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1944 Gibson L-7
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Serial #: 97810, white oval label
Body size at lower bout: 17", Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Dark tobacco sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.
Materials: Highly figured solid handcarved bubble flame maple back and sides; handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid tiger flame maple neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, split-parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlays and "crown" headstock inlay; small script pearl Gibson peghead logo with fleur-de-lis inlay; triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock.
Hardware: Original hardware includes nickel trapeze tailpiece with Brazilian rosewood crossbar; compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge; adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct hardware includes antiqued nickel open-back tuners; bound tortoise pickguard and bracket.
Notes: By 1944, in the depth of the Second World War, Gibson instrument production slowed to a trickle, as the firm devoted itself to strategic materiel. Only a skeleton crew was assigned to finish up back orders, making guitars from the war years the rarest of the 20th century. Materials were tightly rationed, so Gibson made creative use of its vast parts stock, making wartime instruments the most distinctive in design as well. Metal shortages occasioned the wartime trapeze tailpiece, and elegant inlays from the past were pressed into service, including the thin script logo and fleur-de-lis peghead inlay from the very first L-7s of the early 30's.
This gleaming instrument was shipped by Gibson on Jan. 4, 1944, and was the very first guitar to leave the factory that year. She's in fine condition, with all original Cremona sunburst finish, and a highly figured bubble maple back. The instrument shows no cracks, and is virtually without pick, thumb or fingerboard wear. Some small dents are visible near the bass side of the fingerboard, and a bit of buckle rash may be seen in the deep walnut stained bookmatched maple back, along with some scattered normal checking about the body. The rounded C neck profile is full and rounded, with comfortable action over original fretwork.
At just 5lb 8oz, the guitar is astonishingly light in weight, with exceptional depth, resonance and clarity. The guitar has a notably open voice, with acoustic power and projection that is simply phenomenal. A highly distinctive instrument from Gibson's rarest era, with the tone only decades of age and care can produce. Call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; 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: Deluxe black arched plush lined period hardshell case.
