Gibson L-1 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1930)
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Item # 10237
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Gibson L-1 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1930), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 9756, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
"Spectacular" is really the only word for this one, simply the finest example of this model we have ever encountered, an exceptionally well preserved rare and wonderful Gibson flat-top, the 1929-31 L-1. This version of the model with a 12 fret neck was only produced for that brief period before being modified to a 14-fret design. This 1930 L-1 mixes features from earlier and later eras into a unique package, with the elegant look of the 1920s Gibsons on the larger body of a more "modern" 1930s flat-top guitar.
The nearly 15" wide, less round-bottomed mahogany body on this guitar was introduced in 1929 replacing an earlier, smaller design built on Gibson's 1910's L-1 archtop pattern. The X-braced spruce top was also a new addition, first employed around 1928 on this model. These features would continue to be used on large numbers 14-fret L-series guitars throughout the 1930s. This 1930 model retains the beautiful older-style hand-rubbed Cremona brown sunburst finish on the top and small script "The Gibson" logo on the headstock, both of which were gone by 1932. The stately look is further emphasized by the single layer white celluloid binding around the top and back, and a 3-ply soundhole ring.
These 12-fret L-1s feature *exceptionally* light construction, even compared to other pre-war Gibsons like the far more common mid-1930s examples. The X bracing is quite delicate, with thinner main braces than even Martin used at the time. The neck is very comfortable and surprisingly slim with a round "C" profile, worlds away from the heavy "V" that Gibson adopted for the 1933-39 L-series flat tops. The strings have more taper towards the bridge than many similar instruments making this model an ideal fingerpicking guitar.
While we are partial to all pre-WWII Gibson flat-tops, we find the L-1's from this period to be a particularly attractive-looking and always great-sounding guitars. These delicately built 12-fret 14 3/4" L-1s were made in fairly limited numbers, and few survive in as fine original condition as this one. At $50 they were fairly expensive for the time, and Gibson sales were blighted anyway by the deepening Depression.
Every L-1 from this period we have found has proved a gem, especially when in fine original condition like this one. The guitar is a truly miraculous survivor, in the very rare original hard shell case (which added considerably to the cost in 1930) with a (thankfully!) unused set of heavy-gauge Gibson Mona-Steel Hawaiian guitar strings, marked as a sample from the company. If the original owner had fitted them and left the guitar tuned to the old High a Hawaiian tuning it would NOT have survived in the same shape today! As it stands this is simply one of Gibsons finest, if relatively unsung, prewar instruments with a huge expansive but always focused sound for a small body instrument, a delight to play in any style.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is an exceptionally well-preserved example of this extremely lightly built instrument, quite the nicest we have had. There is some checking to the thin top finish but very little wear at all, just some tiny dings and dents. The finish remains deep, rich and very attractive, with a beautiful very subtle blend of colors in the 'burst on the top. The back and sides also have some small dings and dents but no serious wear.
There are no cracks anywhere (something of a miracle!) and notable alterations except the original bridge appears to have been lowered slightly long ago. This was prior to a neatly done neck reset, which left some subtle touched-up marks around the heel and fingerboard extension. Many of these early Gibson flat tops have been heavily rebuilt over the last nearly 90 years, this being a pleasant exception. Aside from the work related to the reset the finish is all original.
The original small rosewood bridge does not appear to have ever lifted or been reglued (which is another minor miracle on these) and the very thin maple bridgeplate (along with The rest of the interior) remains untouched original and unaltered. The top shows some slight arching which is de riguer on these; they were built with a slight arch to begin with. This one is completely solid with no ongoing movement or brace distress.
The frets are the original thin style wire surviving with virtually no wear; the original owner appears to have intended to play Hawaiian style. The flat-plate Waverly tuners are original and still shiny, and continue to work well. The guitar is in the original HSC, also quite clean with the extra strings, a small polish cloth and an old Hawaiian bar in a leather pouch. This is a truly a spectacular find 90+ years on, a great sounding playing flat top, superbly light and responsive and an exceptionally fine pre-war instrument. These early L-1's represent one of the finest fleeting moments in Gibson's long flat top history, a unique chapter that will never be repeated. They rarely survive into the 21st century looking, playing and sounding as good as this one. Excellent + Condition.
"Spectacular" is really the only word for this one, simply the finest example of this model we have ever encountered, an exceptionally well preserved rare and wonderful Gibson flat-top, the 1929-31 L-1. This version of the model with a 12 fret neck was only produced for that brief period before being modified to a 14-fret design. This 1930 L-1 mixes features from earlier and later eras into a unique package, with the elegant look of the 1920s Gibsons on the larger body of a more "modern" 1930s flat-top guitar.
The nearly 15" wide, less round-bottomed mahogany body on this guitar was introduced in 1929 replacing an earlier, smaller design built on Gibson's 1910's L-1 archtop pattern. The X-braced spruce top was also a new addition, first employed around 1928 on this model. These features would continue to be used on large numbers 14-fret L-series guitars throughout the 1930s. This 1930 model retains the beautiful older-style hand-rubbed Cremona brown sunburst finish on the top and small script "The Gibson" logo on the headstock, both of which were gone by 1932. The stately look is further emphasized by the single layer white celluloid binding around the top and back, and a 3-ply soundhole ring.
These 12-fret L-1s feature *exceptionally* light construction, even compared to other pre-war Gibsons like the far more common mid-1930s examples. The X bracing is quite delicate, with thinner main braces than even Martin used at the time. The neck is very comfortable and surprisingly slim with a round "C" profile, worlds away from the heavy "V" that Gibson adopted for the 1933-39 L-series flat tops. The strings have more taper towards the bridge than many similar instruments making this model an ideal fingerpicking guitar.
While we are partial to all pre-WWII Gibson flat-tops, we find the L-1's from this period to be a particularly attractive-looking and always great-sounding guitars. These delicately built 12-fret 14 3/4" L-1s were made in fairly limited numbers, and few survive in as fine original condition as this one. At $50 they were fairly expensive for the time, and Gibson sales were blighted anyway by the deepening Depression.
Every L-1 from this period we have found has proved a gem, especially when in fine original condition like this one. The guitar is a truly miraculous survivor, in the very rare original hard shell case (which added considerably to the cost in 1930) with a (thankfully!) unused set of heavy-gauge Gibson Mona-Steel Hawaiian guitar strings, marked as a sample from the company. If the original owner had fitted them and left the guitar tuned to the old High a Hawaiian tuning it would NOT have survived in the same shape today! As it stands this is simply one of Gibsons finest, if relatively unsung, prewar instruments with a huge expansive but always focused sound for a small body instrument, a delight to play in any style.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is an exceptionally well-preserved example of this extremely lightly built instrument, quite the nicest we have had. There is some checking to the thin top finish but very little wear at all, just some tiny dings and dents. The finish remains deep, rich and very attractive, with a beautiful very subtle blend of colors in the 'burst on the top. The back and sides also have some small dings and dents but no serious wear.
There are no cracks anywhere (something of a miracle!) and notable alterations except the original bridge appears to have been lowered slightly long ago. This was prior to a neatly done neck reset, which left some subtle touched-up marks around the heel and fingerboard extension. Many of these early Gibson flat tops have been heavily rebuilt over the last nearly 90 years, this being a pleasant exception. Aside from the work related to the reset the finish is all original.
The original small rosewood bridge does not appear to have ever lifted or been reglued (which is another minor miracle on these) and the very thin maple bridgeplate (along with The rest of the interior) remains untouched original and unaltered. The top shows some slight arching which is de riguer on these; they were built with a slight arch to begin with. This one is completely solid with no ongoing movement or brace distress.
The frets are the original thin style wire surviving with virtually no wear; the original owner appears to have intended to play Hawaiian style. The flat-plate Waverly tuners are original and still shiny, and continue to work well. The guitar is in the original HSC, also quite clean with the extra strings, a small polish cloth and an old Hawaiian bar in a leather pouch. This is a truly a spectacular find 90+ years on, a great sounding playing flat top, superbly light and responsive and an exceptionally fine pre-war instrument. These early L-1's represent one of the finest fleeting moments in Gibson's long flat top history, a unique chapter that will never be repeated. They rarely survive into the 21st century looking, playing and sounding as good as this one. Excellent + Condition.