1935 Gibson L-4

$3,495.00

  • Year: 1935
  • Manufacturer: Gibson
  • Model: L-4
  • Case: Hard
  • Color: sunburst
  • Condition: Excellent
  • Description: Created by legendary designer Lloyd Loar and popularized by jazz pioneer Eddie Lang, the original issue Gibson L-5 remains one of the world's most sought-after guitars. With it's comfortable 16" body, generous 1 3/4" nut, and lightly braced top, the original L-5 combines tone and playability in a manner many feel is unsurpassed to this day. The bad news is that Gibson discontinued the 16" L-5 by 1936. And if you've looked for one in recent years, you also realize they fetch a king's ransom. But what many otherwise savvy players don't realize is that the guitar was just too good to kill. So Gibson didn't. They just fiddled with the inlay and gave it another name: the L-4. Introduced in 1912, the L-4 was Gibson's top-of-the line guitar, and remains its longest lasting model, still in production to this day as a cutaway electric. The L-4 was produced with a round hole exclusively until 1934, when this version was offered with optional f-holes. Built on the same forms as the 20's L-5, the f-hole L-4 differed only in cosmetics from its costly cousin. Same scale, f-holes, fingerboard dimensions, bracing, the works. Interestingly, the variegated floral 'Roy Smeck' fingerboard pattern, borrowed from 20's Mastertone banjo inlays, is even more ornate than the L-5, which offered only simple blocks. This version, with the slim, elegant bound peghead, and narrow script logo was offered only until around 1939. This remarkable instrument has been lovingly preserved in wonderful condition, with only very light incidental playwear throughout. The body has a subtly applied dark tobacco sunburst over a fine grained bookmatched handcarved solid spruce top, and figured maple back and sides with a deep walnut finish. Hardware includes the 20's style nickel trapeze tailpiece, compensated adjustable ebony bridge, and original Grover Sta-Tite tuners with scalloped nickel keys. Apart from a few nicks on the back and neck, and a short, soundly retouched crack on the back upper bass bout, the guitar is in unusually fine original condition. The neck is comfortable, with a classic prewar vee profile, and the action is smooth and low over fresh pro fretwork. The top is carved very delicately, and the lightweight body (an astounding 4lb. 7oz.) is notably resonant: wide open, clear and transparent, with remarkable brilliance and balance. An exceptional performer, and the best kept secret in a true prewar master quality Gibson archtop: the working player's L-5.