Gibson L-0 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1928, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, dark mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 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 1/4 in. (616 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). While perhaps not the prettiest example of this model we have had, this is definitely the best sounding small-body L-0 we have heard! The top has been cleanly refinished in a non-obnoxious way with a very thin varnish, leaving the grain mostly open-it is actually much lighter than the original lacquer and a good color match besides! The back, sides and neck retain the original dark mahogany lacquer; the face of the headstock appears original but the thin silkscreen "The Gibson" logo has been polished off. There are a number of sealed back cracks on the lower treble bout, but the top is remarkably completely intact with no cracks or repair. There is some internal re-gluing that is old and fairly sloppy, but all bracing is original and solid. The original bridge has been lowered and rounded down somewhat, with a small repaired crack on the bass side of the saddle. The tuners are correct style modern strip repros. This X-braced instrument has a much more even sound than the earlier versions of this iconic instrument, quite powerful but also considerable richer. This is a really neat, rare guitar and a "Robert Johnson" special much closer to the master's actual instrument than most guitars purportedly represented as such! Taking into account the top finish, we rate this overall Very Good + Condition.
