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c.1936 Gibson L-50
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FON#: 304(?)-45
Body size at lower bout: 16" Body depth: 3 1/4" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 3/4" Neck depth: .093/1.04, 1st/10th fret
Materials: Hand carved solid spruce top; solid flame maple back and sides; one-piece mahogany neck; solid rosewood fingerboard, single-bound body, solid bone nut.
Hardware: Original nickel raised-diamond trapeze tailpiece, adjustable compensated ebony bridge. Vintage correct hardware includes aged nickel 15:1 Golden Age tuners, brown swirl tortoise pickguard.
Notes: Gibson's most popular archtop model, the L-50 was introduced in 1932. Its 14 3/4" body was upsized to 16" in 1935, and this evergreen favorite remained in the catalog until 1971. With its compact body and 24 3/4" scale, the L-50 retained the same dimensions as the original Loar-era L-5, and its solid carved soundboard and adjustable truss rod put it a cut above the laminate mass market archtops of the time.
Unlike postwar examples with laminate bodies, this fine prewar guitar was built with a solid carved back of handsomely figured maple, finished in a deep walnut stain. This fine example has a solid carved spruce soundboard, solid rosewood fingerboard, and a lightweight solid mahogany neck.
Weighing in at just 4lb 8oz, the guitar is a delight to hold, and simply floats on the lap or the strap. The guitar has all-original Cremona sunburst finish, with remarkably little pick or buckle wear. The neck shows the smooth wear of a well played instrument, with fine original fretwork, and some light grooving in the solid rosewood fingerboard. The finish shows light normal age checking and some incidental scattered nicks, and the center seam under the tailpiece has been soundly resealed.
The generous 1 3/4" fingerboard affords ample width for finger or pick style play, with a fresh high-precision setup for smooth low action over the solid traditional V profile neck. With the fine, open voice of a classic swing era trouper, the guitar has unusually powerful projection, excellent balance and sparkling natural reverb.
If you've always coveted the tone of the dot-neck L-5, but balked at the astronomical prices, consider this perennial best buy in a true prewar Gibson classic. True vintage performance at a player's price: one only, call now.
Setup: 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-.056). 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 arched black plush lined hardshell case.
