Gibson L-5N Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1941)
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Gibson L-5N Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1941), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 972xx, natural lacquer finish, flame maple back, sides and neck, spruce top, ebony fingerboard, period brown hard shell case.
This stunningly beautiful carved-top Gibson is one of only a relative handful of natural finish L-5s shipped out before WWII, and remains beautifully original and very well-preserved. In 1940 a natural finish was one of Gibson's big new ideas, and it was heavily promoted by the company at the time. The most recently researched shipping totals show 41 blonde L-5s shipped in 1941 (followed by 25 in 1942) before the war ended production for a time. This one bears a FON (Factory Order Number) 4584G which indicates a 1941 production date; the label is partially torn missing the last two digits of the serial number but the first three are sufficient to confirm shipment later that same year.
The multi-bound carved spruce top features a clear natural finish that has aged nicely to a lovely amber hue. The 2-piece carved maple back has some lovely is uneven grain figure, with more flame on the lower half and burl on the top. The 3-piece maple neck with an ebony center strip is carved slimmer than some, with a hint of a "V" in the lower positions. The multi-bound headstock features the prewar script logo above the traditional L-5 "Flowerpot" inlay. The tuners are gold-plated Kluson Sealfasts with translucent celluloid "keystone" buttons, a particularly attractive feature just introduced in 1940. The multi-bound, pearl-block inlaid fingerboard is high-grade ebony.
In this period the L-5 was ranked second to the 18" Super 400 in Gibson's line, but many players always preferred the 17" body and it was always a top professional choice. This is a splendid example of a high-deco swing-era blonde L-5, simply as classy an archtop guitar as it gets. This is also an excellent-playing and sounding instrument, with a big incisive tone that rings for days yet never sounds shrill.
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 stately guitar has seen only fairly light wear and minor repair and remains a beautifully original example of this rare beauty. The finish appears all original, still shining like it did before Pearl Harbor was bombed. There is only very light wear overall, with some small dings and dents. The only repair is the center seam in the neck has been resealed along much of its length with some minor topical touch up applied. This is fully solid but can be felt in spots.
All hardware appears original including the beautiful amber-button tuners, multi-bound pickguard, bridge and tailpiece, with some typical wear to the gold plating but less than most. The silver plated center section of the tailpiece has the most notable tarnish. The frets appear original and in very good shape; this is a superb playing and sounding instrument and an instant trip back to the orchestral jazz era when a tuxedo would have been required to gig this one out! It lives in a slightly later 1950s Gibson brown HSC, ever ready to swing again. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This stunningly beautiful carved-top Gibson is one of only a relative handful of natural finish L-5s shipped out before WWII, and remains beautifully original and very well-preserved. In 1940 a natural finish was one of Gibson's big new ideas, and it was heavily promoted by the company at the time. The most recently researched shipping totals show 41 blonde L-5s shipped in 1941 (followed by 25 in 1942) before the war ended production for a time. This one bears a FON (Factory Order Number) 4584G which indicates a 1941 production date; the label is partially torn missing the last two digits of the serial number but the first three are sufficient to confirm shipment later that same year.
The multi-bound carved spruce top features a clear natural finish that has aged nicely to a lovely amber hue. The 2-piece carved maple back has some lovely is uneven grain figure, with more flame on the lower half and burl on the top. The 3-piece maple neck with an ebony center strip is carved slimmer than some, with a hint of a "V" in the lower positions. The multi-bound headstock features the prewar script logo above the traditional L-5 "Flowerpot" inlay. The tuners are gold-plated Kluson Sealfasts with translucent celluloid "keystone" buttons, a particularly attractive feature just introduced in 1940. The multi-bound, pearl-block inlaid fingerboard is high-grade ebony.
In this period the L-5 was ranked second to the 18" Super 400 in Gibson's line, but many players always preferred the 17" body and it was always a top professional choice. This is a splendid example of a high-deco swing-era blonde L-5, simply as classy an archtop guitar as it gets. This is also an excellent-playing and sounding instrument, with a big incisive tone that rings for days yet never sounds shrill.
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 stately guitar has seen only fairly light wear and minor repair and remains a beautifully original example of this rare beauty. The finish appears all original, still shining like it did before Pearl Harbor was bombed. There is only very light wear overall, with some small dings and dents. The only repair is the center seam in the neck has been resealed along much of its length with some minor topical touch up applied. This is fully solid but can be felt in spots.
All hardware appears original including the beautiful amber-button tuners, multi-bound pickguard, bridge and tailpiece, with some typical wear to the gold plating but less than most. The silver plated center section of the tailpiece has the most notable tarnish. The frets appear original and in very good shape; this is a superb playing and sounding instrument and an instant trip back to the orchestral jazz era when a tuxedo would have been required to gig this one out! It lives in a slightly later 1950s Gibson brown HSC, ever ready to swing again. Overall Excellent - Condition.