Gibson L-4C Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1954)
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Item # 12249
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Gibson L-4C Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1954), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-18011, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a lightly worn-in but fine playing mid-1950s example of a Gibson L4-C, a carved-top guitar with a 16" wide full depth body, midline appointments. This model is built with the company's distinctive sharp Florentine cutaway, rarely used on acoustic instruments. In essence it is an "unplugged" version of the ever-popular ES-175: the same size, body shape and with similar handling characteristics. The big difference is the L-4C's top is carved spruce instead of pressed maple, giving it a much fuller acoustic sound.
The L-4C also shares the 175's cosmetics, with a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, pearl crown headstock inlay, and triple-bound top. The Tuners are individual Kluson Deluxe with "tulip" buttons, the nickel plated tailpiece is the cast unit used on several midline Gibsons of the time. This example has the simpler style of carved rosewood bridge seen on many budget Gibsons from the 1930s, still seen into this period on some instruments.
The L-4C is surprisingly rare; all of 66 in sunburst were shipped this year (1954) and less than 800 in the entire decade of the 1950s. Despite some wear and minor touchups this remains a fine player's instrument, suitable for many playing styles with a strong woody tone and plenty of volume acoustically. The L-4C also takes well to amplification, very compatible with a DeArmond or similar floating pickup. The L-4C remains one of the sleepers of the Gibson archtop realm and a versatile and very player friendly guitar.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This just about 70 year old L-4C has seen some use and wear but has no issues as a playing guitar. The original finish shows generally fairly minor wear with scattered dings, dents and scratches overall. Several areas (most notably on the top) have a number of small touched-up spots, visible to the naked eye but more so under blacklight examination. There are no really large areas of finish loss but there are also touched in spots on the back of the neck (behind the 10-12th fret area) at the heel, the rim and one larger spot in the center of the back.
A jack hole has been plugged in the lower side; there are no other structural repairs. The hardware is original except for a well done repro pickguard and bracket. The tuners are the original Kulsoom Deluxe with repro buttons (the originals have often crumbled by now) and the casings have some surface corrosion. The tailpiece, simple-pattern rosewood bridge and even the endpin appear original.
The frets are original with some minor wear but still play well. While far from Gibson's top-of-the-line this is a fine instrument, light, handy and an excellent player with a lively and surprisingly versatile sound. It lives in the original brown HSC, overall solid with some old repairs and oddly scruffy spots to the pink lining. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a lightly worn-in but fine playing mid-1950s example of a Gibson L4-C, a carved-top guitar with a 16" wide full depth body, midline appointments. This model is built with the company's distinctive sharp Florentine cutaway, rarely used on acoustic instruments. In essence it is an "unplugged" version of the ever-popular ES-175: the same size, body shape and with similar handling characteristics. The big difference is the L-4C's top is carved spruce instead of pressed maple, giving it a much fuller acoustic sound.
The L-4C also shares the 175's cosmetics, with a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, pearl crown headstock inlay, and triple-bound top. The Tuners are individual Kluson Deluxe with "tulip" buttons, the nickel plated tailpiece is the cast unit used on several midline Gibsons of the time. This example has the simpler style of carved rosewood bridge seen on many budget Gibsons from the 1930s, still seen into this period on some instruments.
The L-4C is surprisingly rare; all of 66 in sunburst were shipped this year (1954) and less than 800 in the entire decade of the 1950s. Despite some wear and minor touchups this remains a fine player's instrument, suitable for many playing styles with a strong woody tone and plenty of volume acoustically. The L-4C also takes well to amplification, very compatible with a DeArmond or similar floating pickup. The L-4C remains one of the sleepers of the Gibson archtop realm and a versatile and very player friendly guitar.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This just about 70 year old L-4C has seen some use and wear but has no issues as a playing guitar. The original finish shows generally fairly minor wear with scattered dings, dents and scratches overall. Several areas (most notably on the top) have a number of small touched-up spots, visible to the naked eye but more so under blacklight examination. There are no really large areas of finish loss but there are also touched in spots on the back of the neck (behind the 10-12th fret area) at the heel, the rim and one larger spot in the center of the back.
A jack hole has been plugged in the lower side; there are no other structural repairs. The hardware is original except for a well done repro pickguard and bracket. The tuners are the original Kulsoom Deluxe with repro buttons (the originals have often crumbled by now) and the casings have some surface corrosion. The tailpiece, simple-pattern rosewood bridge and even the endpin appear original.
The frets are original with some minor wear but still play well. While far from Gibson's top-of-the-line this is a fine instrument, light, handy and an excellent player with a lively and surprisingly versatile sound. It lives in the original brown HSC, overall solid with some old repairs and oddly scruffy spots to the pink lining. Overall Very Good + Condition.