Gibson L-50 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1933), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, spruce top, maple back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, gig bag case.
In the depths of the Great Depression Gibson had a pressing need to develop more affordable guitars; this unusually stout-looking round-hole archtop was one of the early results. Only available for a year or so centered around 1933, this first model L-50 was an unusual experiment with its squat, wide-waisted body and large round soundhole. Gibson soon moved on to more conventional F-hole designs, leaving this model as a rather unique oddity in the world of carved-top guitars. The single-bound top is braced with a combination of paralell and cross braces; the pickguard is glued to the top (rather than raised) and the tailpiece and bridge are typical for the period. The headstock carries a pearl Gibson logo; the neck carries the typical fairly sharp V contour of the period. The sound is punchy and surprizingly loud, with a thicker midrange than many smaller archtops. A cool piece of Gibson history and a good playing guitar.
Overall length is 38 1/4 in. (97.2 cm.), 14 9/16 in. (37 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.). Well-played overall, with general wear most notably to the top around the lower soundhole edge and in front of the pickguard. Quite a bit of finish is worn off the back of the neck. All original hardware except the tuners are 1940's wartime open-back Klusons with black buttons. There is a bit of top sink just under the fingerboard extension but the guitar is solid overall. A good little player with an unusual feel and sound. Very Good + Condition.
