Gibson L-48 Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1947-8)
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Gibson L-48 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1947-8), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 323-29 (FON), sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black chipboard case.
This is a well-played example of the humble L-48, Gibson's most basic archtop acoustic guitar. This model was as basic as it got, intended for student players and teaching studios. Like all such Gibsons, it was designed to play well so that once the young player got their hands on one they would never go back to a Harmony or Kay but be a branded "Gibsonite" for life! This proved a good strategy; in the later 1940s Gibson built these budget-friendly archtops in decent numbers. By the mid-50s the model declined as the "kids" had their heads turned by electrics and later in the decade the L-48 was vastly outsold by the likes of the Les Paul Junior!
The L-48 is a simple 16" laminated all-mahogany instrument with minimal trim, just single binding on the body, dot fingerboard inlay and a gold Gibson logo on the headstock. The neck is mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard and the typical round profile Gibson used in the 1950s, if a little slimmer than some. It does have the standard Gibson adjustable truss rod giving it a major advantage over most low-budget competition in the 1940s. This one has a factory order number that suggests it was built in 1947, with the later "modern' Gibson logo just being adopted at the time on the headstock.
The hardware is typical for Gibson in the period. This is a well-played example of this usually unsung guitar, not the cleanest but a good played and one of the nicer sounding L-48s we have had.
Overall length is 40 3/8 in. (102.6 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 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 nearly 80 year old guitar has seen a lot of use but still plays quite well and sounds better than many might expect. The all-original finish has a lot of typical wear with fairly heavy checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall and some light moisture wear and flaking. The back of the neck has slightly ragged wear through the finish in the lower positions and small dings and dents overall. There is fairly heavy chipping to the headstock edges. The top has a few very small inconspicuous screw holes added, possibly the remains of some ancient electrification attempt.
The tuners are modern repros, the tailpiece later vintage style and the pickguard is long gone. The adjustable rosewood bridge and truss rod cover remain original. The original frets have been recrowned and are fairly low but still play well. This early post-war Gibson won't replace anyone's L-5 or D'Angelico but is a good knock around archtop ready to gig, an easy player with a bright but full sound. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a well-played example of the humble L-48, Gibson's most basic archtop acoustic guitar. This model was as basic as it got, intended for student players and teaching studios. Like all such Gibsons, it was designed to play well so that once the young player got their hands on one they would never go back to a Harmony or Kay but be a branded "Gibsonite" for life! This proved a good strategy; in the later 1940s Gibson built these budget-friendly archtops in decent numbers. By the mid-50s the model declined as the "kids" had their heads turned by electrics and later in the decade the L-48 was vastly outsold by the likes of the Les Paul Junior!
The L-48 is a simple 16" laminated all-mahogany instrument with minimal trim, just single binding on the body, dot fingerboard inlay and a gold Gibson logo on the headstock. The neck is mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard and the typical round profile Gibson used in the 1950s, if a little slimmer than some. It does have the standard Gibson adjustable truss rod giving it a major advantage over most low-budget competition in the 1940s. This one has a factory order number that suggests it was built in 1947, with the later "modern' Gibson logo just being adopted at the time on the headstock.
The hardware is typical for Gibson in the period. This is a well-played example of this usually unsung guitar, not the cleanest but a good played and one of the nicer sounding L-48s we have had.
Overall length is 40 3/8 in. (102.6 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 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 nearly 80 year old guitar has seen a lot of use but still plays quite well and sounds better than many might expect. The all-original finish has a lot of typical wear with fairly heavy checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall and some light moisture wear and flaking. The back of the neck has slightly ragged wear through the finish in the lower positions and small dings and dents overall. There is fairly heavy chipping to the headstock edges. The top has a few very small inconspicuous screw holes added, possibly the remains of some ancient electrification attempt.
The tuners are modern repros, the tailpiece later vintage style and the pickguard is long gone. The adjustable rosewood bridge and truss rod cover remain original. The original frets have been recrowned and are fairly low but still play well. This early post-war Gibson won't replace anyone's L-5 or D'Angelico but is a good knock around archtop ready to gig, an easy player with a bright but full sound. Overall Very Good + Condition.