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The tables below mention the "GS Blue" case. I now know this was the Superior 2903 case.

I do not appraise. Please do not ask me what your banjo is worth - I don't know.

Model 11 (archtop, mahogany)

Date	US $	Model	Year	S/N	Inlay	Case	Notes
08/18/03	930	G 11 W	1981		Wreath	GS Blue
05/14/04	1,499	G 11 FE	1978	780078	Flying Eagle	GS Blue
09/14/04	1,145	G 11 HF	1980	800285	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
04/30/05	935	G 11 HF	1977	770401	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
01/24/06	1,350	G 11 W	1980	800326	Wreath	Semi-hard	Lightly played
02/24/06	1,127	G 11 HF	1978	780174	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Appears to have water damage in resonator and rim
01/13/07	986	G 11 W	1981	810307	Wreath	Hard	Very dull nickel
01/24/07	1,536	G 11 HF	1978	780174	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Resale of 2/24/06
02/06/07	935	G 11 W	1986	86.1.38	Wreath	Saga CP1530	Looks pristine
04/20/07	1,225	G 11 W	1977	770498	Wreath	GS Blue	Looks clean. Converted to flat head but original AT ring included in sale.
04/21/07	1,526	G 11 FE	1976	760287	Flying Eagle	Hard	Clean. D-tuners; original pegs included. Small s/n label.
12/01/07	1,085	G 11 HF	1979	790199	Hearts & Flowers	Saga CP1530	Well-played but good condition. Buckle mar on heel. Metal needs cleaning.
09/03/08	726	G 11 FE	1982	820026	Flying Eagle	Hard	Serious but fixable peghead break. Hard to tell condition from photos. Case shows rough wear.
10/30/08	999	G 11 HF	1981	810518	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Original Fifth String head. Metal looks very rough but wood finish looks clean. Photos bad. Owner reports pristine except for metal tarnish.
02/26/09	1,050	G 11 HF	1981	810518	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Now with Fiberskyn head, Snuffy Smith bridge, spikes. Seller claims metal cleaned but no evidence in photos. Original rim in; custom block rim provided in sale.

Model 12 (archtop, maple, natural finish, rosewood stripe in laminated neck)

Date	US $	Model	Year	S/N	Inlay	Case	Notes
01/23/04	1,198	G 12 W	1981		Wreath	unknown
02/12/04	1,250	G 12 HF	1978	780391	Hearts & Flowers	unknown (red)
03/10/04	1,282	G 12 HF	1984	84013x	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	D Tuners
04/04/04	1,250	G 12 HF	1983	830076	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Pittman Capo
05/08/04	1,080	G 12 HF	1983	830076?	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Pittman Capo
05/17/04	1,195	G 12 HF	1983		Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
02/28/05	1,175	G 12 W	1984	840168	Wreath	GS Blue
03/06/05	1,335	G 12 HF	1983	830076	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Pittman Capo
04/02/05	885	G 12 HF			Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
06/12/05	1,200	G 12 W	1980	800109	Wreath	GS Blue
08/11/05	1,100	G 12 W	1982	820058	Wreath	Original	Pristine; "un-played;" original head. I bought this one.
09/25/05	970	G 12 W	1980	800110	Wreath	Semi-Hard	D Tuners
11/28/05	1,404	G 12 HF	1983	830008	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
01/26/06	900	G 12 W	1984	840168	Wreath	GS Blue
08/21/06	1,425	G 12 W	1978?		Wreath	GS Blue	No serial number label.
09/25/06	1,026	G 12 W	1980	800110	Wreath	Hard	Clear head.
12/10/07	1,400	G 12 HF	1977	770425	Wreath	Original	No picture of case.
03/01/10	1,071	G 12 HF	1981	810092	Hearts & Flowers	Original	Clean except for some roughness and minor pitting on metal parts.

Model 20 (J. D. Crowe Signature Model, Gold Hardware)

Date	US $	Model	Year	S/N	Inlay	Case	Notes
11/07/04	4,161	G 20 JD	1981	810045	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
03/27/05	4,154	G 20 JD	1981	810028	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Pristine
04/27/05	3,600	G 20 JD	1981	810042	Hearts & Flowers	Hard
08/12/05	3,150	G 20 JD	1981	810015	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	D Tuners, 5th capo holes, buyer paid 5% PayPal surcharge over actual $3000 sell price
04/30/06	4,000	G 20 JD	1981	810056	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Looks to be in excellent shape.
10/07/06	3,481	G 20 JD	1984	84.5.44	Hearts & Flowers	unknown	Heel modified; worn plating
11/28/07	2,650	G 20 JD	1984	831232	Hearts & Flowers	none	Fingerboard wear. No case. S/N not confirmed.
09/12/09	3,500	G 20 JD	1981	810068	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Appears good. Armrest worn.

Model 85

Date	US $	Model	Year	S/N	Inlay	Case	Notes
03/23/04	1,125	GF 85	1979	790155	Leaves & Bows	GS Blue
10/18/04	910	GF 85	1985	850097	Leaves & Bows	TKL	G. Price sold Josh Smith's
01/10/05	995	GF 85	1985	850097	Leaves & Bows	TKL
02/09/05	949	GF 85	1985	850097	Leaves & Bows	TKL
07/09/05	806	GF 85	1985	85.5.18	Leaves & Bows	unknown	European Sale
08/14/06	615	GF 85	1985	85.19.15?	Leaves & Bows	Gibson	No truss rod cover; may be rough; poor photos
01/30/09	925	GF 85	1985	85.10.38	Leaves & Bows	Semi-Hard	Schaller D-tuners
02/26/10	820	GF 85	1982	8x004x	Leaves & Bows	GS Blue	Very clean for age. Serial number hard to make out

Model 100

Date	US $	Model	Year	S/N	Inlay	Case	Notes
08/03/03	1,475	GF 100 HF	1985	856004	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
11/17/03	1,275	GF 100 HF	1986	86305?	Hearts & Flowers	Hard
12/05/03	1,640	GF 100 HF	1985	850018	Hearts & Flowers	Hard
12/18/03	1,030	GF 100 HF	1980	800051	Hearts & Flowers	Hard
01/14/04	861	GA 100 HF			Hearts & Flowers	Hard	no s/n label, 80s
02/09/04	1,100	GF 100 HF	1986	86.3.11	Flying Eagle	unknown
03/16/04	1,375	GF 100 HF	1979	790439	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
05/24/04	885	GA 100 HF			Hearts & Flowers	unknown	no s/n label, resale of -3203
06/09/04	1,300	GF 100 FE	1986	86.1.20	Flying Eagle	Hard
06/12/04	1,425	GF 100 HF	1986	860156	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
07/17/04	710	GF 100 FE	1986	860175	Flying Eagle	GS Blue	Sanded neck
09/30/04	1,463	GF 100 FE	1979	790213	Flying Eagle	GS Blue	Shubb 5th capo
10/26/04	1,500	GF 100 HF	1985	850052	Hearts & Flowers	Hard
11/21/04	1,000	GF 100 HF			Hearts & Flowers	unknown
12/17/04	1,475	GF 100 FE	1985	850067	Flying Eagle	TKL	Keith tuners, new case
12/27/04	1,350	GF 100 HF	1984	840318	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue?
01/20/05	1,302	GF 100 FE	1980	800218	Flying Eagle	GS Blue
04/04/05	1,399	GF 100 HF	1983	830080	Hearts & Flowers	unknown
04/25/05	1,533	GF 100 W	1984	840147	Wreath	Semi-Hard
06/17/05	1,627	GF 100 FE	1979	790134	Flying Eagle	GS Blue
06/25/05	1,026	GF 100 HF	1980	800010	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	repaired neck crack, no case handle, 5th tunner glued
08/06/05	1,349	GF 100 FE	1986	860175	Flying Eagle	GS Blue	Refinished neck, new hooks
09/25/05	940	GF 100 HF	1980	800018	Hearts & Flowers	unknown	Headstock break
10/01/05	1,458	GF 100 HF	1986	860158	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Excellent condition, some pitting
10/10/05	785	GF 100 HF	1982	820051	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Severe pitting; possible moisture exposure
12/08/05	1,500	GF 100 HF	1981	810606	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Original owner sells; lightly used
12/13/05	1,200	GF 100 HF	1981	810280	Hearts & Flowers	Hard	Very clean
12/23/05	1,124	GF 100 FE	1979	790109	Flying Eagle	GS Blue?
01/22/06	700	GF 100 W	1983	830096	Wreath	GS Blue
02/06/06	1,328	GF 100 FE	1982	820076	Flying Eagle	Calton	Avg price even with Calton case
02/11/06	1,400	GF 100 HF	1978	780370	Flying Eagle	Semi-Hard	HF on s/n label; FE inlays. Randy Bartlett requested FE neck with original purchase in 1978. Factory-supplied that way.
08/13/06	1,250	GF 100 W	1984	840147	Wreath	Hard	See 04/25/05; $283 loss.
08/21/06	1,499	GF 100 W	1984		Wreath	Hard	Initials carved in Mastertone inlay.
08/23/06	810	GF 100 HF	1982	820061	Hearts & Flowers	Hard	Poor photos; sellers calls it "cosmetically challenged."
11/08/06	1,375	GF 100 HF	1981	810252	Hearts & Flowers	Superior	Keith tuners
02/07/07	1,779	GF 100 HF	1981	810041	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue
02/20/07	1,479	GF 100 W	1983	83.10.15	Wreath	unknown	Non-original tuners.
04/08/07	1,285	GF 100 FE	1982	820076	Flying Eagle	Hard	Pretty clean but could not see fretboard. Resale of 02/06/06, but changed hands.
05/12/07	1,241	GF 100 HF	1984	840271	Hearts & Flowers	S&S	Very clean.
06/08/07	1,200	GF 100 HF	1978	780123	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Very clean; Shubb capo.
09/02/07	833	GF 100 HF	1983	83.10.19	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Signs of wear. Non-original tailpiece.
09/03/07	910	GF 100 HF	1978	780255	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Price tailpiece; Shubb capo.
12/02/07	1,275	GF 100 FE	1979	790213	Flying Eagle	GS Blue	Excellent condition; may have some low fret wear. $200 loss after 3 years.
04/19/09	1,000	GF 100 HF	1979	790104	Hearts & Flowers	Hard	Appears in good shape; has Fiberskyn head
05/10/09	1,725	GF 100 W	1980	800222	Wreath	GS Blue	Some wear but looks pretty good. Astounding Price.
05/11/11	737	GF 100 HF	1986	860156	Hearts & Flowers	TKL	See 06/12/04. Now with Gotoh tuners; originals gone.

Model 200

Date	US $	Model	Year	S/N	Inlay	Case	Notes
02/14/04	1,795	GF 200	1985	85.10.09	Hearts & Flowers	unknown
11/21/04	1,476	GF 200	1985	85.1.08	Hearts & Flowers	unknown	Headstock crack repair
01/02/05	0	GF 200	1985	85.1.08	Hearts & Flowers	unknown	Did not sell; winner rejected it
01/06/05	1,000	GF 200	1985	85.1.08	Hearts & Flowers	unknown	BIN
06/06/05	1,350	GF 200	1985	85.1.08	Hearts & Flowers	unknown	BIN
01/26/06	1,700	GF 200	1984	84.12.08	Hearts & Flowers	Original	Headstock crack repair
12/12/09	1,450	GF 200	1985	85.5.13	Hearts & Flowers	Original?	Looks pretty good. Case questionable.

Model Hybrid (Neck & Pot do not match)

Date	US $	Pot	Year	Pot S/N	Neck Inlay	Case	Notes
10/07/04	1,145	G 11 HF	1981	810525	Wreath	unknown	HF on s/n label; wreath inlays
11/22/04	1,595	GF 100 W	1981	810360	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue?	W on s/n label; H&F inlays. Price seems high for hybrid.
12/01/04	630	unknown			Hearts & Flowers	none	GS neck; FQ AT Pot, heel repair. Unknown tone ring (FQ or GS?).
01/09/05	1,495	GF 100 W	1981	810360	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue?	W on s/n label; H&F inlays. Resale (see 11/22/04).
02/06/05	910	GF 100 W	1981	810360	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue?	W on s/n label; H&F inlays. Resale (see above).
02/10/05	1,000	G 11 HF	1981	810525	Wreath	TKL	HF on s/n label; wreath inlays
08/13/08	850	G 12 W			Wreath	unknown	No s/n label; flat head. Either a conversion or rim replaced. Neck shows heavy use. Unknown tone ring.
05/29/09	750	GF 100 FE	1978	780202	Hearts & Flowers	GS Blue	Original pot with contemporary Gold Star neck. Cam-style detuners. Case is rough. Heavy wear evident on armrest.
10/03/09	760	GF 100 FE	1978	780202	Hearts & Flowers	Recording King	See above. Very worn armrest. Ding on resonator. New D-tuners. May have undergone changes since May.

 

Gold Star Models by Serial Number

There are two types of serial numbers, one with dots and one without. It is widely assumed that the format without the dots means year-month-serial and, indeed, that even the fixed 6-digit format means the same thing. Another school of thought holds that the middle digits, whether delimited by dots or not, means a lot number. Paul Hawthorne suspected that the numeric format included the month and the dotted format a lot number, but he was never able to get firm evidence.

In addition, Hawthorne contended that Gold Star serial number labels were not affixed until the banjo left Saga's warehouse in California and that the leading two digits thus convey the date of sale, not the date of manufacture.

S/N	Family	Model
760287	11	G 11 FE
770401	11	G 11 HF
770425	12	G 12 HF
770498	11	G 11 W
780078	11	G 11 FE
780123	100	GF 100 HF
780174	11	G 11 HF
780202	Hybrid	GF 100 FE
780255	100	GF 100 HF
780370	100	GF 100 HF
780391	12	G 12 HF
790104	100	GF 100 HF
790109	100	GF 100 FE
790134	100	GF 100 FE
790155	85	GF 85
790199	11	G 11 HF
790213	100	GF 100 FE
790439	100	GF 100 HF
800010	100	GF 100 HF
800018	100	GF 100 HF
8x004x	85	GF 85
800051	100	GF 100 HF
800109	12	G 12 W
800110	12	G 12 W
800218	100	GF 100 FE
800222	100	GF 100 W
800285	11	G 11 HF
800326	11	G 11 W
810015	20	G 20 JD
810028	20	G 20 JD
810041	100	GF 100 HF
810042	20	G 20 JD
810045	20	G 20 JD
810056	20	G 20 JD
810068	20	G 20 JD
810092	12	G 12 HF
810252	100	GF 100 HF
810280	100	GF 100 HF
810307	11	G 11 W
810360	Hybrid	GF 100 W
810518	11	G 11 HF
810525	Hybrid	G 11 HF
810606	100	GF 100 HF
820026	11	G 11 FE
820051	100	GF 100 HF
820058	12	G 12 W
820061	100	GF 100 HF
820076	100	GF 100 FE
830008	12	G 12 HF
830076	12	G 12 HF
830076?	12	G 12 HF
830080	100	GF 100 HF
830096	100	GF 100 W
83.10.15	100	GF 100 W
83.10.19	100	GF 100 HF
831232	20	G 20 JD
84013x	12	G 12 HF
840147	100	GF 100 W
840168	12	G 12 W
840271	100	GF 100 HF
840318	100	GF 100 HF
84.5.44	20	G 20 JD
84.12.08	200	GF 200
850018	100	GF 100 HF
850052	100	GF 100 HF
850067	100	GF 100 FE
850097	85	GF 85
85.1.08	200	GF 200
85.5.13	200	GF 200
85.5.18	85	GF 85
85.10.09	200	GF 200
85.10.38	85	GF 85
85.19.15?	85	GF 85
856004	100	GF 100 HF
86.1.20	100	GF 100 FE
86.1.38	11	G 11 W
860156	100	GF 100 HF
860158	100	GF 100 HF
860175	100	GF 100 FE
86.3.11	100	GF 100 HF
86305?	100	GF 100 HF