Gibson L-1 Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1919)
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Item # 11673
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Gibson L-1 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1919), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, natural top, cherry stained back and sides finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, molded black plastic hard shell case.
This is a real veteran of a small-body L-1, the lowest priced guitar in Gibson's 1910s line. It has apparently had an eventful life but survives as a good playing and surprisingly fine sounding example. Although the bottom of the line when this one was made in 1919 the L-1 was still built with the company's trademark fully carved top and back. Originally intended primarily as an accompaniment instrument for Mandolin orchestras, these early small Gibson archtops also sometimes saw use with early "Hillbilly" bands, vaudeville acts, and even a few primal jazz players.
When this guitar was made in late 1919 the Gibson company was not yet 20 years old; they had achieved dominance in the mandolin market but the guitars definitely took a back seat until the later 1920s. The L-1 is built on a 13 3/4" wide birch body with a carved back and carved spruce top; the very chunky mahogany neck has a deep soft V profile and is topped with a bound, dot inlaid ebony fingerboard. The classic Gibson "open book" headstock is topped with a pearl "The Gibson" script logo. The hardware has all been changed on this guitar but the underlying instrument remains intact.
At the time this L-1 was made most "good" guitars were still gut strung, with steel strings regarded by many as cheap and vulgar on a guitar! The early Gibson archtops were totally unique in their day, louder and punchier than most contemporaries if somewhat lacking in sweetness. This small-body model definitely leans in that direction, but has more depth and breadth to the sound than some we have had. Overall this is a fine playing and sounding example, "Ragged but right" a nice ragtime, jug band and early country or jazz guitar with a funky-but-chic cool factor.
Overall length is 38 1/8 in. (96.8 cm.), 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This 104+ year old guitar (well past its centennial!) has seen some wear and tear over the years, and while no longer completely original remains quite playable. The very thin all-original varnish finish has noticeable overall wear with dings, dents and scrapes, most heavily to the top which has a decent size area of pickwear into the wood below the strings. The back of the neck has some finish worn down from play and minor dings and dents.
All the hardware is replaced; the tailpiece is a vintage Harmony-style stamped plate, the bridge a later generic adjustable ebony unit and the tuners are modern repros of 1950s style Klusons. There only notable repairs are a small sealed crack on the lower rim and the back/side seam has been resealed long ago in the tailpiece area. The frets appear to be the original thin wire, the fingerboard has a few small fills but the frets themselves have been lightly crowned without much subsequent wear. The sturdy pre-truss rod neck is surprisingly straight and true. This is a cool and funky old small-body carved guitar, not all authentically original but with a better sound than many and restorable with correct hardware if desired. As it stands it is a very playable relic of Gibson's early days, housed in a modern molded HSC. Very Good Condition.
This is a real veteran of a small-body L-1, the lowest priced guitar in Gibson's 1910s line. It has apparently had an eventful life but survives as a good playing and surprisingly fine sounding example. Although the bottom of the line when this one was made in 1919 the L-1 was still built with the company's trademark fully carved top and back. Originally intended primarily as an accompaniment instrument for Mandolin orchestras, these early small Gibson archtops also sometimes saw use with early "Hillbilly" bands, vaudeville acts, and even a few primal jazz players.
When this guitar was made in late 1919 the Gibson company was not yet 20 years old; they had achieved dominance in the mandolin market but the guitars definitely took a back seat until the later 1920s. The L-1 is built on a 13 3/4" wide birch body with a carved back and carved spruce top; the very chunky mahogany neck has a deep soft V profile and is topped with a bound, dot inlaid ebony fingerboard. The classic Gibson "open book" headstock is topped with a pearl "The Gibson" script logo. The hardware has all been changed on this guitar but the underlying instrument remains intact.
At the time this L-1 was made most "good" guitars were still gut strung, with steel strings regarded by many as cheap and vulgar on a guitar! The early Gibson archtops were totally unique in their day, louder and punchier than most contemporaries if somewhat lacking in sweetness. This small-body model definitely leans in that direction, but has more depth and breadth to the sound than some we have had. Overall this is a fine playing and sounding example, "Ragged but right" a nice ragtime, jug band and early country or jazz guitar with a funky-but-chic cool factor.
Overall length is 38 1/8 in. (96.8 cm.), 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This 104+ year old guitar (well past its centennial!) has seen some wear and tear over the years, and while no longer completely original remains quite playable. The very thin all-original varnish finish has noticeable overall wear with dings, dents and scrapes, most heavily to the top which has a decent size area of pickwear into the wood below the strings. The back of the neck has some finish worn down from play and minor dings and dents.
All the hardware is replaced; the tailpiece is a vintage Harmony-style stamped plate, the bridge a later generic adjustable ebony unit and the tuners are modern repros of 1950s style Klusons. There only notable repairs are a small sealed crack on the lower rim and the back/side seam has been resealed long ago in the tailpiece area. The frets appear to be the original thin wire, the fingerboard has a few small fills but the frets themselves have been lightly crowned without much subsequent wear. The sturdy pre-truss rod neck is surprisingly straight and true. This is a cool and funky old small-body carved guitar, not all authentically original but with a better sound than many and restorable with correct hardware if desired. As it stands it is a very playable relic of Gibson's early days, housed in a modern molded HSC. Very Good Condition.