Gibson L-1 Good, Soft
Folks, I wish I could tell you that this is a diamond in the rough, but all I’m sure of is the "rough" part. I see no serial number anywhere, and the Factory Order Number on the neck block (9897) indicates 1951, which doesn’t really match the specs. It has what’s a clear Gibson script logo on the headstock, and the body dimensions are more or less those of a 1930s L-1, but given Gibson's notorious lack of consistency in specs and such these considerations don't guarantee much. If it had been professionally restored it, it might have been worth a bundle, but right now it's not really collectible. It’s just cool.
The previous owner[s] went to great lengths to keep this little guy playing: the sides of the guitar have been touched up, there's glue showing inside where braces have been re-glued, the bridge has been re-glued or replaced, there are numerous repaired cracks in the back and sides (especially the treble side), and the top has been lightly sanded and “sealed.” In addition, the saddle, pins, and end pin are clearly replacements, and frets 17-19 look purty shiny. At some time, it looks to have mebbe had a wrap-around metal tail-piece, but it’s long gone. It was being played when I got it, but I doubt that it was being played at a very high level, as the action is close to 5/32” at the 12th fret low E.
Now, having said all that, I am confident that it is a vintage small-body Gibson, probably from the 1930s despite the FON. The body is actually in good shape now, the neck is solid, the tuners look to be original, there is remarkably little wear on the frets and fret board, it has the peculiar slightly arched top and back of the 1930s, and the tall thin X-bracing is now intact. And the sound is cool, woody, and Robert Johnson-ish despite the kinda high action.
I am including the vintage arched-top hard shell case in which it came, but I have no idea if it’s original. It is in pretty solid shape, the 14 ¾” guitar body fits pretty well, and it certainly is a great vintage complement to this vintage Gibson. If you've got some skills--or know somebody who does--with care and patience this could be a heck of a guitar again.
I have no idea what your expertise or expectations are, but if you're seriously interested, I will consider offers from someone who wants to help this guy make music again. Please keep in mind, however, that this is being sold explicitly with no guarantee as to its provenance or the completeness of my amateur description of its issues. And I can't guarantee a year or model.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but payment must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.
Thank you for your interest in this potentially great little guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.