Gibson L-00 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1934), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 935 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
The L-00 has always been one of Gibson's most popular Depression era flat-top guitars, then and now. While this model was at the bottom of the flat top line in the early/mid-1930's it still offered a great value in sound. This example was built in 1934 (when the list price was $27.50, without case) and while it shows some play wear but has survived better than many.
The top finish is a deep sunburst with a fairly small canter, typical of earlier '30's guitars. There is single ply white celluloid binding around the top edge, which is also ornamented with a "firestripe" tortoise celluloid pickguard and a three-ply soundhole ring. The back and sides are finished in dark mahogany, as is the "V" profile neck with an unbound rosewood fingerboard. The headstock carries a white stenciled "Gibson" logo.
This model was a standard of the day, a professional grade guitar at a price affordable to blues players, Hillbilly string bands and many other itinerant musicians, as well as Gibson's intended student customers. Each one of these guitars has its own character and this one is quite powerful both finger- and flatpicked with a chunky midrange and a substantial helping of high end.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). Overall this is a very nicely preserved early L-00, with some typical finish checking and wear but no major damage or repair. There is some fairly heavy pick wear around the soundhole, and lighter wear to the back of the neck in the first position. The rest of the all-original finish shows just smaller dings and scrapes. There are no visible crack repairs, the bridge is original -even the bridgepins-with a newer saddle and the neck set is excellent. The frets and fingerboard show light wear in the lower positions, but nothing serious enough to affect playability. There is a functional 3-point under-bridgeplate pickup installed with an endpin jack, and this is a very fine sounding example in ready-to-gig condition. Excellent - Condition.
