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1960 Gibson L-7C

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Serial #: A-33296, white oval label

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Finish: Sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Hand-carved solid spruce top; solid figured maple back; three-piece maple neck; rounded Venetian cutaway; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with split-parallelogram mother of pearl inlays; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Original nickel Gibson trapeze tailpiece with raised parallogram crossbar, original adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, with recent compensated saddle. Vintage correct nickel Kluson single line tuners with single ring tulip keys, 5 ply bound tortoise pickguard with Kent Armstrong 2D Ultraslim pickup with tone and volume controls, endpin jack.

Notes: The L-7C was produced between 1949 and 1972, and was constructed with the same body size, bracing and scale length to its costly cousin, the L-5C. Examples from the 60's are quite rare indeed: this guitar is one of just 79 L-7C models built in its production year.

At just 5lb, 9oz, this guitar is a particularly lightweight example, with exceptional acoustic volume, and excellent clarity and projection. Well played and well loved, the Cremona sunburst finish is all original, and shows normal fine checking and fairly extensive playwear. A single hairline crack near the centerseam under the tailpiece has been professionally cleated, and a few small others near the soundlholes have been soundly resealed.

The neck is straight, with a gently rounded profile, and the action is smooth and low over fresh pro fretwork. The instrument is fitted with a Kent Armstrong 2D Ultraslim pickup with endpin jack and volume and tone controls mounted on the bound tortoise pickguard. A true 60's orange label Gibson jazzer, this guitar has an exceptionally deep, open, richly played-in voice, of the kind earned only through years of vigorous play. At a fraction of the cost of a comparable L-5, this bandstand veteran is a compelling reminder of just how fine a nice old Gibson can be.

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.

Case: Black plush lined deluxe hardshell case.