Gibson L-1 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1923), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 11974 (FON), dark natural re- finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black chipboard case. This is far from the cleanest original small-body L-1 we have had, but it is a good player and one of the better sounding! It had an ancient semi-pro re/over-finish done long ago which is now well aged in, vintage looking if not absolutely authentic.
This model was the lowest priced guitar in Gibson's early 1920s line, but still had the company's trademark fully carved top and back. Intended originally primarily as accompaniment for Mandolin orchestras, these L-1 eventually saw use with early "Hillbilly" bands, vaudeville acts, and even a few primal jazz players before being re-designed as a flat-top instrument in 1926.
This L-1 was built in early 1923, the height of the "Loar Era" at Gibson. At the time it was an older design built on the small 1010s era 13 3/4" carved-top chassis. It does benefit from the improvements Gibson pioneered at this time, the adjustable truss rod, adjustable ebony bridge and metal-bar tailpiece replacing then old celluloid pin-block version. It was priced at $75; in the mid-1920's that was a lot of money for a guitar; a Brazilian rosewood Martin 000-28 could be had for just $2 more!
The 13 3/4" wide birch body has a carved back and carved spruce top; single bound top and back, and along the lip of the soundhole which is trimmed with plain wood double rings. The one-piece mahogany neck has a much slimmer soft V profile than earlier models and is topped with a bound, dot inlaid ebony fingerboard. The Loar-designed "snakehead" peghead is topped with an angled pearl "The Gibson" script logo.
At the time this L-1 was made most "good" guitars were still gut strung, Martin was only just beginning to offer steel string guitars at the low end of the line. The early Gibson archtops were totally unique in their day, louder and punchier than most contemporaries if somewhat lacking in sweetness. This more refined Loar-period L-1 leans in that direction, but plays well and has more breadth to the sound than some we have had. This is a worn in example makes a nice ragtime and early jazz guitar and slightly funky-but-chic veteran early Gibson.
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 century+ old guitar has seen some wear and re-working over the years but is still quite playable, if a bit scruffy looking. The body has a semi-pro re-finish on it that appears to be many decades old; there is wear just about everywhere both under and through it in many places. Some of the original stain remains in the wood underneath on the back and sides. The neck finish remains largely original, with some wear and overfinishing at the heel.
The center seam on the top has been resealed from back edge through to under the apex of the tailpiece, and the upper back has a glued and cleated grain split and a small screw hole has been filled by the treble side of the soundhole. There are no other visible crack repairs, although there are a few deep scratches. The original celluloid fingerboard binding has a few sealed splits.
The tailpiece and carved adjustable ebony bridge remain original, the tuners are early 1930s strips (as usually seen on period Gibson flat tops) and the pickguard is long gone. The original narrow frets have been crowned down quite a bit, almost to the tang in the lower positions but are still playable; the truss rod equipped neck is in good shape. This is a "real relic" for sure, worn in but vibey old small-body carved guitar, not the prettiest but offering a better sound than many. Overall Very Good Condition.
