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1950 Gibson L-7
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Serial #: A-4566, white oval label FON#: 2144-34
Body size at lower bout: 17", Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .87/.99
Materials: Solid handcarved bubble 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 compensated adjustable rosewood bridge. Vintage correct aged nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners with single ring tulip pegs, hinged chrome trapeze tailpiece with raised parallelogram crossbar, adjustable truss rod. Bound tortoise pickguard, with Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup, volume and tone controls and endpin jack.
Notes: Introduced in 1932, the Gibson L-7 was Gibson's most popular professional sized archtop, 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.
An exceptionally handsome original example, this gleaming guitar has a factory order number from from late 1949, and shipped from Kalamazoo in early 1950. This full depth, long scale 17" guitar combines the clear, open voice of a warmly seasoned solid spruce top with a gorgeous, highly figured solid bubble maple back. Carefully maintained, the instrument is in gleaming condition, and is exceptionally free of playwear in its original dark Cremona sunburst finish.
Notably light in weight, the guitar tips the scales at just 5lb. 9oz. and balances nimbly on the lap or the strap. Open and well balanced, the guitar has the deeply resonant voice of a finely aged soundboard. Neck angle and bridge height are excellent, all binding is original and tight to the body, and the classic full C profile neck has smooth low action over fine original fretwork, with a fresh high precision setup.
A special plus: this guitar is fitted with a Kent Armstrong floating humbucking pickup, mounted on an L-5 style bound tortoise pickguard, with volume and tone controls, and a 1/4" endpin jack. (The original 5-ply pickguard is in fine shape, and is included in the case. Remarkably, the original tailpiece is included as well, and is accompanied by an invoice to the original owner from the Gibson factory, who supplied its replacement in the early 1980s under the lifetime warranty!)
Apart from a few scattered wisps of age checking in the original deep sunburst lacquer, this remarkable under-the-bed guitar appears all but unplayed, and is supplied with its original deluxe brown Lifton hardshell case, every bit as pretty as the guitar itself. Even the original hang tag remains with the guitar after seven decades: how often does that happen?
An unusually versatile player, powerful and vibrant, unplugged or through the amp. Our most popular professional sized Gibson acoustic archtop, the L-7 offers peerless performance, at an unbeatable price, for the practical player. 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 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 nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier 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.
