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Serial #: 02327037, stamped in peghead

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 3/4"

Materials: Handcarved X-braced bookmatched solid spruce top; solid flame maple back and sides; solid mahogany neck; solid rosewood fingerboard; split parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; bound fingerboard and peghead; triple bound body; solid bone nut.

Hardware: All nickel hardware includes Kluson Deluxe style single ring tuners, triple parallelogram trapeze tailpiece, compensated adjustable rosewood bridge. Five-ply bound tortoise guard installed, original beveled 5-ply black pickguard included.

Notes: Introduced in 1948, the L-7C was the cutaway version of the ever-popular Gibson L-7, and was produced until 1972. Identical in dimensions and materials to the L-5, the L-7C differs principally in its ornamentation and plating. After some three decades of absence, this beloved model was re-created in very limited numbers by the superlative artisans of Gibson's Montana division. Originally staffed with veterans of the renowned Flatiron Mandolin Co., these meticulous builders single handedly revived the quality of the company's hand crafted mandolinss and premium flat tops.

Faithful in dimensions to the original body design, the Montana L-7C adds a prewar style X-braced soundboard, a deep Cremona sunburst finish to the back and sides, and a bound peghead. The boys from Bozeman clearly know their way around a chisel: at just 5lb. 10oz. this guitar is wonderfully light in weight and very well balanced. Together with the X-braced soundboard, this lightweight construction produces volume, brilliance and sustain unheard in Gibson archtops since the 1950's.

This example has a particularly figured tiger maple back and sides, and is in superb condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Vintage style hardware includes nickel single ring tuners, and a triple parallelogram trapeze tailpiece. Smooth low action over traditional 50's style fretwork, and a comfy solid C profile neck with generous 1 3/4" nut width. A special plus is the upscale L-5 style bound tortoise guard, in addition to the original beveled 5-ply black pickguard, which is included in the case.

The Montana L-7C is proof positive that Gibson can still build the guitars that made them famous. Unfortunately, this classic model is no longer available as of this writing. All the more reason to grab this one while you can. One only: call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished; 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; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.013-.054). 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 deluxe arched black plushlined hardshell case.

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