Gibson L-4C Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1953), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-17174, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
The L4-C is a fairly unusual 1950's Gibson mid-line carved-top guitar with a 16" body and the company's distinctive sharp Florentine cutaway-rarely used on acoustic instruments. It is essentially the equivalent to an "unplugged" version of the popular ES-175, the same size, body shape and with similar handling characteristics. It also shares the 175's cosmetics, with a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, crown headstock inlay and triple bound top. This sunburst L-4C is also surprisingly rare with only 12 shipped this year (1953) and less than 800 in the entire decade of the 1950's. This is a very fine player's instrument, suitable for many playing styles with a strong woody tone and plenty of volume. The L-4C one of the better-kept secrets of the Gibson archtop realm and a very cool guitar.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Nicely original condition overall; the finish shows moderately heavy use with small dings, scratches and fine checking, The most notable heavier wear spots are some deeper dings and scrapes on the back of the neck. All original except for a recent period-correct refret, all hardware remains intact including the oft-missing pickguard and tailpiece and a nice brown HSC. This is a great playing and wonderful sounding guitar, with an incisive yet warm tone. Excellent - Condition.
