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1944 Gibson L-7
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Serial #: 97918, 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: 100% original hardware includes nickel trapeze tailpiece; compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge; Kluson open-back button tuners; bound tortoise pickguard, adjustable truss rod. Includes Bartolini 5J floating humbucking pickup with tone and volume controls and endpin jack.
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 open-back button tuners, 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 example is in phenomenally fine condition, with all original finish and hardware, and a "Made in USA" stamp in the headstock indicating a guitar made for export. Without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, the body shows a very handsomely figured flame maple back. The rounded C neck profile is full but not clubby, with comfortable low action over fresh precision fretwork. The guitar has a wonderfully warm, rich voice, with excellent clarity and projection. A highly distinctive instrument from Gibson's rarest era.
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 plush arched hardshell case.
