Gibson L-1 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1930)
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Item #6396
Gibson L-1 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1930), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cremona Brown Sunburst finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This model is a particularly rare and wonderful Gibson flat top, only produced for a brief period from 1929-31. This style of L-1 combines features from earlier and later eras into a unique package, with the elegant look of the 1920's Gibsons on a more "modern' larger 1930's flat-top guitar. The larger, less rounded body and X-braced top would be subsequently used on similar 14-fret models throughout the 1930's but the older hand-rubbed Cremona brown sunburst finish on the top and small script "The Gibson" logo were gone by 1932. These 12-fret L-1's also feature exceptionally light construction, even compared to mid-1930's examples. While we are partial to all pre-WWII Gibson flat tops we still find the L-1 from this year to be a particularly attractive looking-and great sounding-guitar.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 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 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar has been quite well-used and shows a noticeable amount of top wear but is in excellent playing condition. There is general finish wear overall; the small silkscreened "THE GIBSON" logo is partially worn through but still visible. The back of the neck was slimmed slightly a very long time ago and given a varnish coat so old it is hardly noticeable; there are a few small screw holes in the top from a period pickguard installation that heve been neatly patched. Other than these abberations the guitar is all original (including the openback strip Waverly tuners) except for a perfect recent refret with period style wire. This is a tremendous sounding guitar, with a huge tone both finger and flatpicked. The early 12-fret L-1 is one of our favorite Gibson flat tops; this one shows a lot of hard use but is still an exceptional instrument. Overall Very Good + Condition.
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This model is a particularly rare and wonderful Gibson flat top, only produced for a brief period from 1929-31. This style of L-1 combines features from earlier and later eras into a unique package, with the elegant look of the 1920's Gibsons on a more "modern' larger 1930's flat-top guitar. The larger, less rounded body and X-braced top would be subsequently used on similar 14-fret models throughout the 1930's but the older hand-rubbed Cremona brown sunburst finish on the top and small script "The Gibson" logo were gone by 1932. These 12-fret L-1's also feature exceptionally light construction, even compared to mid-1930's examples. While we are partial to all pre-WWII Gibson flat tops we still find the L-1 from this year to be a particularly attractive looking-and great sounding-guitar.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 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 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar has been quite well-used and shows a noticeable amount of top wear but is in excellent playing condition. There is general finish wear overall; the small silkscreened "THE GIBSON" logo is partially worn through but still visible. The back of the neck was slimmed slightly a very long time ago and given a varnish coat so old it is hardly noticeable; there are a few small screw holes in the top from a period pickguard installation that heve been neatly patched. Other than these abberations the guitar is all original (including the openback strip Waverly tuners) except for a perfect recent refret with period style wire. This is a tremendous sounding guitar, with a huge tone both finger and flatpicked. The early 12-fret L-1 is one of our favorite Gibson flat tops; this one shows a lot of hard use but is still an exceptional instrument. Overall Very Good + Condition.