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1943 Gibson L-7
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Serial #: 97806, white oval label
Body size at lower bout: 17", Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Dark tobacco sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.
Materials: Highly figured solid handcarved bubble flame maple back and sides; handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid tiger flame maple neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, split-parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlays and "crown" headstock inlay; small script pearl Gibson peghead logo with fleur-de-lis inlay; triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original wartime trapeze tailpiece with Brazilian rosewood crossbar; original Brazilian rosewood bridge; hand antiqued Kluson style 16X1 single ring tuners; triple bound tortoise pickguard with toned binding; adjustable truss rod.
Notes: 1943 was the absolute depth of the Second World War, and Gibson instrument production slowed to a trickle, as the firm devoted itself to strategic materiel. We are told that only a skeleton crew was assigned to finish up back orders, making guitars from the war years the rarest of the 20th century. So scarce are guitars from this model year in particular that this example is the only example of this model from 1943 we can find in our files.
Materials were tightly rationed, so Gibson made creative use of its vast parts stock, making wartime instruments the most distinctive in design as well. Metal shortages occasioned the signature wartime tailpiece with the rosewood crossbar, and elegant inlays from the past were pressed into service, including the thin script logo and fleur-de-lis peghead inlay from the very first L-7s of the early 30's.
This example is in great shape, with a nicely figured bubble maple back. The guitar is without pick, buckle or thumb wear, and shows only a single typical hairline crack soundly resealed by the bass f-hole. The deep sunburst finish is true to Gibson colors, and its patina of age would suggest it was applied at least 40 to 50 years ago. The neck profile is full but not clubby, with comfortable low action over fresh precision fretwork. The hand antiqued vintage style tuners are machined with modern16X1 gearing for accurate tuning to contemporary specs. The guitar has a wonderfully warm, rich voice, with excellent clarity and projection. A highly distinctive instrument from Gibson's rarest year ever.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.057). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original Gibson brown hardshell case.
