Gibson L-5 Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1947)
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Gibson L-5 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1947), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-1095, natural lacquer finish, Flame maple back, sides and neck, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a beautiful if well played early postwar Gibson L-5, one of the first ones made when production of these high-end carved-tops resumed in later 1947. The early 4-digit "A" serial number on the white "Artist" label dates to around November '47. No L-5's were registered as shipped that year but Gibson's immediate post-war records are fairly sketchy. This guitar may be one of the 49 listed as shipped in 1948. In any case they did not build a whole lot of these!
The multi-bound headstock still features the old 1930's script "Gibson" logo that was then just being discontinued, replaced by the then-new, now-familiar block logo. This is likely an old stock pre-WWII headstock veneers getting used up! The multi-bound, pearl-block inlaid fingerboard is ebony; some L-5's from this period used Brazilian rosewood instead, apparently around 1948-9 Gibson suffered an ebony shortage. The multi-bound top and subtly flamed maple back feature a beautiful deep shaded sunburst finish that has aged nicely over the binding to a lovely amber hue. The tuners are gold-plated Kluson Sealfasts with translucent celluloid "keystone" buttons, a feature in place since 1940. In this period the L-5 was placed second to the 18" Super 400 in Gibson's line, but many players have always preferred the easier to handle 17" body and it was then and now considered a top professional choice.
The top on this example is carved somewhat thinner than many period L-5's making for a very lively sound with plenty of power and projection. This is a truly splendid example of a late swing-era L-5, an excellent playing and sounding guitar and simply as classy as it gets. It is housed in the original 17" Geib case with a passel of ephemera including an old strap, a wide variety of vintage strings, two lovely photographs of a previous owner, and the little notebook listing all the songs he played. We love this material when it survives; it provides a human element to the story, and the previous owner(s) of this guitar obviously played it extensively but still treated it as a prized possession.
Overall length is 41 3/4 in. (106 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This nearly 80 year old guitar remains in very solid original condition both structurally and cosmetically, showing general wear from play but no major repair or alteration. There is some broad checking to the finish and scattered scuffing, dings, chipping and scrapes to the body, but really this is a relatively clean guitar for being obviously well played. The back of the neck has noticeable wear through the finish on both sides and some heavier dings behind the 8th fret area; it feels fantastic.
The original pickguard disintegrated some time ago; the gold plating on the instrument shows some fairly heavy wear from being shut up in the case while this was happening. The original pickguard binding edge has been re-used on a new tortoise celluloid center to create an excellent replica that already looks aged. All else on the guitar appears original; The tailpiece has tarnished noticeably, and the "Top buster adjustor" removed from the underside (the parts are in the case). The guitar has been refretted with appropriate wire and the fingerboard show some light residual wear.
There are no cracks or visible repairs. This guitar is a truly excellent player with a big, incisive sound that retains plenty of warmth underneath -- a true swing-era classic. In the original case is the above mentioned ephemera which tells the story of a guitar loved for decades, one that still has many more decades ahead of it. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a beautiful if well played early postwar Gibson L-5, one of the first ones made when production of these high-end carved-tops resumed in later 1947. The early 4-digit "A" serial number on the white "Artist" label dates to around November '47. No L-5's were registered as shipped that year but Gibson's immediate post-war records are fairly sketchy. This guitar may be one of the 49 listed as shipped in 1948. In any case they did not build a whole lot of these!
The multi-bound headstock still features the old 1930's script "Gibson" logo that was then just being discontinued, replaced by the then-new, now-familiar block logo. This is likely an old stock pre-WWII headstock veneers getting used up! The multi-bound, pearl-block inlaid fingerboard is ebony; some L-5's from this period used Brazilian rosewood instead, apparently around 1948-9 Gibson suffered an ebony shortage. The multi-bound top and subtly flamed maple back feature a beautiful deep shaded sunburst finish that has aged nicely over the binding to a lovely amber hue. The tuners are gold-plated Kluson Sealfasts with translucent celluloid "keystone" buttons, a feature in place since 1940. In this period the L-5 was placed second to the 18" Super 400 in Gibson's line, but many players have always preferred the easier to handle 17" body and it was then and now considered a top professional choice.
The top on this example is carved somewhat thinner than many period L-5's making for a very lively sound with plenty of power and projection. This is a truly splendid example of a late swing-era L-5, an excellent playing and sounding guitar and simply as classy as it gets. It is housed in the original 17" Geib case with a passel of ephemera including an old strap, a wide variety of vintage strings, two lovely photographs of a previous owner, and the little notebook listing all the songs he played. We love this material when it survives; it provides a human element to the story, and the previous owner(s) of this guitar obviously played it extensively but still treated it as a prized possession.
Overall length is 41 3/4 in. (106 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This nearly 80 year old guitar remains in very solid original condition both structurally and cosmetically, showing general wear from play but no major repair or alteration. There is some broad checking to the finish and scattered scuffing, dings, chipping and scrapes to the body, but really this is a relatively clean guitar for being obviously well played. The back of the neck has noticeable wear through the finish on both sides and some heavier dings behind the 8th fret area; it feels fantastic.
The original pickguard disintegrated some time ago; the gold plating on the instrument shows some fairly heavy wear from being shut up in the case while this was happening. The original pickguard binding edge has been re-used on a new tortoise celluloid center to create an excellent replica that already looks aged. All else on the guitar appears original; The tailpiece has tarnished noticeably, and the "Top buster adjustor" removed from the underside (the parts are in the case). The guitar has been refretted with appropriate wire and the fingerboard show some light residual wear.
There are no cracks or visible repairs. This guitar is a truly excellent player with a big, incisive sound that retains plenty of warmth underneath -- a true swing-era classic. In the original case is the above mentioned ephemera which tells the story of a guitar loved for decades, one that still has many more decades ahead of it. Overall Excellent - Condition.