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1959 Gibson L-4C
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Serial #: A-30759, orange oval label.
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; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; mother of pearl parallelogram fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; 3-ply body binding, bound fingerboard, bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes nickel raised parallelogram trapeze tailpiece, 5-ply wide-beveled pickguard, adjustable compensated Brazilian rosewood bridge. Hand antiqued period correct nickel Kluson Deluxe style tuners with single-ring tulip keys.
Notes: One of the best-kept secrets in the vintage Gibson line, the L-4C is exceptionally comfortable to hold, and nimble indeed 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 for maximum acoustic responsiveness.
This exceptional instrument is one of just 66 examples made in its model year. A pure acoustic model, the guitar has never had a pickup attached to it. The solid carved soundboard is beautifully aged, giving it a notably clear, open voice: bright, even and sparkling with natural reverb. Remarkably light in weight, the instrument tips the scale at barely 5lb 3 oz. in total, wonderfully balanced on the lap or the strap.
Lovingly maintained in superb condition, the instrument has all-original sunburst finish, free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. A period correct hand antiqued set of Kluson Deluxe tuners has been restored to the peghead, and the guitar shows only a few random lacquer nicks for its long career. Even the typical checking one expects in a half-century old finish is almost completely absent.
A delight to play, the guitar has a fine classic C profile, with smooth low action over fine medium-jumbo frets. An unusually versatile instrument, this gleaming guitar delivers true vintage performance and unbeatable value.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned 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 heavy gauge nickel strings (.014-.059). The guitar will accommodate lighter 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 Lifton Faultless deluxe plush lined hardshell case.
