Gibson L-4N Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1951)
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Item # 11272
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Gibson L-4N Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1951), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-9167, natural lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This 1951 Gibson L-4 N is a carved-top guitar with a 16" body and midline appointments, by this point the company's top quality F-hole instrument available in this body size. This one has the additional deluxe feature of a clear natural finish, always an upscale option at Gibson. The guitars ranked beneath this one (the L-50 and L-48) were considered student models, making the L-4 the only professional-grade choice in this smaller-body format. The next model up, the L-7 was a full 17" body instrument. The serial number on this guitar's old-style white oval label dates shipment to December 1951, one of only 75 sold that year. The non-cutaway L-4N was already headed for oblivion, the numbers quickly dwindling with the single final straggler shipped in 1955.
The L-4N has a carved solid spruce top, giving it a finer acoustic sound than many plywood alternatives of the time. The back (and probably the sides) is laminated maple. It shares cosmetic features with other period Gibsons in its price class including a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, pearl crown headstock inlay and a triple-bound top. The tailpiece is the heavy cast unit shared with the L-7 and a number of period electrics, the adjustable rosewood bridge and laminated Black/white celluloid pickguard are standard fittings as well. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners with tulip buttons are the earliest versions of this popular fitting, with the shaft totally enclosed by the casing.
This is not only a very attractive old Gibson archtop but a fine player's instrument, suitable for many styles with a strong but still sweetly woody tone. While not as flashy as many higher grade archtops the postwar L-4N is one of the better-kept secrets of the Gibson realm, a very versatile and just plain cool smaller-body archtop acoustic guitar.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/16 in. (8.4 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.).
Overall this 70-year-old guitar remains nicely original with some minor play wear and repair. There are a number of dings, dents and scratches to the top lacquer, but no heavy pick wear or large areas of loss. The back has some checking but very little wear. The sides appear to have been buffed out but not overfinished, likely due to several small cracks repaired on the upper rim below the waist. The back of the neck has a small spot of wear to the wood in the first position area, and a couple of small dinks. There is a factory "stinger" on the back of the headstock with no indication of and headstock distress.
There are no other crack repairs besides the small area on the upper side. All hardware is original. The carved top has sunk just slightly in the center but it and all bracing are solid; the neck angle is quite sharp so the bridge is raised fairly high, contributing to a lively sound. The guitar was recently refretted with period-correct wire and a new bone nut so is an excellent player, with plenty of volume but still a sweeter tone than many similar archtops. With its natural finish this is a very attractive and somewhat distinctive instrument, still housed in its original brown HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This 1951 Gibson L-4 N is a carved-top guitar with a 16" body and midline appointments, by this point the company's top quality F-hole instrument available in this body size. This one has the additional deluxe feature of a clear natural finish, always an upscale option at Gibson. The guitars ranked beneath this one (the L-50 and L-48) were considered student models, making the L-4 the only professional-grade choice in this smaller-body format. The next model up, the L-7 was a full 17" body instrument. The serial number on this guitar's old-style white oval label dates shipment to December 1951, one of only 75 sold that year. The non-cutaway L-4N was already headed for oblivion, the numbers quickly dwindling with the single final straggler shipped in 1955.
The L-4N has a carved solid spruce top, giving it a finer acoustic sound than many plywood alternatives of the time. The back (and probably the sides) is laminated maple. It shares cosmetic features with other period Gibsons in its price class including a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, pearl crown headstock inlay and a triple-bound top. The tailpiece is the heavy cast unit shared with the L-7 and a number of period electrics, the adjustable rosewood bridge and laminated Black/white celluloid pickguard are standard fittings as well. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners with tulip buttons are the earliest versions of this popular fitting, with the shaft totally enclosed by the casing.
This is not only a very attractive old Gibson archtop but a fine player's instrument, suitable for many styles with a strong but still sweetly woody tone. While not as flashy as many higher grade archtops the postwar L-4N is one of the better-kept secrets of the Gibson realm, a very versatile and just plain cool smaller-body archtop acoustic guitar.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/16 in. (8.4 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.).
Overall this 70-year-old guitar remains nicely original with some minor play wear and repair. There are a number of dings, dents and scratches to the top lacquer, but no heavy pick wear or large areas of loss. The back has some checking but very little wear. The sides appear to have been buffed out but not overfinished, likely due to several small cracks repaired on the upper rim below the waist. The back of the neck has a small spot of wear to the wood in the first position area, and a couple of small dinks. There is a factory "stinger" on the back of the headstock with no indication of and headstock distress.
There are no other crack repairs besides the small area on the upper side. All hardware is original. The carved top has sunk just slightly in the center but it and all bracing are solid; the neck angle is quite sharp so the bridge is raised fairly high, contributing to a lively sound. The guitar was recently refretted with period-correct wire and a new bone nut so is an excellent player, with plenty of volume but still a sweeter tone than many similar archtops. With its natural finish this is a very attractive and somewhat distinctive instrument, still housed in its original brown HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.