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1949 Gibson L-4C
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Serial #: A-4377, white oval label. FON#: 2608-34
Body size at lower bout: 16" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth: .90/1.00, 1st/10th frets.
Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; arched slab-cut maple back; solid mahogany neck with adjustable truss rod; rosewood fingerboard and compensated bridge; mother of pearl parallelogram fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; 3-ply body binding, bound fingerboard, bone nut.
Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes raised parallelogram trapeze tailpiece, Kluson Deluxe tuners with single-ring tulip keys and adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. 5-ply bound tortoise pickguard with Kent Armstrong Handmade 2D floating humbucking pickup with volume control and side mounted jack.
Notes: One of the best-kept secrets in the vintage Gibson line, the L-4C is exceptionally comfortable to hold, and zippy on the fingerboard. Introduced the same year as the ES-175, the L-4C shares the same body shape and scale length. But while its electric cousin has an all-laminate body, the L-4C boasts a solid carved spruce top, which sounds terrific either amplified with a floating pickup, or unplugged in the studio or living room.
A true bandstand veteran, this well-seasoned instrument is one of just 140 made in the model's very first year of production. The solid carved soundboard has been nicely played-in, giving it an unusually lively acoustic voice: bright, open and sparkling with natural reverb. Astonishingly light in weight, the instrument weighs barely 5lb. 6 oz in total, another clue to its exceptional tone. Well played and well loved, the top shows a patch of pickwear on the upper bass bout next to the pickup, now touched in with a vintage style matte lacquer finish that protects the entire original sunburst.
For all it's years on the gig, the guitar remains free of cracks in either the body or neck and the hardware is all original, with the addition of a handsome L-5 style bound tortoise pickguard. The Armstrong pickup is warm, quiet and faithful to the acoustic tone, and the neck is a gentle C profile, with smooth low action over fine pro fretwork. A tremendous player for the working performer, and an historic example from the very dawn of the modern jazz guitar. 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 wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter 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 black arched plush lined hardshell case.
