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1954 Gibson L-4CN
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Serial #: A-16873, white oval label. FON#: X7490-22
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: Carved bookmatched solid spruce top; slab-cut arched maple back; solid mahogany neck with adjustable truss rod; solid rosewood fingerboard; parallelogram fingerboard and thistle peghead inlay; 3-ply body binding, bound fingerboard.
Hardware: Original hardware includes nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners with single-ring tulip keys, raised parallelogram trapeze tailpiece, and adjustable compensated rosewood bridge. Vintage correct aged 5-ply wide bevel pickguard, with Kent Armstrong Handwound floating PAF pickup, with volume control and endpin jack.
Notes: One of the best-kept secrets in the vintage Gibson line, the L-4C is lightweight, comfortable to hold, and positively zippy on the fingerboard. Introduced in 1949, the same year as the ES-175, the L-4C shares the same body shape and scale length as its electric cousin. But while its counterpart has an all-laminate body, the L-4C boasts a solid carved spruce top, which sounds great either amplified or unplugged. And the lovely solid rosewood fingerboard is suspended over the soundboard, with plenty of clearance for a floating pickup.
This striking guitar is one of just 34 examples shipped in its model year in the rare natural blonde finish, with the black 'bird's beak' stinger at the heel of the solid mahogany neck. The solid carved soundboard has been warmly aged, giving it a clear, open voice: bright, even and sparkling with natural reverb. Exceptionally light in weight, the instrument tips the scales at a just a hair over 5lb, another clue to its brilliant tone.
Well played and well loved, the instrument shows all original deep amber blonde finish, with some typical age checking and a number of finish dings, mostly confined to the top and sides. A single grainline crack has been soundly reglued years ago, extending from rim to rim near the bass f-hole. A pair of small pickguard bracket holes in the bass side have been filled and touched up as well.
The neck has a solid gentle C profile, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup, with fine pro fretwork in the original style. A special plus, a Kent Armstrong Handwound floating PAF pickup with volume control and endpin jack has been installed, along with a vintage correct aged 5-ply wide bevel pickguard.
A rare and wonderfully versatile instrument, this great old player delivers true vintage tone, and classic '50's appeal. 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 light relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Black plush lined hardshell case.
