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1941 Gibson L-7

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Serial #: 97090

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25.4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Hand-carved solid spruce top; solid figured maple back; three-piece maple neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with split-parallelogram mother of pearl inlays; solid bone nut.

Hardware: 100% original hardware includes bound tortoise pickguard, Kluson open back tuners with button keys, Gibson compensated adjustable rosewood bridge; nickel triple parallelogram trapeze tailpiece.

Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Gibson L-7 was Gibson' most popular professional sized archop. The last noncutaway example rolled off the line in 1955. Identical in all but cosmetics to the costly L-5, the L-7 was highly prized by working players for it's warmth, projection and playability. This guitar is from the last year before regular production was suspended during the Second World War, and shows prewar appointments like the fat script Gibson headstock logo, and the open back tuners with oval keys.

This remarkable example was purchased brand new by its lifelong owner at the age of 17, and still includes the purchase contract in the original hardshell case. A Coast Guard recruit, the young player carried the instrument with him throughout the war, all the more remarkable for the astoundingly pristine shape in which it remains. Lovingly maintained in exceptionally fine condition, the guitar shows 100% gleaming original finish and hardware throughout. Crack free, the body and neck are without thumb or buckle wear, and all but the most superficial pick dents. The guitar has a solid carved bookmatched spruce top, nicely figured maple back, and a classic neck with a gently rounded profile. With freshly installed vintage style frets, the voice is loud and clear with exceptional power and headroom. An outstanding example of Gibson's best loved big band boomer, and a true time-capsule classic.

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 hardshell case.

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