Gibson L-3 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1924, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 79908, red sunburst varnish finish, birch back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
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.). This guitar is very clean with a superb unfaded finish and only minimal wear; the only real disturbance is footmarks on the top from where the bridge was mis-located for many years-otherwise it is very clean looking. There is virtually no visible playwear, but there is some likely polish-out work to the original varnish over much of the guitar. There is some work visible along the back/side seam on the treble side of the neck block, and a strip of newer kerfing there.The engraved-plate Waverly tuners are the originals but have been gold-plated at some point, an unusual if flashy modification! The original pickguard is missing, all the hardware is otherwise original and complete. A very fine playing and sounding example of a Loar-era small-body Gibson archtop-one of the nicer ones we have seen, complete with the OHSC. Overall Excellent Condition.
