Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips

archtop.com

1953 Gibson L-4

Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.

FON #: Y6904-33

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid mahogany neck; arched maple back and sides; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; split parallelogram pearl fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; bound fingerboard, peghead and body; original bone nut.

Hardware: 100% original hardware includes Kluson deluxe tuners with single-ring tulip pegs; nickel trapeze tailpiece with raised parallelogram crossbar; beveled 5 ply pickguard; compensated adjustable Brazilian Rosewood bridge, original frets.

Notes: If you love the feel of an ES-175, but always coveted the sound of a true full-bodied carved-top, you've been out of luck for a good long time. Or more precisely, the year of 1956. That's the year Gibson discontinued this wonderful model, never to reissue it again. Which is why we're happy to report the arrival of this wonderful guitar.

Introduced in 1911 as an oval hole archtop, the L-4 is the oldest model name remaining in the Gibson catalog. The company's top-of-the line guitar until the L-5 debuted in 1922, the L-4 was redesigned with f-holes in 1935. For over two decades until its retirement, the noncutaway L-4 occupied a unique niche in the Gibson line, as the only carved-top guitar to retain the classic dimensions of the Lloyd Loar/Eddie Lang L-5 of the 20's and early 30's. It's comfy 16" contour has always appealed to players reluctant to wrestle with a jumbo body archtop, and its fast 24 3/4" scale rewards the hand with effortless stretch chords and lightning arpeggios. Sporting the same tuners, tailpiece and inlay pattern as the L-7, L-12, ES-175, ES-350 and Super 300, this L-4 is one of just 87 examples produced in its model year.

At barely 5.0lb (2.28kg) this guitar is notably light in weight, with a very finely carved bookmatched spruce top. The instrument has been maintained in excellent condition, with all it's original sunburst finish showing no cracks, pick, buckle or thumbwear. The action is low and inviting over fine original fretwork. Apart from a single capo dent in the back of the neck, and a short lacquer scratch near the tailpiece, the instrument shows very little playwear altogether. Bright, lively, and fun to play, this handsome and rarely seen model is a true player, with a sweet, open voice, and looks to match.

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: Original Gibson brown alligator plush hardshell case.

Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips