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1955 Gibson L-4C
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Serial #: A-20159, orange label. FON#: X8170 32
Body size at lower bout: 16" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16'
Materials: Carved bookmatched solid spruce top; slab-cut arched maple back; solid mahogany neck with adjustable truss rod; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; mother of pearl parallelogram fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; 3-ply body binding, bound fingerboard, bone nut.
Hardware: Vintage correct aged nickel hardware includes raised parallelogram trapeze tailpiece, Kluson Deluxe tuners with single-ring tulip keys; Brazilian rosewood adjustable compensated bridge, 5-ply wide bevel pickguard, with Armstrong Handmade 2D floating humbucking pickup, volume and tone controls and 1/4" endpin jack.
Notes: One of the best-kept secrets in the vintage Gibson line, the L-4C is exceptionally 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 terrific whether amplified or unplugged.
This striking guitar is one of just 68 examples shipped in its model year. The solid carved soundboard has been nicely aged, giving it a clear, open voice: bright, even and sparkling with natural reverb. Wonderfully light in weight, the instrument weighs barely 5lb. in total, another clue to its sparkling tone. A carefully maintained insttrument, the guitar is free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, with all original fretwork in fine condition. Impeccably restored, the guitar has been given a factory-quality vintage style nitrocellulose sunburst finish throughout, with a single short grainline crack near the treble soundhole soundly resealed.
The Armstrong pickup is warm, quiet and faithful to the acoustic tone, and the neck has a gentle C profile, with smooth low action over a fresh high-precision setup. The guitar is supplied with its original brown Gibson Lifton 'California Girl' hardshell case, with pink plush lining. A wonderfully versatile instrument, this handsome guitar delivers true vintage tone, with time-capsule looks. 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, electronics and grounding tested.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.012-.054). 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: Original brown Gibson LIfton arched plush lined hardshell case.
