Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips
archtop.com
1936 Gibson L-37
Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.
FON #: B176-2
Body size at lower bout: 14 3/4" Depth at endpin: 3 1/2" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .95/.1.06
Materials: Hand carved solid spruce top; solid maple back and sides; one-piece mahogany neck; solid rosewood fingerboard, single-bound body, ebony nut.
Hardware: Original nickel trapeze tailpiece, adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct contoured swirl tortoise pickguard, aged nickel Kluson Deluxe three-on-a-plate tuners, compensated adjustable rosewood bridge, with Fishman archtop pickup and 1/4" endpin jack.
Notes: The Gibson L-37 model was introduced in 1935, with a 14 3/4" body, carved spruce soundboard, solid flat maple back, and red mahogany finish. By 1937 the color was changed to a chocolate brown, with a distinctive lateral sunburst on the sides, a rare variant seen only on a few Depression era Gibson instruments. A short lived model, the L-37 was discontinued altogether by 1941, just months after this instrument rolled off the line in Kalamazoo.
This compact wonder would have been one of the first of the sunburst versions, with a unique lateral sunburst pattern on its solid maple sides, and notably larger soundholes than its predecessor. Unlike later small Gibson archtops, these early L series were constructed with all solid tonewoods throughout, enhancing tone and volume considerably.
Phenomenally light in weight, this snappy guitar tips the scales at a mere 3lb 15oz, and simply floats on the lap or the strap. The guitar has smooth low action with a fresh high precision setup, over a classic prewar V profile neck. The sunburst finish is all original, and shows some typical playwear, from a long and vigorous career. One hairline crack on the back and another by the treble soundhole have been soundly cleated and resealed, and the peghead retains its original silk screened fat script Gibson logo.
Ideal for pick or fingerstyle play, the guitar has a bright, forward, punchy voice, captured ably by the Fishman archtop pickup and 1/4" endpin jack. Comfy, rare and fun to play, this little powerhouse is the best buy in a true carved prewar Gibson archtop from the Golden Era. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted as required; 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 phosphor bronze strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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: Deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.
