Gibson L-4C Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1950)
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Item # 7490
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Gibson L-4C Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1950), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-5142, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
The L4-C is an interesting and fairly unusual 1950s Gibson carved-top guitar with a 16" body, midline appointments, and the company's distinctive sharp Florentine cutaway-rarely used on acoustic instruments. In essence it is an "unplugged" version of the ever-popular ES-175: the same size, body shape, and with similar handling characteristics. The big difference is the L-4C's carved spruce top instead of pressed maple, giving it a much fuller acoustic sound. It also shares the 175's cosmetics, with a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, pearl crown headstock inlay, and triple-bound top.
This sunburst L-4C is also surprisingly rare; all of 157 were shipped this year (1950) and less than 800 in the entire decade of the 1950s. This is a very fine player's instrument, suitable for many playing styles with a strong woody tone and plenty of volume. The L-4C one of the better-kept secrets of the Gibson archtop realm and a very versatile and cool guitar.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Very fine overall, this guitar remains nicely original with some light play wear to the finish but no major repairs. There are some dings and small scratches to the top lacquer, but no large areas of finish loss. There is some wear down to the wood on the back of the neck in the first position area, not severe but could be smoothed out if desired. The only alteration is the pickguard has a plugged hole near the bracket from some sort of pickup installation, and the outside nut on the pickguard bracket is a replacement. With just some light fretwear, this is an excellent player with a surprisingly versatile sound. Very Good + Condition.
The L4-C is an interesting and fairly unusual 1950s Gibson carved-top guitar with a 16" body, midline appointments, and the company's distinctive sharp Florentine cutaway-rarely used on acoustic instruments. In essence it is an "unplugged" version of the ever-popular ES-175: the same size, body shape, and with similar handling characteristics. The big difference is the L-4C's carved spruce top instead of pressed maple, giving it a much fuller acoustic sound. It also shares the 175's cosmetics, with a bound fingerboard decorated with double parallelogram inlay, pearl crown headstock inlay, and triple-bound top.
This sunburst L-4C is also surprisingly rare; all of 157 were shipped this year (1950) and less than 800 in the entire decade of the 1950s. This is a very fine player's instrument, suitable for many playing styles with a strong woody tone and plenty of volume. The L-4C one of the better-kept secrets of the Gibson archtop realm and a very versatile and cool guitar.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Very fine overall, this guitar remains nicely original with some light play wear to the finish but no major repairs. There are some dings and small scratches to the top lacquer, but no large areas of finish loss. There is some wear down to the wood on the back of the neck in the first position area, not severe but could be smoothed out if desired. The only alteration is the pickguard has a plugged hole near the bracket from some sort of pickup installation, and the outside nut on the pickguard bracket is a replacement. With just some light fretwear, this is an excellent player with a surprisingly versatile sound. Very Good + Condition.