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1938 Gibson L-7
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Serial #: 95264 white oval label.
Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 24.9" Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid mahogany neck, solid flame maple back, solid maple sides, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; ornate 'picture-frame" mother of pearl inlay fingerboard inlay and 'vase and curlicues' peghead inlay; bound fingerboard, peghead and body; original bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes "raised diamond" nickel trapeze tailpiece, bound tortoise pickguard, compensated adjustable rosewood bridge. Vintage correct hand antiqued butterbean 16X1 tuners.
Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Gibson L-7 was Gibson's most popular pro-sized acoustic archtop. Identical in all but cosmetics to the L-5, it remains an outstanding value in a true all-carved jazz guitar. Between 1934 and 1939 only, this model was produced with X-bracing on the top, a style popularized by D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, Benedetto and countless contemporary top-end builders. This style of bracing produces a tone which is typically warm and sweet, with somewhat more sustain and bass response than parallel braced instruments.
The "Advanced Model" L-7 is remarkably sensitive to the touch, and is one of the few archtops prized by both pick and fingerstyle players alike. More ornate than the costly L-5, this striking model shows the delicate "picture frame" inlays in the fingerboard, and "vase and curlicues" pattern in the peghead, as seen in the classic Mastertone banjos of the 20's. A rare variant of the trapeze tailpiece with raised diamonds in an art-deco pattern may be seen as well, a version found on this model for a very short time only. No cracks are apparent in body or neck, and the original dark sunburst finish has been well preserved, with no bucklewear, and just a bit of touchup on some pickwear near the guard. An old jack hole in the lower side has been smoothly filled, so adeptly as to be nearly invisible. Action is smooth and low over a sleek, very contemporary gentle C profile. With its powerful open voice, and exceptional clarity and warmth, this outstanding instrument combines versatile performance with a particularly attractive appearance.
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.
Case: Original black Gibson hardshell case.
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