Gibson L-30 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1937, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex chipboard case.
The mid-1930's L-30 is a fairly unusual Gibson but typical of its era, a small-body archtop guitar with plain trim but impeccable craftsmanship. This model was introduced in 1935, when the previously lowest-priced L-50 archtop was upgraded to the larger 16" body. During the Great Depression, instrument makers had to built affordable guitars or face extinction! The body pattern is actually quite similar to the contemporary L-0 flat top, but fitted with a carved F-hole soundboard. The earliest L-30's had a plain black finish overall, but by 1937 the model had been spruced up in brown sunburst regalia.
The body is single bound top and back with an unbound tortoise celluloid pickguard, adjustable ebony bridge and nickel plated tailpiece. The unbound rosewood fingerboard is inlaid with pearl dots, while the headstock features a white silkscreen Gibson script. Tuners are unplated brass Grover strips with celluloid buttons. These small-body Gibson archtops have a distinctive feel and sound with plenty of punch. While not as smooth-toned as their larger brethren are great for many period styles like blues, ragtime and jug band music and make surprisingly good fingerpickers. This guitar has a wonderful period addition: The name "HANK" is painted on the pickguard in mock-rustic lettering with an large cactus on one side and a southwestern desert scene on the other. This is beautifully executed and while it could be removed we'd think it a shame to erase this bit of the guitar's history. A really nice sounding amd playing 1930's carved-top guitar at an affordable price.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 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.). Two long back cracks repaired and back overfinished; all else original with general light play wear. Some small filled-in chips on the neck spine, likely from an old-style capo. A very good player with an unusually sweet tone for this style guitar. Overall Very Good + Condition.
