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1935 Gibson L-7
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FON#: 776-24
Body size at lower bout: 17", Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Dark tobacco sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.
Materials: Solid handcarved maple back, sides and neck; handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and compensated bridge, ornate mother of pearl "picture frame" fingerboard inlays; older fat script Gibson peghead logo with "vase and curlicue" inlay; triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: All original hardware includes nickel-plated trapeze tailpiece; adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge; bound tortoise pickguard; adjustable truss rod. Additional set of vintage correct hand-antiqued Grover Sta-Tite18X1 tuners installed; original tuners in case.
Notes: Regular visitors know that we have a special place in our hearts for the X-braced Gibson archtops of the '30's. In 1934, to meet the increased demands for volume required by the Big Band era, Gibson increased the body size of its professional guitars from 16" to 17" in the lower bout. Just as significantly, Gibson introduced the X-brace support system for the first time in an archtop guitar. The X-brace had been used by Martin in their peerless flat tops, and has been resurrected by modern archtop builders for it's warm, woody tone, with greater sustain and increased bass response.
The L-7 was Gibson's most popular 17" guitar, with the same size, scale and materials as the L-5. (Interestingly, the L-7 of this era had a much more ornate inlay pattern than it's spendier cousin, as the factory used up surplus banjo inlays from the 20's to create the elaborate 'picture-frame' fingerboard motif.) The 20's style trapeze tailpiece, shallower arch, small f-holes and arched French heel indicate an example from the very earliest period of the 17" "Advanced Model", with a factory order number from the first full year of production.
This guitar, originally from a small town in Arkansas, has been well loved and well cared for: with its all-original Cremona sunburst finish, the body shows fairly light playwear for an instrument of its vintage. A pair of tight grainline cracks have been soundly resealed in the figured maple back, along with a short section of the centerseam under the tailpiece. Smooth low action over a remarkably contemporary gentle C profile neck, distinctly more comfy than some of the fuller necks found on later examples. The voice is lush, wide open, even and warmly resonant, great for chord melody, vocal backup, fingerstyle play or recording.
Classic design, superb playability, and peerless tone: this pioneering example from Gibson's Golden Era has it all. 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; 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 black deluxe arched plush lined hardshell case.
