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1949 Gibson L-7
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Serial #: A-3549, white oval label
Body size at lower bout: 17", Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Finish: Tobacco sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.
Materials: Solid handcarved tiger flame maple back and neck; quartersawn bookmatched solid carved spruce top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, split-parallelogram mother of pearl fingerboard inlays and "crown" headstock inlay; pearl Gibson peghead logo, triple-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock, bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes hinged nickel trapeze tailpiece with raised parallelogram design; Kluson Deluxe tuners with single ring tulip pegs; compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct hand antiqued 5-ply beveled pickguard.
Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Gibson L-7 was Gibson's most popular professional sized archop, and the last noncutaway example rolled off the line in 1955. Identical in all but cosmetics to the costly L-5, the L-7 has been highly prized by working players ever since for it's warmth, projection and playability.
A fine example, this early A-series instrument combines the rich open voice of a warmly seasoned solid spruce top with a handsomely figured solid bubble maple back. Well played and well cared for, the instrument is in great shape, without wood cracks, pick, buckle or thumbwear. The lustrous original Cremona sunburst finish shows a bit of light normal checking, and a few scattered lacquer nicks have been carefully spot retouched.
Remarkably light in weight, the guitar is barely 5lb. 10oz., and beautifully balanced, with the wide open voice of a finely aged soundboard, open and resonant over years of play. Neck angle and bridge height are excellent, all binding is original and tight to the body, and the classic C profile neck has smooth low action over freshly leveled fretwork.
Our most popular professional sized Gibson acoustic archtop ever, the L-7 offers peerless performance, at a price point for the practical player. Call now.
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.
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 plush lined arched hardshell case.