, natural or sunburst finish.

1931-1933 Gibson HG-22 guitar specs:

14.75" wide body, maple back and sides, spruce top, round sound hole, inner sound wall, two small and two large "f" holes in the top, 14 frets clear, sometimes has a pickguard (sometimes not), single bound top and back, unbound rosewood fingerboard slightly elevated off the top, dot fingerboard inlays, no peghead inlay, "Gibson" white paint logo, rectangle pin bridge, sunburst finish.

1931-1933 Gibson HG-20 guitar specs:

14.75" wide body, maple back and sides, round sound hole, inner sound wall, two small and two large "f" holes in the top, 14 frets clear, sometimes has a pickguard (sometimes not), single bound top, unbound back, unbound rosewood fingerboard slightly elevated off the top, dot fingerboard inlays, no peghead inlay, "Gibson" white paint logo, rectangle pin bridge, chocolate brown finish.