Gibson L-2 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1925), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 78479, natural lacquer finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard.
Here's one we don't see that often...a just post-Lloyd Loar mid-1920's "snakehead" example of Gibson's small midline archtop, the L-2. At the time this guitar was built, Gibson had just re-introduced the L-2 archtop�only to discontinue it again the next year! Needles to say, this is a relatively rare guitar. Soon enough Gibson's budget guitars would all be flat tops leaving these small-body archtops to fade into memory. This is a lovely little guitar nonetheless, with a natural amber top finish, double inlaid soundhole ring and the same hardware as the much fancier L-4. This one has all the Loar-improved features including an adjustable bridge, slimmer truss rod equipped neck and elegant "snakehead" peghead. These smaller-bodied round hole carved top guitars have a bright and barky sound with plenty of volume, and remain as a charming reminder of the Gibson company's earliest periods.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/4 in. (616 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). A bit worn in but not abused, this little L-2 just passed its 90th birthday and is still going strong. There is finish wear overall including some pick scrapes into the wood on the top whre the pickguard used to be and finish worn off the back of the neck up to about the 3rd fret. The adjustable bridge and "string over" tailpiece are original, the tuners are new correct repros (just on the market!) and the pickguard looks to have been missing for decades. No cracks or visible repairs, the top is a bit flattened out under the bridge but is fully stable. The frets remain original insurprisingly good shape and the guitar plays very well. The outstanding thing about this one is the sound-bigger, brighter and with more "ring" than these small-body Gibson archtops usually offer-you can still hear the hand of Mr. loar in this one. Small, light and friendly this guitar works equally well as a fingerpicked ragtime machine, small "plectrum" jazz box or just general knock-around guitar. Not the cleanest perhaps, but one of the nicest players of this style guitar we have ever had. Very Good + Condition.
