Gibson L-00 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1936)
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Gibson L-00 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1936), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 949B-42 (FON), black lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a particularly cool looking black-finished 1936 L-00, a fairly rare variant of this perennial favorite design. The L-0/L-00 family were Gibson's most popular Depression era flat top in the 1930's and are still favorites today. While these models stood at the bottom of the company's guitar line in the 1930s, they are very well-designed instruments and still offer great value in sound. This example was built in 1936 (when the list price was $27.50, without the case) and while it shows some wear it still survive in overall nicely original condition.
The overall black finish is a less common feature on mid-1930s L-series guitars. This guitar carries a 1936 B-coded FON (Factory Order Number) recorded as part of a large triple batch of L-00s fairly late in 1936. Technically that year the L-00 was only offered in sunburst, but black ones like this do exist. The next year Gibson's catalog revived the L-0 designation for the black-finished version without back binding, offered at only $25. So, technically is this an early example of the "new" L-0? In actuality probably so, but according to Joe Spann's info gathered from Gibson's own shipping records the company considered it an L-00. Sometimes it seems like in some periods even Gibson themselves were not exactly sure of what they were making and selling!
The trim is fairly plain, but nicely sets off the ebony look. There is single-ply white celluloid binding around the top edge, which is also ornamented with a "firestripe" tortoise celluloid pickguard and a three-ply sound hole ring. The back and sides are finished in black and unbound, as is the fairly slim "V" profile neck with an unbound rosewood fingerboard. The headstock carries a white stenciled "Gibson" logo on the face and simple strip tuners. The original rosewood bridge does not have the reinforcing bolts with their pearl dot caps added soon after.
Whatever its official designation this model was a working-class standard of the day, a professional grade guitar at a price affordable to blues players, Hillbilly string bands, and many other itinerant musicians as well as Gibson's intended student customers. Each one of these guitars has its own character and this one is just a honey; powerful sounding and great for both finger- and flat-picking styles with a powerful ringing tone that never gets harsh. Many of these pre-war Gibson flat-tops have been heavily used and often amateurishly repaired while this one has sailed through nearly nine decades showing comparatively minor wear.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This beautiful ebony L-00 is a stunner to look at, as well as hear. The original finish shows some typical checking and general light play wear. There are fairly minor dings, dents and scrapes overall, the top has light pick wear off the front and back edges of the pickguard and as usual to the lower lip of the soundhole rim. The back of the neck has some capo chipping in the lower positions from the first through third fret area. The unbound back edge is worn through in a few spots and there is a deep dink on the lower side at the turn of the lower treble bout.
The neck has been neatly reset; one tiny split to the side just off the treble side of the heel caused by this is the only detectable crack repair. The original bridge was lowered slightly at some point but apparently never reglued. There is a newer bone saddle; the ebony nut appears original although refitted some point. Internally the guitar is very clean, and the original small maple bridgeplate is completely intact with perhaps a spot of extra glue along the front edge. The top is in excellent shape with only light arching behind the bridge.
The original tuners are in the case pocket; the guitar currently sports very nice Waverly-style reissue machines but the original could easily be re-installed. The bridgepins and endpin are later, and there is a strap button added to the upper treble side of the heel which could be removed if desired. The original small-wire frets have been crowned down a bit in the lower positions and light wear to the fingerboard but nothing that affects playability. The action is very comfortable and this is a fine playing and sounding instrument, a lovely example of the L-00 at its most dramatic looking with its ebony-and-firestripe look. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a particularly cool looking black-finished 1936 L-00, a fairly rare variant of this perennial favorite design. The L-0/L-00 family were Gibson's most popular Depression era flat top in the 1930's and are still favorites today. While these models stood at the bottom of the company's guitar line in the 1930s, they are very well-designed instruments and still offer great value in sound. This example was built in 1936 (when the list price was $27.50, without the case) and while it shows some wear it still survive in overall nicely original condition.
The overall black finish is a less common feature on mid-1930s L-series guitars. This guitar carries a 1936 B-coded FON (Factory Order Number) recorded as part of a large triple batch of L-00s fairly late in 1936. Technically that year the L-00 was only offered in sunburst, but black ones like this do exist. The next year Gibson's catalog revived the L-0 designation for the black-finished version without back binding, offered at only $25. So, technically is this an early example of the "new" L-0? In actuality probably so, but according to Joe Spann's info gathered from Gibson's own shipping records the company considered it an L-00. Sometimes it seems like in some periods even Gibson themselves were not exactly sure of what they were making and selling!
The trim is fairly plain, but nicely sets off the ebony look. There is single-ply white celluloid binding around the top edge, which is also ornamented with a "firestripe" tortoise celluloid pickguard and a three-ply sound hole ring. The back and sides are finished in black and unbound, as is the fairly slim "V" profile neck with an unbound rosewood fingerboard. The headstock carries a white stenciled "Gibson" logo on the face and simple strip tuners. The original rosewood bridge does not have the reinforcing bolts with their pearl dot caps added soon after.
Whatever its official designation this model was a working-class standard of the day, a professional grade guitar at a price affordable to blues players, Hillbilly string bands, and many other itinerant musicians as well as Gibson's intended student customers. Each one of these guitars has its own character and this one is just a honey; powerful sounding and great for both finger- and flat-picking styles with a powerful ringing tone that never gets harsh. Many of these pre-war Gibson flat-tops have been heavily used and often amateurishly repaired while this one has sailed through nearly nine decades showing comparatively minor wear.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This beautiful ebony L-00 is a stunner to look at, as well as hear. The original finish shows some typical checking and general light play wear. There are fairly minor dings, dents and scrapes overall, the top has light pick wear off the front and back edges of the pickguard and as usual to the lower lip of the soundhole rim. The back of the neck has some capo chipping in the lower positions from the first through third fret area. The unbound back edge is worn through in a few spots and there is a deep dink on the lower side at the turn of the lower treble bout.
The neck has been neatly reset; one tiny split to the side just off the treble side of the heel caused by this is the only detectable crack repair. The original bridge was lowered slightly at some point but apparently never reglued. There is a newer bone saddle; the ebony nut appears original although refitted some point. Internally the guitar is very clean, and the original small maple bridgeplate is completely intact with perhaps a spot of extra glue along the front edge. The top is in excellent shape with only light arching behind the bridge.
The original tuners are in the case pocket; the guitar currently sports very nice Waverly-style reissue machines but the original could easily be re-installed. The bridgepins and endpin are later, and there is a strap button added to the upper treble side of the heel which could be removed if desired. The original small-wire frets have been crowned down a bit in the lower positions and light wear to the fingerboard but nothing that affects playability. The action is very comfortable and this is a fine playing and sounding instrument, a lovely example of the L-00 at its most dramatic looking with its ebony-and-firestripe look. Overall Excellent - Condition.